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.

The first couple of weeks

Over two weeks since my first and only post. I have been to the lodge and back twice now. Much has happened.

On the way to the lodge we stopped at a small farm to negotiate using her land as a possible takeout for a float. She had a small wild pig. It was cute. This picture is for Anna.

Not much further down the road, just outside the small Villa Manihaules, we saw a Rodeo.

It was already over and the cowboys, known as huasos, which are different from gauchos, were just practicing, but I learned a few things. First, that rodeo is the national sport of Chile. Second, that they don't use ropes. They just pin the calf to the walls. And instead of being timed, it is based on style points. Calf pinning, or checking, is the only event.


Finally, I also learned, that you can eat barbeque, play pool, and play foosball while you watch the rodeo. They only happen a few times a summer. I will be at the next one.


This is a picture from my first float on the Cisnes river.




It is beautiful.

Particularly in the evening.

This is a picture of Rex casting into the lake that he owns. We went camping there.

This is the cabin that is at the lake. We slept in tents.

This is Jose. He is the gaucho that watches over Rex's property and the ranch next door. He meets us with the horses that we use to get there. He likes to laugh at me. Particularly when I am speaking spanish, riding a horse, or getting lost on my way to the lake.

This is his house.

This is another picture of the Cisnes.

Sometimes we stop to take them when the trucks are overheating.

This is the hot tub at the lodge. Behind it is a mountain with a large glacier on it. Hot tubs and mountains and glaciers are a good combination.

This is where I live. It is comfortable, but I try to spend a lot of time outside. Preferably in the hot tub next to the mountain with the glacier on it.

These are condors. I enjoy them seeing them a lot. They are big. I hope to see many more.

And finally, these are brown trout. There are many here. They are aggressive and beautiful, and I like to fish for them. Or to watch other people fish for them. I don't really care.