CHRISTMAS GIFTS/ JURASSIC LAKE LODGE ARGENTINA

 In 1994, the Estancia owner released rainbow trout from the Rio Santa Cruz into the Rio Barrancoso.  The Barrancoso is the only tributary of Lago Strobel which is an alkaline desert sink.  The waters are extremely cold and full of oxygen, teaming with and abundance of  scuds and midges which allow the rainbows to grow to huge sizes. 

Adult trout reproduce continually in the Barrancoso with the peak spawning activity occurring in September and October.  This is dream heaven for fly fisherman seeking some of the largest rainbows on earth!  A few years ago, friend, Carlos Lopez Casanello built a large lodge with comfortable rooms with private bathrooms, gourmet dining, and a landing strip for charter flights from Comodoro Rivadavia. 

Trips at the beginning of the season due to snow,  could possible begin in El Calafate with a 5.5 hour drive to the lodge. The lodge sits at the mouth of the Barrancoso where the main beats are only a 5 to 10 minute walk.  Clients rotate the beats each session while wading the river or casting from shore or wading in Lago Strobel.  The winds around Jurassic are brutal so some experience of fly casting is needed.  The guides at Jurassic are experts and can help with lessons on fly casting.  I have fished Jurassic numerous times and landing over 100 rainbows per day per person is a norm!!  Everyday there is a good chance of a few rainbows exceeding 20lbs being landed.  So, if your looking for a fantastic fly fishing trip to give for Christmas look no further than Jurassic and they will have the fishing experience of a lifetime!  For more information contact pia@jurassiclakelodge, carlos@jurassiclakelodge, or feel free to contact me.  The season runs from October to the end of April and fills rapidly!  

CHRISTMAS GIFTS/ PAPUA NEW GUINEA GIANT TREVALLY OR PAPUAN BACK BASS

 Looking to send the fisher person in your life to a land so remote that it has possibly never been touched or even fished?  The islands of Papua New Guinea are one of the last remaining places on earth.  Here, the fishing is outstanding.  There are both saltwater and freshwater opportunities to satisfy your dreams.  Rock Expeditions under the guidance of Luke Wyrsta offer these "dream trips".  They specialize in catch and release fishing in the remote Indo-Pacific.  The emphasis is on fishing, not luxury!!! 

Lodging is under the stars in tents, native hunts, or under a tarp.  This helps keeps the cost down and allows a movement of camps during the week.  The saltwater trips are aimed at landing huge Giant Trevally with great opportunities at landing dog tooth tuna, baraccuda, jobfish, mackeral, coral trout, and many others.  Papua New Guinea gives the angler the best odds in the world of landing the elusive Napoleon Wrasse! 

Fly Fishing, Conventional topwater, and deep jigging are the preferred methods.  In all my fishing experience nothing can top having a 80 lbs Giant Trevally explode on your topwater popper!  I have fished the waters around Misima Island and can highly recommend the trip.  

Freshwater Papuan Black Bass with barramundi being a side catch swim in the countless remote rivers in the jungle in Papua New Guinea.  From my experience I have found the fighting ability of the Papuan Black Bass second to no other freshwater species. 

Preferred methods are fly fishing and conventional casting near structure. Housing is in native structure or sleeping under the stars.  The area is so remote that only a handful of fishermen have ventured into the jungles of PNG to experience this amazing fishery.  

Luke Wyrsta can be found here on Facebook.  Or get in touch with me to give yourself or someone else a TRIP OF A LIFETIME!  

CHRISTMAS GIFTS/ BORN TO FISH CHARTERS

 

With the covid issue locking most of us up, and most International Fishing Destinations not being open to the USA, a great Christmas Gift would be a 3 day/ 4 night trip for monster redfish with Capt. Keith Kennedy of Born To Fish Charters.  The fishing is world class.  Keith is a tremendous guide who will put you on trophy bull reds.  He is based in Venice, LA which is about a 1.5 hr drive from New Orleans. 

Keith is a world class chef so expect to add a few pounds on during your stay. 

He provides all housing, tackle, and meals.  He has a spacious boat to get you to the hotspots.  The majority of my friends who are World Class Fisherman have booked over and over with Keith.  He normally fills fast, so make sure to get that great Christmas Gift as soon as possible.  Fishing is good throughout the year.  Keith can be contacted at 504-908-3108 or find him on Facebook or get in touch with me.  

La Zona open for fishing

 Lodge manager, Giuliana Bradanini, informed me that their first clients since covid restrictions were placed are now allowed to fish in the area known as La Zona.  Giuliana reports that the fishing was outstanding on Day 1.  With lower than normal water levels, the fishing should remain fabulous.  Here the largest golden dorado in the world swim with a good chance of landing a trophy weighing over 50 lbs.  The lodge is offering some super saver discounts for 2022 and are filling rapidly so get a booking in soon. 

Hopefully, American anglers will be allowed to enter Argentina soon.  I cannot wait to battle the La Zona dorado as have wetted a line every year since the beginning of allowing fishermen near the Salto Grande Dam in the restricted zone.  Starting this season La Zona lodge has reconstructed a newly built modern structure where clients dine on delicious meals served by a local chef.  The Lodge consists of numerous rooms with private bath, A/C units, big screen TVs, an many more perks to make you feel like staying at the top 5 ***** hotels worldwide.  

Alaska

 

Today, is the first Saturday after Labor day which I have not spent travelling to the Alaska Peninsula seeking huge silver salmon for the past 30 years.  Alaska became my go to adventure in early September visiting first Painter Creek Lodge and later years fishing out of Pumice Creek Lodge.

  Both lodges are fantastic, but nothing beats Pumice Creek Lodge where clients had the option of fishing for giant silvers on the Cinder River or fishing for loads of arctic char on Lava Creek. 

I really miss the flying in the small planes to the river and seeing abundance of wildlife including giant brown bears and trophy moose.  The silver fishing on the Cinder was beyond belief as most cannot imagine landing over 100 silvers per person in a day!  The Cinder Silvers are some of the largest on earth with the average going around 14 lbs and pushing up to 20 lbs.  We waded the river alone, never seeing another fisherman in all my years on the Cinder as its remoteness made it out of the way for the Bristol Bay Lodges floatplanes to reach.  Many great friends were made including GAry LaRose and Jon Kent, lodge owners.  Great guides such as Rudy McPherran and Todd Byrd always looked out for us and for bears.  ONe year, friend Peter Furber from South Africa came along.  The fishing was outstanding and all Pete could say was "WOW, I COULD NEVER IMAGINE".  Alaska and friends will sorely be missed as the bar is set too high as the doors of Pumice Creek Lodge closed its doors to fisherman last September.  Luckily, I have thousands of photos, hours of footage, and countless memories to remember the Best Fishing Offered in Alaska for the rest of my lifetime!  

Jurassic Lake Lodge/ Argentina Update

 

Jurassic Lake Lodge which is located on Lago Strobel in the remote Patagonia Area of Argentina.  The lodge sits within walking distance of the mouth of the Barrancoso River which is the only significant tributary.  Earlier this week, I was able to talk with lodge owner, Carlos Lopez Casanello.  Carlos says the Lago Strobel area has received the most significant snowfall in the past 20 years which should make this upcoming season the best in many years--if it can get any better than last year in my opinion.  The high water will eventually push tens of thousands of huge rainbows into the river. 
The rainbows here get huge, I would say the average is 12 pounds with daily catches of 50 to 100 rainbows being the norm.  During one's stay I would say they have a 50% chance of landing a trophy rainbow pushing the scales upwards of 20 pounds.

  Last season a few friend and my guides saw the largest rainbow our eyes have seen as we all figured it went over 40 pounds.  So giants are indeed swimming in these virgin waters where clients of Jurassic Lake Lodge has sole access. 

I have also heard rumors that Argentina might resume International and Domestic flights in October.  So, if you are after the largest rainbow of your life get in contact with me and will put you in contact with Jurassic Lake Lodge.

  Openings are rare but am sure there will be select dates open this season due to cancellations( I have a few openings in my group which is scheduled to arrive in early October).  The season at Jurassic runs from October through April with outstanding catches during all dates mentioned.

Venice LA Bull Reds..August 10 to 13

 

With the covid still causing havoc on International Travel, I decided to head back to Venice, LA for another crack at trophy Bull Redfish under the guidance of Captain Keith Kennedy of Born To Fish Charters.  I was fishing in Venice a few weeks ago and had a great trip. Recently, a  trip to Papua New Guinea postponed so was anxious to get a replacement trip in.  On August 9th, I flew with my brother, Bill,  out of O'Hare Airport on a full American Airlines plane to New Orleans.  At the New Orleans Airport we met up with friend Etan Zimmet and rented a car for the 1 1/2 hr drive to Born To Fish Charters based in Boothville, LA.  The weather forecast was ideal with winds being exceptionally low for the entire stay.  Fishing for redfish for a few years, I have found that the wind is the main factor determining catch rate.  Low to zero wind means lots and lots of big reds. 

This theory once again came true as we landed a total of 166 bull reds with the largest weighing in at 32lbs.  The average redfish I estimated at 20 to 22 lbs.  Our best day was a total of 61 reds in perfectly calm waters where the water temp was 90.5F.  The top lures were 6 inch Bomber Mud Minnows in either black/ char or rootbeer/ char fished behind a Blabber Mouth popping cork rigged on a 8/0 circle hook.  A few reds were landed on smaller poppers and prop baits made by Kermett Adams.  During the stay I was able to test out a spinning rod made by rod maker Buzz Butters of B & B Custom Fishing Rods based out of Ripon, WI.  The 3 piece rod was perfect and I landed a bonus    6 ft foot shark.  In all this was the best trip I have taken for redfish. 

Captain Keith knows where the big reds are located.  He provides housing, tackle, and meals which are simply delicious.  With International trip being grounded, Keith has filled fast.  A few openings remain this season and Keith is taking reservations for 2021.  This is in my opinion the best deal available for quality fishing usually only found Internationally.  Get a booking while they exist.  You can contact Keith at 504-908-3108