La Aurelia Lodge 

Argentina

Estancia Aurelia together with the adjacent Estancia Rosita, both of which are owned by the same owner, covers 36000 acres of sheep farming land and they are the only operators licensed by the Tierra del Fuego Government to exploit this stretch of the Rio Grande as the Aurelia Fishing Lodge. These properties include 8 miles frontage on the Rio Grande plus 15 miles of river front on its principal tributary, the Rio Menendez which is home to comparably fine fish and similar opportunities of premium catches. Aurelia Lodges stretch of these rivers present a diversity of pools, runs, and challenges that will please all fly fisherman. For those who appreciate the technical challenges of smaller water and the most authentic Argentine fly fishing experience available on the river, this is the place.

Location:
Nestled between the Menendez and Rio Grande Rivers, just upstream of Kau Tapen, the Aurelia estancia boasts 5,000 acres and more than 15 premium pools on the upper Rio Grande.

Fishing Program:
Guests will leave the lodge around 8 AM after breakfast each day, fishing until around 12 PM. Lunch time will be served in a new comfortable cabin, 10 minutes from the river, where you’ll find a great place to relax, visit the fly shop and enjoy the traditional siesta in spacious double rooms (the hours of which will depend on month of the season). Guests return to the river between 5 and 6 PM and fish through until dusk.

All guests will fly fish two anglers per guide and anglers will fish with the same guide each day.

Fisheries:
The Rio Grande, widely considered the finest sea run brown trout river in the world, originates at White Lake in Chile and flows west to east into the Atlantic Ocean. The river is roughly 160 KM long with 70 KM of its length flowing through Argentine territory. The landscape of Tierra del Fuego is reminiscent of Wyoming or the Scottish low country. It is a sparsely populated wilderness. Large sheep farming estancias share this land with herds of wild llama-like guanacos, grey foxes, beavers and condors.

The success of the fishery on the Rio Grande is a modern-day fly fisherman’s Cinderella story. In just a decade, through access control and the diligent promotion of catch and release, fly fishing average catch results have steadily improved earning it the reputation as the world’s finest sea run brown trout fishery.

The first brown trout were stocked in Tierra del Fuego by John Goodall in 1935. Shipped from Puerto Montt in Chile, 60,000 “Salmo Trutta” eggs survived the arduous journey, to be planted on the Candelaria and McLennan Rivers, both tributaries of the Rio Grande. These fish eventually found their way to the sea, possibly attracted by the rich nourishment of the estuary. These sea-run brown trout now complete the yearly migratory cycle of salmonids, spawning during the summer months in freshwater.

Salmo Trutta remain in the river for a period of time which ranges between 1 and 4 years until their first migration to the sea, where they will feed and grow for about 6 months before their first return to freshwater, weighing approximately 6 lbs. Researchers have found trout which had spawned more than 6 times. A trout which has completed 4 cycles of returning to freshwater can weigh over 20 lbs. The frequency with which they return to freshwater is also an indicator that the fish face very few threats. Whilst also providing a very real example of the benefits of Catch and Release.

In addition to earning a reputation for huge sea trout, the region also has a well earned reputation for wind. While the region’s wading is easy, casting can be another thing altogether. Please come well prepared for difficult conditions. Also note that Aurelia has access to numerous quality beats on the smaller yet highly productive Menendez River.

Accommodations and Meals:
In 2005, Aurelia Lodge underwent a major renovation of the original Rosita ranch house, making it a lodge where guests now enjoy spacious rooms with large private bathrooms, a warm and welcoming reception area, a comfortable dinning room, bar area and traditional Argentine barbeque area (quincho), and a casual lounge with a pool table and fly-tying area. At the lodge they can comfortably accommodate 12 guests in 5 twin rooms, one of which is a very large suite ideal for families of up to 4 peoples, however, the number of rods may not exceed 8 licensed anglers per week.

Aurelia offers wonderful cuisine based on local meats, fresh vegetable and delicious deserts. A traditional Asado (BBQ) will be held once during your stay, and you can sample different cuts of meat and wonderful salads. A full cooked breakfast will be available together with fresh fruits, yogurts, home baked breads and jams and a selection of cereals. They have a wonderful selection of fine wines from aclaimed wine cellar across Argentina, which will be served during dinner.

Complete Trip Details