Info Pack

SPRING CREEK LODGE NEUQUEN PROVINCE
PATAGONIA ARGENTINA
A unique place…. unforgettable fishing

Spring Creek Lodge boasts a combination of world-class fishing and excellent accommodations, making it our first choice for anglers visiting the area.

Patagonia runs from the province of Neuquén to the famous Tierra del Fuego. This is a cinnamon-colored land where only the big sky marks your limit. With its expanses of high plains and its hills, Patagonia is also known as the land of the Gauchos who live and work on the oversized ranches – “estancias” – grazing herds of cattle which probably offer the best steak in the world.
Junín is a sleepy town of about 10,000 inhabitants. It is a pleasant and very-well located village that can provide great entertainment if there's a gaucho festival going on, which is fairly common. One of the area's top rivers, the Chimehuin, runs right through the middle of the town and is excellent for fishing.

Chimehuin - A river nearly 50 miles (about 80 km) long flows out of the beautiful Lago Huechulafquen to the confluence with the Aluminé to ultimately form the Collón Cura. The mouth (“boca”) of the Chimehuin at the lake is world-famous, having produced some of the largest trout ever caught on a fly rod.

The Chimehuin has riffles, pools and all the other features of a beautiful trout river.
Centrally located within the heart of the region's most diverse and productive trout waters, the lodge offers anglers the ability to float or wade-fish the pristine, lightly traveled flows of the Chimehuin, Malleo, Alumine, Collon Cura, Caleufu, Quilquihue and Quemquemtreu. Here anglers can fish new waters each day while casting dries and streamers in a classic western fashion for healthy rainbow, brown, and brook trout, as well as landlocked Atlantic salmon. While many of the region's fish run from 14 to 20 inches, true trophy fish in excess of eight pounds abound.

download INFOPACK

Location

Spring Creek Lodge is situated in the San Cabao Valley on the upper section of the Chimehuin River, 10 miles from Junín de los Andes, and only 15 minutes from Chapelco airport.

The river mouth (“Boca”) is about 15 miles away from Junín, and is well worth visiting for its scenic beauty and tradition. You might even catch a very large fish, particularly in the fall when they are most likely to be leaving the lake. Beware of the wind, which even by Patagonian standards can be ferocious.

How to get there:

From Buenos Aires there are daily flights to Chapelco. You will be met by a lodge representative who will drive you to the lodge (approximately 15 minutes)
There are also daily flights to Bariloche, from where you can be transferred for an extra cost in less than 3 hours.
By air from Santiago or Temuco to Pucón. You will be met in Pucón, cross the border and transfer to the lodge by 4WD vehicle (approximately 3 hours).

The Fishing

Spring Creek Lodge fishes primarily for Brown and Rainbow trout, with dry and wet flies in the Lake District. The Spring Creek itself allows fine fishermen to try very light rods and dry flies.

"Within a half hour drive of Chapelco Airport near the town of Junín de
los Andes, visitors can reach the Chimehuin, Malleo, lower Aluminé, Collón Cura, Quilquihue, and Curruhue Rivers. Somewhat further afield flow the Quillén, upper Aluminé, Norquinco, Caleufú, Meliquina and Filo Hua Hum Rivers. It is safe to say that several hundred miles of trout streams, in which several thousand tons of fish flourish, lie within a fifty-mile (80 km) radius of this serene village, quite possibly site of the densest concentration of exquisite trout habitat in the world."

William C.Leitch - A Fly Fisherman's Guide to Patagonia

During a full week stay, anglers can visit different waters each day.
Easy access to some of the prime water on the Chimehuin River from right in front of the lodge.
Great wade and drift-boat fishing.
Superb Dry-fly and Streamer fishing.
Varied fishing program taking in local tributaries and Lakes.
Fly Gear: Nine foot 4-7weight rods for dry flies, 5-8weight rods for wet-flies and streamers.
Floating lines and sink tip and fast sinking lines. 8foot to 12foot leaders tapered down to two pound tippet for dry-flies and tapered down to 6lbs for streamers.

Dry Flies

Stimulator, sizes 8 through 16; yellow, olive, orange
Elk hair caddis, size 10 through 16
Goddard caddis, size 10 through 16
Parachute Adams, size 12 through 16
Turck’s Tarantula, size 8 through 12, yellow, olive, and natural
Madam X, size 8 thru 14, yellow
Chernobyl Ant, size 8 through 12, black/tan, black/black and black/orange
Parachute Ant, sizes 14 thru 18
Parachute Hopper, sizes 6 thru 14, tan and olive
Black Beetles, size 8 thru 16
Dave’s Hopper, size 8 thru 12
Hexagenia mayfly adults and cripples, sizes 6 and 8(December thru mid Feb.
only)
Cicada, sizes 8 thru 12
Royal Wulff, sizes 10 thru 16
Humpy, standard or royal, sizes 12 thru 16, Yellow, Red, Olive
Trudes, black, royal, or peacock, sizes 10 thru 14

Nymphs

Bead Head Prince, Bead Head Pheasant Tail (flashback or natural), Bead Head
Hare’s Ear (flashback or natural), Bead Head Red Fox Squirrel nymphs; sizes
10 thru 16 Bitch Creek nymph, weighted, sizes 8 thru 12
Soft Hackles, size 12 and 14, olive, tan, and orange
Montana Stone, weighted, size 8 and 10
Bead Head caddis larva and pupa, size 12 thru 16, olive and tan.

Streamers

Black, Olive, White weighted Wooly Buggers (bead or no bead),sizes 6 thru 10
Matuka, olive and black, sizes 6 and 8
Spruce fly, Natural and Furnace, sizes 8 and 10
Kiwi muddler, natural and olive, sizes 6 and 8
Muddler minnow, natural, sizes 8 thru 12
Double Bunny, olive/white, sizes 4 and 6.

The fishing schedule is flexible but will normally start after breakfast at 8-8.30 am. Shore lunches are the norm followed by fishing in the afternoon until late into the evening. Seasonal changes will take into account the changing light but early season fishing may be as late as 10pm, late season as early as 7pm.
Spring Creek Lodge is strictly a catch and release fishery.

Facilities & Services

All guests will enjoy: Deluxe accommodations in one of our private bungalows, gourmet meals, beverages, beer and wine. Transportation to and from rivers and airport, fishing access on our private spring creek, float trips (Avon rafts with casting platforms & Mackenzie drift boat), and one guide per two guests are included.

From their two-bedroom bungalows, guest at Spring Creek Lodge will enjoy the lovely pond, private spring creek, and backdrop of nearby Lanín Volcano. Meals in the main lodge feature, among other entrées, some of the world's most delicious beef accompanied by fine Argentina wines.

Capacity of 8 rods.
Accommodations: Guests are housed in double cabins, with single bedrooms, with living room, and deck facing the lanin volcano.
Extended Dining room, living room and bar areas with ample room for relaxing by the log fire at the club house.
Fly-tying table and extensive selection of materials.
Fly-shop
Professional Local English speaking guides, trained in first aid and C.P.R all of whom are also qualifiedcasting instructors.
Quality dirft boats and avon rafts with frames
4WD double cabin vehicles.
Full stable of horses, so anglers can access rivers on horseback should they choose to do so.
All inclusive bar featuring local spirits
Wonderful wine selection served with dinner. Our wines are selected from Argentinas finest vineyards.
Gourmet cuisine featuring a variety of typical Argentinan dishes such as asados and empanadas, home made breads and desserts and fresh vegetables from our kitchen garden.
Cooked shore lunches served with wine, beer and hot drinks.
Lamb & Goat asados, Special Tango shows at the lodge
Maid and laundry service.
24 hour WI FI service.
International telephone calls available
Non-fishing activities: