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Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa Fly Fishing
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The following information will provide you with an overall idea on how Puyuhuapi manages their fly fishing operation - in their own words:
DAILY TRIPS
All of our fly fishing trips are held on daily basis. Access to all waters is by means of
big inflatable semi-rigid boats, powered by heavy-duty outboard motors. We use the
ultimate technology. Travel from the lodge to the rivers can take from 15 minutes up to
11/2 hours, one way, depending on the chosen option. Gourmet lunch and appetizers, soft
drinks and liquor, and the best Chilean wines are always provided. For long hiking trips
we switch to light to light lunches and sandwiches. Trips are held throughout protected
sea, narrow and calm, fjords and channels. There are trips available by road, which we
only suggest when the sea gets rough or windy-in average not more than one week from the
entire season. Our boats are provided with all the required safety devices, as well as
lifevests, portable GPS and radios. They host a maximum of two fishermen, fly fishing
guide and boatmen, although having a much larger capacity. All of our trips are rated as
exploratory trips regarding safety standards.
RIVERS
We consider all of the rivers we fish, wild and undiscovered. The area offers more than
50. All of them flow into fjords and channels, and a high percentage are always gin clear
no matter how heavy it rains. Water is here clean and unpolluted. Most of the rivers are
freestone although some limestone are found. Nearly all of them face a strong tidal
influence, especially on the lower sections. All rivers are easy to wade and some even
offer non-steep hiking trails. Some of them are located inside national parks. Daily trips
are planned according to tides and weather. Rivers range from mid to small size, offering
plenty of fishable water - runs, pools, riffles, flats. Access to them is by boat. all
fishing is done wading - fishing from boats and trolling is therefore not available.
BOCAS
The opportunity of travelling to nearby " bocas" -bays- is always a chance. They
are not farther than 15 minutes by boat ride from the lodge, and can offer outstanding
trophies. If you do not mind blind casting and fishing brackish water, this might be and
options. Most of the "bocas" are gin clear. Others are silty. Surprisingly this
last hold the largest number of bay trophies - steelhead and silver. This fishing demands
long casts and some double hauling. We strongly suggest it as a half-day alternative.
FISH
All the rivers we hit hold many different freshwater species which will vary according to
water level, time of the season and tides. You will certainly find resident rainbows and
browns during all season, as well as searun browns and steelhead from mid to late season.
Silvers tend to run later in the season, although occasionally early and mid season runs
appear. The chance for hooking native robalos and pejerreyes is available during all
season. Rainbows average 6 pounds with many trophies over the 10 pound range. Resident
browns and sea-runs tend to be slightly smaller, with some isolated trophies. Steelhead
and silver salmon go easily above double digits, even in the smallest rivers. All of the
freshwater species tend to move and cruise with the tides, except resident browns. Chances
of landing over ten double digit specimens are here common. All fish have seldom seen a
fly before. Therefore, even beginners can expect a high number of fish landed daily.
FLYFISHING
Most of the fishing is practiced subsurface with either weight forward sink tip or
floating lines, as well as sinking shooting tapers. Various nymphs and bright colored
streamers are here the rule, although when hatches arise, you might switch to dries,
emergers and even traditional wet flies. Searching dry flies are always an option.
A 9 feet 6 weight is here the all around rod. If you are looking for
the ultimate challenge or dry fly fishing, a medium-fast or fast action 8 '/2
feet 5 weight rod will do the job. We suggest 7 and 8 weight lines for salmon and
steelhead. Because they are tiring for a whole day fishing, an extra lighter rod should
join them too. You will seldom need long distance casting and tiring double hauls -- fish
often hold close to the shore. Your guide will stalk them for you. Small rivers might
demand good roll casting ability, due to close bushes and trees.
Reels must be able to hold at least 100 yards of 20 pound test
backing. We urge our clients to carry reels with the best drag system available. Long fish
runs in small rivers are difficult to handle. Fish are here not as spooky as you might be
used to. Nevertheless, they can be difficult to fool. Wind it is not a problem -- you will
seldom feel it. Tides are important. Your guide will clearly explain you how to use it to
your advantage when fishing.
All of our fly fishing guides are professionals in their job. They have been guiding for
many years up to date which provides them with outstanding experience. All of them are
fluent in both Spanish & English, and some of them also manage fluent German. Their
expertise goes beyond fly fishing, being able to identify different species of dolphins,
birds, mammals, and flora. Their main focus is on fly fishing as well as catch &
release -we do not accept other fishing method. One of their prime goals is stalking trout
and salmon for clients. They will also suggest prime and feeding lies, lines and rigs,
patterns and techniques, and will net the fish you catch. Their service does not include
fly casting nor fly tying classes, although they will help you on both. Our guides do not
practice fly fishing while guiding. Programs are based on one guide per two clients.
BOATMEN
In order to provide the best service available, each boat is managed by specialized
boatmen. They have an impressive knowledge of channels and fjords of the area, as well as
waters fished and weather. Usually they do not handle any other language except Spanish.
Their main goal is to offer the best traveling service. When boats are beached, boatmen
usually set up lunch or a delicious barbecue. They allow guides to focus exclusively on
fly fishing, while taking care of tides. Boatmen and fly fishing guides are trained to
work on defective outboard motors and difficult weather situations. They can handle
successfully problems. Our handy radios, allow them to keep permanent communication with
either the lodge or nearby towns. We do not give problems any chance.
SEASON AND LIMITED SPACE
Fly fishing season runs here from November (second Sunday) till May (second Sunday). For
this 1998/99 season we are limiting our flyfishing program to a maximum of 6 flyfishermen
at a time.
HOURS
Since trips are held mainly by boat, we strongly suggest our clients to leave the lodge as
early as possible and to return close to evening. Nevertheless, clients can arrange with
guides their preferred hours. We do not allow any night or before-daylight trips. We also
reserve the right to cancel any boat trip if we feel weather or sea conditions are unsafe,
or if we feel clients aren't in good shape for a particular trip.