
Photos: Enrique Guardia (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
En el oeste sanjuanino, entre la cordillera de la zona de Iglesia y Calingasta, el río Blanco baja bravo y helado, cargado de agua de deshielo que le da ese color lechoso que le vale el nombre. Es un río de altura y aire andinista donde resisten la trucha arcoíris, la marrón y la de arroyo.
La clave es esperar a que el caudal afloje y el agua se aclare: recién ahí la mosca y el spinning encuentran ventana. Ninfas y streamers pesados para vencer la corriente, cucharitas chicas en los veriles, y las secas reservadas para los momentos de calma. La marrón se esconde en los reparos profundos, la de arroyo aparece más arriba, en los hilos cristalinos. En términos generales, el otoño y el arranque de la primavera son los momentos justos, cuando el deshielo cede. Pesca de cordillera pura, viento frío y horizontes de roca.
Tramo Calingasta: 4 truchas/día (máx 25 cm) sin acopio en extracción; devolución obligatoria 15 sept-31 oct y 1 mayo-30 junio. Tramo Iglesia: solo mosca, devolución obligatoria todo el año.
At Río Blanco (San Juan) you can catch Brook trout, Brown trout, Rainbow trout. Allowed styles: River.
En el oeste provincial, hacia Iglesia y Calingasta, el acceso es por rutas de montaña y caminos secundarios; algunos tramos son remotos. Consultá localmente el estado del camino y del agua.
Se pesca con el permiso de la provincia de San Juan: revisá el reglamento, la temporada habilitada y los sectores permitidos antes de encarar.
Tramo Calingasta: 4 truchas/día máx 25 cm sin acopio en extracción; devolución obligatoria 15 sept-31 oct y 1 mayo-30 junio. Tramo Iglesia: solo mosca, devolución obligatoria todo el año.
Base data: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
| Season | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | IDX | NOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brook trout. PEAK MAR–APR | 15 | Off | ||||||||||||
| Brown trout. PEAK MAR–APR | 15 | Off | ||||||||||||
| Rainbow trout. PEAK MAR–APR | 15 | Off |
The number (0 to 100) sums up how likely the species is to be active here this month: it weighs the season, recent catch reports and, where there is a river gauge, the water level.
For a species of 0.5 to 2 kg that lives in cold streams and lagoons, the ideal gear is light and sensitive, allowing you to enjoy the fight and present small lures and flies with precision.
Spinning:
Fly:
Round it out with barbless hooks if you are going to practice catch-and-release, a hook-removal tool (forceps), a soft-mesh (rubber) net so as not to harm the fish, and waders if you are going to wade into the cold water.
Gear is chosen according to the environment and the expected size. A versatile, concrete setup:
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In August the species of Río Blanco are past their best moment. Off season does not mean there is a closed season.
In Río Blanco it is worth going when its main species bite: Brook trout (NOV–APR); Brown trout (NOV–APR); Rainbow trout (NOV–APR).
In Río Blanco you can fish River.
Yes: PESQA lists 2 guides working Río Blanco, among them Los Capayanes, La Huella Jáchal.
Near Río Blanco PESQA lists 45 places to stay: El Campito - Cabañas, Cabañas Mis Horas, Camping Cuesta del Viento.
Around Río Blanco there is one marina or tackle shop: Venta de Mojarras.
Río Blanco is in the province of San Juan.
Fly fishing:
Recommended accessories: rubber net (less harm to the fish for release), forceps for removing hooks, barbless hooks, and waders for safe wading in cold water.
The gear is matched to the setting and the size of trout you are after, but these setups cover most situations in Argentina:
Spinning (general use, trout of 1 to 3 kg):
Fly:
For trophy specimens (5-10+ kg at the Strobel): step up the power—medium/medium-heavy spinning with 15-20 lb braid and a robust fluoro leader, or a 7/8 fly outfit—because these are fish with strength and runs far superior to the average trout.
In every case: a well-adjusted drag, sharp hooks (barbless if you are going to release), and a rubber net to handle the fish with the least possible harm.