ANDES DRIFTERS – San Martin de los Andes, Argentina

ANDES DRIFTERS
PO Box 1569
Pisgah Forest, North Carolina 28768
Attention:  Chip Drozenski
(708) 847-8562
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http://www.andesdrifters.com/

Browns, Rainbows, Brook, Dorado
Drift boats – Wading

The Northern Patagonia region and especially around the towns of Junín and San Martin de los Andes has the largest variety of trout fisheries from Argentina.  You can fish more than 15 rivers and 20 lakes in a two hours range of driving distance, being all of them great places for fishing.  It gets even better if you think about the small amount of fishing pressure all these rivers get.

Malleo River – Being well known internationally because of its dry fly fishing is such a unique river that presents great variety of waters.  The stream starts from Tromen Lake, being a freestone natural river, next to the base of the Lanin Volcano.  After flowing for about 32 miles reach the junction with the Alumine River.  Over all this length the river runs through meadows, canyons, and great willow galleries. This river presents “the best” hatches during most of the season.

Chimehuin River – The icon of the fly fishing in North Patagonia, Chimehuin River has the perfect features for trout fishing.  You could spend the all season and wouldn’t have enough time to discover all its pools, runs, willows galleries and many more great hides for these trout.

Collon Cura – This stream is the major river of the system, all of the rivers describe before are tributaries of this one.  This become to the Collon Cura in a large size river that’s ideal to be float. As many normally say “big river, big fish” and that is true in this case.  This river holds some pretty good size brown trout that can be taken any moment.

The fishing opportunities of this river during the season go from streamers to dry flies (early season); from dries to minnows (at mid / late summer) and from minnows back to dries (at fall).  These features give as such a great chance to try the most different technique along the season.

Alumine – This river is one on the longest river in Northern Patagonia, with the peculiarity than most of its 80 miles of length is great water for trout fishing and can be floated.  You can imagine the countless opportunities of fishing venues we have on this stream.  The Alumine is a freestone natural river that starts on the Lake with same name (Alumine Lake) and flow all its length until the junction with the Catan-Lil River where from there downstream becomes the Collon Cura River.

Many sections of this stream have very difficult or limited access creating very little fishing pressure and few people around.  We combine daily floats and multiple days float trip camping on island to take the best advantage out of this great stream.

Caleufu – This is probably one of the most beautiful streams in Northern Patagonia. Starting from the junction of the Meliquina and Filo Hua-Hum Rivers, runs for about 30 miles to flows in a Reservoir.  The river begins with features of a mountain stream running though a unique Rocky canyon with spectacular formation of rocks.  All this gives a dream frame to the trips done here.

Most of our trips are done by floating the river, while this is a medium size river and the level of water drops dramatically each season, the river can be regularly floated not longer than middle January. Again this is a multiples day’s float trip that assure us fish water with very low fishing pressure and very few people around.

Quillen – This tributary of the upper Alumine is a great stream for dry fly fishing.  It starts from the Quillen Lake in the Lanin National Park and this freestone natural river runs for about 16 miles until reach the junction with the Alumine river.  While the first miles the river runs slow with meanders through a beautiful valley; on the lower section the river speed up presenting bigger boulder and creating features of a pocket water.  This last section has great condition for large brown trout and a very productive river in general.  The fishing on this stream is only done by wading the many unique spots of this stream.

Esquel Area Description – The fishing diversity that the Esquel, Alerces National Park and Rio Pico areas offer is the main reason why anglers decide to come and fish this area.  There are spring creeks, private waters, small and big rivers, still waters and lakes in a spectacular setting.  You can fish with dry flies, wet flies, streamers or nymphs to catch wild rainbows, browns and brookies.

Esquel area Fisheries:  Rivadavia River, Futaleufu River, Willymanco Lagoon, Laguna Larga
Rio Pico area Fisheries:  Nilson River, Pico River, Las Pampas River, Corcovado River and Lakes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Limay River Description – This is the most enigmatic fishery of all Patagonia. The major river of Northern Patagonia is the natural drain of the Nahuel Huapi Lake and runs for over 200 miles until the junction with the Neuquen River where the Rio Negro starts and flow all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. The original flow was interrupted by 5 dams creating some large reservoirs on its way.

The Middle Limay – This is one of the most remarkable pieces of water on Argentina trout fishing.  Present unique features and the most strong healthy and good size quality population of trout around this region of the world.

Being this section of the Limay a tailwater assure a perfect stable water temperature conditions.  This creates a very prolific and productive environment for insect’s populations.  Not only assuring the food for trout also gives a lot of food source for several species of minnows that it becomes in the most important source of food for these trout.  This last feature is what gives Limay river trout such a great conditions and allow these fish to reach exceptional sizes.



Accommodations .....
Andes Drifters lodging choices ranges from deluxe streamside
camps to accommodations in one of our four-star cabanas.

Streamside Camp – We believe that our streamside camps, set by our master camp director, are the best way to experience Patagonia.  You don’t have to worry about mosquitoes or black flies, because Patagonia does not have them.

The food, prepared with traditional Argentina methods using hot coals from a campfire, will rival anything served in a five-star restaurant.

At night you’ll enjoy crystal-clear skies with so many stars that even Galileo would have a hard time counting them.  In the morning you will awaken to the sounds of the wild red stag bugling to find his mate.

Cabanas – If you prefer lodging in town, our cabanas offer the opportunity to have daily hot showers, private or semi-private rooms, and the atmosphere of a lodge without the added cost.

You will find the rooms well appointed.

Each evening, Coye and her staff will meet you at the cabana and take care of your every need.  Your private chef will have dinner waiting for you, so there’s no need to go out for the evening meal.  After dinner you can relax and unwind, and in the morning cove will wake you with the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee.

Meet the Guides .....


Eduardo Dona
Eduardo grew up in San Juan province, located in the West Central region of Argentina, this region is home to exceptional wines and decent fishing. His passion for fly fishing led him to San Martin, the best trout fishing in Argentina.

Eduardo has spent the last 11 years in San Martin, perfecting his fly fishing and guiding skills and guiding clients on world class fly fishing adventures. Eduardo is also an avid fly tier and ties flies for several of the local shops in San Martin.


Gonzalo Flego
Gonzalo was born in Campana near Buenos Aires. His father’s work took Gonzalo all over Argentina while he was young. His introduction to fly fishing was with his father. By the time Gonzalo reached college he had decided that he really wanted to be a trout bum. So he moved to San Martin to finish college where he earned a degree in tourism. While in college all of his free time, and some not so free time was spent riding a bike to the local streams and fly fishing. Gonzalo is now in his 4th year of guiding for Andes Drifters. If you are looking for a very active, very enthusiastic guide, Gonzalo is the guide for you. He will spend a lot of time trying to get you on the best fishing in Patagonia.


Dan Etcheverry
Dan was born in Santa Monica California. At age eleven his parents (both Argentines) decided to move back to Argentina, more specifically to Patagonia. That’s when his fishing passion began. Dan grew up in San Martin de los Andes which gave him plenty of opportunities to fish countless streams and lakes in the area. This passion soon became a way of life and now allows him to spend his summers floating the rivers he loves so much.

If you are looking for a laid back, easy going guide then Dan is the guide for you. He will take all the time needed to help you improve your skills and improve your fishing.


Gustavo Hiebaum – Managing Partner Operations, Head Guide
Gustavo grew up in Bahia Blanca a small town south of Buenos Aires on the Atlantic Coast. Gustavo developed a deep passion for fishing at a very young age. His parents would routinely take him and his sister Erica on family vacations to Patagonia.

Once he finished his degree in residential construction he decided to follow his fishing passion to Northern Patagonia. Where he, along with his sister, started an Outdoor and Tackle store called Angler's Home in Villa la Angostura (they ran this business from 2000 until 2004 when they decide to sell it) along with the store they started the Outfitting business.

After 10 years in the fly fishing industry Gustavo has not lost any of his passion for this sport. He is continually on the look out for new ventures every summer, training new guides and maintaining the highest level of customer satisfaction.

More Photographs from the Guys at Andes Drifters