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FLY FISHING Recreational fishing is probably the greatest attraction for the diverse variety of salmonids that dwell here. From huge Chinook salmon to different types of trout, this place is one of the best refuges in the world to practice this sport. Melimoyu Lodge is a privileged place. Due to its location and geographical conditions, it allows fishing all around, at very short distances. The pristine feature of the place allows fishing in the most pure and crystal clear waters on the south of the earth and provides the opportunity to be alone amidst nature.
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FLY FISHING PROGRAM - in their own words:
DAY 1
Travel from Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez Airport in Santiago to El Tepual Airport in Puerto Montt, where a transfer will be waiting for you, which will drive you to Marcelo Marchant (La Paloma) Airstrip. From there, embark on a small plane headed for Santa Barbara Airstrip, near Chaitén.
You will be picked up at this Airstrip by Melimoyu Lodge personnel, who will take you by land through Carretera Austral to Melimoyu Hacienda. This drive will last approximately 3:30 hours, and during the trip you will be able to see vast forests and pristine glaciers, as well as many lakes and rivers.
When reaching Melimoyu Lodge, you will be welcomed with appetizers and lunch, to then rest and recover your energy. Later, you will be informed of the timetables and dinner options, so that you can enjoy the spectacular dishes prepared with local food and our open bar. Depending on your time of arrival to the Lodge, you can go shore fishing that same afternoon near the Lodge at Melimoyu River or Palena River. Each night guests can chat with the chief of guides about the fishing excursion they wish to make the next day. To each excursion we recommend bringing 9 feet rod 5 or 6 with at least one additional reel or bobbin with Floating and Sinking lines of 150 grains, No.6 and No.4 Streamers predominantly in black and green with big head, foam flies such as Chernobyl or Fat Albert in black and orange No.6, Stonefly, Caddis and Mayfly Nymphs No.14 to No.6, 5 or 6 food Leaders 2x for Streamers and 9 to 12 feet 3x for Floating.
DAY 2
Guests will wake up refreshed after a goodnight sleep in our comfortable bedrooms, to then enjoy a spectacular and abundant homemade breakfast.
Afterwards, our fishing guides will drive you to Lago Verde to disembark on Figueroa River, where the fishing excursion will begin on one of our totally equipped rafts. To fish on this river with Streamers, we recommend throwing towards the shores or seek the Drop Off at a 90°-45° angle, letting the fly sink 2 or 3 seconds. In case that you want to fish with a dry fly, we recommend throwing the line towards the shore letting the fly drift freely, achieving naturalness. If the water is calm, the best is to throw towards the shore aiming at logs or rocks that may serve as hideout for fish, and pull the line with short and repeated movements, simulating the movements of an insect that has fallen in the water.
On this day, lunch will be on the riverbank of the river you are fishing on, where you will enjoy your lunch surrounded by nature, to then continue fishing up to the estuary on Lake Rosselot. On this lake you will disembark and return by truck to the Lodge, where you will afterwards have a well-deserved rest before dinner.
DAY 3
On this day fishing will be on the Palena River. After breakfast our guides will take you upriver by truck, for about 30 minutes until Risopatron River Here you will embark and begin going down Palena River towards the Lodge. During this part, fishing will be on the raft, but guests can also descend to make the most of the shores, streams and tributaries on the river. On this river we recommend fishing with Streamers, using the swinging technique to better seize the waters and be more efficient. On some parts of the river that are deeper, we recommend using the Sinking line, 200 or 250 grains, to achieve greater effectiveness.
When reaching Puerto Bonito we will stop for lunch, where if the guests want, in addition to fly fishing, they can also fish Chinook with Back Trolling technique. After lunch and fishing on Puerto Bonito, fishing will continue downriver until reaching the mouth of Melimoyu River on Palena River, where you will return to the lodge by truck to rest, enjoy dinner, and regain energy for a new day of fishing.
DAY 4
Early in the morning guests will enjoy breakfast to begin their last fishing day in the program.
Our guides will take you by truck to Dinamarca Bridge, where you will continue on foot downriver for about 3 km through Dinamarca River. The path is not complicated, but you must be cautious when walking through logs and rocks. For this river we recommend using Egg Sucking Leech in green or brown. At this fishing spot, after walking through, it’s important to wait about 20 minutes for the waters to return to normal before fishing. The best way to fish on this river is by throwing towards the shores, aiming at pools and streams, slowly picking up the fly. It’s very important to throw the fly near the shores because the trout hide in there. In many parts of this river, thanks to the shallow waters, you can fish from the center towards the shores, which is very comfortable for the fishers.
After fishing there during the morning, guests will return by truck to the Lodge for a delicious spit-roast lamb lunch, a traditional preparation from the region, accompanied with salads, sopaipillas, Chilean wine, and more.
Those who still have energy left after lunch, can fish in the pools at Melimoyu River shores, which are located from the Lodge down to its estuary on the Palena River. According to our experience, the fishing method with best results in this river is the Dropper using a No.6 Chernobyl as indicator, Tippet 3x of 40 to 60 cm long and No.12 or No.14 nymphs such as brown or black Stonefly, Hare’s Ear or Copper John. Our recommendation is to fish on the pools throwing upstream and letting the fly drift. After throwing 4 or 6 times, take a few steps upstream and repeat the same technique until reaching the pool, to then continue until the next pool downstream. At the estuary on the Palena River, you will be picked up to return to the Lodge, have dinner and rest.
DAY 5
The last day at Melimoyu Lodge. After breakfast, Lodge personnel will be waiting to take you back to Santa Barbara Airstrip and begin your return trip.
