DIY: Argentina for Sea Trout

Is it possible to DIY fish the Rio Grande?

I expect that the majority of those reading Exploration Angling are DIY anglers. Enthusiastic fly fishers with a vivid dream to fly into a foreign country, resourcefully finding their way to a remote river and casting to runs of large sea trout on a warm and windless day. I get that – I’m with you.

Unfortunately, whilst this is possible for resident trout species in some countries such as New Zealand, chasing sea-run trout or Atlantic steelhead in Argentina is more complex, primarily due to access.

Whilst there are other factors taken in deciding to Do-It-Yourself such as (1) a fierce determination to be totally independent, or (2) an extended stay making a week of lodge accommodation and inclusive guide fees too cost-prohibitive, generally the main reason to choose to fish DIY is simply down to the significant outlay for lodge and related food and guide.

Let’s work this through before addressing the specific challenges of DIY. As perhaps there’s a halfway option – given you’ve already spent a small fortune flying into Buenos Aires or Santiago and then down to the closest airport to your chosen river system.

If the guided lodge offering is out of your budget, consider the option of finding an independent guide, not attached to the lodges, who has some private access or can take you to an accessible riverside location and help with your fishing technique. Even a day or two of this will give you a strong start for any additional DIY days in the region.

If you’re planning to fish the Rio Grande for instance, lodge accommodation, meals and daily guiding (two anglers per guide) will set you back US$7,000-US$9,000+ a week for a shared room in the seven Argentinian lodges or in the one lodge on the Chilean side of the border. Lodge costs can be significantly more expensive, particularly at peak times (Feb/Mar). Dividing this charge across the accommodation, food and beverages, guide, daily vehicle transfers, airport transfers and other services provided by the lodge works out to be very reasonable on a per day/per item fee.

But choosing an independent guide and checking into a less salubrious Rio Grande township hotel or local camping site will significantly reduce your outlay. A hotel for ~US$100 a night plus daily fees for a guide who can pick you up, get you onto some decent runs and net any fish caught might be a wise investment given the cost of time and flights already incurred.

But let’s assume you stubbornly refuse to take on a guide. What are the other challenges and how are they overcome?

Image: The current flight schedule into Rio Grande Airport (centre right of shot) requires you to depart Buenos Aires at either 2am or 3.30am - only for dedicated trout anglers!