The Limay tailwater is one of the most potent fisheries in Patagonia. Due to the river’s incredible insect density, the resident rainbows grow to be 17 inches in three years, and the river offers hatches rivaled by few other rivers in South America. The river offers a prolific rainbow population, and fishing is typically quite productive working the riffles with dry-droppers, sight fishing along the rocky cliffs, and drifting flies from the boat.
The summer hatches start around the end of November and run through mid- to late January.
Terrestrial fishing from mid-January through mid-March.
The fall hatches typically start in March and build in intensity throughout April and into May.
In addition to the resident trout, migratory browns moving up from El Chocon Reservoir start entering the river by mid-December, appear in the river in numbers in January, and are spread throughout the river by the end of the month. They remain in the river until the close of the season at the end of May. These migratory fish run anywhere from 22 inches to well over 30 inches and typically average around 26 to 27 inches. With the warmer water temps from January through early April, the majority of these migratory browns are caught on dries. While not always easy to catch, during the 2023 season, at least 40% of the guests caught the largest trout of their lifetime.
Due to the massive size of the ranch and the exclusive lease we have, anglers have access to over 30 miles of river for floating and 12 linear miles for wading small side channels. There’s enough water to offer each cabin its own solitary float for six days of fishing without repeating water.
We offer a fleet of RO drift boats for floating the Limay, which we renew at least every other year to ensure that our clients have access to the best equipment in Patagonia.
Due to the incredible clarity of the Limay, we suggest all less experienced anglers opt for the affordable benefit of having one-on-one guiding (i.e., being at the front of the boat).