From Colorado to Argentina: DIY Fly Fishing Patagonia

Before I start, I would like to mention that you may experience a few format and grammatical errors. Due a broken right finger, I have limited use of my right hand and I am now using a pre-installed Mac voice dictation application. So, I am doing my best to put my best English forward, but I simply do not have the time to thoroughly edit/review everything I type...it would take too much time.  In advance, thanks for understanding.

On the same day that my previous DIY client left for Chile, 76 year old Dr. Marc Richman, my new pre 30's DIY clients arrived (what a contradiction of DIY clients).  Meet Les Vance and Lysa Marquez, the youngest DIY clients on record.  Both are pre 30's and hail from Creede Colorado.  During the summer months in the USA, Les is the head guide at the 4UR Ranch, a wonderful all inclusive summer resort set in the Colorado Rockies. During the off season, Les spends his time doing DIY trips to places like New Zealand and now Patagonia. Lysa graduated from Colby College, just a few hours from my home in New Hampshire.  She works part-time in washington D.C. for a foundation specializing in HIV education and prevention, and then spends her summers working in Creede.

Les contacted me a few months ago and told me that he found my blog on the internet.  He explained to me that he was visiting Patagonia for 2 months and was wondering if I had time to work with him.  As it turns out, I had a small 5 day window to work with him and Lysa.  Also, truth be told, with my broken finger and having worked for a solid month straight with other clients, it was great to work with him because he is a professional guide and a dam good DIY fly fisherman.  So, all I needed to do was to find them affordable lodging, food, and drive them to the river every day...pretty low key and no stress at all.  In fact, working with Les and Lysa (non-traditional clients) has given me the opportunity to think about the future regarding DIY fly fishing in Patagonia.  My thoughts?  I hope some of you don't take this personally, but the traditional fly fishing client (lodge folks), due to their age, will soon be fishing in the big sky (and I don't mean Montana); or physically incapable of traveling and fishing. Sad, but true, I doubt the next generation of fly fisherman will have the money to pay the lodge bill (unless you are a TF baby).  Plus, I don't see the next generation as the lodge type at all...people and our culture has changed...fishing in general has lost its appeal to the youth (Fishing vs. Facebook, etc).  So, at a quick glance, most people look at what FCFF is doing and they think we are crazy, or they simply don't understand the method to our madness.  Trust me, we are not crazy and we are well aware that we do things entirely different from the rest of the fly fishing world.  But, I feel good about our not-for-profit/donation only model, and our  DIY programs that we are offering (it just feels right and I believe if fly fishing has a future, this is the new paradigm).  As we have always said, we don't want to be the 'top dog' in the industry...heck, we don't want to be part of the industry at all...we just want to go fishing and help others do the same!  And, for 5 long days, with Les and Lysa, that's just what we did!    

En route to Junin de los Andes...a quick stop at the Rio Limay Amphithreater.  As you can tell, these guys really know how to strike a pose (not)!

Lysa is a beginner, soon to be an expert fly fisherman.  So, at the request of Les, we spent the first day on the upper Malleo.  Why?  The water on the upper Malleo is super low at the moment.  This means big fish are hunkered down, but lots of small fish (6"-12") will be readily available.  I knew of several pools that would be perfect for Lysa to practice with the dry fly.  

Lysa plucked the previous pool clean.  She was now ready to test her skills in more technical spot.  Just around the corner, I knew of a run/pool that holds 12"-14" trout.  I told here where to cast her fly and as you can see from the bend in the rod, she hooked up immediately...a beautiful brownie at +/- 12".  This was super cool to watch...I think I enjoy watching people catch fish more than catching them myself. 

We fished the upper Malleo (monkey puzzle tree forest) for a 1/2 day and then decided to explore new waters, downstream.  Les and I were really happy we did so because we got into some nice fish and excellent water.  One fish hit my fly so hard it broke me off instantly and Les got into a few fish +/- 20".  Contrary to my share all policy, I am not going to share more info about these spots.  Why?  We only fished them for an hour, so I really am not prepared to discuss this water in detail. 

The follow day, we fished the lower Malleo (Mapuche Reservation).  Lysa started off with a HUGE bow that was well over 20", but just as we were beaching this beast, it spat the hook and swam off.  The same thing happened to Les, and then I laid into a brown that was worthy of anyone's attention. But, like the others, this brown spat the hook and swam off.  We all looked at each other knowing that would have been a fish worthy of a magazine cover page...oh, well.  We kept fishing and finished the day with a few more good fish.

Lysa tussling with her big bow.  We were nymphing pools and going deep.

We spotted a small side pool, formed by a medium sized rock.  To the average Joe, this little pool did not look like much.  But, both Les and I agreed that this is prime brown trout 'beach front property.'  We were using heavy nymphing rigs, so I was concerned about spooking the fish.  But, Les casted far up stream and drifted the nymphs into the magic spot.  Really cool to watch someone who knows what they are doing.

Onto the lower Rio Chimehuin: the best of the best!  Lysa mentioned that she had a foot issue of some sorts, so walking for hours was not in the game plan.  So, we parked at the curva de manzana, walked downstream to the first pool and bingo.  This is a very deep pool, so we used heavy nymph rigs to pull this beauty.

This may not look big, but this is a chunky bow, maybe close to 2lbs...and it fights like a wild fish!  

Another chunky lower Chimehuin bow.  

We moved downstream and came across a Pancora crab...cute little buggers.

The nymphs rigs that Les was using were producing more fish. But, due to the high winds and my broken finger, I was I was using my TFO Deer Creek 11ft 5wt switch rod; swinging streamers with a an Airflo sink tip.  I had caught a few bows in the 12" range, but then hooked this little fatty.  

Last Day = middle Rio Malleo (yellow bridge).  What an amazing day of weather and fishing.  As you can see my guest are not into posing for pics.

When two guides fish together, we both have the same goal, but you always run the chance of two conflicting thoughts/opinions, on how to best reach that goal.  In this case, I brought Les to a spot that I personally knew produces fish, but he did not seem all that keen on testing the waters (don't blame hi, it does not look all that great).  He kept talking about how to fish the water (upstream vs. downstream) and I kept telling him just get your fly in the water, and get it close to the bushes.  In other words, don't focus on the cast so much, but make sure your presentation is spot on, regardless of up/downstream.   

Now Lysa, being a beginner and not overly thinking about the above mentioned, simply got into the water and started roll casting.  This produce a few fish...not bad for hot mid day action.

Within a short time, and focusing the the run just behind his left shoulder, Les hooked into a nice Malleo bow using a terrestrial dry fly

In this spot, the one that Les seemed not so hot on, consistently produces bows in this size and color.

We finally made it to the 'honey hole.' I always give clients first shot and then I come in for seconds.  Les quickly popped in the dry fly, but came up with nothing.  He was kind enough to let me take a shot and he and Lysa moved downstream.   Moments after they left, a HUGE trout surfaced directly in front of me.  I could see his gaping mouth...I could probably put my first in it!  I was using a heavy double nymph rig.  I had a couple of small bumps, but most caught algae...what a tease that big trout turned out to be.  I eventually snagged my rig and lost the entire set up.  So, I stopped for lunch and began think about my next move.  Since the whale of a trout rose in front of me, I had not seen any signs of fish/bug activity.  So, I kept thinking that I needed to try something new...something enticing...something that says, "come on in and look around...we have a one day sale offer."  I opted for a big juicy Alaska egg and a monster prince nymph.  I also decided not to fish the deep pool.  Upon my first cast upstream, in water that appeared to look too shallow, I caught a nice 14" brown trout.  Thereafter, I worked the entire area and eventually plucked about eight fish.  One in particular was a good fish, going about 20" and all muscle.  This fish took my line under a rock, pulled me downstream, and kicked/jumped like a wild mustang.  Eventually, I beached the beast and some how managed to take the above photo, with my broken finger...while holding the camera upside down.  Afte a fight like that, I was happy and I was done for the day. 

Les and Lysa have left Junin de los Andes and are headed to Mendoza...Malbec wine capital of the world.  I don't think they will have much time to explore the many wine bodegas (vineyards) because  their flight leaves on April 2nd.  That gives them the entire weekend, but to all future South American travelers, this is Easter holiday weekend!  This holiday is by the largest in South America and people (lots of people) will start traveling as early as Tuesday.  So, I wish them well and hope they can get to Santiago without issue.  In closing, I had a great time with them and I thank them for working with me. I hope they can share their experience with the next generation and tell them that DIY fly fishing in Patagonia is real and I am always here to help!

Saludos y Feliz Semana de Santa,

Mark

PS.  As a result of working with a Les (a guide), I may offer a special DIY guide program for Patagonia.  Please contact me directly to discuss details.  And if your ever in the Creede or Southwest part of Colorado, I highly recommend working with Les Vance lsvnc@yahoo.com


  

DIY Patagonia Fly Fishing: From Maine to Patagonia Argentina

Before I start, I would like to mention that you may experience a few format and grammatical errors. Due a broken right finger, I have limited use of my right hand and I am now using a pre-installed Mac voice dictation application. So, I am doing my best to put my best English forward, but I simply do not have the time to thoroughly edit/review everything I type...it would take too much time.  In advance, thanks for understanding.

As time passes, it is becoming harder to remember the exact details on how I met my clients (i.e. in person or via my blog).  However, in this particular case, I remember most of the details because Marc Richman lives only 20 minutes from my home and his wife, an operating room nurse, works with my friend, an orthopedic physician assistant.  As it turns out Marc is a retired ophthalmic eye surgeon, originally from Boston, now splitting time between Florida and Kittery Point, Maine.  I can also remember meeting Marc because my friend was kind enough to refer my name to his wife (thank you very much BC), and two, Marc invited me to lunch to discuss a DIY fly fishing trip to Patagonia Argentina (a face to face meeting like this does not happen often). We had a good discussion at lunch and I believe we felt comfortable with each other, but I walked away not knowing if he would be a future client.  Why?  Marc is a 76 year old retired eye surgeon who probably could afford to go to any lodge in the world and stay as long as he desired.  In fact, I later learned that he has taken 75 float/lodge trips around the world and he was a member of the second group of fisherman to fish Kamchatka, for the first time ever! This information means that money is no object, and over his lifetime, my guess is that Marc has spent well over $100,000 USD on fishing trips, maybe over $200,000 USD.  So, as we talked at our lunch meeting, and then several emails/phone conversations reviewing Q's & A's, and even after he came to see my slide show presentation titled Fly Fishing and Traveling Argentina, I had one burning question I had to ask him!  Why me?  Specifically the question in my mind...why would a 76 year old retired eye surgeon who has been on 75 float trips around the world, and could easily afford to go to any lodge in the world, want a DIY fly fishing trip to Patagonia Argentina, with me?  His reply, "I have been looking for you for over 20 years." WHAT... did I hear him correctly?  I did not say this out loud, but admittedly I did think it.  I am skipping a few details, but eventually, once Marc arrived in Argentina, and once we began to learn more about each other, we discovered that we had a lot in common.  As a result of our common life experiences and interest, I felt it was okay for me to ask him what his statement meant.  Without hesitation, Marc was kind enough to explain to me the following:

• I want to fish and spend my time with 'real' fisherman! 
• I want to spend my time and money exactly how I want, regardless if it is $1.00 or $1,000,000!
• I don't want to go to a lodge and over-eat and drink with a large group of strangers!  
• Each day, I want the ability to make my own plans/decisions...not a pre-set program that caters to large groups.   

In the end, Marc got exactly what he wished...a true DIY fly fishing trip to Patagonia Argentina.  Below are a series of photos and comments based on his vacation. 

I picked Marc up at the San Martin de los Andes airport, called Chapelco (only 20 minutes from Junin de los Andes). We immediately went to San Martin for a quick tour and to exchange USA dollars for pesos (the rates is up to 7.6 and 8.1 in BsAs).  He said San Martin reminded him of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  I asked him if he would like to spend more time touring SM, but he said, "no thanks, I have seen enough."  The above photo is a picture of Marc standing outside of his rented apartment, located in Junin de los Andes.  My apartment is next door.  The cost of this one bedroom (1 bed and bunk bed, bath, and small kitchen) was less than $40 USD per night.  FYI, I did give him multiple lodging options, but he picked this 'charming' abode.  Each morning, Marc and I would have breakfast in my apartment (fruit, yogurt, pastries and tea...just what he wanted).  We bought lunch to go (mostly empanadas) at a local store that makes all home made food.  For dinners, we would grab take out at the home made food store or visit the below

This photo is of a Patagonia Parilla (BBQ restaurant) located three blocks from the apartment.  They cook fish, chicken, meat, and pastas. You can also order salads, mashed potato's and french fries.  I would guess that Marc was spending about +/- 100 pesos per day on food = less than $15 USD per day, and he ate very well! 

Marc does not speak Spanish, but he had no problem asking for a sample of vacio (flank steak).

Marc's fishing program entailed 2 days of float trips and 4 days of walking-wading.  Naturally, the best river to put a DIY walk-wade 'dry-fly' fisherman is the Rio Malleo.  When I tell you that Marc can cast and present a dry fly, I am telling you he is the real deal.  He makes roll casting a dry fly, 30-40ft away, into a space about the size of a bagel, an art form!  I really enjoyed watching him pick apart this river.  

I will be honest, the Malleo was extremely low, so the opportunity to catch big fish (+16") on a dry fly was greatly diminished.  There are big fish here, but they are at the bottom of the pools = dredge with nymphs.  Marc caught lots of fish in the 8"to 14" range, both bows and browns, all on a dry fly.  

We fished both the lower and upper Malleo.  At Marc's request, we went back to the upper Malleo to fish a very special spot.  When we arrived we spotted a 30" brown bathing in the shallows.  Unfortunately, upon the first cast, the fish was spooked and swam off.  

DIY on the upper Malleo = not another person seen for days and great views of Volcan Lanin, at +12,000 feet.  

Another great pool on the upper Malleo = just you and Patagonia mother nature

The 'corner pocket pool.'  Most anglers would pass this run/pool, but this spot is about quality/presentation.  You have to be able to roll cast a fly into rock nook and make the prefect presentation, or you are done.  Marc pulled two beautiful brown's out of this spot and it was so pretty to watch him put the fly on the spot.   

Marc spent two days floating the Rio Alumine.  The first day, he had great weather and fish were cooperating.  The second float trip on the Alumine was OK, due to high winds in the afternoon. 

Marc with his guide Gustavou, on the Alumine.  He caught 18" to 24" bows all day long!  Marc said this float trip was one of the best he has ever had and spoke highly of the guide. 

Marc seen at the Rio Limay amphitheater ...heading to Bariloche. Marc plans to meet his wife and friend in Chile and spend a week fishing.

One night stay in Bariloche at Hospedaje Wikter, before taking the 7:30am bus to Puerto Montt, Chile.    I arranged all travel plans from Argentina to Chile...he arrived in Chile with no problems.  Before leaving town, I brought Marc to an organic pastry shop to buy breakfast food for the bus ride.  If your in Bariloche, be sure to stop in and buy the breakfast cereal bars! 

Before Marc stepped on the bus heading to Chile he said, "I have been following your blog and truthfully, I was a bit worried...one minute your camping on the Pacific Ocean in Chile and the next minute your getting surgery on a broken finger...so, I wondered what the hell was I getting myself into.  But, in the end, your DIY program is exactly what I wanted and I am very happy with your guides and service...thank you for doing a great job."   What a great compliment, especially from a man who has been on 75 float/lodge trips around the world!  Marc...on behalf of FCFF, the guides and their families, thank you for visiting Patagonia with us, and we hope to see you again.  

I probably will know all the reasons, but I now realize why Marc Richman chose the DIY fly fishing Patagonia.  In his heart, regardless of anything else, Marc has returned to his true self...a boy who grew up within a poor Boston family living in a rough neighborhood, who worked hard his entire life for himself and his family, who ultimately, before leaving this earth, just wants to watch a trout rise to his carefully placed dry fly...for Marc, this is the magic, and this is why he has chosen to spend his time and dime as a DIY fisherman, with FCFF.

I realize that Marc is a rare DIY bird...there may not be many more of his type out there.  Personally, I wonder how many more DIY fly fisherman are out there, who have been looking for me for the past 20 years?  People may think I am crazy, but I think there are millions!  Why?  At one time in our lives, we were all DIY fly fisherman...this is a special thing that may get lost in the hustle and bustle of life, but it never truly goes away!  

Thanks to my guides Gustavou and Cristian for providing excellent service and thanks to all the people in Junin de los Andes for helping.

Muchas Gracias,  

Mark

PS.  Next season, we'll be offering several new DIY programs that might catch your attention.  So, join or keep following the FCFF bog and stay tuned.      

  

Turning Tail Film Screening at Phillips Exeter Academy

It's a Super Fish weekend

April 12th,13th and 14th

and on April 20th...

On April 12th...It's a FREE (no charge) film about eastern Atlantic Salmon and the director will be attending for Q & A's.

All are invited...The Phillips Exeter Academy Fly Fishing and Environmental Sustainability Clubs will host the film Turning Tail: The Atlantic Salmon’s Great New Leap. Turning Tail presents the Atlantic Salmon as the holy grail of freshwater angling, a cultural icon and a great indicator of man’s troubled history with his natural environment. For more info on the filmhttp://www.ggpfilms.com/film-turning-tail.html

Time: 7:00pm Location: 200 seat forum, 3rd floor Phelps Academy Center, on the main campus. 

Great Bay Trout Unlimited: has two Trout in the Classroom tanks located on the PEA campus. Again, the event is FREE and all are welcome to attend.

And Don't Forget...

GBTU's Annual Fly Auction

When: April 13, 2013,  Doors Open 5PM

Where: Roundabout Diner Function Room

What: Great Food, Great Drink,  Great Items, Awards and More...

Admission: Only $25       

Admission Includes Roundabout Diner Buffet & 6 Bucket Raffle Tickets

Go to "Buy Now" PayPal Button Upper Right Column
and Save Your Seat Now!

Old Town Canoe Raffle

Win a 16’ 9” Old Town West Branch Canoe includes 2 Seat Backs and Paddles
Retail value= $1099

Canoe Raffle Tickets On Sale Now!

$5 each or 3 for $10

Tickets available at all Great Bay Trout Unlimited meetings

  or you can download and print your own entries (for mail in with payment) at www.greatbaytu.org

(Raffle entries cannot be purchased using PayPal)

Drawing will be held at the Annual Great Bay TU Fly Action Fundraiser

Saturday, April 13, 2013
Location: Roundabout Diner Function Room, 580 US Route 1
(Portsmouth Traffic Circle)
Portsmouth, NH

All proceeds support the work of Great Bay TU

On April 14th, our Tout Unlimited neighbors to the south, Nor'East Trout Unlimited, will be hosting the

F3T Fly Fishing Film Tour

On April 20th, New Hampshire Fish & Game Presents

From Canada to Patagonia: DIY Fly Fishing Argentina

Before I start, I would like to mention that you may experience a few format and grammatical errors. Due a broken right finger, I have limited use of my right hand and I am now using a pre-installed Mac voice dictation application. So, I am doing my best to put my best English forward, but I simply do not have the time to thoroughly edit/review everything I type...it would take too much time.  In advance, thanks for understanding.

About 5 months ago, I received an 'out of the blue' email from Ross and Daralyn Hodgetts, of Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada.  Initially, I thought Ross was a fellow that I met on a DIY steelhead trip Terrace, British Columbia.  As it turns out, Ross and I have never met.   As the story goes, he and his wife had been researching Argentina travel and fish options for some time, but just could not find what they were looking for. They were planning a five week trip starting in snowy-cold Canada, and then touring Patagonia, Mendoza, Cafayete, Salta, Buenos Aires and Iguazu falls Argentina.  Ross said that when they came across my blog, they instantly became interested because of my ability to customize their fly fishing trip to Patagonia.  You see Ross is a retired professor from the University of Alberta; a PhD specializing in fruit flies.  Given this information, I suspect Ross and Daralyn could easily afford a two week stay at a Patagonia fly fishing lodge. But, this would easily have cost them well over $10K USD...and that does not include airfare and all the little extra things that add up to a sizable bill.  Further, Ross has been a DIY (Do It Yourself) type of guy since early childhood.  For example, his family owns a large summer boys camp on lake Ontario (Canadian side) and he and his wife have canoed two dozen arctic rivers...pretty amazing stories, I tell ya!

I can't remember all the details but I do recall Ross sending me a list of things he wanted to see/do/accomplish in Patagonia; in seven days!  In addition, he was adamant about not wanting to stay at some froofy, expensive fly fishing lodge...he wanted a genuine Patagonia fishing experience!  I remember it was a lot and my reply back to him was, "you may not like my reply, but I am being honest...it's impossible to do all these things in 7 days." I explained why it was impossible, and suggested that if he really wanted to see it all, at a sane travel pace, that he would need at least two weeks (minimum).  We swapped a few more emails, answering each other's questions, then he sent an email stating that he and his wife would like to book two weeks with me.  WOW,  a person who I have never met, who does not know me from Adam, and after simply reading my blog and swapping a few emails, was now my top customer for the season 2013 fly fishing season!  I still can't believe the power of the Internet and how my blog is coming up on search engines such as Google...thank you technology and a big THANK YOU to my new friends from Canada!

I could probably write a novel about the Hodgett's adventure, but I am still nursing my broken finger.  So, I think I will simply post photos with brief comments.

Day 01: Upper Rio Limay, conveniently located just down the street from San Carlos de Bariloche, is a very challenging river to fish...even for the pro's! The day before Miguel (expert brown trout fisherman and guide seen in red shirt on right) caught an 8lb brown trout at the mouth (he caught the fish at 6:30am).  Unfortunately for Ross, though he and his wife enjoyed the float and commented on how great the stream side asado (BBQ) was, he finished the day with no strikes.  I always hate hearing this but this is always part of the equation, especially on one tough river like the Limay.

He may not have landed a fish on the Rio Limay, but he soon forget the days results after I took him to the best pasta restaurant in Bariloche.  A meal for two, including wine, bottle water, salad, and the very best pesto lasagna in all of South American, cost him $35 USD.

Day 02: Travel day to Esquel and a quick stop in El Bolson to visit the outdoor market (Feria).  El Bolson is an artsy-hippie type town with a summer outdoor market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.  If you are in the area, don't miss this market, it is the best, in all of Patagonia.

El Bolson is known for their wood carving products

El Bolson Wood Carving

Crazy psychedelic flies man...only in El Bolson, which stands for "the bag." 

The Hodgett's first Empanada de Carne... they tried one and went back for more!

El Bolson:  A gelato before we hit the road...the right choice after a few empanadas

Day 03:  Welcome to Esquel and Arroyo Pescado...a private estancia with a spring creek loaded with trout and perca.  The cost to entire is $100 per person, each day.  They limit the amount of anglers to 4 per day.

Arroyo Pescado: Ross getting ready.  We had the entire place to ourselves and the registration book showed that the creek had not been fished in over 3 weeks (another great reason why to visit Patagonia in March).  The only thing in our way of catching dozens of fish, the relentless Patagonia wind!

If you are dead drifting a nymph or streamer at Arroyo Pescado, you must learn to be very, very patient with your drift (light strip, if any!)...it is rather difficult to truly understand, but once you get it, you'll start catching things like...

Huge Native Perca

Arroyo Pescado: Heading into prime trout water =

Last cast of the day at Arroyo Pescado with Brad Bohen's Chronidc Leach = One Happy Canadian!

  

Day 04: Los Alerces National Park. Home to 12 lakes, numerous rivers and breath taking scenery.

Los Alerces National Park...amazing views!

Cozy lodging at Hosteria Cume Hue.  Great Location to all the best fishing waters and hiking trails...not to mention the  lake views from your window.

Los Alerces National Park hidden jewel = The Spring Creek...bring your 'A' game! The creek holds browns, bows and brookies...all very healthy and extremely difficult to catch.

Los Alerces National Park = Rio Rivadavia...bring your 'A' game and pack a lunch, these are tough waters and very picky fish!

What is an Alerces?  It's a tree.  Behind Ross and Daralyn is a 300 hundred year old Alerces.  The oldest tree's in the park are over 2,000 years old and stand 300 feet high.

Rio Rivadavia...print and frame this!

Day 06: Travel day from Esquel to Junin de los Andes. Another amazing photo of Rio Limay.  This section of Rio Limay is called the amphitheatre. 

Ross is an active birder.  I specifically brought him here so he could see Condors. Condors are the largest bird on earth.  The white spots on the cliff are guano (bird poop).  Condors do not make or live in nest, just rock.  

Day 07: Back to business on the upper Rio Malleo.  This is one of my favorite pools and generally produces small to medium fish, but on rare occasions...

This pool will give it up...Upper Malleo: Solid 20" brown trout on a #18 Caddis

Upper Malleo:  20" Brown Trout on #18 Caddis

+12,000 feet Volcan Lanin: Post Card Shot

Day 08: Alumine float trip with super guide Gustavou Sarthou.  Ross has take many floats trips throughout Canada, USA and Caribbean and he told me that Gustavou is the best g!uide he has ever had!  What else would expect from a former Argentine rowing champion.

18"-22" Rainbows all day long on the dry fly = very happy Canadians.  Another great job by Gustavou!

Day 09 & 10: Lower Chimehuin float and over night camp trip

Lower Chimehuin Almuerzo (Lunch).  We offer prepared meals or we cook a stream side asado.  Regardless the quality of the food is excellent and we offer the option of meat or vegetarian meals.

On all over night camp trips, we start with fire side appetizers and wine.  I personally select only the best wine and provide free of charge...a small token of my appreciation.

Your table is ready!  Over night camp trips are not for every one, but those brave enough to wine and dine under the Patagonia stars, it's an experience you will not soon forget.  A special thanks to Cristian Olsen who was the camper/cook for Ross and Daralyn.  

If you were counting the days, you'll notice that I ended on Day 10; not a full two weeks. So, what happened to the two days.  Day one should have been the first day the Hodgett's arrived in Bariloche.  Day one, was a half day tour of Bariloche.  I brought the Hodgetts to the famous ski mountain El Catedral.  Unfortunately, it was Sunday (Domingo) so the chair lift to the top was closed.  If the chair lift was open, this is what Ross and Daralyn would have seen...

Miles of Andean Mountains. 

Since Catedral was closed we opted for plan B, which as you can see, the view is not all the bad!  Next stop...

Drinks at Hotel LLao LLao.  I love bringing people here to see this classic Euro-Patagonian style hotel,  set against the Andes and on the ocean like lake called Nahuel Huapi.  Both the outside and inside of this hotel are wonderful and worth a quick visit/drink.

The other day that I omitted was due to a failed voltage meter in the alternator (an unexpected, no fault failure).  As a result, the (2) batteries were drained/died and we were stuck in Los Alerces National Park.  As a commitment to my clients, I ran back to the hosteria, in sheets of rain and driving wind.   The owner of the hosteria called the national park service on the VHF radio and an hour later the flatbed arrived.  We brought the truck to Esquel where a mechanic replaced the voltage meter and added a short-cut wire from the battery to the alternator = Problem solved, but too late to drive back to Junin de los Andes.  So, we lost a day, but in hindsight, it was raining hard all day, so it was the best day for this to happen.  Most companies would never put this info on their website, so why do I do so...I believe in truth and reality.  I also believe one's character is defined by his actions.  Specifically, when things go wrong, does a person take responsibility, apologize, and fix the problems?  In this case, as I always do, I apologized to the Hodgett's, took responsibility and made a gracious offer to compensate them for the inconvenience.  In turn, they appreciated my effort and responsibility and kindly said, " shit happens, and your offer is appreciated, but your apology and effort is more than enough."   

Ross and Daralyn Hodgetts are very special people. Why?  They are just good people and before we said our goodbye's Ross said that he would like to make a donation to Three Rivers Stocking Association (www.3riversstocking.blogspot.com) Can you imagine...a Canadian who may never fish the Cocheco/Lamprey/Isinglass Rivers (all located New Hampshire, USA) will donate money...simply amazing!  When asked why, Ross said, "I believe in you and what your are doing to help save our fisheries."

On behalf of FCFF, the guides Gustavou/Cristian and their families, we thank you for working with us.   Please come back to visit and be sure to tell your friends about FCFF.

Muchas Gracias,

Mark

PS.  How much did this trip cost?  Let's say that a one week stay at a Patagonia lodge would cost $4,000 USD per person (2weeks X $4,000 = $8,000 per person x 2 people = $16,000 USD). With the FCFF DIY Hybrid package, the Ross's spent less than $6,000 USD for two weeks (including all meals, lodging, float trips, etc).  In the end, the Ross's said they would have never been able to do a trip like this on their own, and felt the service and value were well worth it!