Chaiten to La Junta

Tres Rios guides have over 15 years experience floating and fly fishing the rivers between Chaiten and La Junta in Patagonia Chile. Although all trips are custom designed for each group, a typical program starts with an early flight from Puerto Montt to Chaiten, fishing the Rio Yelcho the same day. From there the options include Lago Yelcho, and the extensive watersheds of the rivers Rio Futaleufu, Rio Palena, Rio Rosselot, Rio Pico, Rio Quinto and Rio Figueroa plus all the more remote side streams, lakes and lagunas that are often more interesting than the main rivers. There is enough quality water in the area to fish somewhere new each day for 4 weeks.

As weather determines where the best fishing will be on any given day, the flexibility we have is important in maximizing the quality fishing time during your trip. Storms and rain are heavier near the coast (Rio Yelcho, Rosselot, TicToc) and weaker, or only overcast, closer to Argentina (Futaleufu, Lago Verde). As we have multiple lodgings sites, we can invert an itinerary to get the best fishing under the best conditions, something we have done frequently with great results.

The town of Chaiten and its airport were devastated by the eruption of the volcano of the same name in May 2008. Forty-minute flights from Puerto Montt now arrive to Santa Barbara, just north of Chaiten. The Futaleufu fishery that was in the path of the ash fallout is back to normal. Browns leap 2 feet into the air for dragon flies in Lago Yelcho just as they always have. None of the fisheries south of Rio Futaleufu were ever affected by the eruption. Often we meet anglers coming from Argentina at the Futaleufu border and run a circuit that ends either at Esquel-BA, or Chaiten-PuertoMontt-Santiago. It's also possible to combine fly fishing in this area with the Coyhaique area and fly out of, or into, Balmaceda.

A trip to this area can also start or end with a stay at Tres Rios Lodge for a few days, fishing the Rio Petrohue and Rio Maullin, as well as all the adventure between Chaiten and La Junta.

We use a network of private cabins, BnBs, and small hotels strategically positioned to cover this entire area. In general we fish a different fishery, or stretch of a river, each day and stay at a different venue each night. Not having to return to a fixed point each evening (a lodge), travel time is minimized, while fishing and adventure time is maximized. Lodging is varied but always interesting and providing all the creature comforts an angler needs. Our friends and partners in Patagonia are descendents of settlers who first homesteaded the area, who in turn have lived their lives in this magnificent but difficult country. We believe in supporting local people with initiative. It's a great treat to savor excellent Chilean wine and enjoy the preparation and feast of a lamb prepared by the local experts! There is absolutely no better way to experience more of Chile and fly fish a wider variety of rivers than to join us on a road trip in deep Patagonia.