ABOUT LIMAY RIVER



Limay River is born in the Andes, in Nahuel Huapi Lake , the third greatest lake in Argentina . The average river channel measures 70mts wide and increases its size with each of the joining rivers along its 240 miles length. After joining Neuquén River waters become great Rio Negro, which after almost 320 miles reaches the Atlantic Ocean .
Our favorite area is that along the first 35 miles , after the lake, near Bariloche city and Villa La Angostura (our home). The river crosses from south to north a typical transition landscape between the Andean forest and the Patagonia steppe, until reaching the confluence with Traful River (famous for its landlocked salmon). Together they become another great lake, Alicura. The existence of these two great lakes, one at its beginning and the other at the end of Limay River , causes this section of the river to lodge excellent brown and rainbow trouts that migrate to spawn and eat.




ABOUT FISHING
The Limay has three clearly defined moments throughout the fishing season (from November to April), which are very important and justify why the river is regarded as one of the best in Patagonia for fishing: spring, summer and autumn.
1st Spring. (Nov.-Dec.)
Presence of great migratory rainbows in delayed spawning and post-egg lying, before returning to the lakes, and browns searching for rainbow eggs and fry to eat. High water level and volume, with floods in coasts and in low areas.
2nd Summer. (Jan.-Feb.)
Great fish return to the lakes and activate medium size trouts, both browns and rainbows. The water level decreases and warm temperature favors the appearance of insects. Since trouts commonly eat in the surface, this is a very good moment to try with dry flies and nymphs.
3rd Autumn. (Mar.-Apr.)
This is the outstanding moment of the river, when the greatest expectations appear, as well as difficulties. Shoals (mostly brown) begin to move from the lake ( 9 pounds average weight) into the river.
Spawning time approaches. Trouts are not easily caught and mean a challenge for fishermen, fact which makes the activity both exciting and challenging. They demand long shots and great controlled drifts. Just arrived from the lake, trouts show a unique health and strength.

Recommended equipment :
As water levels and fishing conditions vary, throughout the season, recommended equipment does as well.
At spring time , with high water levels and volume, and in autumn , in the run of Brown trout, the suggested equipment consists of:
-Rods: Single Hand rods for lines #7 or 8, mid action to fast of 9 feet of length or more.
Two Hands rods for line # 6, 7 or 8, mid action to fast, from 12 to 14 ft long.
-Fly Lines: WF floating line, and extra fast sinking shooting tapers with shooting line 0.29 or monofilament (Amnesia or similar) of 20 lbs .
There is a great variety of lines in the market like WF sinking Type6 or 8 that works very well, but if I had to choose a line, I would select Shooting Taper, it never fails. 100/150 yds backing 20 lbs .
Spey lines WF multi-tips, Scandinavian shooting heads or Skagit Heads with 10´to 15´ long (depending on the rod size) extra fast sinking tip (6/8 ips.) and floating tip.
-Leaders & tippets: For sinking lines, 5 to 7,5 ft from 10 to 15 lbs . of resistance. For floating lines, 9 to 12 ft . from 5 to 10 lbs for tests rainbow trouts.
-Some Flies: Bunnies and Zonkers, tan, olive, black and white, Muddlers. Hair Minnows. Matukas and Sculpins. Bitch Creeks. Crystal Buggers, black, brown and olive. Hair Tubes.

In summer , the river is in its normal conditions. The trouts take dries and nymphs and the sizes diminish, but there are also great fish around and you can have a surprise. The recommended equipment is the Standard one for trouts:
-Rods and lines # 4, 5 or 6 of mid or tip action. 9'a 9'6 "of length is perfect.
-Fly Lines WF floating and sinking-tip, and sinking Shooting tapers (5 to 8 ips) with floating running line.
-Leaders & tippets: for sinking lines, 7.5ft. Long and 6 to 13lb. test. for floating lines, 9 to 12 ft . long and 5 to 10lb. test.
-Some Flies:
Dry Flies: Foam Attractors, Hair Caddis & Stones, Stimulators, Wulffs, Adams. #8 to #14.
Nymphs : Prince, Ph.Tail, Hare's Ear, Montana , Copper John, Emergers and Hackles Soft. #8 to # 14.

ABOUT THE GUIDED TRIPS
Due to its dimensions, the river is perfect to float and to stop by to fish in the best places, inaccessible by land. The upper section of the Limay (of approximately 35 miles ) is divided into four areas of 8,5 miles each.
By crossing an area per day, it would take 4 days to cross the river completely, which allows us to choose the area according to the conditions of the river in each excursion.
1º Boca/Rincón Chico area
2º Amphitheatre
3º Villa Llanquin area
4º Enchanted Valley area

Full Day Fishing Trip:
You can lodge in Villa La Angostura , town where we live happily and which I specially recommend to visit.
We will meet the day previous to the excursion in order to check equipment, preferences, to arrange details and to decide on the departure schedule towards the river. Early the following day, after breakfast, we will pick you up and after a 45 journey through Nahuel Huapi National Park by a comfortable vehicle, we reach Limay River .
Once settled, we set up equipment and start floating and fishing all the morning until noon, time when we stop for lunch. Lunch is a very important moment for us and we consequently devote special attention to it. Tasty dishes like barbecue or any other typical alternative from the region with an excellent wine sitting by the shore is one of the best ways to enjoy both fishing and friends.
After a short siesta time (in summer days are long and it is necessary to get energy) we continue down stream fishing until sunset.
In autumn, days are shorter and the best moment to fish is before the night falls, when great brown trouts activate.
As we finish the day trip, our transfer is waiting to take us home and have dinner in a good restaurant and afterwards rest for the following day.

EXPEDITION FLOATING TRIP: If a standard fishing day is not enough and you prefer to fully enjoy life outdoors, a good option is to join a two or three-day expedition camping by the Limay. You will be able to fish from early in the morning, while breakfast is being prepared, until late at night, when supper is served. You can enjoy the longest fishing days in this type of trips. Camping, breakfast, lunches and suppers are carefully prepared so that life in the river is very comfortable and makes you feel even better than you can be at home. Along the three-day trip we cover 35 miles in drift boats looking for wild trouts on every corner of the river. A very amusing and recommendable experience.