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Week 14: April 1st to 8th, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
This week, we welcomed the final group of the season from Argentina and New Caledonia. The air and water temperature warmed up slightly from the previous week but stayed consistent in the single digits (C) as fall is certainly upon us in Tierra del Fuego. We continued to see fresh fish move through all our beats, and while many were our typical late run of one to two sea-winter sea trout, we had fresh fish passing the 20 lb mark among those that had spent time in the river.
Despite the rain and snowmelt in the last weeks, both the Grande and Menendez dropped significantly as the week continued. Menendez dropped down to its January level, and fish were landed on a mix of flies utilizing shorter sink tips. The Grande settled into a low but solid level and kept a tea-stained color, which is fantastic for fishing. Water temperatures this time of year can be quite cold, necessitating larger flies and heavier sink tips, but anglers were able to successfully use both single and double-hand rods. These tactics are more difficult with a single-hander in our late season, but as long as the fish are covered correctly, plenty of takes were produced as a result.
There are a few notable fish to mention among plenty of fish weighing above mid-teens. First is Agustin’s chrome-bright 20lb fish in the upper section, which had hardly spent any time in the river. For a late-run fish, this is as good as it gets and shows how spread-out runs on the Rio Grande are, with the chance of a good fresh fish present during all of the southern summer and fall. The fish of the week was Francisco’s 22lb hen, also quite fresh, that was subdued and then released after an epic battle in the Grande on the single-hander.
As we are coming to the close of the season, we reflect on great times with our guests from around the world. As far as the fishing goes, we certainly endured our share of challenges with low water for most of the summer and even more wind than is expected for Tierra del Fuego. Still, of note is the number of trophy fish our guests managed to land. The number of 20 lb+ fish was far above the average of the past few years, and many weeks saw every guest landing fish over 15 lbs. Even for Rio Grande, this is considered spectacular. The largest fish of the season in the Grande went to Tom S. at a whopping 28 lbs, while the Menendez produced one of 26 lbs for Tom H. Any cast at Kau Tapen can truly produce a fish of a lifetime!
Already, we are looking forward to seeing all of you again next season. In the meantime, for a slight Rio Grande fix, see our social media accounts (@kautapenlodge and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups and techniques, information about the river, or if you’d like to come join us, please visit our website!
Finally, a big thank you goes out to our head guide Gaston Guglielminetti and the rest of the guide team – Santi Villalba, Christian Lindstrom, Leandro Herrainz, Ramiro Acosta, Guillermo Mustto, and Esteban Giordano. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team.
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Week 13: March 25th to April 1st, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
This week at Kau Tapen, we welcomed a truly international group from the USA, the UK, New Caledonia, and Argentina. Once again, almost all were returning veterans to the Rio Grande and had high expectations after the previous week’s fishing. Fall has arrived here in Tierra del Fuego, and the large sea trout that have spent time in the river have been on the take, although there are still fresh fish pushing into the river system. Overall, fishing proved to be very solid, with sporadic activity on some days and plenty of taking fish on others, as fish adapted to a bout of cold weather.
Luckily, the strong winds of the previous week came to a halt, and more normal fall conditions were observed throughout the week. A little wind in the middle of the day, all from the prevailing west, made for pleasant casting and fishing for our guests. Air temperatures dropped well below freezing, and this had a great effect on the water as well. We started and finished on a warmer note, and with this, there was more consistent fishing. Mid-week, air temperatures hovered at -4°C late into the morning, and ice even took over the non-flowing edges of the river. Yet, the fish are there, and we managed to hook and land them in the water at around 2°C (35°F). This cold water was observed in both the Grande and Menendez rivers, and cold-water fishing tactics, similar to those used for winter steelhead or early spring Atlantic salmon, were necessary to hook fish.
The river level continued to drop after the rise from two weeks ago. We had heavy rain on Monday that left a significant amount of snow in the mountains, but any rise from this was negligible with the cold. Menendez started at an off-green color but moved to low and clear by the week’s end. Even still, it was only a matter of finding the right pockets, and there were some significant fish to be found. The same could be said for runs in the Grande, as despite fluctuating temperatures and the coldest weather we have experienced this season, fishing remained very strong.
In terms of numbers, it was our most prolific week of the season, with well over 200 fish hooked, and a significant portion of these landed. The average weight was right on track historically, around 8 lbs, influenced by a run of fresh one-sea-winter fish among the larger ones present in the river. These sea trout are the future of the fishery, as they are repeat spawners, and it is great to see a healthy population of all sizes returning to both rivers. Once again, every guest managed a great fish over the 15 lb mark, and there were a few in the 20 lb range as well. Both Robert and Joe had amazing males of 24 lbs, and Rob managed a few at 20 lbs as well- a spectacular effort!
The season is coming to a close here at Kau Tapen with only one week of fishing remaining. With our beats on the Menendez and Grande holding healthy numbers of fish, we are excited for a strong end to the season and are looking forward to seeing our guests again in the future. For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapenlodge and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups and techniques, information about the river, or if you’d like to come join us, please visit our website! We wish you all the best and hope to see you on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team
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Week 12: March 18th to 25th, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
This week at Kau Tapen, we welcomed guests from the USA, the UK, and Uruguay. All were Rio Grande veterans, ready to take on some of the most exciting fishing of the season. As we transition into fall, dropping air and water temperatures necessitate a specific approach to sea trout fishing, similar to that of winter steelhead in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. While sometimes moody with the cold, the numbers of fish are here, and time spent with the fly in the water led to hooked fish across the board and happy guests!
After the rise in the Grande towards the latter part of the previous week, we experienced stable and dropping water for all days with no drastic changes in the river’s level. The Menendez started out with an off-green color and went gradually clearer as the week progressed. The Grande remained mostly clear with a slight tea stain to it, perfect for swinging flies for sea trout.
The biggest challenge proved to be the wind, which blew regularly at 80 kph with gusts over 100 kph for the first 4 days. Finally, on Thursday, we experienced normal fall conditions of a calm morning, breezy mid-day, and calm evening. As the wind dropped, so did the water and air temperatures. The lowest water temperature of the season in both the Grande and Menendez was recorded at below 5°C (41°F). This undoubtedly led to slower fishing towards the end of the week, but there was still action to be had.
Despite the wind, we experienced some of the best fishing of the season in the first few days. For example, Tuesday had almost 50 hooked fish with many landed. This is truly Rio Grande at its finest! Fishing slowed down with the cold, but there were still pockets of high activity. During the cold snap, many fresh fish were seen moving through both the upper and lower beats coinciding with the new moon’s spring tides. Overall, there was a good size average weight for the fish at just over 9 lbs, with fish of all sizes adding to the total.
Once again, there are a few spectacular fish to mention, but first, for the second week in a row, it is notable that everyone landed a fish over 15 lbs. Tom impressed us all with a behemoth of 28 lbs and 100cm in great condition! Robert and Jorg both put fish of 20 lbs on the board as well. For a window early in the week, guides remarked seeing many more 17 to 19lbs fish than usual. Also mentionable was a surprise super fresh chinook was landed for Jim in our lower beats. Usually, these fish run in November, and to see a fresh one this late in the season is extremely rare. While uncommon, the fight rivals that of any fish, and it was a great addition to the week’s tally with one very happy angler!
We are coming into the final weeks of the season, and fall has certainly arrived on the Rio Grande. With our beats in the Grande and Menendez full of fish, we are excited to finish the season strong with our last groups of guests. For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapen and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team
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Week 11 – March 11th to 18th, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
This week at Kau Tapen we welcomed guests from the USA, Iceland, and Argentina. After a strong previous week, we were excited to see what the river had in store for this large multinational group of friends. Immediately after the warmup session, guests returned with tales of fish landed and lost, as the great late-season fishing we see in the middle part of the river and the Menendez was in full effect.
Following the significant water level rise two weeks ago, the Rio Grande remained at a solid flow. Up until Wednesday evening, guests enjoyed a stable main river and consistent fishing all around. Then the Rio Grande rose rapidly and all anglers flocked to the Menendez, which proved to be equally as challenging. The final part of the week brought more water to both rivers, making Thursday quite difficult although there are taking spots in less visibility than one is used to if we can find fish in a happy mood. The Rasmussen river tributary just above our section of the Grande is responsible for bringing lots of mud and debris when it rises, though it does not take long to clear. On Friday – once again on a dropping river – fishing improved to its previous level and we finished the week on a strong note.
Air temperatures were warmer on average than the previous week, ranging from 4 to 12 degrees C (39 to 54 F) and winds remained normal for March. Usually, this means the day begins very calm with increasing wind throughout the afternoon and finishes calm again in the evening. A few days saw strong winds in the middle of the day up to 80 or 90 kph, but these did not persist, making for great conditions overall.
Fishing was among the best we have seen so far this season thanks to the stability of the water and weather, so this group got to enjoy the best both our rivers have to offer. Once again, the average weight was well over 10 lbs and there are a number of fish to mention. For the first time this year, all guests landed fish over 15 lbs, including some really special catches that qualify as fish of a lifetime. Three fish passed the magic 20lb mark including Jon’s 21.5 lber, JJ’s 20.5 lber, and Tom’s 26 lb Menendez behemoth. After the main river became unfishable with debris on Wednesday afternoon, we moved to Menendez and landed this very special fish. It just goes to show that if one keeps the fly in the water – anything can happen!
This fish is a testament to the versatility of the program at Kau Tapen, as we have the opportunity to fish both the main river and the Menendez tributary. In the final part of the season, some of our best fishing can be found in the smaller river and after the last two years, the addition of many new roads has opened the possibility of fishing the entire lower river. Our guides love to spend time here when water conditions allow, and every pool seems to have at least one large fish (20+ pounds) or more. The same fish that can be found in the Grande are in the Menendez, and the fight is just spectacular in the smaller river. Give it a try on your visit – it is a core part of the Kau Tapen experience!
We regularly check hydrographs of the upper river in Chile along with the Rasmussen tributary. Friday afternoon, these showed a spike that indicates another push of water. While it takes around a day and a half to two days to reach the Rio Grande in Kau Tapen’s waters, we are expecting another rise sometime early in the next fishing week. Time will tell how this affects the river, but at the moment we are in the midst of a solid end to the season. Fish are well dispersed throughout the pools and if one can brave the elements and cast straight with the wind, chances are high for connecting regularly with fish.
For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapen and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team.
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Week 10: March 4th to 11th, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
This week at Kau Tapen we welcomed guests from USA, UK, and Scotland. Like the last week, it was a group of all returning anglers who have had some experience fishing the Rio Grande and for sea trout. After the rise and stained water, we left for the river in anticipation of how the fishing would turn out for the warm-up session and were pleasantly surprised to see that all had hooked fish. This was the sign of a great week to come.
Following the significant rise last week, the Rio Grande is finally at a solid water level. While the river started out stained in Grande and Menendez, it cleared through the week. Rises and drops were based on temperature, but there were not any threatening changes to height or clarity to be mentioned. The water was quite cold some mornings, dipping below 5 degrees C (41 F). While sea trout do become lethargic in such cold temperatures, there are tactics we use to adjust to this and we continued to hook fish.
Air temperatures ranged from seasonably cold to moderate and changed drastically with wind direction. Some evenings it dropped as far as -4 C (25 F) and north winds during the day brought it up to about 14 C (57 F). We did see strong north winds for most of the week, creating interesting casting conditions as this is not our prevailing wind direction. Crossing the river to put it at the back of the angler is an option, but the warm air arriving brought a number of interesting weather patterns as well. It is rare to experience lightning, hail, rain, and bright sunshine in a week, let alone a single four-hour fishing session!
The fishing saw the most takes of any week of the season so far. There were many light grabs where an angler must be ready or miss their chance. Sea trout take the fly from behind unlike an Atlantic salmon, thus one can lift the rod much earlier than with the latter. We see takes like this often in cold water conditions, but that is not to say some did not smash the fly as well. Some anglers got to enjoy double-digit days of sea trout with some regularity, which was a first this season. Overall, the rise in water was much appreciated and our lucky guests got to reap the benefits with many fish hooked and landed.
There are a number of fish to be mentioned as well, but first, we finished the week with an average sea trout weight of over 10 lbs. This was composed of plenty of fish in the mid to high teens, making for great fishing all around. We had a few lucky anglers land trophies over the 20 lb mark among others that were hooked. Gordon finished his week with a lovely 20 lb fish, Mike landed a 20 lb Menendez fish of a lifetime and Richard managed 2 fish of 21 and 22 lbs.
Any cast on the Rio Grande could result in a sea trout to remember, one must just keep their fly in the water.
Conditions seem to be shaping up for a fantastic end to the season on the Rio Grande. Fish are well dispersed throughout the pools and the water level has come into shape. If one can brave the elements and cast straight through the wind, chances are high for connecting regularly into fish. We hope for stable conditions moving forward, which should only aid the fishing we are experiencing now.
For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapenlodge and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team.
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Week 9: February 25th to March 4th, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
This week we were excited to welcome a group of all returning guests from the USA and Australia. Some guests were on their second or third visit in the past few years, but a few were veterans of almost 20 trips to chase sea-run brown trout. All are accomplished anglers and despite the whirlwind of conditions that followed through the week, managed to have a fantastic time and land some memorable fish.
Conditions on the Rio Grande were extremely low and clear for the first two days. The first morning was probably the nicest the air and wind would get for the remainder of the week, as wind speeds kicked up first from the North and then the West to gusts well over 100 kph. While it did drop at times, this wind often continued well into the evening and after we returned from the river. It was relentless until the last evening when it showed no signs of slowing down. It was steady around 70-80 kph throughout the week with the gusts described above. Air temperatures started on the cold side, and became very cold mid-week, below 0 C (32 F) at times.
On Monday there was a rise in the Menendez that started to bring down some debris, but in the very lowest section, it was fishable for some time. A few fish were caught adjusting to the rising dirty water there along with similar results in the drastically different Grande. The two rivers, however, would not stay different for long, as we found a blown-out Grande when we awoke on Tuesday. Visibility was less than 10cm (4-5 in) but there was not too much debris floating down. The Menendez continued to rise but was plagued with lots of floating algae, feathers, and other snags for the fly.
Wednesday, on the upper section of the Grande, the river began to clear to knee-deep visibility and dirty water tactics were needed to hook fish. We were surprised to see a fairly productive morning after the blowout the previous day, but that goes to show how quickly the river can recover from near un-fishable conditions. For the next two days, the river started to drop but the water temperature remained cold. We measured it around 5 C in the morning (41 F) and it rose to around 9 C (48 F) throughout the day.
On the final day, Menendez began to clear a bit along with the Grande from the previous days and we got to enjoy the most productive day of the week on both rivers. For one final drastic change to the conditions, the uppermost beats of the Grande got a huge influx of water in the last hours of the last session. With a stick to gauge height placed on the bank, the river moved up over 8 inches (20 cm) and over five meters of the bank in the last few hours.
We had it all this week- cold, wind, low water, rising water, and dirty water. Yet, there are still some memorable catches to mention made possible by a diligent group of anglers and our guide team. First, the fish of the week was for Anne, who landed a personal best 21-pound male sea trout after a harrowing battle. Jake landed a 20-pounder as well on the final day and several fish were pushing the 15-pound mark for Ian, Bill, and Janet. Well done to all in these tough conditions!
Once again, we just received a new flush of water and it remains to be seen how this will affect the river in the coming days. Around this time last year the major rise for the Grande was about the same time and the fishing that followed was no less than spectacular. All that can be done now is adjust to the conditions and keep the flies in the water.
For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapen and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team.
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Week 8: February 18th to 25th, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
This week we welcomed a full lodge of guests from the USA, the UK, and Italy. For some, it was the first time holding a two-handed rod and chasing anadromous fish, while others were quite accomplished steelhead and Atlantic salmon anglers. It is always special to have a mix of people from around the globe here for the united goal of holding one of Rio Grande’s special sea-run trout.
Conditions resumed in a similar way to last week, with extremely low water and cold evening temperatures. On the second fishing day, the wind increased and did not stop until much later in the week. We regularly had gusts over 80-90 kph with an average speed of 70 kph. From the west, this is not an issue, but a few days this week showed north wind. This direction is directly in the face of the majority of the river and proved a challenge for new and experienced spey casters.
Snowmelt in the mountains from the previous week reached the Menendez and those making the trek down on Thursday found a higher, off-color river full of debris floating down. The upper reaches of the lower section were declared almost un-fishable, but a few fantastic fish were landed in a productive spot downstream just before the bulk of runoff could reach it. The Grande remained at its previous level for most of the week and then dropped due to a lack of rain and wind pushing water out into the estuary.
Despite the tough conditions, there are quite a few fantastic fish to mention, including two particularly amazing catches for one lucky angler. Historically, some of the largest fish of the season start to become active around this time of year and this week certainly supported that trend. Bill, Michelangelo, Sergio, and Andrew all landed fish over the 15-pound mark, including Bill’s fantastic 17-pound Menendez fish and Andrew’s 19-pounder on the final evening. Yet, the feat of the week, and possibly the season, went to Nina. She landed two fish of a lifetime back to back, first with a 27-pound male measuring 97×57 cm, followed by a hen of 24 pounds the next day. The former is the fish of the season thus far, though when one keeps the fly in the water, anything can happen, but for now- congratulations to a well-deserved angler on a pair of remarkable fish!
Thursday evening into Friday had a decent rain, but no change in the river was observed yet. Without much rain in the forecast and very high winds scheduled for the first part of the week, it remains to be seen how the river will produce. The Menendez enjoyed a nice bump of snowmelt, but the Grande is in great need of water. Still, with fish in the river, we are working hard to keep rods bent and guests smiling. Once again, it has certainly been a season of adapting to the whims of the weather and water, but the Rio Grande has a way of rewarding the patient and persistent angler.
For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapen and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team.
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Week 7: February 11th to 18th, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
This week we welcomed a full lodge of guests from the USA and the UK to Kau Tapen. While there were a few repeating guests, we have had the pleasure to share our water with many new faces this year. As an introduction to anadromous fish and two-handed fly casting, the Rio Grande is a fantastic place with a learning curve that does take a few days to get acquainted with. Practice your casting from either side, keep the fly in the water, and the results will show in dividends.
We began the week with low water once again, followed by a significant cold weather system that lasted for a few days. First, wind from the south brought much colder air temperatures than we are used to in February and that caused the temperature of the water to plummet. A few mornings showed water readings of only 5-7 degrees Celsius (41-44 degrees F). Lower temperatures paired with low and clear water is a difficult combination and guides worked diligently to find the right combinations of holding areas and tackle setups to hook fish. Air temperatures in the evening dropped as far as -1 C (30 F) for the first part of the week.
Thursday, there was a complete shift and winds moved from the north, bringing back a normal climate for this time of the year. On Friday, once all stabilized, winds resumed from the west and fishing drastically improved. West is our prevailing wind, as the river flows from west to east, and that means that in the majority of the pools, it is at the back of the angler. There are places throughout our waters that fish well from other directions, but the old saying “wind from the west, fishing is best,” is certainly present here.
This time of year is when the larger males start to wake up and become more aggressive about taking a fly and this came into fashion in a big way in the final part of the week. Even our new anglers began to hook fish in the trophy category of over 20 pounds, but it takes a certain experience to land these fish. Firstly, they are not salmon, and fighting them as such will only end in a fish story. They love to take advantage of the river’s many grass and clay bits of structure and one must keep tension at the right angles to have a chance. Listen to your guide and it just might be the fish of your lifetime. Overall, four fish were landed over that magic +20 mark, including 2 fish of 20 and 20.5 lbs for Eric, a 20lber for Mark, and a 21lber for Graeme.
Many fish to be mentioned in the high teens were landed for James, Chip, and Fred as well. It has been a fantastic year so far for Rio Grande’s sea trout with many healthy specimens and we are excited to see what the river has in store for the weeks to come. It has been a season of adapting to the whims of the weather and water, but the Rio Grande has rewarded the patient and persistent angler many times over. This week may have started on a tough note, but once all conditions stabilized and our anglers became more acquainted with two-handed casting, it turned into the most successful week so far for the season in terms of both quantity and quality.
For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapen and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team.
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Week 6: February 4th to 11th, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
This week we welcomed guests from the USA, the UK, and Austria. As usual, it was a mix of old and new friends with varying experiences with anadromous fish and spey casting. Although everyone arrived to see a low river, heavy rain in the mountains and on the Rio Grande during the first day caused an immediate bump that we looked to with anticipation.
Along with the rise, we got a taste of the upper end of what the wind can do in Tierra del Fuego for the first session. Gusts surpassed 115 kph and the wind blew steady at around 100 kph. This is right on the edge of what is considered fishable and for those willing to brave the tough conditions, guides chose pools where this wind could be considered favorable or in this case, fishable. One effect of heavy wind is it often leads to dirty water, stirring up the mud and clay banks, but with slight adjustments to sink tips and flies- all anglers were in the game. That afternoon the wind dropped slightly and catches improved for all.
The next morning, after the water had cleared, the rise was noticeable throughout our pools, as the water had come up a couple of inches or about 6 cm. However, the gauge for the headwaters showed a sharp drop once again. It seemed as if we just received a short burst of water to rejuvenate the Grande system and time on the water would tell if it was enough to improve the fishing.
After the sharp rise and drop before conditions had stabilized, it seemed as if there was no clear winning pattern for success. On multiple occasions, guides returned with accounts of numbers such as “four fish per session using four different flies at varying depths.” With hard work from the guide team, we were able to search out likely taking fish and systematically work throughout our beats. Only eight rods at the lodge meant a couple of open beats, so there were reserve pools as well if needed to add to the guest’s day.
The overall size of the fish this week increased with an average weight above 10 pounds. Once again, well over 100 were hooked and while a few were lost, the catch per rod was as good as we have seen all season. There were good numbers of fish landed in the upper teens, including a 17-pounder for Brian, an 18-pounder for George, an 18-pounder for Gerald, and back-to-back 18 and 19-pounders for Tony. There were many in the mid-teens land as well.
Following the rise, the river has once again dropped to its previous level. It was great to get a push of water into the Grande and Menendez to reinvigorate our waters. While it was not significant enough to last through the week, any influx of water is much appreciated. As conditions stabilized with the low water, however, the fishing definitely improved in the last days of the week, aided by cold overnight temperatures. We are still waiting for a big rise that could happen at any point in the next few weeks. There is rain in the mountains and headwaters at the moment, but any changes to the water level are to be determined.
For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapen and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team
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Week 5: January 28th to February 4th, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
We were excited to welcome guests from the USA, the UK, and Ireland to Kau Tapen this week. It was a great mix of familiar faces and those visiting the Rio Grande for the first time. Whether a first-time spey caster or a lifelong anadromous fish angler, Kau Tapen is a truly special place as any cast has the possibility for the fish of a lifetime. In the past weeks we have been privileged in putting a few of these in the net and watching them swim away, which overall is one of the most rewarding experiences fly fishing has to offer.
Weather and fishing conditions for the week continued to get more difficult, as the rain from last week was almost negligible in its effect on the river. Fishing was steady for the few days following this, but a significant push of fresh water is needed to invigorate our system of both the Grande and Menendez. That is not to say that fresh fish are not arriving, but both rivers are in need of water. Once again, low water tactics were employed by the guide team, fishing light, long, and stealthy in all prime lies.
The wind was steady throughout the week, picking up briefly the last few days but remaining from either the prevailing West or Northwest. What made this week more difficult to fish than the last was the temperature. Mid-week, daytime temperatures reached over 22 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit), and water temperatures ranging between 11 and 18 degrees throughout the week. Low water is more susceptible to change simply because there is less of it. Once 16 degrees or over, sea trout fishing becomes difficult as it is harder to induce a take. Steady is always best, but a rise in air pressure can do wonders for the fishing as well. The magic spot regarding temperature seemed to be right around 13 degrees this week, but providing that it is not too hot, the best thing to do is keep the flies in the water, as a fish that is happy to take a fly will often do so.
The first success to be mentioned is that despite the difficult conditions, everyone hooked up and landed sea trout, and for many, it was their first. A first anadromous fish of any type, whether a salmon, steelhead, or sea trout is no small feat in fly fishing and is usually the cause of a lifelong obsession. Overall, we hooked well over 100 fish for the week, showing that perseverance does indeed pay off, coupled with the guide team’s tireless efforts to keep guests on fish and fishing in an effective way.
Once again, we have continued to see some quality fish both in our upstream and downstream beats. Clemens landed the fish of his life on his first visit to the Rio Grande- a 24-pound male that alternated between scorching runs and a series of half-body jumps before it could be netted. It has been amazing to see fish in this condition for the last few weeks. There was also a pair of 19-pounders landed for Chris and Mark and plenty of fish in the mid-teens meaning many “largest sea trout of one’s life.”
Looking forward, there is rain in the forecast in the mountains and further down in our area, but it remains to be seen what effect this will have on the river. For the water level, there is a good concentration of fish spread throughout our water, but this coupled with the spring tides at the moment could change the condition of the river on a dime. For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapen and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team
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Week 4: January 21st to 28th, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
This week at Kau Tapen we welcomed a group of new and return guests from Norway, South Africa, the and UK put together by longtime friend Mark. Most rods were quite experienced salmon anglers and ready to take on the challenge of Rio Grande sea trout. At times these fish display behavior quite similar to that of a fresh Atlantic salmon, but there are minuscule differences in the presentation that define sea trout angling. It was not long before casts were being fired out and the first fish hit the net for this week’s group.
The weather and conditions for the week were difficult, as the water in both the Grande and Menendez dropped to extremely low levels. On the first day, there was a slight 2 cm rise that brought decent fishing for a few sessions along with it, but last week’s rain was not enough and both rivers steadily dropped throughout the week. It is safe to say that this is among the lowest water levels we have seen in both the Grande and Menendez, but all anglers were up to the challenge. Low water tactics were employed by the guide team, targeting concentrations of fish in their prime lies with extreme stealth.
However, with the gauge for the river well below its minimum level, fishing remained difficult for the latter part of the week. Temperatures were quite cool compared to last week’s, especially at night, and this led to water that was cold during the morning session. Fish would become active later in the day, but the large temperature swings often meant we were using a variety of different flies and tips to produce takes and fish.
Throughout the beginning part of the week, many fish were witnessed moving in and between all beats, but this activity seemed to stall for the final few days. It is not as if they were not hooked and caught, as the final day was quite good, but less seemed to be showing. On the bright side, the final evening was filled with heavy rain that lasted for a few hours, both down by the lodge and in the mountains above. It is to be determined if this will cause a significant rise, but any water at the moment is much appreciated.
The quality of the fish cannot be understated this week, and some truly impressive specimens need to be mentioned. First was Morten’s 24-pound male guided by Gaston early in the week. Morton was diligent all day and eventually, the fish of dreams found his fly, and after a lengthy fight, all went well for the angler before the fish was returned after a couple of pictures. This fish is the largest of the season so far, but we have witnessed a number of similar fish moving throughout our pools as well.
Also to be noted was Calix’s 23-pound fresh male sea trout guided by Colo, which displayed incredible girth and put up a similar fight. Any week that we land one of these larger fish is considered a success, but two fish of this size class within a few days is phenomenal. Not all battles with oversized sea trout are won, as these fish know where the structure is and will do everything in their power to free themselves of the hook. If the angler is lucky enough to win, it is a fish to remember and most regular guests can recount stories of one of their monsters over the years.
Overall, in spite of low water and what would be challenging fishing conditions, it was a great week among persevering anglers who managed to keep the rods bent with a smile. There was a significant increase in the number of fish hooked during the same week last year by this group as well. Hopefully, the rain on the final day was enough to bring a rise to both the Grande and Menendez for the next group, although historically, this takes around a day or two to arrive, which should be right on time. All of us could not be more excited for guests to once again visit our waters from around the globe.
For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapen and @nervouswaters). For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Team.
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Week 3: January 14th to 21st, 2023
BY MAX KANTOR – KAU TAPEN LODGE FISHING GUIDE
We were visited this week by a small multinational group from Switzerland, the USA, the UK, and France, which allowed us to take advantage of the best-producing sections of water all along the Rio Grande and Menendez.
It was very much a teaching week, as most fishermen and women were picking up a fly rod for the very first time. The rest were new to spey casting and anadromous fish, but all were eager to learn. The first warm-up session was spent as a group, with all of the guides individually working on the points of the spey cast one-on-one.
At Kau Tapen, we fish from both sides of the river and in a variety of different wind directions, so being able to cast on either side is critical. With at least a roll cast or double-spey for everyone, we were ready to begin the week.
The weather and conditions for the week were characterized by dropping water in both the Grande and Menendez. There was a slight rise on the graph for the headwaters of the Rio Grande, but it was negligible downstream. On the bright side, rain was present for the last couple of days of the week with a bit more on the horizon at the moment. The wind was variable and very light throughout the week. We began with one day of gusts, but all from the West. Temperatures were hot, exceeding 20 degrees Celsius for a few days, and a number of guests even chose to enjoy a rare mid-afternoon swim in the Rio Grande.
Guides witnessed moving groups of fish throughout the beats and a mix of fish were caught between those that had just entered the river and ones that had been in for a few weeks. Fishing picked up later in the week, as guests had time to hone in their presentation and conditions became more favorable.
The big fish of the week was 16 pounds, joined by a number of fresh ones in the 14-pound class- quite the accomplishment for a first-time sea trout and spey angler!
The week was unique in that guests were able to take advantage of other attractions Tierra del Fuego has to offer including horseback riding outside Ushuaia. The wild landscape of Tierra del Fuego never fails to impress and all had a fantastic time both on and off the river. All of us could not be more excited for guests to once again visit our waters from around the globe.
For current updates, be sure to follow our social media accounts (@kautapen and @nervouswaters).
For any questions regarding our preferred tackle setups, information about the river, or our preferred fishing techniques, please visit our website for a thorough list of information. We wish you all the best and hope to see you soon on the water!
Tight Lines from the Kau Tapen Guide Team.
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