El Patagon
Fly Fishing Lodge
Chile
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El Patagon Fly Fishing Lodge Chile |
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ABOUT EL PATAGON LODGE - in their
own words (edited to make it more concise):
The beauty, serenity and remoteness of the area provide an unanticipated bonus. It is a
wilderness with very little infrastructure. Having a comfortable place to return to at the
end of the day is key to a great fishing experience. We were determined to find the right
piece of land for a Patagonian fly-fishing lodge. We wanted a base of operations with easy
access to the fishing and one that would allow us to provide the personal comforts
necessary to enjoy this area to the fullest. Natural resources to facilitate sport
adventure and cultural expeditions were important determinants, as we planned to offer a
broad range of activities for our guests.
We found an ideal property. It is almost 5 square miles of land area and its location
provides an excellent base of operations. The son of the original homesteader sold the
property to us. It has both lake and river frontage for our guests to explore. The Rio
Figueroa, shown above, is but a few pace from your Cabin.
We have an enormous temperate Patagonian rainforest that is on the site. We are protecting it to maintain its natural state for now and for the future. In fact, we established a working relationship with CONAF, the national agency responsible for protection and management of forests throughout Chile, to assist us in this endeavor.
Our guests enjoy El Patagon’s central location in the
fishing grounds, all week long, with floats that start right on the river outside their
cabin or that are but a 15 to 30 minute drive away.
During the last seven years, we obviously discovered many new and secluded waters. We have
added to our land holdings in order to offer you access to these newly discovered remote
and secluded Patagonia fishing venues. Our most recent purchase is an additional 242 acres
with frontage on two river systems. We are finalizing the purchase of 440 more acres that
fronts on yet another remote Patagonian river system. An easy 5-hour horseback ride takes
you to this 440-acre property which is in some of the most beautiful valley lands we have
ever seen in the Andes range.
All territory surrounding El Patagon is comprised of large private holdings like our own.
Unless one is a landowner, the right to enter these remote areas over private lands,
ranges from very difficult to impossible. Thus, our new land holdings provide us access on
jointly held easements locking-in our right of transit and enabling us to offer you some
of the most remote and beautiful fishing experiences available anywhere in the world
today. We are not through discovering or purchasing in this area.
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The Lodge El Patagon was designed to comfortably accommodate eight fly-fishing guests. There are four separate cabins like the above with the red roof. Each cabin has a full bath with shower, built-in closets and a wood-burning stove. For those who chose a rustic atmosphere we have installed kerosene lanterns that you may use in lieu of electricity. In the middle of the compound is the
common area on which is built a fogón. An eight-sided structure, the fogón is a typical
Patagonia shelter in Chile. We use it on evenings when roasting lamb or some other meat, a
la parilla or Patagonian Style, for the main course. Our guests gather around the fire
while the meat is slowly browning to swap fishing stories, enjoy their wine as they watch
their dinner slowly reaching completion. The Lodge compound was constructed in a rustic
local style to reflect the character of the region and the temperate rain forest or cool
jungle in which it is located. In building El Patagon, we used teams of Oxen with carts to
carry the materials into the forest from the road. These great animals also pulled the
deadfall and other materials around on the site. From time to time, we contract with our
neighbors to bring these big bulls in to assist us, as they are very efficient when it
comes to moving things around on the property. |
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The dining room and lounge at EL PATAGON is a
30-foot diameter yurt from Pacific Yurts in Oregon. The visual juxtaposition of this
structure, typical to Mongolia, with the classical fogón from Chile provides a working
example of two, ancient, but very functional clear span building types. We talk a great deal about fishing on our web site but we want you
to have everything you require when you come off of the river. For those who desire a
sauna or hot tub at day’s end, you’ll love these wood fired amenities
overlooking the Figueroa River. Just below the hot tub is a cold stream to compliment the
sauna and hot tub. |
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ABOUT THE FISHING FROM EL
PATAGON, in their own words:
The beauty of the location is equal to the fishing. We escort you to and guide you on
various types of water and present the opportunity to catch many different species of
fish. You can literally choose a different type of water and fishing style each and
everyday while fly-fishing in Patagonia at the El Patagon Lodge. The possibilities are
limited only by the amount of time you have to spend with us.
This remote region was first settled in the early 1950’s. The first roads reached the area in 1988. EL PATAGON is located on Lago Rosselot and Rio Figueroa. The Figueroa empties into Lago Rosselot. Flowing from the lake, heading west, Rio Rosselot joins with Rio Palena at La Junta. Eastward, the Rio Figueroa is fueled by Lago Verde and other river systems which cross the Andes from Argentina. We have a mile of frontage on Lago Rosselot, 3.5 miles of frontage on the Figueroa and our own spring creek at this Lodge. Other small streams and lakes surround us. These waters are home to rainbow, brown and brook trout. In addition, sea-run browns, coho, king and Atlantic salmon ply these waters
EL PATAGON lodge is also close to the sea. With ready
accessibility to estuary fisheries, we offer opportunities to fish for very large rainbow
and sea-run brown trout, steelhead, and silver, Atlantic and king salmon. King salmon
exceeding 40 pounds ply these waters. A further bonus of our estuary fishery is the
assurance that you will have additional fishable waters should unseasonable rains put some
of our local rivers out of shape. While we focus primarily on fly-fishing, we also satisfy
customers who desire to pursue this abundant salmon resource beyond the estuaries. Our
professional Pacific Northwest and Alaskan guides will escort you on a traditional salmon
fishing expedition on the salt chuck.
Estuaries -- where fresh waters engage the salt -- are home to fine rainbows like these.
They eat their breakfast, lunch and dinner in the sea. Incoming tides carry them to the
rivers for their dessert. When we talk about 17 inch estuary fish, we are talking about
their girth rather than their overall length.
The stream and lake fishing season in Chile begins, in most areas, in the month of
November and continues through the middle of April. El PATAGON Lodge is situated in a
region that opens its season with large runs of spring salmon, silvers, kings, steelhead
and sea-run brown trout in the month of November.
Fresh kings, some in excess of 20 kilos, make their way from the lower Palena, through Rio
Rosselot, Lago Rosselot and the Rio Figueroa to distant spawning grounds in Argentina.
Whether taken as an incidental catch, or by design, one of these sea fresh fish will
change the tempo of your entire day.
