El Tigre Experience

A successful day fly fishing in the Andes of Mendoza requires a certain technique unique to the area. The majority of rivers here are fast moving mountain streams, teeming down from the Andes. These rapids are broken up by large and medium size rocks, creating crystal clear pools and pockets – the perfect habitat for trout. And because these pockets of calm water are relatively shallow, there are lots of opportunities to fish at sight.

The trout have a wide variety of food sources, both aquatic and terrestial, depending on the water temperature, altitude and river location. The rivers contain efímeras, plecópteras, dípteros, tricopteros and it is possible to fish with nymphs, emergers and dry flies. At the end of the season we catch lots with rasshoppers.

The species of trout most common here are rainbows and fontinalis.

Equipment: We use light rods #2 o #3, with leaders of 5x o 6x. The most popular flies are prince, hare´s ear, caddis lava, massarta, soft hacle, goddard caddis and Adams.

The fishing technique we use involves short casting as these are small streams with lots of vegetation. We roll cast with short lines taking into account that the fish are close and easily scared.