Mar tin Pescador The Best Trophy Trout Fishing in Patagonia, Chile
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Martin Pescador Lodge in Lake District, Chile Diversity, Delicacies and Good Friends Bordered by the high Andes on the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Chile stretches over 4,300 km (2,670 mi) north to south. At its widest point east to west, the area spans only 350 km (217 mi). By pure geologic chance, this makes Chile a prime country to experience vast fishing diversity with minimal travel. No other lodge embraces this concept more than Martin Pescador. During my first visit to Martin Pescador – and Chile – some 10 years ago, I immediately identified with the wisdom put forth by owners Frans and Anna Jansen. On a drizzly March day, while working a reed bank on Lake Yelcho, Frans explained that this first stop embraces the coastal rivers and lakes where trout grow to enormous sizes. He further explained it was not uncommon to take a sea run fish during a stay. The air is thick with moisture there and vegetation along the waterways is reminiscent of our Pacific Northwest. I next learned that mid-week, a logistical marvel is executed. While anglers fish their way along the Andes further inland, Anna and the lodge staff magically transfer guests’ gear from Yelcho to the La Junta Lodge – the second
stop - and still manages to be on the porch with fresh Pisco Sours at days end. Making the complicated seem routine is Anna’s specialty and she is proficient in this art, as she is a chef and baker. At La Junta, the air becomes crisp and the territory often brings Montana or northern Idaho to my heart and mind, as do the prolific trout and hatches. Time and time again as I reminisce with guests of Martin Pescador - be it their first or fifteenth trip – I am reminded of the warm and friendly atmosphere Frans and Anna create, treating each guest like family. A day of fishing is unbeatable, an exceptional meal is extraordinary, but to experience it among friends new and old in the comforting ambiance of Martin Pescador and the Jansen’s is really beyond description.
Hank Ingram Jr.
The Many Faces of Martin Pescador: Yelcho Lodge: Under the stunning shadow of the Hornos Mountains Glacier, the Yelcho Lodge is camouflaged among a quiet grove steps from the banks of the mighty Yelcho River, just four miles downstream of the lake. The indigenous main lodge is surrounded by private quincho-style bungalows where anglers will relax while targeting behemoth lake and river trout. Some of the largest rainbow trout in Chile are regularly brought to hand here and often on dry flies.
La Junta Lodge: Perched upon a grand yard bordering a prolific riffle of the Rio Rosselot, La Junta Lodge is a sprawling two-storied post and beam building flanked by guest wings featuring five sundrenched bedroom suites. Here fishermen will drift and wade the Lago and Rio Rosselot, Rio Palena, Rio Figueroa and other numerous lesser known, although satisfyingly abundant waters. Ending the day by hopping out of the boat, strolling across the lawn to awaiting fresh Pisco Sours on the deck as the sun shadows Melimoyu Volcano – magical.
Coastal Property: Martin Pescador has created an experience on the Chilean Coast that allows guests to fish the productive tidal rivers for browns, rainbows and salmon just moments from their departure from the sea. Offered as a trip extension, anglers will embark on a short, scenic boat trip with their guide up the Pacific Coast to a remote village and a small cottage fronting both river and ocean. Targeting bullish sea run fish on small water amongst the crisp smell of the ocean is the emphasis of the Coastal Property. Lago Verde: Standing stately on a boulder-strewn meadow atop a rock cliff, Lago Verde Lodge’s views down the heart of her namesake lake are unparalleled. Here anglers will dine and relax in a handsome, tastefully furnished hand-hewn structure with 180 degree views of stunning water and mountain vistas. Sleeping quarters feature unique customized wall tents with wood burning stoves and other creature comforts. Detached bath facilities are just a short walk away. With a keen eye for discovering new remote waters, Frans Jansen found a trout-rich area in the sparsely populated border with Argentina boasting sight fishing opportunities on spring creeks and ginclear free-stone rivers, and floating the lake and the larger rivers of the region.
Martin Pescador Lodge: The Place for Large Trout on Dries Have you ever seen a five pound trout launch itself through the air like a Flying Wallenda? Not many fishermen can say that they have seen that very often. But in Chile you can. What is causing these trout to leap through the air with reckless abandon? In a word: dragonflies. The dragonfly hatches on Chilean lakes can be epic events for fly fishermen and those who have experienced it have had the memory burned into their psyche. “Hitting the dragonfly hatch is an event that I look forward to every year,” said Gary Westerhoff, who has traveled to Chile’s Martin Pescador Lodge for the past twelve seasons. “When the hatch is on the trout simply go crazy. It is phenomenal.”
Frans Jansen, owner and head guide of Martin Pescador, says that for the past seventeen years he has seen large rainbows clear the water trying to catch emerging dragonflies and that the hatch is something quite special and has to be seen to be believed. It is his favorite hatch of the season. The hatch runs from mid-December through midFebruary and is triggered with each incoming warm front. They tend to start off slowly but increase in size and duration with each consecutive warm day. Fishing guides will scan the weed and reed beds for splashes along the reeds as a single fish rise may tip off that the hatch is beginning.
During metamorphosis the millions of dragonfly nymphs work their way from their watery home and begin climbing up the vegetation to where they will shed their exoskeletons and dry their new wings in the warm Chilean air. At this point they make their maiden flights over an audience of receptive trout who eagerly leap clear out of the water for the newly winged insects. The resulting feeding frenzy can include hundreds of trout and can last from several hours to an all day event. Frans notes that rainbows tending to cruise along reed lines while browns will often hold in spots and allow the food to come to them.
Fishing the dragon fly hatch is rather simple once the activity begins. Tie on a large blue, brown or olive foam or deer fair dragonfly pattern in size #4-6. A 9-foot 1X tapered leader with the corresponding tippet should be attached to weight forward floating line on a fast action 9-foot 6-weight rod. Frans Jansen recommends the fishing the fly like a bass popper. Once the cast is made the angler strips the line in short tugs making the fly come alive. Then hold on! Many guests that visit Martin Pescador schedule their trips to coincide with the dragonfly hatch—and who can blame them? Large trout on dry flies is a winning combination that anglers crave.
Late Season Trophy Trout Hunting in South America March and early April is prime time for trophy hunters to fish for large resident trout in Chile and Argentina. The big trout begin to feed aggressively leaving them vulnerable to a passing fly. This is not for dry fly purists, but for those who are prepared to employ the full range of fly-fishing techniques and tempt one of these trophy fish from the deep. This will involve mainly drift boat or raft fishing using sinking lines and big flies, but the rewards are worth the effort with double figure trout being the very achievable target in some of the world’s most beautiful fishing settings. We currently have the following openings for 2015: Martin Pescador Lodge, Chile:
Fjords Discovery Program, Chile:
March 7 - 14 (2 rods) March 14 - 21 (2 rods) March 21 - 28 (6 rods)
March 15 – 21 (4 rods) March 22 - 28 March 29 - April 4
Collon Cura Lodge, Argentina: Call Frontiers for availability.
Rates Based on Double Occupancy & Shared Guide* 7 Night / 6 Day - $5,950 per angler Single Room Supplement 7 Night / 6 Day - $1,200 per angler *Prices subject to change Inclusions Rates include round-trip transfers to/from Santa Barbara airfield; professionally guided fishing and license (if applicable); accommodations at the Yelcho and Rosselot lodges; all meals; cocktails, beer and wine with meals. Exclusions Meals where not indicated, tourist and departure taxes, tips, transfers to and from Puerto Montt Airport to La Paloma Airport, extras (room service, telephone calls, tips, alcoholic beverages except where specified by individual lodge operators, items of a personal nature, etc.) and round-trip local commuter airfare (La Paloma AirportSanta Barbara-La Paloma Airport) and international and internal commercial airfare. Note: Round-trip commuter service from Puerto Montt to Santa Barbara is available for approximately $350**. Due to the extreme increase in the cost of aviation fuel, commuter flight prices are subject to change without notice. Deposit A 50 percent deposit of the total land package is required to secure a reservation. Martin Pescador accepts personal checks, traveler’s checks, US dollars and pesos.
Frontiers Contact Our team of highly specialized agents coordinate every last detail of your trip. For this hosted departure, please contact:
Hank Ingram
Department Manager, South America Toll-free: 1-800-245-1950 Phone: 724-935-1577 hingram@frontierstravel.com Hank Ingram and Ben Hoffman
Ben Hoffman
Senior Program Manager, South America Toll-free: 1-800-245-1950 Phone: 724-935-1577 bhoffman@frontierstravel.com
Clients Say it Best Late Season Big Bad Browns By: Gary W., Frontiers Client For the past two years, I have fished at Martin Pescador Lodge in the late season. This is the time of the season when the stoneflies creep to the shore to hatch. Upon hatching, the adult stones fly over the water’s surface to lay eggs to begin the next generation. The big brown trout abandon caution and their shadowy hiding places to enjoy the delicious meals easily available. My drifting rubber leg stone fly nymph or large bushy dry fly cast hard on the water’s surface became too much for the big-mouthed monster brown trout to resist. Oh, by the way, big rainbow trout also joined in the merry activities. Late season fly fishing at Martin Pescador Lodge is amazing!