Río Grande · hatch chart
Season runs roughly December to mid-April; the sea-run fish enter from January
By month
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
| Month | Insect | Stage | Size | Time | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Sea-run brown, streamer | Stripped | #2-6 | Early morning and dusk | |
| Jan | Caddis and small mayfly | Adult | #14-16 | Evening | |
| Feb | Sea-run brown, nymph | Dead-drifted | #10-14 | All day | |
| Mar | Sea-run brown, small nymph | Dead-drifted | #14-16 | All day | |
| Apr | Caddis and midge | Adult | #14-18 | Afternoon | |
| Dec | Caddis (Hydropsyche) | Adult, evening | #12-14 | 21:00-00:00 |
Flow and visibility
The Río Grande's lower 30 km is tidal, so the water level moves twice a day and the best fishing often happens on the last of the ebb and the first of the flood. Rain in the Chilean Andes colours the river quickly, and a big spate can put it out of action for three days — but a fresh run of sea trout usually follows. Wind is constant: 40 km/h is an ordinary afternoon and gusts to 100 km/h happen.
The insect plate
