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Week 11: March 10th to 17th, 2023
BY ALEJANDRO MARTELLO – VILLA MARIA LODGE FISHING MANAGER
The conditions of last week were very similar to what happened in the previous week. The river was already high and colored due to the rain, snowfall, and thaws in the headwaters of the system when we started fishing.
Throughout the week, the water level slowly dropped and cleared. However, in the middle of the week, we received another pulse of dirty water coming from the tributaries that enter the Rio Grande on the south bank and again the river began to rise and become cloudy. We had a couple of days of challenging fishing because of the level and clarity of the water we had to deal with against a strong west wind.
Again, the large rods were the most used since they are more capable of handling longer tips and larger (weighted) flies than a shorter two-handed or switch rod. Most guests used 14 ft rods, but a couple of anglers even scaled up to 15 ft rods. I don’t think it is strictly necessary as the longer rods become very difficult to hold in high winds, they are heavy, and the river is not that big. For lines, we kept using different setups that included slow sinking bellies (to get deep fast and keep the fly there as long as possible), and long sinking tips of fast sinking speeds (T14 to T18).
For fly selection, we needed a lot of volume and a lot of color. Patterns like intruders saw constant action throughout the week. Depending on the day, we fished them alone or accompanied by a tube fly in front to get an even larger silhouette. On the days when the water was clear, we went back to using traditional patterns, like the articulated leech and rubber-legged flies, but always paired with fast sinking lines.
Conditions were tough overall, but the fishermen gave it their all. Each guest made the catch they were hoping for and went home with big smiles on their faces, promising a return trip!
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Week 10: March 3rd to 10th, 2023
BY ALEJANDRO MARTELLO – VILLA MARIA LODGE FISHING MANAGER
This week was different and even special from a weather point of view. We had come from warm and sunny days, but the week that just ended was more “autumn.” What does it mean? Well, we began to have brief and intense rains, both in the valley and in the mountains. This caused the river to rise an inch or two almost daily and recede back to the normal level during the day.
Additionally, there was a polar wave (a very strong wind coming from the south) that caused an intense drop in temperatures throughout the country. This was manifested by very cold mornings and slightly warmer afternoons. Of course, this made the water temperature drop, especially overnight.
This required us to adjust the techniques we had been using in the previous weeks to more convenient setups for these conditions. Instead of using small nymphs, the fish began to move to slightly larger flies. Not huge, but with a slightly more noticeable silhouette. It was not necessary to use heavier lines, but in several of the fishing spots, using slightly heavier flies was necessary. A good example is the all-mighty Wonder Bug, which has been catching fish for decades and continues to bring us joy every once in a while.
So, the situation was not ideal, but with a lot of work and a good attitude on the part of the fishermen, we managed to close a good week. Every rod caught a fish of 16 lbs or bigger. Nigel & Jim scratched the 20lbs mark by catching a beautiful pair of fish back to back. Mika and Konsta had a great final session where he beat his personal record for a sea trout, and Mika managed to hook 13 fish, including a super stout 19-pounder, which he deftly battled to the bank after an exciting fight.
Now, we have to see what will happen next week, where the forecast tells us that certain rains can arrive together with low temperatures. It will be a new week with a new challenge!
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Week 9: February 24th to March 3rd, 2023
BY ALEJANDRO MARTELLO – VILLA MARIA LODGE FISHING MANAGER
Autumn has officially arrived! Throughout the week, the rainfall became more intense, and we began to see the first sudden changes in the river level. Turbidity also increased notably due to the increase in the level of all the tributaries of the Rio Grande system that were extremely low. With these autumn rains, they began to slowly recover their normal level, contributing sediments to the flow of the Rio Grande.
But this lack of clarity did not negatively affect fishing. There was only a half session during the week when we decided it was better to return to the lodge and enjoy a few drinks than to continue throwing large and heavy flies when the river brought suspended material (such as feathers, algae, grass, and sticks) in excess.
The time has come to use slightly heavier lines, although not always, and not in every pool. Floating bellies continue to fish perfectly. What did have to be adjusted were the sinking tips that are already longer and have a higher sinking speed. The 10-foot tips gave way to the 12-foot tips, and the T11s were replaced with T14s. These aren’t huge changes, but they were necessary to fool the sea trout we were looking for.
Although this slight increase in level did not mean the river overflowed, and the water level was very good and even fishable with one-handed rods. That’s what Eric did one morning when the wind allowed it, and he achieved excellent catches, the largest being a beautiful 19-pound male. The whole group did great, and all managed to land at least one fish of 15 lbs or bigger. Well done, guys!
As can be imagined from the conditions, larger flies than usual were used. The little nymphs stayed in the boxes and gave way to streamers of different sizes and colors. There was no marked preference on the part of the fish; rather, various colors, silhouettes, and sizes worked well. The forecast shows us a little more rain for next week, so we will wait for higher flows and are looking forward to the condition changes as we await our next group of anglers.
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Week 8: February 17th to 24th, 2023
BY ALEJANDRO MARTELLO – VILLA MARIA LODGE FISHING MANAGER
As we move into autumn, this week offered a great mix of weather conditions on the river. Some days were warm and perfect for fishing, while others were cold and rainy, with strong winds reaching up to 65mph. Despite the changing weather, fishing had its moments, and lucky for the fishermen, conditions were great at times.
For instance, Ed missed a few fishing sessions but managed to catch a fantastic 24lbs female and a 19lbs buck back-to-back on his return. Al also did well on his first visit to Villa Maria Lodge, landing a 21lbs hen. In fact, the entire group did exceptionally well, with everyone catching at least one fish weighing 15 lbs or more. Well done, guys!
The changing weather conditions also necessitated a change in fly patterns. Streamers, nymphs, and rubber-legged flies in different sizes all worked well throughout the week. At times, smaller sizes were required to get reactions from the fish, while at other times, the old classics in size #6 were enough.
In terms of equipment, there were no significant changes from the previous weeks since the river maintained its level, and the occasional pulse of water from the tributaries did not cloud or change the level too much. However, we expect the typical March rains next week, and we’ll see how the river reacts.
Overall, the total catch average size was 12.35 lbs, which is impressive considering the changing weather conditions.
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Week 7: February 10th to 17th, 2023
BY ALEJANDRO MARTELLO – VILLA MARIA LODGE FISHING MANAGER
This week was different and even special from a weather standpoint. We came from warm and sunny days, but the week that just ended was more like autumn. What does this mean? Well, we began to have brief and intense rains both in the valley and in the mountains. This caused the river to rise an inch or two almost daily and then recede back to the normal level during the day. Additionally, there was a polar wave, which was a very strong wind coming from the south. This caused an intense drop in temperatures throughout the country, resulting in very cold mornings and slightly warmer afternoons. Of course, this made the water temperature drop as well, especially overnight.
This situation forced us to adjust the fishing techniques that we had been using in the previous weeks to more suitable setups for these conditions. Instead of using small nymphs, the fish began to move to slightly larger flies with a slightly more noticeable silhouette. It was not necessary to use heavier lines, but in several fishing spots, it was necessary to use some slightly heavier flies. The all-mighty Wonder Bug, which has been catching fish for decades, continued to give us joy.
The situation was not ideal, but with a lot of work and a good attitude on the part of the fishermen, we managed to close a good week. Every rod caught a fish of 16 lbs or bigger. Nigel and Jim scratched the 20 lbs mark by catching back-to-back beautiful fish. Mika and Konsta had a great final session where Konsta beat his personal record for a sea trout, and Mika managed to hook 13 fish, including a super stout 19-pounder which he didn’t want to give up.
Now we have to see what will happen next week when the forecast tells us that certain rains can arrive together with low temperatures. It will be a new week and a new challenge!
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Week 6: February 3rd to 10th, 2023
We have finished another fantastic week of fishing at Villa Maria Lodge. As has been happening, the weather played a leading role but without being decisive this week. However, we missed a fishing session on the 2nd as the wind backed up and reached speeds of 120 km/h, which made fly fishing quite difficult to do. So, the boys decided to take the morning off, rest, and recover strength for when the conditions were a little more appropriate.
Apart from this, the weather was very good for the rest of the week. Generally, the mornings were sunny and the afternoons were warm and cloudy, which allowed for good and sustained fishing during most of the day. The wind was light and changed direction but it never became difficult or annoying beyond the aforementioned day.
As I have said before, the fishing was good in several sectors of the river. For example, we can talk about Sandy, who in his first session of the week, managed to land fish of 20, 19, and 16 pounds, and a few smaller ones. Two guests, Hans and Mark, both achieved the best catches of their lives with fish that tipped the scales at 23 lbs.
Regarding equipment used, there were almost no changes compared to the previous week. You don’t fix what isn’t broken, right? We used rods between 11 and 13 feet in length, floating lines, and short sinking tips between 5 and 10 feet with low to medium sinking speed. Also, the selection of flies used did not vary too much. We kept choosing small flies, mainly nymphs, for the hours of greatest light, and we increased the size and switched to medium-sized streamers when the sun disappeared below the horizon.
Heavier rains are expected for next week, so there might be some changes in the water level, which will cause the fish to reposition along Villa Maria beats.
Fish over 15 lbs: 25
Average Weight: 11.2 lbs
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Week 5: January 27th to February 3rd, 2023
By Alejandro Martello – Villa Maria Lodge Fishing Manager
Holding to the theme of this season, the weather has proven to be a large factor in fishing during this season, and last week was no exception. Out of all the weather factors, the sun influences our fishing the most during fishing hours.
Why is that, you ask? As I’ve mentioned in previous reports, the water levels have held steady at a lower level this year both at Villa Maria Lodge and in the rest of the river. Therefore, the water temperatures vary rapidly when we have clear days without a cloud in the sky.
How much does it vary? Well, during the week we started morning fishing with water temperatures of 7C degrees, and by mid-afternoon, it was already around 17-18 C. Of course, this didn’t happen every day, but it was very noteworthy when it did.
This week we had mostly cloudy days with good ambient temperatures, and thanks to those conditions, we’re happy to say that the fishing was very good. This week, we had a diverse group of anglers, some with more than 20 combined weeks fishing at Villa Maria, like Bruno and Gerald who visits us every year from Switzerland and Austria, and some new to our beats, like Ed and Irwin who came from the USA and Canada.
Having little experience is not a hindrance if you listen carefully to the suggestions of the guides. Ed managed to reel in 8 fish over 13 lbs and battled many more throughout the week. Another angler worth talking about is Maurice who visited us a decade ago and managed to catch 6 fish over 15 pounds with the largest reaching 21 pounds, on his return trip. We rounded out the week with a stunning average of 11.3 lbs/fish. Well, done guys!
As the conditions of the river remain unchanged, the equipment we use remains similar to that used in the previous week. Rods ranged between 11 and 13 feet in length, floating lines and short sinking tips – between 5 and 10 feet – for low to medium sinking speed, were the tips of choice.
The selection of flies to be used did not vary much either since the traditional ones continue to give us great satisfaction. The most important thing is to correctly choose its size and speed of sinking for the conditions of the moment. The general rule for the week was to keep choosing small flies for the hours of greatest light and we were slightly increasing the size when the sun began to disappear on the horizon. For next week, we expect light rains, so we will see how they influence the river and, obviously, the fishing.
Fish over 15 lbs: 25
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Week 4: January 20th to 27th, 2023
BY ALEJANDRO MARTELLO – VILLA MARIA LODGE FISHING MANAGER
The forecast was accurate throughout the week, and the weather was mostly stable and favorable for fishing. There were a few sessions where the wind blew from the north or northeast, but the water and air temperatures were good, and a thick cloud cover shielded the fish from the intense summer sun, making for excellent fishing. One rod caught 11 fish in one day, with many others hooked and lost, averaging 11.6 pounds each. The angler also caught 12 fish over 15 pounds during the week. Congratulations, Axel!
Rods ranging from 11’6″ to 13′ matched with short- to medium-length sinking lines and tips were the top choices. As conditions were similar to the previous week, the same long leaders and flies were used to catch fish both in the morning and evening. Nymphs, small rubber legs, and green machines were the top choices during the day, even when the sun was below the horizon. However, in low light, tradition dictates that you increase the size and silhouette of the flies, so leeches were the top choice for the final catches of the day, allowing anglers to return home with a smile.
The forecast for next week shows more wind and sunny moments, so anglers will need to be ready to quickly adapt to the changing conditions.
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Week 3: January 13th to 20th, 2023
By Alejandro Martello – Villa Maria Lodge Fishing Manager
As we were expecting, this week the weather settled, and everything started to work as it should. Compared to the first two weeks of the season, we didn’t experience rain, very high winds (just half a day of +80km/h), or very high air/water temperatures. We had an overcast sky most of the day, and the fish were loving the conditions. To top things off, we had some new moon-high tides putting the fish in the lower beats in a very good fly-taking mood. All the fish caught were in fantastic shape and as silver as they can be!
Didrik had probably his best week ever on the Río Grande and armed with all his experience and accurate casting, he managed to land well over 30 fish ending his last night with the 20-pounder he was looking for.
We also have to mention Louis who after very hard work, and also in the last session of the week, we managed to land a beautiful 21 lb male. Well done, Lion!
As the river maintained its low and clear water levels, we kept using the lighter setups that were productive in previous weeks. Rods under 13’ and sinking tips as short as 10ft were the most effective options. Taking all of that into account, long leaders and flies like nymphs, small rubber legs, and green machines were the best options to fish during high sun hours and when the sun dipped below the Tierra del Fuego horizon, streamers with bigger silhouettes took their place.
The forecast for next week is very similar with a few more moments of bright sunshine so we expect another great week at Villa Maria Lodge.
Fish over 15lbs: 12
Fish over 20lbs: 2
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Week 2: January 6th to 13th, 2023
This week the weather took a 180-turn compared to last, going from rough and cruel, to almost too warm and mellow. But, that shouldn’t be a bad thing, right? However, when you are trying to catch sub-polar fish, 23-25 Celsius air temperatures, high shiny sun, and little wind are not the best ingredients to keep the water temperature at the ideal threshold. In fact, we had a couple of days where it reached 16-18 Celsius, far too warm for a sea trout’s ideal comfort zone.
So, we needed to focus our efforts when the temperatures (air & water) were closer to fish preferences. This called for a sharp mind on the water, staying focused and making the right choices were very important early in the morning and late in the evening when the fish were most active.
A clear example is what did happen to Demian & Niels, brothers-in-law, good friends, and visiting us for the first time. One windy and overcast evening they were fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right moment and they managed to land, back-to-back, 2 superb fresh fish. After celebrations and before the mandatory photos, the scale pointed out that each fish weighed 22 and 23 pounds.
Congratulation guys!!
As the conditions were less than ideal and the river keeps dropping steadily, we needed to adjust the fishing tackle accordingly. We ditched the heavier rods and longer, denser sinking tips in favor of lighter setups. Short T11 tips were the heaviest used going all the way up to intermediate tips for smoother presentation just under the surface. little tubes, light nymphs, slim streamers, medium-sized leeches, and the all-mighty green machine were the most reliable flies along the week
We expect next week the weather become more stable so probably we will need to re-adjust every setup to match the week’s conditions.
Fish over 20lbs.: 3
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Week 1: December 29th to January 6th, 2023
BY ALEJANDRO MARTELLO – VILLA MARIA LODGE FISHING MANAGER
Welcome to Villa María Lodge 2023 season!
We are totally delighted to be back in the river and expecting a fantastic season ahead. In our opening week, Stephan & Alex again put together a great and enjoyable group.
This year we started with low water conditions as the winter had some proper snowfall but the spring was slightly warmer and we didn’t get any of the typical rain of December. We can say that the river and pools remained mainly unchanged from last year, with very few exceptions where the heads of the pools were modified due to the action of the water, sand, and fine gravel.
Like last season’s first week, the weather was a main character. It was harsh. We had 3 days of winds touching the 100km/h and a couple of other days just slightly lower than that. As you can imagine this makes fishing pretty challenging as presenting good flies is the main goal.
But by adjusting the tackle and technique, and choosing the fishing spots according to the conditions everybody was able to enjoy the fishing and catch some gorgeous fish!
The group was conformed mainly of Rio Grande’s rookies but all of them achieved great success!! Albert is definitely worthy of mention, standing tall in the gales at 79 years old only taking a few breaks when things got a bit too physical. His efforts were handsomely rewarded with a 20-lb. male fish that took a very traditional Sunday Shadow a few inches under the river surface in a shallower run.
Another highlight was when Stephan, after fighting the wind for the whole day, had THE take of the day and after a solid fight, he landed his biggest sea trout ever with a fantastic fish just shy under 22 lbs. Well done guys!
Aside from those personal records, several double-digit fish were caught, all super silver, super fresh, and with unbelievable power and explosive fights.
Water clarity was excellent aside from a couple of extra windy days when it was compromised due to sediments being stirred up from shallow banks. A brief but powerful rain in the headwaters rose the river’s level by 4 inches overnight but, surprisingly, the water remained clear.
Having all these factors into account, the most successful setup included good Skagit lines, medium to heavy sink tips (10-12ft usually), and long leaders.
No big surprises with the flies used, but we fished flies bigger than usual mainly because the water was below 10C most of the days. So leeches were the usual choices but, I have to confess that under certain moments, like when the water was cold and the visibility was compromised we had to go even bigger, at least to the Intruder’s territory. Fish are arriving and the weather is supposed to be milder next week so we have our fingers crossed.
Largest fish of the week: 21.5 lbs.
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