El Patagon
Three hours south of the small town of Chaiten, at the edge of the remote Reserva Nacional Lago Rosselot, lies El Patagon: the rustic outback brother camp of Yan Kee Way and truly one of Chile’s premier fishing lodges. Under the care of skilled American guides, anglers float rivers so fresh and undiscovered that it will take decades to make them legends: the Rio Rosselot, Figueroa, and Pico. Here guides encourage you to twitch and drag your dries for emphasis and to walk back in the woods, away from the river, to where no angler has ever walked before. Weather permitting, anglers will have the rare opportunity to fish for anadromous rainbows in the extremely remote Puyuhapi National Park. Be among the first to fish these remarkably pristine, productive dry fly waters.
El Patagon Fishing:
With multiple rivers and lakes within easy striking distance of El Patagon Lodge, anglers have a great many options. The main systems are the Rio Figueroa, the Rio Rosselot, and the Rio Pico. Anglers access these rivers using rafts, catarafts, and jet boats. During a typical week at El Patagon it is not uncommon for anglers cast dries, nymphs, streamers, and mice patterns. I can personally recall fishing all these methods in one day on the Rio Figueroa. On average fish range from 14″ to 18″ but it is not uncommon to see fish in the 20″ to 25″ range in a week’s fishing. As far as numbers of fish are concerned we expect there to be tough days that you will have to work hard for half a dozen fish and we also expect there to be great days with 20 plus fish to hand with most days falling somewhere between.
El Patagon Accommodation:
El Patagon is located on over 3,000 acres on the banks of the Rio Figueroa. The property has four well appointed cabins for guests, a 30 foot yurt for dining, a changing room for storing waders, boots and equipment, a wood burning hot tub on the river, and a modern cook house. The cabins are nicely appointed and all are equipped with full baths, ample built in storage, and wood burning stoves.
El Patagon Travel:
To get to El Patagon Lodge you will need to Make travel arrangements to Santiago, Chile and then to Puerto Montt, Chile and finally Chaiten, Chile. Your travel agent will be able to assist you with flights to Puerto Montt. The flight from Puerto Montt to Chaiten is on a small commuter air line and we will assist you with this reservation. You will need to make you travel arrangements to arrive in Puerto Montt by 12:00 noon on your arrival day. On your departure day you should schedual your flight out of Puerto Montt after 4:00 Pm. The majority of flights to Chile depart the US in the evening and arrive early in the morning at the Santiago International Airport. Upon arrival you will be charged a $100.00 entry tax. Domestic airport taxes are $8.00 and departure tax is $18.50. After receiving your luggage and clearing customs, you’ll make a short 5 minute walk to the National Airport where you’ll connect with your 90 minute flight to Puerto Montt’s International Airport – El Tepual. Your arrival will be in the late morning or early afternoon. You’ll be greeted in the Puerto Montt airport by Yan Kee Way staff and be assisted on to your short flight to Chaiten. In Chaiten you will be met by El Patagon staff and then drive 3 hours to the lodge. All itineraries begin in the afternoon of your arrival day.
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Depart Home.
Day 2: Arrive Santiago: The majority of flights to Chile depart the US in the evening and arrive early in the morning at the Santiago International Airport. Upon arrival you will have to clear customs and then transfer to the domestic terminal which is just 100 yards away from the international terminal. From the domestic terminal you will fly to Puerto Montt. In Puerto Montt you will be greeted by a member of the Yan Kee Way Lodge staff and be assisted on to your short flight to Chaiten. In Chaiten you will be met by El Patagon staff and then drive 3 hours to the lodge. You should arrive at El Patagon Lodge at approximately 5:00 pm
Day 3-8: 6 full days of fishing @ El Patagon Lodge
Day 9: 10:00 am Drive from El Patagon to Chaiten. Fly from Chaiten to Puerto Montt. Fly from Puerto Montt to Santiago. Depart Santiago for the US.
Day 10: Arrive Home.