Santa Cruz River

Gear is chosen according to the environment and the expected size. A versatile, concrete setup:

Spinning (general use, rivers and lakes):

• Rod: 1.80 to 2.10 m, medium / medium-fast action, light to medium power (4–12 lb line). For large lakes or very big browns, step up to medium-heavy.
• Reel: front-drag size 2500–3500, with a good drag and smooth retrieve.
• Line: braided line 0.12–0.20 mm (approx. 10–20 lb) for sensitivity and hookset power, or 8–12 lb monofilament in smaller environments.
• Leader: fluorocarbon 0.25–0.35 mm (approx. 8–15 lb), low-visibility and abrasion-resistant against rocks and structure. Go finer with the leader if the water is clear and the brown is wary… but beef it up if there is a lot of cutting structure.

Fly fishing:

• Rod: #5–#6 line for a medium river and dry/nymph fishing; #7–#8 for streamers, the Patagonian wind and large specimens.
• Reel: with a good drag and backing, matched to the line weight.
• Lines: floating (WF) for dry and nymph; sink-tip or full sinking line for streamers in pools and lakes.
• Tippet/leader: tapered ending in 3X–5X for dry/nymph; a stouter 0X–2X for streamers and big fish.

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: