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Estancia Arroyo Verde near Bariloche, Argentina FLY-FISHING Back to Estancia "Arroyo Verde"

Fly-fishing in the experience and words of Estancia Arroyo Verde:

The Traful River is a typical mountain stream with pools and rapids. The water runs pure and crystal clear. More than ten miles run through Arroyo Verde. Parts of its riverside is lined with bushes and trees, making fly-casting more exciting and sometimes a rather challenging task.

The fly-fishing season starts on the second Sunday or November and ends on the third Sunday of April.

The Traful is exclusively a catch and release fly-fishing river.

At the beginning of the season (mid-November) the river runs high and fast, turning lower in December but usually with fast water until the beginning or middle of January, depending on weather conditions and especially the snow in the mountains. Then the river suns slow till the first rains of autumn. Its width varies from 60 to 90 fee (20 to 30 meters). Fishermen will need chest waders throughout the season. Good boots with felt soles are a must because of the stones on the river-bed. Visitors must bring all their own gear as Arroyo Verde does not provide any equipment.

Suggested rods: For the beginning of the season #7 or #8 and from the middle of January onwards lines #5 or #6 are advisable. An assortment of fast sinking, sinking tips and floating lines are recommended. Your choice will depend on the level and temperature of the water. Short leaders are necessary for the fast sinking lines, 12 or 14 feet for dry fly-fishing; 4x 0x, and even stronger up to 12 lbs. test for big flies. Because of catch and release regulations we recommend barbless hooks.

Your favorite trout flies will be OK and you can add some streamers, wooly worms, wooly buggers, muddlers, etc.  Nymphs are very efficient during all the season; small ones (12 to 14) can be as good as big ones like Bitch Creek or Montana Nymph (4 to 8). During the day the Spruce fly and the Mickey Finn are very good for land-locked salmon. For late-hours a Black Bunny can be the best chance to get big brown. Dry flies, in sizes 6 to 16, Adams, Royal Wulff, Humpies, are a must in the Traful from the middle of the season onwards. If you can find Skating Spiders of a good size, it can be real fun.

The Traful is a very special river.  It holds all the different kinds of "salmonids": rainbow, brown, land-locked salmon and also brook and perch, which are very rare.  Although the average weight of the fish is around 3 pounds for trout and 4 pounds for salmon, it is not unusual to catch 7 or 8 pounders. An 18 pound salmon, a 23 lbs. rainbow and a 16 lbs. brown trout have been caught in the Traful.