Big Rainbow Mission

On Sunday I went fishing with my friend Gabrielle. The plan was to check out a nearby lake rumored to have big rainbows. And while the word was that there were not many fish, we heard that if you found them they'd be big. So, with a single minded devotion to large rainbow trouts, we threw the float tubes in the truck, rigged up the sink tips, and went fishing.

The mission was deemed a success.

On the way home we ran into some Argentines having a little car trouble. Everyone was alright and their friends were on the way.

And, in true patagonian fashion, we brought home a little dinner with us.

Chilean Pig Wrangling

There are many reasons to come to Patagonia Chile to fish. It is beautiful. The people are nice. The food is delicious. It is full of rivers. These rivers are large and not crowded. Many of these rivers are full of trout. These trout are also beautiful. And on many days, these trout will not think twice about chasing a large rubber legged piece of foam fifteen feet off the bank before launching themselves three feet in the air as they inhale it.

However, there are also other reasons to visit Patagonia Chile to fish and one of these is the chance to watch pig wrangling. Now, some of you country folk may be thinking that pig wrangling is no big deal and that you definitely do not need to travel to the southern hemisphere in order to witness it. But let me set the scene for you.

You have just finished a fairly quintessential Patagonian fishing day. You fished on one of the beautiful rivers, you caught some of the beautiful trout, and some of those trout did backflips as they ate your giant rubber legged piece of foam. But you also battled wind and rain and had a bumpy four wheel drive in and out of an improvised boat ramp. You are tired and looking forward to pisco sours at the lodge.

First, however, you need to stop and pay the caretaker of the farm where you launched your boat. You know that he has some wild pigs and that these pigs have little baby wild pigs, and that they are cool. You ask if you can see them. He says, sure, but first he and his buddies need to capture one of the grown ones. You ask to watch, he says, of course. Then, in a kind of Latin American ‘hold my beer watch this’ moment, he and his two buddies grab lassos and head for the pig.

What ensues involves three guys, one older gaucho in a beret, two very excited farm dogs, chickens, a large angry wild pig, and lots of yelling. What you learn is that pigs are real fast, that dogs aren’t afraid of pigs but should be, that old chileans in berets rule, and that a good old fashioned pig wrangling is really the only way to end a day of fishing.

Misc. Pics from January

Here are some miscellaneous pics from the first full month out at the lodge.

The week of the French (La semana de los Frances)

Just got back into town after a month long stint at the lodge where life settled into a balanced rhythm of work, relaxation, food, drink, conversation, and fish. So far life is good. The days on the water followed by the nights at the lodge have all been enjoyable and the clients fun and interesting.

The last seven days of fishing, however, were a true pleasure as La Posada de los farios was invaded by our french brethren. Brief worries about language barriers were put at ease upon discovering the common languages of good food, wine, and fishing. And we took the opportunity of having six fun french anglers, and one crested butte hippy, to do a little extra exploring.

We started off by doing a little canyon fishing on the Rio Cisnes.

Then we took a little road trip to the coast.

Along the only highway in southern Chile.

It was beautiful.

Complete with glaciers,

waterfalls,

temperate rainforest,

glacial blue water,
and sea run trouts.