New for 2025, we’re incredibly excited to introduce you to Howenh Lodge in Argentina, another exclusive addition to our fantastic Sea Trout fishing portfolio. Situated on the famous Rio Grande in Tierra del Fuego in southern Patagonia, it offers travelling fly rods the opportunity to enjoy some of the best Sea Trout fishing found anywhere in the region. With more than twenty one kilometres of water and over 40 different pools at its disposal, it’s one of the most personal Sea Trout fisheries in South America. Since our visit during our 2024 hosted trips, we’ve worked relentlessly with the lodge to secure UK exclusivity, which we’re proud to say we have done – cementing our spot at the top of the tree as the ‘go-to’ company for Sea Trout fishing fanatics across the globe.
With a team committed to excellence in fishing guidance and hospitality, Howenh strives to create memorable and enjoyable experiences for every guest who walks through its doors. Its mission statement was clear, and it understood the importance of delivering exceptional service to all its guests, which was one of the reasons why it was such a perfect fit for us as a company, combined with the fantastic fly fishing opportunities.
Depending on your preferences, we have a range of weeks available at Howenh, with standard weeks and a dedicated week hosted by our CEO, Peter Collingsworth, all available exclusively to Sportquest customers.
The Rio Grande (Spanish for ‘Great River’), where Howenh sits, is located in the region of Tierra Del Fuego. It rises in Chile to the West and flows eastwards through Argentina to its mouth at Rio Grande City before emptying into the Argentine Sea. It’s one of the planet’s most famous Sea Trout fishing rivers in terms of the quality of the fishing, the number of fish landed and the excellent average size.
As the name suggests, the Rio Grande is a large river compatible with an array of freshwater fly fishing techniques. One moment, the fish may want a fly on the bottom, and the next, they might want it skated across the surface. Water levels within the river can change weekly, and generally, the river provides travelling rods with an exciting yet rewarding challenge. Those who manage to crack the Rio Grande code can be rewarded with a fly fishing experience of a lifetime and one that lives long in memory.
Generally, the Sea Trout in the river enjoy spending their time along the edges of the cut banks, especially during the middle of the day. During low water, they will be found in the faster necks of the pools, often moving into these areas during the early morning, evening and night time hours. A good rule is, “Tails in the morning and heads at night.”
If you’d like to learn more about the incredible Sea Trout fishing opportunities we have on offer in Argentina, visit our YouTube channel.
The population of Sea Trout within the Rio Grande is estimated to be between 50,000 and 75,000, with the last factual study in 2008 estimating 85,000. The average size of these fish is around 9lb, but almost one in five is over 15lb and fish over 20lb almost get caught weekly. As a rough guide, one in fifty fish will tip the scales between 20-25lb. On average, the fish in the river are 17% heavier than fish elsewhere of the same length; they are also between 15% and 20% heavier than Atlantic Salmon of the same length. This translates to a genuine opportunity for travelling rods to target some of the world’s largest Sea Trout, and for those looking to catch a new PB, the Rio Grande is the river.
The majority of the fishing is wading in generally shallow water, with an average depth of 40 to 45cm, although on some occasions, it might be a little deeper in some of the more famous pools. Two-handed rods between 12 to 15ft in length are the norm, not only to allow longer casts but also to allow you to control your fly lines, which in the majority of cases will be floating. Switch rods can be used in conjunction with dry flies or skaters when the wind drops in the evening.
Note: Along with the Sea Trout, there are also Brown and Rainbow Trout populations that can get caught.
The question, probably on everyone’s lips, is why Howenh Lodge? Several factors make it a popular choice on the Rio Grande. The first is the sheer amount of water on offer, which equates to over 21 kilometres of double-bank fishing, split between four to six rods per week, all based on a rotation and split between several famous lodges. Five kilometres are shared with Kau Tapen, ten with Aurelia Lodge, and six with San Jose Lodge.
The second is the exciting and technical nature of the river, as it’s far more like fishing the Rio Gallegos than how you may imagine the traditional sections of the Rio Grande. At Howenh, floating fly lines are the norm and arguably anglers have the chance to fish some of the best water on the entire river.
Howenh Lodge Facts:
– 4 – 6 rods per week
– Over 21km of double-bank fishing
– 41 quality pools
– All fishing on rotation basis
– Interesting, technical fishing
– Peak season between January 15th to the end of March
A typical day at Howenh is usually made up of two fishing sessions, a morning and an afternoon. The morning session will usually be between 8.30am and 1.30pm, when anglers stop for lunch and a siesta. The fishing then resumes around 5.00pm for the evening session, which will last until 9:30pm or until dark, which can be as late as 10:30pm – 11:00pm, depending on the time of year.
As with lots of fishing around the world, the mornings and evenings will tend to be the most productive. The lower light conditions will often make the Sea Trout more willing to feed, and also provide anglers with some stunning photographic opportunities. These periods of the day also tend to be the time when the wind is at it’s calmest.
In addition to offering some of the best Sea Trout fishing on the Rio Grande, Howenh Lodge prides itself on providing some of the best accommodations. Located just a 1.5-hour drive from the airport on the renowned San Julio estate, it offers a serene wilderness experience with unparalleled views across the magnificent valley, majestic mountains and lush vegetation.
Fully refurbished in 2023, the lodge accommodates four to six rods per week, all staying in single rooms. The exceptional level of amenities and comfort ensures an unforgettable experience. From spacious and well-appointed rooms to top-notch services, the goal was to ensure that all guests enjoyed quality accommodation in a spectacular natural setting.
Howenh features six single bedrooms with private en-suite bathrooms, a large shared living room with an always-burning fire, a drying room, a sauna, a well-stocked bar, an outdoor hot tub, and a BBQ (Asado) area. It also features excellent WiFi and 24-hour power.
Howenhs position also makes it easy to access all the pools and shorelines. After breakfast each morning, the guides will take you to the water using the lodge’s 4 x 4s. There is over 21km of double bank fishing available, which is all fished on a rotation, which will be sorted by the guides once you arrive at the lodge.
The lodge staff consists of a chef and a sous chef, one maid, a hostess/manager, and three guides with three vehicles. The cuisine is second to none, featuring gourmet continental and national dishes and is based on local meats, fresh vegetables and delicious deserts. A traditional lamb asado (BBQ) is also served on a weekly basis.
All the meals get enhanced with a selection of fine Argentine wines, from the lodges well stocked bar.
Although the fishing days are fixed, the below itinerary is still flexible should you require additional free days to explore at the beginning or end of your holiday; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.
Depart Any international Airport (See Details)
Arrive Buenos Aires
On arrival take a taxi to your overnight hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore.
Overnight Accommodation: Buenos Aires Hotel (Single Rooms) B/B
Early in the morning take a taxi to the Jorge Newbery internal Airport and fly to Rio Grande airport. On arrival at Rio Grande airport, you will be met and transferred to the lodge (around 1.5 hours drive). On arrival at the lodge, you will be shown to your rooms and the rest of the day is yours to either relax or if you prefer, set up all your rods ready for the week ahead.
Overnight Accommodation: Howenh Lodge (Single Rooms) F/B
You will enjoy six days of fully guided fly fishing on the mighty Rio Grande, of which Howenh controls over twenty one kilometres of double bank fishing, along with forty pools. Five kilometres are shared with Kau Tapen, ten with Aurelia Lodge, and six with San Jose Lodge. All the fishing is done on a rotation basis and is fully guided, with two anglers per guide.
Each day you will traditionally fish a morning and an evening session and a typical days usually looks something like this:
Daily Schedule:
8.00 am – Breakfast
8.30 am – Depart for the river
1:30 pm – Back to the lodge for lunch and a siesta
6:00 pm – Return to the river to fish until evening
Overnight Accommodation: Howenh Lodge (Single Rooms) F/B
Early in the morning transfer back to Rio Grande airport. From here you will fly to Jorge Newbery. On arrival, you will take a taxi to your hotel.
Overnight Accommodation: Buenos Aires Hotel (Single rooms) B/B
You will take a taxi back to Buenos Aires International Airport.
Depart Buenos Aires
Arrive Home
The season runs from January to April.
Season: January to April
Peak: January to March
Weight: 5lb to 30lb
Average Weight: 9lb
Season: January to April
Peak: January to March
Weight: 1lb to 6lb
Average Weight: 2.5lb
Remember that Sportquest Holidays' services are completely FREE! When you book a trip with Sportquest Holidays, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge and flights independently.
| From | To | Duration | Price | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2025 | 12/01/2025 | 12 | £7,193 | Sold Out | ||
| 08/01/2025 | 19/01/2025 | 12 | £7,193 | Enquire Now | ||
| 15/01/2025 | 26/01/2025 | 12 | £9,958 | Enquire Now | ||
| 22/01/2025 | 02/02/2025 | 12 | £9,958 | Enquire Now | ||
| 29/01/2025 | 09/02/2025 | 12 | £9,958 | Enquire Now | ||
| 05/02/2025 | 16/02/2025 | 12 | £9,958 | Enquire Now | ||
| 12/02/2025 | 23/02/2025 | 12 | £9,958 | Enquire Now | ||
| 19/02/2025 | 02/03/2025 | 12 | £9,958 | Sold Out | ||
| 26/02/2025 | 09/03/2025 | 12 | £9,958 | Sold Out | ||
| 05/03/2025 | 16/03/2025 | 12 | £9,958 | Enquire Now | ||
| 12/03/2025 | 23/03/2025 | 12 | £10,358 | Enquire Now | ||
| Exclusive Sportquest Hosted Weeks | Exclusive Sportquest Hosted Weeks | |||||
| 19/03/2025 | 30/03/2025 | 12 | £9,958 | Enquire Now | ||
| 26/03/2025 | 06/04/2025 | 12 | £9,958 | Enquire Now | ||
| 02/04/2025 | 13/04/2025 | 12 | £7,193 | Enquire Now | ||
| 09/04/2025 | 20/04/2025 | 12 | £7,193 | Enquire Now | ||
| 16/04/2025 | 27/04/2025 | 12 | £7,193 | Enquire Now | ||
Prices are based on one adult (unless otherwise stated), staying in a single room with a shared guide and are correct at the time of going to press. Subject to time of year or date and currency fluctuations, these prices may fluctuate slightly due to flight price increases or fuel surcharge.
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