    
Alex Prior (Alexfish)
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Username: Alexfish
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2004
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Votes: 0 | | Posted on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 5:18 pm: | |
Chile Fly Fishing Report
Period: April/May 2004
Area: Coyhaique
By Alex Prior – Southern Exposure
I’m a full season guide and outfitter in Southern Chile and this has been my first experience fishing during April and May in these magical waters.
I’m sure most of you are thinking…Why the first? Well, because the fishing season has been extended from the first Sunday of April to the first Sunday of May, so now we can legally fish during this period, and it was wonderful.
The Fall is already here. Days are shorter and mornings cooler. Lenga trees are turning red while the mountain peaks turn white. It’s the most beautiful time of the year and the rivers are very small.
Rio Simpson
During the first 2 weeks of April I dedicated my time to fishing our home river “Rio Simpson”, with my very good friend Rhonda. We found, (to our surprise) that the mayfly hatches were even better than during February and March. There were consistently very long hatches (from 10 AM to 6 PM), with large numbers of flies drifting down the current like tiny sail boats, and fish rising all over.
Due to the incredible amount of flies (there were at least 3 different sizes of mayflies like Blue Wing Olives and March Browns,) it was not easy to make these fish take our imitations. Finally we found that some emerger patterns worked better than the usual dries and after that, we had a great time catching rainbows and browns ranging from 15 to 22 inches. I personally put down a ‘bow that I believed was at least a 24”, but that’s fishing… the elusive big one usually gives us a lesson. Don’t they?
Misterious Lakes
The third week I went with my best friend Fidel (aka “The Lawyer”) to fish some lakes in an area north of Coyhaique, the whereabouts I’d rather keep as a secret. We took our camping gear, float tubes and my boat, and we spent four days fishing a different lake everyday.
The fishing was outstanding on all 4 of them, and the average fish caught was around 6 pounds. We started fishing sinking lines and streamers, but as soon as we found that these fish where not so deep, we switched to floating lines and Chernobyle Ants and that was something worth seeing. Even though you are waiting for it to happen, when a fish like that suddenly breaks the still water’s surface to take your fly, , your heart just about jumps out your chest from the big commotion it makes.
Off course I didn’t catch the biggest one, “The Lawyer” did. We were fishing, for the first time, the smallest lake, more like a pond I should say. We had already fished the other 3 before with great success. We decided to use the float tubes instead of the boat and I went ahead of him. I thought he made the wrong decision by following me but… he spotted a gap in the reeds that I had ignored. It was so shallow walking through the reeds, that he had to hold the float tube up until he reached a little interior pond. It was around 60 by 20 feet, and pretty deep.
It took him just one cast to connect with the monster, and about 30 minutes lo land it. It was so big that he was afraid of releasing it. I saw it from 50 yards away and I can say that it was as long as the float tube’s width, somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds. I caught some 8 to 10 pounders and I also had a fantastic time, but “The Lawyer” took the first prize away from me in this fishing tale.
Bahia and Rio Ibanez
The first week of May, Tolin (one of the best guides in the area), “The Lawyer” and I, headed south toward the Lago General Carrera which is the second biggest lake in South America. More specifically we went to Bahia Ibanez, where the big browns from all around the lake gather before starting the short journey up the Ibanez River to reproduce.
We fished the lake first, not so far from the river mouth and it was fun. We landed some nice fish in the 5 to 8 pound range, but we were looking for more, so on the next day we decided to give the river a try.
The Rio Ibanez was affected by a volcanic eruption that happened in 1991 and even though time has passed, it still brings a fair amount of ash with its flow. But it’s getting in shape and this was the first time we were able to catch fish in it since 1991 and in fact some of them were pretty nice and up to 24”. This is really encouraging, so we are now looking forward for an even better fishing experience in the Rio Ibanez.
As you can see, I had a great time fly fishing during last fall and now I feel ready to share this experience with you. Contact us and make your bookings now.
Alex Prior
Southern Exposure
P.O.Box 573
Coyhaique - Chile
Phone 56 67 234737
Fax 56 67 232500
http://www.flyfishingcoyhaique.com/
info@flyfishingcoyhaique.com
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