2026 VISTA PATAGONIA FIRST AND SECOND WEEK RECAP

INTRODUCTION

For 2026, we had a great start to our season in Patagonia. The first week kicked off with higher-than-normal temperatures and lower water conditions, but this in no way affected the fishing. With a mix of walk-wading and floating, our group had record days both in size class and numbers landed. The second week brought its challenges—strong winds and persistent rain—but the fishing remained excellent, with tactics that differed from week one.

FIRST WEEK

Dry-dropper fishing was extremely productive. A black and purple Chubby in a size 8 or 10, with 2–3’ of 4X below the dry paired with either a PT pattern or a smaller-profile Pat’s Rubber Legs, absolutely wrecked fish. We also targeted pods of rising trout holding close to—or tucked just inside—the willows along the banks. Most of the fish we saw sipping could be fooled with a smaller Parachute Adams or a small cream caddis, and if you were able to deliver a near-perfect drift, the fish rewarded you. Cy and several guests landed multiple fish in the 18–20” range. These were some of the hardest-fighting fish we have ever hooked, with long, hard-charging runs pulling drag on 6wt rods and tough battles all the way to the net. With lower water levels, fishing on foot at times allowed you to access harder-to-reach sections of the river and fish more technical nymphing setups under an indicator.

SECOND WEEK

Week two saw a big shift in the weather pattern, with classic Patagonian winds and colder rain complicating the conditions. The fish, however, seemed to like the cooler weather. The wind kept us off the larger lakes and pushed us into both big and small river systems throughout the region, and it also tested the gear you brought—mainly your rain jacket. I ran the Skwala RS rain jacket paired with a merino wool system, including the 150 and 350 hoodies. With the added water and color, the rivers set up for some of the best streamer fishing I have ever seen there. Fish were moving aggressively for the fly, and some of the eats were epic, with blowups that looked more like smallmouth or largemouth bass than trout.  Playing the game “risk it for the biscuit,” as guide Ben would say, paid off with some of the bigger fish for the week.

Mostly throwing 7wts with sink tips or full intermediate lines, paired with smaller streamers like the Chile Bugger (a guide favorite), was crazy effective. Kelly Galloup’s Sex Dungeon in cream, black, and olive did the trick as well. I especially liked using the Micro Dungeons on foot in shallow water to explore structure and small back eddies, and some of the largest fish of the trip came to the net using this tactic. I’m honestly excited to see how these flies work on our local rivers. They’re small enough to throw on a 5wt with a short poly leader to create a quick sink tip on tailwaters or even smaller mountain streams.

The dry-fly fishing during week two was a bit spotty, but patience and waiting for the bugs to show during the warmer parts of the day paid off. I fed, hooked, and lost the biggest trout I have ever fed a dry fly to. Losing that fish hurt, but the setup—and the two to three minutes I had it on—were unreal and well worth the memory.

evening experiences

The group for the second week included several guests fishing in Chile for the first time. The look of amazement and pure excitement each morning as we headed out from the lodge is a big reason why we love hosting these trips. Each evening, as we returned to the lodge, Head Chef Claudio and his staff had plenty of regional appetizers and light bites waiting while everyone relived the day. Cy and I would just sit back and smile.

Diego and the entire staff at Vista Patagonia delivered an incredible experience for each guest. Each night wrapped up with a four- to five-course meal featuring some of the best food and Chilean wine I’ve ever had. Our final meal was capped off with a traditional asado—a whole lamb roasted over an open fire—to close out the week. The mix of fishing, food, and the best guides we’ve ever worked with always makes it hard to leave Patagonia. We always tell our guests that Diego and his staff strive to make you feel like family, and his attention to detail and lifetime of experience guiding those rivers and lakes make the trip 100% worth it. Stay tuned for the Week Three recap, which will be posted after Forrest returns from his February trip.