|
CHIMEHUIN RIVER REPORT
(April 23/24, 2005)
FISHING REPORT (April 2005)
The
last month of the salmonidae fishing season in the South of Argentina
has began, prior to the general closing of season on May 1. However,
several rivers and lakes in the Province of Neuquén, such as the
Aluminé, Collón Curá, Chimehuin, Caleufú, Quillén, Pulmarí, Mid Limay,
Lower Malleo Rivers, and all the lakes belonging inside the provincial
jurisdiction, are subject to the so-called “season extension”
regulation. This offers a wide range of possibilities to go on fishing
up to May 31.
In
the area of Junín de los Andes, San Martín de los Andes, the Lanín
National Park and its surroundings, the season has been quite dry, with
very scarce rainfall during the summer and very hot days -over 30°
centigrades-, which have had a negative effect on the quantity and
quality of fishing.
The
lakes in the mountain range have been quite productive early in the
season, especially Lake Filo Hua Hum, which has crowned memorable days
with very good brown trout. As from mid January, the panorama changed
and the lakes which experienced high temperatures did not produce enough
trout, as in these cases trout look for colder waters by going down into
the depths, thus remaining outside the scope of our flies.
In
these conditions, the only chance we have to go on fishing is very early
in the morning or very late in the evening, when the temperature of the
environment and the water is a little lower. Furthermore, the mouths of
rivers and creeks must be searched, although the drought caused
interesting creeks of cold very oxigenated waters to have a very low
level or be directly dry.
Though their level is low, rivers had a more steady production during
the entire season. They began with a high level of water but despite all
this, fishing was quite good. Not like in previoius openings in which it
was simply impossible to try to lower a fly into the thick flumes.
We
started with plenty of streamers, fast sinking lines, as usual, and left
the nymphs and dry flies for smaller and calmer arms. As the season went
by and the level of the waters went down, smaller flies and streamers in
#6 and #8 hooks, nymphs, dry flies and floating lines began to be used.
In
the heat of January and February, those who have fished the rivers
conscientously searching for the rapid waters of the flumes and using
small nymphs, pupas and dries managed to catch a great amount of trout,
of various sizes and with some interesting surprises.
Both
in its mid and its upper area, the Malleo had a spectacular December and
January with some very good specimens which accepted caddis imitations,
both in their pupa and in their adult state. February was a little more
complicated because the level of the waters was really low. But fishing
during the first and last hours of the day, in the pools among the
willows and with flies in 16, 18 and 20 hook, good results could be
achieved.
For a
long time, it has been quite difficult to catch a good fish in the lower
Malleo. Nevertheless, fishing there has improved a lot. The problem of
the decrease in production in this area of the river may respond to
fishing out of season and without any kind of control regulations for
the dwellers of the local community.
In
reference to this situation, the following is an anecdote I experienced
myself while I was guiding two customers along the lower Malleo: we were
fishing a large flat with lots of willows on the opposite bank when a
boy from the community got ready his pot and worm and began fishing some
40 meters downstream from us. Not only was he fishing downstream from
my customers, but he would also cross the river to get the hook back
whenever it got caught in the willows on the opposite bank. Of course he
was scaring all the fish out.
And
of course no one asked him for a fishing permit or paid special
attention to whether he was using an artificial lure or natural bait,
although when you enter the community, the signs read “fly-fishing
only”.
It is
to be expected that now that the brown trout reproductive run is
beginning, they will be properly protected by means of controls in key
spots. To such respect, it has been noticed that there are more fauna
guards in the Province of Neuquén, which is quite encouraging. I truly
hope that the energy devoted to controlling anglers and fishing guides
also spreads onto the locals, who seem to be exempt from complying with
any kinds of regulations.
The
Chimehuin had an acceptably good production, with some interesting
trout. When the heat stroke, we had to forget about streamers and use
floating lines, nymps with extra weight, caddis pupas and dry pupas up
to hook 18.
The
rapid more oxigenated water areas were more productive than the many
pools of the river; therefore, the upper part of the Chimehuin, from the
Garganta del Diablo (the devil's throat) area up to a short
distance before Piedra del Viento (the wind stone), was not so
good. If we reduce the power of the equipment, make the tippets narrower
and use flies that are not too large, fun is guaranteed.
The
Aluminé and the Collón Curá Rivers experienced a decrease in fishing
during the hottest time of the summer due to the fact that the plateau
across which these rivers flow usually experiments high temperatures. On
the other hand, in January, there was a big pasture fire in the Pilolil
area on the Aluminé, which, along with the intense rainfall made the
river more muddy for quite a long time. Even today, the transparecy of
the Collón Curá is not optimum. However, fishing is quite good at this
time of the year, with a great deal of 700/800-gram rainbow trout and
some more interesting brown trout. With the passing of time, fishing
will surely improve as the brown trout begin to move about in order to
spawn.
In
the mountain range rivers, this is Meliquina, Filo Hua Hum and Caleufú,
there was very good fishing while the level of the waters was
appropriate (until mid January). From then on, fishing became tougher
(there would be good fishing days sporadically) and there would be few
relevant catches. By the last week of March, with the lower
temperatures, the situation began to improve noticeably. There is no
doubt that towards the end of the season and the extension period we
have already mentioned, the lower Caleufú, near Lake Piedra del Aguila,
will provide good brown trout that will go upriver in order to spawn.
In
short, it has been a season in which fishing was not bad, especially in
the rivers. The lakes, instead, have had a better production at the
beginning of the season than in average. Probably, with the increase in
the water levels to be expected at the beginning of the rainy season,
the mouths of spawning creeks into the lakes will become the favourite
spots.
So
far, it is to be expected that during April, the rivers levels rise a
little -in fact, it has started to rain in the mountain range area and
the first important snowfall has already occurred- for the closing to be
splendid and to provide us with a season extension up to May 31 with
good brown trout moving from lakes into rivers, which allows us to dream
with some good capture.
San
Martín ORVIS
Villegas 835 - San Martín de los Andes - Prov. del Neuquen -
Patagonia Argentina
(International 54) 02972 4 25 892 - "Pachi" Bertero - Marcelo Sola -
Contact us
Web Development AB-Web
|
