“ Sea-Run Browns of the Rio Grande-Tierra del Fuego, Argentina  

I just had to go to that river and throw a two handed rod at the beasts from the Atlantic who come into the Rio Grande (Tierra del Fuego) to spawn every summer.  The travel is not fun, but worth the effort once you get down there. LA to Dallas to Buenos Aires to Ushuaia (a Swiss Alp looking town) and a 3 hour drive to the Estancia Maria Behety.  They lost my luggage, so I had to beg, borrow, and steal waders, boots, rod and reel for 4 days. TOTAL BUMMER.  However, I was able to land lots of sea run browns with 2 going over 20 pounds.  They fight great and jump as well as any game fish.  The runs on the Rio Grande are perfect for the classic swing style of fly fishing with big rods.  Most of the flies are adorned with rubber legs.  The browns seem to love it.   

One of my big browns was hooked in the mouth after casting to him for at least an hour.  As he came into the pool I was standing, I saw the buck, fly on the side of his mouth, Then he went berserk and rolled a bunch and put the pedal to the metal.  My guide landed him about 200 yards down stream with the fly, you guessed it, hooked on his caudal fin.  We then realized he had leverage to do whatever, but we got him in.  

The Estancia Maria Behety is very beautiful and clean.  The food and wine is beyond reproach.  It just doesn’t get any better. The Estancia is over 150,000 acres with 50,000 sheep and 5000 cattle on board.  They are a self contained ranch and the owner, Alejandro Menendez, is a fanatical fly fisherman who I was able to fish with for a day.  In the day he was with me, he put on a clinic casting about 10 times landing 5 huge browns, one going over 20 lbs.   Then, he helped us get a bunch.  He is just one of us.   

We fish from 8AM to noon …then a long siesta (can you imagine me taking a nap…..NOT).  Then we fish from 6PM until dark.  I could have fished in the afternoon as well, but they rest the runs or pools for the evening.  Dinner is at 10 or 11 PM (OH MY) and get to bed after midnight to rise again at 7AM for breakfast. WOW!  

I am going back.  I felt with my luggage lost for 5 days, I was at a disadvantage.  I need to fish for those giants on my terms.  I now know how to travel down there,   I know how to fish the river, as well.  I lost quite a few really big fish that I now will be able to land, and I know the flies and lines I need to really be effective on the river.  

I highly recommend fishing for the sea-runs especially if you like to swing flies with sinking lines, or skate flies on a dry line.   It is an art and can get Zen-like over time.  The fish grab the flies with a vengeance, and fight hard.  

One cannot underestimate the weather down there.  The fish do not seem to be affected by it unless the wind comes from the east and goes against the current.  They do not like that.  The wind can get up to 80mph and you still fish.  Most of the time it comes from the west, and you cast to the east.  It's do-able.  

If you are interested, call the Fly Shop, in Redding , and climb on board.  It’s worth it.

Chris Travis