El Rincon | Sea Trout Fishing | Argentina

The lodge is situated at the top of the Rio Gallegos River close to the banks of its feeder stream, the Rio Penitente in Patagonia. It is based on a traditional working estancia with access to large stretches of both the Rio Gellegos and Rio Penitente. Looking across the plains at the distant mountain range, it is quite normal to see rheas trotting around in clouds of dust whilst pink flamingos fly overhead looking to settle down by the river’s edge.

Fishing takes place in the many pools of the Rio Gallegos River and Rio Penitente and guests are guided in twos by the lodge’s vastly knowledgeable guides. At the start of each week, a fishing rota is written up with the zones that each guided couple will fish each day. The great thing about El Rincon lodge is that it has so much available water, free zones can be taken each day if the zones on your rota are not to your liking.

Both the Rio Gallegos River and the Rio Penitente are close; the Rio Gellegos is approximately 15 minutes by car to its nearest pools and a further 25mins from that. The Penitente winds its way through the estancia and totals 35km. The nearest point to the lodge can be walked in just a couple of minutes. Guests can walk and fish those beats in the morning before breakfast but in the main part of the fishing day, the furthest point that you generally travel is 25 minutes by car. If you are more adventurous, you can go out to the border of Argentina and Chilli. This is approximately a 1-hour drive from the lodge.

The main target species for El Rincon is Sea Trout. Even though the lodge is far up the river system, it gets more than its fair share of fresh run fish. When Sea Trout start running they will move exceptionally quick, even when they have been in the river for a few weeks. As well as the Sea Trout, El Rincon’s Brown Trout fishing can be spectacular with a great average weight and some huge trophy fish thrown in for good measure.

One of the reasons why El Rincon has such a successful fishery is due to it having so much water on two completely different types of rivers. This allows for it to fish well in many more different water heights and weather conditions than if it was limited to just one river. It is always hard to give an exact figure on numbers of fish but on a good week, a competent angler should be able to contact between 5 and 10 fish a day at least.

Due to El Rincon having two rivers, the effective styles of fishing is virtually limitless within traditional Trout methods. The Rio Gallegos is more suited to small double handed rods or switch rods in 7# 8# and 9#. These are perfect for average water and wind conditions. Versitip lines are perfect with quick interchangeable tips from float to sink 8-9. This gives you the ability to change between pools for the ideal presentation.
When you fish the Rio Penitente, the tools you need are single handed rods in 5# 6# and 7#. Depending on the height of the river, you can fish an array of different flies and techniques. All of which will work at different times. Sometimes they will all work on the same day.
Fishing small nymphs, the 5#/6# will work with winging them, stripping them or fishing them upstream. Using the same rods, dry flies can be deadly at different times with both Brown Trout and Sea Trout. The 7# rod can be employed for either swinging or stripping large streamer patterns, fishing big rubber legs or fishing larger deer head surface flies.

Currently, all the guides speak very good English. In Argentina, a fishing guide is regarded as a very prestigious role and young children grow up wanting to become guides. For this reason, they normally speak good English and take pride in their performance.

Due to the comfort and huge diversity of fishing that El Rincon has to offer, it really is a lodge for everyone. In normal conditions, any age or ability of angler is going to have a good time at the lodge. Although there is not a vast amount of activities for the non-angler to do, this accommodation is suitable for any non-angler who wants a relaxed week whilst being looked after with plentiful food and wine.

The skill level required to fish at El Rincon is not high. Any level of angler will be able to find fishing that is suitable to their level at the lodge. With such experienced guiding team anglers are more than likely to come away from a trip to El Rincon a better angler than before.

As far as wade fishing goes, El Rincon is very undemanding. It has a good mix of very easy wading pools to some that are much harder but due to the volume of different water and fish, there is no need to fish pools out of your comfort zone. Another factor that helps less physically fit anglers is that most of the pools can be reached by 4×4. For anyone who likes a walk whilst fishing, you can be dropped off in your team with your guide and walk along the river, fishing each pool as you go can be a really nice experience.

Although the Brown Trout fishing can be amazing in both November and December the main run of Sea Trout turn up in January. The fishing for these stays good through until March.

International flights head into Buenos Aires and then it’s a taxi across the city to the Airoparque Internal airport to catch a connecting flight to Rio Gallegos airport. At Rio Gallegos airport a Sportquest Holiday representative will meet you and transfer you approximately 1 hour 40 minutes to the lodge.

The lodge has a very relaxed comfortable feel to it. It is clean and the rooms are all single ensuites with plenty of space. The lodge has a large porch with rod stands and a good sized cloakroom for hanging waders and jackets. The only potential downside to the lodge is it doesn’t have 24-hour electricity. There is a quiet generator that runs during cooking times and into the evening for charging phones and cameras.

The food is excellent. It is a true Argentinian style with plenty of traditional meat dishes. You will eat a cooked breakfast before you head out for the day. Your guide will bring along a picnic for you to have by the riverbank whilst you are fishing. Evening meals are eaten at the dining table and are three courses. During the evening, the wine never stops flowing so it normally makes for an entertaining night as fisherman’s tails get ever more flamboyant.

The lodge does not hire out tackle but as long as they are given pre warning they are happy to lend out all that is needed during your stay. Flies can be purchased at the lodge and they normally have a good selection.

Because of the remoteness of the lodge, it does not have WIFI and phone signal can be very hit and miss. There are some corners of the lodge that most phones will work.

For anyone that likes peaceful walks, El Rincon is the perfect place. You can walk for miles in any direction and all you will be disturbed by is the occasional gaucho riding across the estancia or the many animals that live on the plain. Horse riding can also be arranged with plenty of pre-warning.

We offer the complete package including all flights and transfers. To view all prices and availability click the “Dates & Prices” Tab above.

Alternatively, if you wish to arrange all your own travel we can book just the lodge and fishing for you.