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!
