Chile Travel Advice

Chile is dramatic trout country: coastal mountains, giant trees, big browns, strong rivers, and a few programs we actually endorse.

Chile is Latin America's version of British Columbia. Think coastal mountains stretching from the water to 10,000 feet, giant trees, jagged peaks, and water everywhere. We have been trying since 1987, when Jeff Vermillion lived in Chile for a year, to find a fishery where we could locate a Sweetwater Lodge.

Chile's downside is that there are a thousand different outfitters, and once a fishery is discovered, it tends to get overdeveloped. That said, Chile is a must-do destination and an incredible experience. There are two regions we endorse that you should see.

Coyhaique and the Carretera Austral

Adam Henderson, our manager of Steelhead Valhalla Lodge, and his wife Emma run a superb four-person program that is a must-do. Their specialty, aside from a killer lodge, great food, and a spectacular view, is big brown trout and lots of them. Unlike other programs that revolve around a fixed schedule, Adam and Emma's program revolves around the fishing.

It is a mix of Argentina-style river fishing and lakes. The river fishing includes nymphing and dry-fly fishing for rainbows, browns, and brook trout to 25 inches. Occasionally fish are bigger, but that is not the norm. The scenery is stunning, and there are more drifts and walk-wade options than you will see in their entirety.

Then there are the lakes. Many fly anglers say, "I am not a lake fisherman." Try this on for size: a windless March day with an ant hatch, throwing visibly to brown trout that average 3 to 6 pounds and can range up to 20 pounds. Coyhaique's best lakes are stuffed with big browns, and it is an amazing way to spend part of a week. This is also a superb place to target king salmon on the fly. We will be doing hosted trips there, so drop us an email if that is of interest. This program is a must-do for anyone wanting to experience Chile.

Lake Yelcho and Surrounding Fisheries

Lake Yelcho and its surrounding rivers are the second fishery we like in Chile. This area gets more rainfall, so we are talking about big, strong rivers with eddies the size of basketball courts, rainbows just beneath the surface, high mountains, volcanoes, and giant lakes. Visually, it is an incredible place.

While it does not have the fish numbers of the Coyhaique region in our view, it does have exceptional lake fishing, strong river fishing, mostly with streamers, and a number of lodges that provide a high-quality Chilean experience, albeit often with American guides.