The Weekly Five - 28
Las Segadas Lodge to open 2026
Welcome to The Weekly Five – Episode 28.
Patagonia’s sea-run brown trout are first up for this issue, with news breaking of Las Segadas Lodge opening on Tierra del Fuego’s Rio Grande for the coming sea trout season. Las Segadas translates to ‘the harvests’.
Las Segadas Lodge: Fly into Santiago, then down to Punta Arenas. From there, hop a quick 45-minute flight to Pampa Guanaco, Tierra del Fuego, followed by a short drive to the lodge, just in time for Sunday dinner. Then seven full days of guided fishing on the legendary Rio Grande, with exclusive access to their spring creeks and untouched water above the Chile-Argentina border. The lodge will only open for February and March, reopening in November 2026 for the spring King Salmon runs.
The Rio Grande weaves through Chilean Patagonia, home of Las Segadas Lodge.
“Fly-fishers … are usually brain-workers in society.” So says Herbert Benson, a Massachusetts-based ‘Mind Body Medicine’ Professor. Is this the case?
And apparently 38% of budding anglers in the US see fishing as a means to relax and relieve stress. They clearly haven’t see a big brown cruise past at 10 feet!Aptly described by my fishing buddy as “casting a bra with a broomstick”, 12 weight rods are generally not the most pleasant to toss a fly. So when I had the chance to fish the Epic Boca Grande 8’ 6” 12wt (Seafoam Aqua) fiberglass fly rod recently, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy throwing a long line into tropical headwinds. Well … review & photos to come … but the TL;DR is that it performed remarkably. Much lighter to hoist than expected, a blast to cast, super-strong and, man, can it bend with a big fish on! A perfect rod to tackle Christmas Island’s biggest Giant Trevally.
For all the saltwater aficionados wondering about the value of spending US$180 on Scientific Anglers new bonefish line, the Magnitude Textured Bonefish Plus Full Clear –they’re getting really good raps and are – perhaps surprisingly – still very visible in the surf. Stiffer than the older Amplitude lines (give ‘em a decent stretch before use), these mono-core centered coated lines have an extended head length much like the SA Grand Slam, are half-line heavy, and maintain a short front taper to aid casting your full leader.
ICAST has just announced Bajio Eyewear’s Greenland Green Water Matte with Rose Mirror as their 2025 Best of Show Eyewear Winners. Bajio state that these glasses are: “Tried and tested in frigid conditions along Greenland’s Kangia River” and “designed to give you a fish-spotting advantage when you’re far off the beaten path.” Maybe worth a look (through)?
Heading down to New Zealand this season? Talk to Isolation Outfitters about a multiday Heli-Fish adventure.
Small water, big fish. All food and gear provided.
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The Weekly Five - 27
Welcome to The Weekly Five Episode 27. There’s been some phenomenal rain over New Zealand during the past few weeks, with lakes filling fast and regional flooding in the north of the South Island. Let’s hope the spawning trout are biding their time and hunkered down deep in pools.