It is the question that turns up in nearly every message before a departure: what goes in the bag? After years of fishing the rivers of northern Argentine Patagonia, this is the list I send to the anglers who travel with me. It is not exhaustive, everyone adjusts it to their own comfort, but it avoids the two classic mistakes: packing too much, and finding out on the water that the one thing you need is missing. Out there the country is remote, and finding tackle can be complicated, sometimes impossible.
Download the full list as a PDF (in French) →
Rods
The all-round rod for this destination is a 10-foot 4 or 5 weight, or a 9’4 to 9’9 in the same range. It does everything: dry fly, European nymphing, sight nymphing, small streamers. Dedicated nymph anglers can bring a 10’4 to 11-foot 3 or 4 weight, deadly on medium rivers though sometimes light on the big currents against strong fish. An 8’6 or 9-foot 4/5 earns its keep on the clear-water stretches, dry fly or sight fishing. For streamer lovers, a 9’6 or 10-foot 6 weight handles the powerful rivers; spey fans can slip in a trout spey of 10’6 to 12 feet in 3/4 or 4/5 to comb the big runs. In every case, pack a spare rod. A breakage ten hours from the nearest shop cannot be fixed.
Reels, lines and leaders
One reel for the all-round rod in 5/6 with a floating line covers most situations; polyleaders save you from carrying several lines. The one point that is not negotiable: a good drag. For European nymphing, bring a dedicated reel loaded with a highly visible coloured nylon in 0.20 or 0.25 mm. For tippet, 0.14 to 0.20 mm covers the essentials, with 0.20 to 0.27 fluorocarbon for streamers. Pack several spare leaders: 9-footers ending in 0.18 or 0.20 mm suit most of the rivers.
Flies
Good news: your box of European dries works very well in Argentina. The classics are enough, one or two of each: yellow-bodied grey duns, CDC patterns, sedges, ants, parachutes. Add the local staples, bulkier, tied on foam or deer hair with silicone legs: Chubby Chernobyl, PMX, Royal Wulff, Adams parachute, crickets and hoppers. For nymphs, your usual perdigons and hare’s ear style patterns do the job, with tungsten beads from 2.5 to 4.5 mm: some rivers push hard and you need weight to get down. Round it out with a few worms, princes and stoneflies. For streamers, marabou and rabbit patterns on long-shank hooks from 8 to 2, unweighted, with a small box of split shot to work them near the bottom in fast water. If you prefer an indicator to the tight line, the New Zealand kit with a bright yarn does the work perfectly. And if you would rather not think about it at all, a fly kit selected by the local team can be prepared before you arrive; just ask me in advance.
Clothing: the wind, the sun, and everything else
In Patagonia the UV is fierce and the wind almost always plays. The rule is versatility: long-sleeved sun shirts, quick-dry stretch trousers, a cap with a neck flap, a neck gaiter, a waterproof and windproof jacket, warm base layers for wading in the cool hours. For the nights under canvas, a spare set of thermals makes the difference between a good night and a bad one.
Waders and accessories
Waders and wading boots with rubber soles, studded if you like: felt is strictly forbidden in Argentina. The vegetation is hostile and full of thorns, so there are two schools: a very good, tough pair of waders, or a budget pair you can afford to sacrifice. On hot days, neoprene socks with the wading boots and quick-dry walking trousers are enough. Add polarised glasses in category 3 or 4, a vest or chest pack with room for water, a filtering bottle, a dry bag, sunscreen, and repellent if you react to bites, though Patagonia has few mosquitoes. One travel bag per angler plus a backpack: come the transfers, everyone will thank you.
Frequently asked questions
- Which rod should I bring if I only take one?
- A 10-foot 4/5 weight. It is the do-everything rod of this trip: dry fly, tight-line nymphing, sight nymphing and small streamers.
- Can I buy flies over there?
- Partly, depending on stock. The safe play is to travel with your own boxes and, if needed, ask me for a fly kit tied by the local team before departure.
This list goes out to the anglers who join my fly fishing trips to Argentine Patagonia. For Jurassic Lake the gear differs quite a bit, heavier rods first of all: everything is detailed on the dedicated page. A question about your own setup before booking? Write to me.
Baptiste Conquet
State-certified fly fishing guide and instructor. I guide in Aveyron and Lozère, and design fishing trips to Argentine Patagonia, Jurassic Lake and the golden dorado waters.
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