The Rio Gallegos is almost 300 km long and has its source in the southern Andes from the two rivers Penitente and Ruebens. On the way to the Atlantic, the river runs through the impressive landscape of Patagonia. The beats of the Las Buitreras Lodge are 40 km from the ocean and, to the surprise of many, are located in a unique and beautiful, very mountainous landscape. Here you can fish in a technically demanding way in a grandiose environment, in very beautiful and varied pools for sea trout and brown trout of considerable size, with the chance of some very big fish.

A daily routine optimally specified for the fishing, with its center, the excellent Las Buitreras Lodge on the Rio Gallegos, guarantees a wonderful fishing holiday. Some experienced fishermen claim that fishing on the Rio Gallegos is in no way inferior to that on the Rio Grande, although the weekly price is significantly lower here.

The lodge offers double bank private access to 42 km of the river with more than 50 pools. The large number of pools ensures that you will fish a lot of unfished water in each session. A very competent team of guides (one guide looks after two fishermen at a time) makes it possible, depending on the weather, to fish the long stretch with the help of modern off-road vehicles and to optimize the chances. The guides are specialized in their section of the river and the fishing guests rotate over the different beats. This ensures that the guides have very detailed knowledge of the section of water they are supervising and can use it skillfully.

The river is relatively shallow, so wading is very easy and there is no need for fast sinking lines. Nevertheless, the river section is very varied and varies between deep and stony sections, steeply sloping bank edges and flat areas. There are wide and slow-moving holding pools, in which there are lots of fish, as well as fast-flowing beats with a classic character and different structure. Fishing is accordingly multifaceted and exciting. In addition, you learn a lot during your stay on the Rio Gallegos and can perhaps use what you have learned later on other rivers.

Like on the Rio Grande, you fish for really big sea trout, which can weigh over 30 pounds here too. On the Rio Gallegos, a single-handed rod is often enough and imagine what it is like to catch a 20-pound sea trout with a 7 or 8 wt. single-handed rod – an unforgettable experience! However, our recommendation is a light two-handed rod, in class 7/8 or 8/9; this is particularly advisable in strong winds. Two rods are ideal, one with a floating line and one with an intermediate line, preferably in a transparent design. The use of different Sinktips enables an adaptation to the different conditions, which one often encounters here even within the same beat. Leaders used range between 0.25 and 0.35 mm.

Different variations of modern rubber leg flies (for example a Girdle Bug and EMB), but also conventional sea trout flies, are successful. The size of the fly is particularly dependent on the water flow and the light conditions. In the evening, when the light slowly disappears, larger flies can be very successful, especially dark tube flies. Very often, the darker evening phase of the daily session proves to be particularly productive. There is a good selection of flies available in the lodge.

The lodge is only a 10-minute walk from the river and, with its 8 rooms, can accommodate 12 fishers
and two non-fishing guests. The 6 double rooms and the 2 single rooms are all equipped with a private bathroom with shower. The lodge has its own wine cellar, which offers many excellent wines from the Mendoza and San Juan regions.

Outside on the sheltered veranda you can enjoy your wine or beer after fishing and the Argentine assado is prepared on a stone grill. Las Buitreras has excellent cuisine, a warm atmosphere and is perfectly geared to the needs of fly fishers. All meals, as well as house wine, water, juices and beer are included in the price. Internet connection is available between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.