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Coyhaique /Cerro Castillo Full Description
Coyhaique / Cerro Castillo Rivers (7 nights / 6 days)
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This fly fishing trip is based in the Coyhaique Valley and Cerro Castillo lake systems in Central Patagonia. The remoteness and beauty of the region creates the allure of the American West a hundred years ago. Coyhaique is the largest town in the region and serves as the cultural and trout fishing hub in Central Patagonia.
The valleys that are situated among the dry grasslands, the Andes, and the Pacific Ocean present a wide variety of angling options that range from diminutive spring creeks to large glacial rivers that offer wild resident trout yearround. Between Coyhaique and Cerro Castillo, there are over twenty lakes with both rainbow and brown trout. In addition, the fjords that barricade the mainland from the Pacific Ocean serve as an entrance point for migratory trout and salmon.
These valleys offer excellent dry-fly fishing opportunities. Anglers can toss grasshoppers and beetles in every undercut bank, and sight fish for hunting trout in the shallow riffles and back eddies. This trip is reserved for anglers of all skills. The fishing may take place on jet boats, rafts or walk/wade depending on the destination and fishing conditions.
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October-December: The trout/salmon season in the region starts the first weekend of October. Many rivers and lakes offer great conditions as fish have not yet inhaled any fly imitations for almost six months. Most snow-fed rivers, creeks and small tributaries are gin clear. A significant part of the fishing takes place with streamer and nymphing techniques. The fish are hungry after the winter and usually take the imitations with aggressiveness. By this time of the year, you can already experience big terrestrial fishing in the Cerro Castillo area. December fishing and weather conditions can be very similar to the American West in June. The temperatures increase and little by little daylight stays longer. During this time, the first mayfly and caddis hatches take place. An important part of the fishing takes place with streamer and nymphing techniques. However, the dry fly imitations become more important especially by the end of the day.
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January – February: Aquatic insects on the surface, predominantly mayflies, become more and more active in the morning and early afternoon. However, terrestrial fishing is at its best. This is the time of the year where most of the fishing takes place on the surface throughout the day. The Nirehuao creek offers excellent hopper fishing opportunities like no other creek in the area. Lake fishing is always very consistent with its terrestrials and streamer fishing.
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TRIP FORMAT
Inclusions:
6 days of guided fishing / 7 nights of lodging, Breakfast, lunch and dinner, Wine, beer, cocktails and local hard liquor,  Ground transportation to/from Balmaceda Airport (BBA), Fishing license, Terminal tackle.
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Exclusions: US Passport (required), Airfare, Any additional accommodations outside this trip package. Gratuities to staff.

SAMPLE ITINERARY
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Friday: Depart USA by plane.
Saturday: Arrive in Santiago, Chile (SCL) early morning on Saturday. Go through Chilean Customs. Pick up bags. Recheck bags. Depart morning or early afternoon to Balmaceda, Chile (BBA) form the same SCL airport. It is important to be on one of these flights if you want a direct flight. However, there are more flights available with one and two stops:
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Latam Airlines SCL BBA
LA 271 07:12 09:32
LA 275 11:11 13:31
LA 279 13:21 15:41
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Saturday Afternoon: Shuttle from BBA airport to lodging accommodations will be provided by guides/assistants.
Transportation from Balmaceda to lodging accommodations is typically 45 minutes. Dinner on Saturday night at 6-7 PM.
Sunday through Friday: Guided fishing days. Start time-approx. 9:00 AM; End time-approx. 6:00 PM. Breakfast served at 8:00 AM, streamside lunches, appetizers/drinks at 7:00 PM, and dinner at 8:00 PM.
Saturday: Depart lodging accommodations by 9 am (depending on flight). Shuttle from lodging accommodations
to airport provided by guides/assistants. Arrival in SCL airport. Connecting flight back to USA.
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Sunday: Arrive in USA
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Coyhaique /Cerro Castillo Full Description

This fly fishing trip is based in the Coyhaique Valley and Cerro Castillo watershed in Central Patagonia. The remoteness and beauty of the region evokes the allure of the old American West. Coyhaique is the largest town in the region and serves as the cultural and trout fishing hub in the region. The valleys situated among the dry grasslands, the Andes, and the Pacific Ocean present a wide variety of angling options that range from diminutive spring creeks to large glacial rivers that offer wild resident trout year round.

 

Between Coyhaique and Cerro Castillo, there are over twenty streams and lakes with both rainbow and brown trout. In addition, the fjords that barricade the mainland from the Pacific Ocean serve as an entrance point for migratory trout and salmon. These valleys offer excellent dry-fly fishing opportunities. This trip is reserved for anglers of all skills.

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October–December: The trout/salmon season in the region starts the first weekend of October. Many rivers and lakes offer great conditions as fish have not yet taken any fly imitations for almost six months. Most snow-fed rivers, creeks and small tributaries are gin clear. A significant part of the fishing takes place with streamer and nymphing techniques. The fish are hungry after the winter and usually take the imitations with aggressiveness. By this time of the year, you can already experience big terrestrial fishing in the Cerro Castillo area. December fishing and weather conditions can be very similar to the American West in June. The temperatures increase and little by little daylight stays longer. During this time, the first mayfly and caddis hatches take place, so dry fly imitations become more important especially by the end of the day.

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January–March: Aquatic insects on the surface, predominantly mayflies, become more and more active in the morning and early afternoon. Also, this is the time of the year where most of the fishing takes place on the surface throughout the day. Particularly, terrestrial fishing during late morning and afternoon is at its best with Cantaria beetle imitations.

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Cantarias belong to the Stag or Darwin Beetle family and, under the right conditions, trout feed actively on them. They are big as their sizes range between 1.5 and 3.5 inches. It is a thrill to imitate them with a fly as the naturals are clumsy fliers that usually land on the water after a distinctive 'plop'. After landing on the water, Cantarias remain still for a long time. This is the best part as anglers can often watch from the boat a hungry trout slowly swimming toward the fly to inhale it.

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In Central Patagonia, the Nirehuao Valley offers excellent hopper fishing opportunities like no other in Patagonia. Lake fishing is always very consistent with its terrestrials and streamer fishing.

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NOTEBOOK

Where: Central Patagonia (Coyhaique/Castillo Area):

When: Oct-Mar

What: Fly fishing for resident browns and rainbows.

Format: Walk/Wade & Float Trips. 2:1 guide/angler ratio

Skills: Open to all

TRIP FORMAT

Inclusions: 6 days of guided fishing / 7 nights of lodging, Breakfast, lunch and dinner, Wine, beer, cocktails and local hard liquor, Ground transportation to/from Balmaceda Airport (BBA), Fishing license, Terminal tackle. Exclusions: US Passport (required), Airfare, Any additional accommodations outside this trip package, Travel Insurance, Gratuities to staff.

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SAMPLE ITINERARY

Friday: Depart USA by plane.

Saturday: Arrive in Santiago, Chile (SCL) early morning on Saturday. Go through Chilean Customs. Pick up bags. Recheck bags. Depart late morning or afternoon to Balmaceda, Chile (BBA) form the same SCL airport.

Saturday Afternoon: Shuttle from BBA airport to lodging accommodations (45 minutes). Dinner by 6-7 PM.

Sunday through Friday: Guided fishing days.

Saturday: Shuttle from lodging accommodations to airport. Arrival in SCL airport. Connecting flight back to USA.

Sunday Morning: Arrive in USA

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