When it comes to brown trout, there is one holy grail—a 30-inch wild brown. In Colorado, tales of 30-inch fish are whispered amongst overzealous anglers; these tales are told over drinks after a day of floating, with few being more than a trout story. But one place exists in the world where anglers have a realistic chance of catching a 30-inch brown trout on any cast—the Limay River in Patagonia. This river holds some of the biggest brown trout in the world. Thirty-inch fish are not uncommon, and 40-inch trout are caught every year. This spring, we headed to the Limay River Lodge with Patagonia Outfitters to see this fishing first hand and try our luck with a true 30-inch brown.
Now, there are other places in the world where anglers can catch big brown trout; this is no secret. The Rio Grande in southern Patagonia holds giant sea-run brown trout, as do the tributaries of the Great Lakes. While these fish deserve respect in their own right, there is something about floating big rivers for giant browns. The Limay River, more specifically the Middle Limay (or Limay Medio), is a 50-mile stretch of river positioned between a lake and a tailwater damn. Here, anglers have a realistic chance of catching a 30-inch fish on any cast.
History:
The Limay River has always had big fish, but in 1993, a dam was constructed on the Middle Limay. The dam created a tailwater fishery and brought with it giant brown trout migrating from the Ezequiel Ramos Mexia reservoir. Now you may be wondering how these lake-run fish are different from Lake Ontario fish or even sea-run browns. In principle, they aren’t different, but in their life history, they are. The Limay River fish can be caught in the river year-round—a river that’s sheer size is nothing short of impressive. With that, they take on many of the characteristics of river fish, readily eat streamers, and have the same buttery color as resident fish, but they grow to massive sizes.
Travel:
If you want a realistic chance of catching a 30-inch brown, you’ll have to travel. Thankfully, the team at Patagonia Outfitters makes this process as seamless as possible. For us, this meant three plane rides and four destinations: Denver, Houston, Buenos Aires, and finally San Martin. When you reach your destination, you’ll meet the guides at the airport, pack up the truck, and head down the road to the fly fishing center. This rustic, wooden cabin-style building is a launching point for any adventure with Patagonia Outfitters. Inside, you’ll be greeted with drinks, charcuterie, and images of world-class brown trout before embarking on the final drive to the Limay River.
Chasing 30’s:
Anglers come to the Limay for the brown trout of a lifetime, and that’s what we were after. With a river system as large as the Limay, fishing for lake-run fish presents its own challenges. They are constantly on the move, so finding productive water can be tricky. That is where the Limay River Lodge comes into play. The lodge is positioned in the middle of the Limay River, a perfect jumping point to fish different sections depending on where the highest concentrations of fish are. One day you may float one stretch of the river, and the next a totally new one.
After a much-needed night’s rest, day one of fishing the Limay was upon us. A short 30-minute drive above the lodge had us eyeing the river, wondering what was in store for us that day. We wadered up, pushed off from the launch, and were off. Within the first ten minutes, we got a taste of what the river had to offer. In the first run of the day, Jared Zissu hooked a 27-inch male, the fish of a lifetime for many, but we were after a true 30.
We continued to float and fish, coming across the river’s resident rainbows and browns. A healthy consolation prize for any angler. Then, I slung a cast downstream, made two big mends, and came tight to the swing. Two short strips later, it happened. I felt a violent strike as my line cleared instantly. The ensuing chaos led us to the bank, where we anchored the boat as I fought the fish to the net. This brown trout was a perfect specimen, dark, with a full kype jaw, and the attitude to pair with it. I waited eagerly as we taped the fish—28 inches, just two inches shy of the mark we were after.
The next two days, we floated, landing big browns every day, wondering when or if our chance at a 30-inch fish would come. Then, on day three, we heard the radio crackle as our guides spoke in Spanish. While we couldn’t understand what they were saying, we could sense the excitement in their voices. Our guide looked up at us and in perfect English said, “Jared caught a 30.” Thousands of casts later, it happened, a true wild 30-inch brown. The fish taped out at 31 inches and was everything you’d want in a brown trout. Thick shoulders, a massive kype jaw, and buttery color–the ultimate specimen. During our time on the Limay, we landed 11 fish over 26 inches, with the biggest being 31—a trip nothing short of epic.
The Guides:
The guides of Patagonia Outfitters are some of the best we’ve fished with in Argentina. Passionate, well-versed in English, and fishy beyond belief. For our trip, we fished with a father/son duo, Nestor and Nan Zúñiga, as well as Diego Gonzales. Expect to spend full days floating on the water, with riverside lunches midway through the day (we highly recommend trying the Dulce de Leche).
Patagonia Outfitters is also an Orvis-endorsed outfitter. This means anglers have access to premium rods, reels, and waders. In addition, Patagonia Outfitters works with local boat builders to ensure you have a comfortable and spacious drift boat for your float. At the fly fishing center, your guides will outfit you before hooking up the drift boat and heading to your final destination. They even have Starlink in their trucks for full-service off the grid.
The guides have intimate knowledge of the river system. They know which holes hold fish and can teach even novices casters where to place the fly and how to fish it. If you take a look at any guide’s fly box, you’ll see locally tied patterns that have been carefully curated over years of fishing the Limay, to consistently produce giant brown trout.
Techniques:
The thrill of hunting for trophy brown trout on the Limay is that on any cast, you may hook into a 30+ inch trout. You always need to be focused, and fish every cast like it’s the one.
This type of fishing is more hunting than anything, specifically looking for “the one.” Luckily, the Limay holds a healthy population of rainbow trout ranging from 16 to 24 inches. A great consolation prize, when you see a football field’s worth of rising trout. Not to mention the healthy resident browns.
The guides target these fish with single-handed 7 and 8-weight rods and heavy 300-grain sink-tip lines. Position your cast at a 45-degree angle before making two big mends. Come tight to your line, swing it through the deep runs and pools before stripping it in. Almost all our strikes came within the first two strips. There are a lot of fish in this river, but getting a strike is not always easy. Keep your fly in the water and in the zone as much as possible to maximize your chances.
The Lodge:
The Limay River Lodge, founded by the legendary Jorge Trucco, is positioned a short walk from the water. While there are other operations on the river, none match the accommodations, guides, and program that Limay River Lodge offers.
Accommodations:
There are fish camps and then there are full-on lodge operations, catering to your every need. The Limay River Lodge is the latter. Step out of the truck after a day of fishing, and you’ll instantly be greeted with fresh drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and a wash towel. Now, when it comes to fishing, I don’t need much, but coming back from a long day on the river to full-service like this is something any angler could get used to.
The lodge features a main dining area and a large living room, in addition to an outdoor fireplace. After a day on the water, these serve as a gathering place for guests to come together and share stories. Aside from the main community space, guests are treated to spacious and comfortable rooms, full-service maid service, and anything else they may need.
Dining:
One of the benefits of fishing in Patagonia is the dining experience. Every evening, the lodge gathers around a grand dining table for a communal meal. The chefs here are world-class, utilizing local ingredients to deliver an exceptional dining experience. Steak, lamb, shrimp, pork, and more are all on the menu. And trust us, they won’t let you go hungry. Every meal is three courses ending with freshly made desserts and paired with local wines.
The Trip of a Lifetime:
Patagonia Outfitters and its team of seasoned guides offer more than just the chance at a 30-inch brown trout. Traveling to the Limay River Lodge is the ultimate full-service experience. From the time you touch down in Patagonia to the first casts on the drift boat, you become immersed in the culture of Argentina. The sights, sounds, and flavors of this fabled part of the world become ingrained in you.
Yet, the best-in-class accommodations, knowledgeable guides, and exquisite dining make you feel as if you’ve been right at home the whole time. In retrospect, the Limay River Lodge and Patagonia Outfitters made this a trip of a lifetime; the giant brown trout are just an added bonus.
If you’re interested in winning a trip to the Limay River, enter the giveaway below:
