Río Chimehuín

The river

The Chimehuín flows out of Lake Huechulafquen near Junín de los Andes and joins the Aluminé to form the Collón Curá. It is a clear, medium-sized freestone river with excellent hatches, and it is the river that made Patagonia a fly-fishing destination. The Chimehuín's upper reach is a big spring creek fed by the lake, crystal clear and weedy, and there is a separate, later opening date for it because it is the most vulnerable water.

On this river

The evening caddis skate

Patagonian evening caddis fishing is done with a fly skated on the surface on a long leader, often with the rod held high. Fish it across and slightly downstream and let the current drag the fly in an arc; the take is a violent surface slash, and the fish hook themselves against the line tension.

Fishing the spring creek on foot

The upper Chimehuín's spring-creek reach is small, clear and weedy, and it is fished by sight at short range. Kneel behind the weed, use a 4-weight, and target a single fish with one cast. If you put the fish down, move 50 metres rather than waiting — on a spring creek, a spooked fish stays spooked.

Tricos in flat water

In February the Chimehuín has a morning Trico spinner fall on the flat water below the old bridge, and the fish that feed on it are large and selective. Use a #22 with 0.10 mm tippet, cast only to visibly feeding fish, and take the rise as the signal to lift rather than the disappearance of the fly.