At Arroyo Claro, the atmosphere is relaxed, so casual clothing is most appropriate. A sweater or jacket is useful for cooler evenings.
During summer months, most professional fishing guides wade “wet”. The uniform of choice is a pair of polypropylene long johns under short pants. Early or late season, lightweight breathable waders are the most practical.
Clothing is best layered with a T-shirt under a long sleeved cotton shirt and a light sweater or jacket. Some form of water proof outer garment is essential for fishing in Patagonia, as the weather in the mountains can change quickly.
Some guests carry a back pack, while others use fishing vests. The sun is particularly bright this far south, so a wide brimmed hat is recommended. Sunblock of factor 15+ should always be worn on the face and hands-even under cloudy conditions. Polarized sunglasses in an amber or brown tint are essential for seeing fish in our streams.
Felt-soled wading boots (without cleats) are also essential, and are best worn with neoprene socks and gravel guards. If an angler is to bring no other fishing gear, we recommend your own wading boots.
Fishing Tackle
The all round gear of choice for summer fishing in Patagonia is a 9 foot rod for a 6 weight line. Coupled with a quality reel, offering a good drag system, and a weight forward floating line , you will be prepared for most fishing conditions. A competent angler may prefer a lighter and shorter rod on smaller streams, but for casting larger flies on bigger waters these smaller rods may be inadequate.
Leaders and flies
The most important gear to have is a selection of good terminal tackle and flies. Bring a selection of new, good quality tapered leaders from 4-12 feet, sizes 3x – 5x with matching tippet material. Many North Americans and English fly patterns work very well in Patagonia- particularly dry flies. In sizes 10-16, you will find that the Royal Wulff, Parachute Adams, Humpy (in both yellow and green), and Elk Hair Caddis will all work well. Local favorites are Jorge’s Pancora and Sally Rand. Nymphs need to be in sizes 8-16, generally well weighted. Effective patterns are bead headed Pheasant Tail, Flask Back, Stonefly and Caddis.
