Pichi Leufu River

The longest and funniest river in the Patagonian steppe

Located about an hour east of Bariloche, the Pichi Leufu means “small river” and offers some of the best dry fly action in the area. This is a great river for beginners or advanced anglers. Anglers can enjoy non-stop action with Rainbows and Browns on 3-5 weight rods. In the early part of the season, micro-streamers and big nymphs are fished on light sinking lines to produce good results.

This environment is one of the best options for walk and wading, and is so small in some sections that it makes it almost impossible to float the river

Pichi Leufu is in the heart of the Patagonia Argentina steppe, and offers riffles, deep pools and slow, grassy banks. This beautiful river is suited for both beginner and intermediate anglers.

Hess Lake

Best dry fly action for big trout

Hess Lake is one of the lakes through which the Manso flows. It is located in the Nahuel Huapi National Park, about 45 minutes from Bariloche. Hess Lake is a relatively small lake, but it provides some amazing fishing opportunities. The lake features internal channels and extensive reed structure, providing some very inviting habitat for Rainbows, Browns and Brook Trout. Terrestrial patterns presented agains the reeds can produce some explosive strikes. Hess Lake is best known for prolific hatches of caddis flies, mayflies, stoneflies, dragonflies, damselflies and other aquatic insects. During the summer, the lake comes alive with massive hatches just before the sunset.

Fonck Lake

Unimaginable dragon and damsel flies hatch’s

Into the Nahuel Huapi National Park limits is Fonck Lake. Fonck Lake is just a few miles from the Chilean border, and is also one of the lakes through which the Manso River flows. This is an exceptional lake due to a combination of breathtaking landscapes and outstanding fishing. Brook Trout average 16 inches, but can often reach 18-20 inches. The lake is fed by cold creeks that make it a prime habitat for beautiful Brook Trout. Much like Lake Hess, terrestrial patterns can be productive, but streamers are also very good.

Sight fishing with dry flies on Fonck Lake will also attract Rainbows and Browns that average 18 inches or more. An ugly streamer, fished in deep pools, will give an anglers surprises. Brown trouts around 28-29 inches and make for a great day of fishing!

Caleufu River

The word Caleufu means in local indian language (Mapuche): "Another stream"

One of the most wonderful rivers in Lanin National Park, the Caleufu River is born by the union of two smaller mountain rivers: The Filo Huam River and the Meliquina River.

The Rio Caleufu can only be floated during the months of November, December and part of January, due to its water level fluctuations. This makes the fishing pressure very low during the fishing season and more throughout the year.

The quantity and quality of the Rainbow and Brown trout is just amazing! There are many fish including trophies!

Streamers action in the beginning of the season and dry flies and nymphs mostly in January.

The river passes through several private lands, so the only way to float and fish almost entirely, is only by overnight trips. This unique fishing condition results in low fishing pressure because there is only one access to launch the boats and just one place for take out on public land. And, not everyone wants sleep comfortably in the middle of nowhere!

The Caleufu flows for more than 45 km, ending in the Collon Cura reservoir, another water system that is well known and super productive for trout fishing.

To reach the put in location, we must drive around two and half hours from Bariloche City. We go with drivers and cargo boys who give us a hand with everything necessary for the trip. The first 65 km on the famous route 40 (Pavement) and then another 60 km on a gravel route called Paso Cordoba. In the last one, the beauty and the landscape is unique. Within an hour of arriving at the put in, we are floating and fishing towards the first camp

At the end of this three day/two night trip, we finish at a place called “the broken bridge” close to Collon Cura water reservoir, where the drivers and cargo boys greet us for the ride back to Bariloche City. The good news is the return trip takes approximately 2 hours and is entirely on pavement!

Collon Cura River

MTFF top 3 in rivers for overnight programs and quality fishing

The best way to start a description of the Cura Collon is that it is formed by the Malleo, Alumine and Chimehuin rivers. It is important to keep in mind that these rivers are probably three of the most fertile rivers in Argentina, with great quality and quantity of water.

It is an environment with a substrate, better known as “freestone” or loose stones. The Collon Cura is probably one of the most prolific environments in this region. It also presents the type of fishing that most closely resembles some of the great western rivers of the United States.

It crosses a large part of the Patagonian steppe, which was once a valley, with a very gentle gradient. You can fish endless slides and tail waters as you float this environment, and it gets better and better by the minute. Like many of the rivers in Argentina, most of this river passes through 2 private ranches, which ensures a relative isolation of the environment and very little pressure on the river.

Almost all forms of fly fishing can be effective in the Collon Cura. From large foam lines with lots of active trout, to slides with powerful browns waiting for large dry flies, or some crab or minnow imitations.

The hatching in the early hours of the morning alert us to a large number of fish rolling on the surface of the water, taking caddis, mayflies, willow worms, or aphids ... this river has it all.

The Collon Cura is not your average river. The power of the Rainbows in this river, is almost unparalleled, kg per kg, it is one of the fish that fights the hardest and has the most power in all of northern Patagonia.

Most of the trout here are rainbows, but there are also large browns that on many occasions reach 6-7 kg in weight.

The Collon Cura is a river for a perfect 3-day trip in the middle of nowhere, with all the amenities that only Massive Trout can offer you.

Malleo River

The best river for wading and sight fishing lovers

The Malleo is a medium to small river, depending on the different times of the year, the landscape and the large number of fish that inhabit it make it one of the most attractive rivers in Northern Patagonia. In a large part of its route it is surrounded by mountains, wild animals and livestock from the communities that live by the river-side.

It was born in Lake Tromen and after traveling about 60 km it flows into the Aluminé river. These are key points for those who want to capture large browns, especially at the beginning and end of the season, when these large breeders begin to migrate.

The river at its start is surrounded by lush forests with fast moving water, which makes it very difficult to wade. Then it enters into private lands where fishing is very good for those who want to fish in the comfort of fine lodging. Below the bridge that takes us to the border with Chile the water runs more slowly and the natural vegetation decreases. This sector is called Malleo Medio and the the environment is very different from the previous sections of the river – water speed, landscape characteristics, vegetation and fishing all change creating a new experience.

From the bridge that leads us to Aluminé to its mouth in the river of the same name appear the deep pools. The speed of the water it is also slower and allows us to wade it and fish with greater tranquility.

At its mouth at the beginning and at the end of the season, very good size trouts can be caught, both from brown and rainbow trout, in some cases reaching 2-3 kg in weight.

The Malleo River is ideal for fishing enthusiasts with dry flies and nymphs using floating lines. sight fishingin this environment is very common. During the months of Spring (November-December) the high levels of the river require us, to present streamers using light sinking lines.

Finally, the Malleo River is ideal for those who enjoy wading, since floating is not allowed. Undoubtedly one of MTFF's favorites and a world class river.

Chimehuin River

The world dry fly temple

The Chimehuín River was probably the first Patagonian river to be world famous and that put Patagonia-Argentina on the world map of fly fishing.

This environment has been explored by countless local and international fly fishermen and over time they have given a name to many sections of the river, now known to all. The river has endless structures that transform it into a refuge for many fish. It is important to note that the environment is very rich in minerals due to the type of substrate through which it advances, constantly changing its gradient, this helps the large number and different tips of insects that we find: Various types of Mayflies, stoneflies, grasshoppers, caddisflies, etc.

It is inhabited by a large number of rainbows and browns, very active for much of the day, this environment allows fishing with dryflies from November to May, regardless of the weather and temperature conditions, it is always possible to tempt some trout to climb surface. It is challenging but very rewarding.

The river itself is of a medium-high technical level at the time of sailing, depending on the level of water at the time of the year we visit it, it presents a lot of obstacles, such as stones that in turn form small rapids, that the Guide must sort as the day progresses, or the overnight trip. On its banks it is covered by willows that generate repairs for both trout and insects in general. We can say that the Chimehuin River is the environment of North Patagonia where the fly fisherman, regardless of their level, can apply any technique at any time of the season and will surely yield their fruits. From large streamer in search of large brown trophy trout, to small nymphs in Hopper-Dropper, to cover more water, if we fish from a pregnancy. The match the hatch is present all the time and makes the most experienced can also take their day to very technical levels.