Los Glaciares Nacional Parque

 

Parque Nacional Los Glaciares is located in Argentina's Santa Cruz province.  It is famous for the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world's second largest after Antarctica, featuring massive glaciers like the Perito Moreno, Upsala, and Spegazinni.  During my fishing adventures to Jurassic Lake Lodge and recently to El Chalten, I always find time to take a bus tour to the Moreno Glacier.  In the City of El Calafate, one can book a tour to the Los Glaciares Nacional Parque. The most famous of the glaciers is Puerto Moreno. 

Here, there are numerous grated trails to observe the glacier.  The glacier size is massive, topping the City of Buenos Aires.  There are 3 colored trails which allow various sides of the glacier to observe.  Additionally, the Parque has numerous tour boats where one can book to get very close to the glacier and if lucky, see some calving which is the breaking of ice chunks from the edge of the glacier.  It sounds like a sonic boom when this happens, and a rush of water is pushed upwards from the falling ice.

Unfortunately, over the years I have observed the glacier retreating rapidly especially in the past two seasons.  Most Americans have a picture in their mind of Argentina having a warm climate. 

Most do know have any information on the Patagonia region which at its southern most point is the jumping off port for trips to Antarctica.  Southern Argentina is full of penguins which I hope to photograph soon.  So, on you next fishing adventure to Patagonia, give yourself a few extra days in El Calafate and book a tour to the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares!  

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.