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FISHING · TROUT

San Huberto Lodge

Neuquén · Argentina

Malleo River

Jorge Trucco is one of the true Malleo fly-fishing pioneers as he was probably the very first one to actually view the real potential the Malleo had for the international angler. Jorge spent many years of his life scouting, fishing and guiding in the Malleo and was the real driving force that finally turned the Malleo into a total “catch and release” river by law in 1985.

All of that experience has been passed on to Patagonia Outfitters’ guides who know the Malleo river like their backyard and will share their deep knowledge of this river with you. The Malleo may be the perfect river for beginners, being able to cast comfortable distances and being exposed to numerous fishing situations on dries or nymphs. Yet the Malleo is a delight for the expert fisherman that takes pleasure sight fishing for big elusive rainbows and browns feeding on small dries or nymphs in very difficult spots.
The Malleo is actually a big spring creek. It flows out of Lake Tromen as a very small free-stone mountain stream. Once it hits the beautiful Malleo Valley the river starts receiving spring water from numerous tributary spring creeks including the Huaca Mamuil, the Mamuil Malal, the Tres Picos, and several others. Virtually 90% of the Malleo River water is spring water. This unique feature makes for a river with consistent water temperature and conditions; hence underwater life is rich and varied, from profuse insect life (nymphs, larva, pupa, mayflies, caddis, stoneflies) to countless terrestrials and “pancora” crabs; all this makes for a unique population of sizable and healthy browns and rainbows.
The Malleo may be the truly complete river. It has diverse conformations: from its scenic meadow section, with the Lanín Volcano dominating the background, to the canyon section or the lower boulder bottomed section which offers pocket water and willow-lined banks. It is just the “right size” river to fish and wade and you will always see hatches of different types: caddis and mayflies of various kinds, as well as stoneflies and midges. This river offers dry-fly and sight-fishing opportunities along its 20 kilometers. It is like textbook fishing, the classic way.

Accommodations

During your stay with Patagonia Outfitters you will probably want to stay at San Huberto Lodge, in Estancia San Huberto. A family-owned 25,000-acre “estancia” where more tan 25 km of the Malleo River runs through. San Huberto, once a hunting lodge, (named in fact after the Patron Saint of hunters in Europe: “Saint Hubert”) gradually changed its essence to become exclusively a fishing lodge, hosted by its owners the Olsen family who, together with the lodge’s staff, make sure that everything runs like clock-work. The lodge has accommodation for 16 in double and single rooms each with their private bathroom. Today San Huberto Lodge offers access to some of the best stretches of the Malleo River.

Location

Located just a short drive (35 minutes driving distance) from the San Martín de los Andes airport.