
Photos: ANDY ABIR ALAN (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
En el sur mendocino, aguas arriba en la cuenca del Atuel y la región de Malargüe, corre el río Salado: un río de montaña de deshielo, frío y correntoso, que serpentea entre cordones áridos antes de sumar su agua al sistema. En sus tramos serranos viven la trucha arcoiris y la trucha marrón, al reparo de las piedras y los recodos con más profundidad.
Se las pesca con mosca —ninfas al fondo y secas en las tablas mansas— y con spinning de cucharita y minnow en los pozones y las juntas de corriente. En términos generales, el río se pone legible y generoso cuando el deshielo cede y el agua aclara, del otoño al comienzo de la primavera. Pesca de altura, aire seco de montaña y silencio grande, para caminar el río a paso tranquilo.
exclusivamente pesca con mosca en la cuenca del río Salado; captura y devolución obligatoria del 1 may al 28 jun 2026.
At Río Salado (Mendoza) you can catch Brown trout, Rainbow trout.
Original text in Spanish: “Se accede desde la zona de Malargüe y la cuenca alta del Atuel por caminos de montaña de la región. Es terreno remoto: informate sobre el estado de los caminos y del caudal antes de salir.”
Original text in Spanish: “Necesitás el permiso de pesca provincial de Mendoza, que sacás online o en comercios. Respetá temporada, cupos y los tramos con reglas especiales del reglamento vigente.”
Now 6° · wind 5 km/h SW
Base data: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
| Season | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | NOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown trout. In season: NOV–APR. Peak: MAR–APR | Off | ||||||||||||
| Rainbow trout. In season: NOV–APR. Peak: MAR–APR | Off |
Dark: each species' peak months. Medium: its season at this place.
Gear is chosen according to the environment and the expected size. A versatile, concrete setup:
Spinning (general use, rivers and lakes):
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:
Guides, campsites and places to stay that work these waters.
No one has reported from this spot yet. Fished here? Tell us how it went — you'll help the next angler.
There are already 20 businesses loaded in the area. If yours is not there — or it is and you are not running it yet — the listing is free and puts you in front of whoever is planning a trip to Río Salado.
It's free · no card
Original text in Spanish: “exclusivamente pesca con mosca en la cuenca del río Salado; captura y devolución obligatoria del 1 may al 28 jun 2026.”
In October the species of Río Salado are past their best moment. Off season does not mean there is a closed season.
In Río Salado it is worth going when its main species bite: Brown trout (NOV–APR); Rainbow trout (NOV–APR).
Yes: Terrazas en El Bosque works in Río Salado. Services and contact details are on their page.
Near Río Salado PESQA lists 18 places to stay: Camping Gaia, Rincon Sur Cabañas Malargüe, Cabañas Gaia.
Around Río Salado there is one marina or tackle shop: The Big Fish.
Río Salado is in the province of Mendoza.
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.