LAND OF THE GIANT KINGS/ EL CHALTEN ARGENTINA

With the decline of the giant sized chinook salmon in Alaska, Argentina is now hands down the best opportunity for a 70+ lbs giant.  These salmon appeared in Argentina around 20 years ago.  They enter the rivers in September and travel hundreds of miles to spawn in late March.  I recently had the opportunity to fish for these brutes for 5 days, February 23 to 27.  I booked the trip with Tomas Aquino who can be contacted on whatsapp (+54 9 2966 38-9623).  On February 22, I took a bus from the town of El Calafate to El Chalten which took about 3 hours.  El Chalten is often referred to as "the trekking capital of Argentina" located in Los Glacieres National Park with access to iconic peaks like Mount Fitz Roy.  We fished numerous pools on the Rio de las Vueltas which originates in Lago del Desierto and flows into Lake Viedma.

  I was guided by Ezequiel Rivera who is studying to be a vetinarian.  Ezequiel would pick me up at my hotel around 7am and we drove about 30 minutes to a pool on the river which he chose.  Tomas has a staff of 2 other guides plus guides himself. 

He provides everything (rods, reels, waders, boots, spoons, lunch, soft drinks, and transportation back and forth from your hotel. Chinook fishing is not easy as the fish do not eat in freshwater they hit lures out of instinct.

  I was hoping to catch 1 good size chinook for the stay and Tomas said the odds were good.  I brought my own equipment.  I used a Daiwa Saltiga travel casting rod, a Daiwa Lexa 300 spooled with 60 lbs Diamond hollow core braid filled with a 60lbs fluorocarbon leader.  Spoons were the ticket.  Tomas makes some great spoons which weigh about 1 1/2 ounces in gold and silver.  I landed both of my huge chinooks on the 1 1/4 oz little cleo in gold and silver/orange stripe.  The fishing far exceeded my expectations.  I landed 6 chinooks in the in 5 days with 2 giants.  I had numerous follows with kings exceeding 60 lbs only to turn at my feet.  Numerous salmon could be seen surfacing each day.  The pools are deep holes which can fish 2 anglers comfortably.  All of my strikes were on the swing as the spoon changed direction. 

The scenery in this area is breath taking. I cannot express my thanks to Tomas and Ezequiel as I cannot wait until next February to return to the Land of the Giant Kings!  Contact Tomas Aquino now to get onto this trip of a lifetime as he books extremely fast.