Beyond the fly: how to catch the biggest trout in the southern lakes with trolling and boat spinning, gear and best lakes.
The other face of the Patagonian trout
The fly is the queen of the rivers, but the great southern lakes hide the biggest trout, and there trolling and boat spinning shine. It is the way to reach the deep fish you cannot see from shore.
What trolling is
It is fishing from a moving boat, trailing lures at different depths. It lets you cover a lot of water and reach the big trout that hold deep, especially in summer, when the surface water warms and the fish go down.
The gear
- A sturdy trolling or spinning rod, a reel with a good drag and strong line; to reach the bottom, lead-core lines or a downrigger.
- Lures: wobbling spoons, minnow plugs and the classic Patagonian trolling lures.
- For shore and river-mouth spinning: spoons and minnows.
Where
The great lakes: Nahuel Huapi, Lácar, Huechulafquen, Lake Cardiel (huge rainbows) and the Alicurá reservoir (trophy trout). The river and stream mouths concentrate the fishing; in summer, the trout drop deep and trolling is the best option.
The season
From November to April, with the Patagonian permit. Summer is ideal for deep trolling; spring and autumn, for spinning at the mouths and along the shore.
Look after the resource
Big trout are valuable breeders: release them carefully, with wet hands and the least possible time out of the water.
