When the cold weather begins to creep into the northern latitudes, it can only mean one thing for avid anglers hunting those top trout: it's time to take your fly fishing vacations to the southern half of the world!
Fly fishing aficionado and expert, Zach Lazzari shares with us why, if you head to the summer season's fly fishing in the southern hemisphere, you won't have to search hard to find world-class trout fishing vacations in multiple countries.
Fly fishing in the southern hemisphere is the inverse of North America. Think about flying into your favorite Alaskan fly fishing lodge in a float plane. Think about your favorite trout rivers and lakes when you're fly fishing in Montana, on a fishing trip to Idaho, exploring fly fishing in Wyoming or taking a fishing trip to Colorado... there's very likely a similar fly fishing vacation destination in the southern hemisphere!
Beyond the lookalike fisheries, there are many unique fly fishing destinations, with trout living in some of the most dynamic and interesting ecosystems on earth.
Choosing a fly fishing vacation in the southern hemisphere
The difficult part of planning a fly fishing trip to the southern hemisphere involves destination selection. You'll need to narrow it down to a country and then a region within that country.
These are vast areas with so many opportunities and selecting one can seem daunting!
To get started, check out our interactive map on our homepage, and you can quickly and easily see where some of our fly fishing lodges in the southern hemisphere are located.
- Top tip: What really makes the difference for most anglers is finding the right outfitters for your fly fishing trip. All our fly fishing lodges and ranches have the guides, accommodation, boats, knowledge and logistics that create the infrastructure for a truly great wilderness experience, so get ahead of your next trip and read some more of our top tips to planning an epic fly fishing vacation!
Fly fishing vacations in Patagonia: Chile
Manihuales Eco Lodge
Diverse landscapes and unlimited opportunities to chase trout make fly fishing in Chile totally unique, and the Patagonia region is absolutely loaded with rivers and lakes, most of them having large trout.
Anglers will also find places with king salmon runs and saltwater influence in freshwater fisheries.
On the western coastlines of Patagonia, Chile is dense rainforest. As you move east, it rises into the spine of the Andes and the southern reaches of Tierra del Fuego are known for big sea run of brown trout.
- The Manihuales Ecolodge is situated in the perfect location for diversity. It's close to the coastal influence and also situated against the mountains rising into the remote Andes. Unpressured trout and rich waters make this an insanely productive region to chase fish.
- Flywise Anglers also focus on the Aysen region with an outfit centralized near the iconic Simpson River. The number of world class rivers and lakes within a small region of this area is outstanding and the proximity to a small regional airport makes logistics convenient. Anglers can catch the connecting flight from Santiago and find themselves fishing within minutes of landing!
When fly fishing in Chile, you can expect rivers with great numbers of fish and also have the chance to catch massive trout. They are caught on dry flies, nymphs and streamers.
If you have a chance to target big trout with dragonfly dry flies on the lakes here, it will leave you with some truly impressive memories!
Fly fishing vacations in Patagonia: Argentina
Estancia Pilolil
Argentina has dense forests in many areas along the Chilean border but the Patagonia region is generally arid.
Many anglers fly fishing in Argentina are surprised by how much this place looks like the western United States! Personally, I think the Neuquen region is like Utah and Wyoming, while much of Patagonia Argentina has a Montana feel.
- Estancia Pilolil is situated on the Alumine River, right in the heart of a dense trout population. The Alumine is one of the most productive trout rivers in Argentina and it's not uncommon to see trout lined up along the banks in feeding lanes. When you come across an eddy, it will have a pile of trout circulating and feeding. Some of my most memorable visual experiences have occurred on this river.
While the Alumine is exciting, it's far from the only game in town. The Malleo, Chimehuin, Collon Cura and many more rivers and lakes are convenient to the area.
If that's not enough, just head to San Martin de Los Andes to begin your drive through the lakes route. This place is so full of great fisheries and scenery, you won't want to leave!
Fly fishing vacations in New Zealand
Huka Lodge, New Zealand
While Patagonia has the numbers, New Zealand is the place to travel for a giant brown trout.
Practice your casting and crawling, because accuracy and stealth mode are two of the keys to success in this country!
When fly fishing in New Zealand, most anglers focus on the South Island, but the North Island also has some exceptional fisheries.
Besides having one of the most stunning landscapes on earth, New Zealand has a unique trout fishing culture. Anglers often walk the banks of rivers, not casting until they find a fish. In many cases, that fish is a brown trout that runs over 10 pounds!
- The Owen River Lodge is one of the most iconic trout destinations on earth. It's home to large fish and some of the best technical guides you will find anywhere. Wade fishing, helicopter trips and the fish of a lifetime are all on the table.
- Huka Lodge in the North Island basks on the banks of the Waikato River which flows out of the large Lake Taupo. This river and overall area are water-rich, and they have great numbers and size quality for brown and rainbow trout.
- Tongariro Lodge on the famous Tongariro River is another legendary destination to visit for fly fishing in New Zealand. Sight fishing to massive brown trout is surprisingly common and the river has a mix of public access sites and privately-owned areas. The Tongariro Lodge has a prime location for access, and exceptional fishing on this river and the many surrounding rivers in the area.
The best time of year to go fly fishing in the southern hemisphere
For general purposes, the southern hemisphere trout fishing begins in November and runs through March, with the peak season for traveling anglers is January to February in most locales.
Just like the waters in the northern hemisphere, these two months represent the height of summer and the safest weather patterns for summer trout fishing.
If you don't mind a little risk, I do love fishing in the shoulder seasons. In Patagonia, the early season trout are super aggressive on streamers and oversized dry flies.
In the later seasons, migratory trout move between lakes, oceans and rivers. This injects some exceptionally large fish into quite a few waterways!
- Top tip: It's a good idea to plan a peak season trip for your first visit. Ask the guides about different months on that trip and consider a second journey during a shoulder season.
What to pack for a trout fishing vacation
Now that you have a destination and dates, it's time to pack your bags! While the trip is likely in the height of summer, that doesn't guarantee it will be all sunshine.
Bring your boots and waders, pack rain gear and be prepared for just about anything! Always ask your lodge and guides for a packing list to know you are fully prepared.
Here's a sample packing list for a southern hemisphere trout trip:
Clothing
- Base layer
- Mid layer
- Wool socks
- Puffy jacket
- Wading/rain jacket
- Chest waders
- Wading boots
- Wet wading shoes/sandals
- Polarized sunglasses
- Hat
Fishing equipment:
- Six and eight weight rods
- ten weight or eight weight spey rod if targeting salmon
- Floating and sink lines
- 4x-0x leaders and tippet
- Flies in waterproof boxes
- Quality large arbor reels
- Waterproof pack
- Sturdy nippers and forceps
Loved these fly fishing vacation packing tips? Here's more expert advice on how to pack for a fly fishing vacation – your essential gear guide.
Original article written by Freelance Writer and fishing afficionado, Zach Lazzari.
Co-written, edited and created by Kate Hammaren; luxury and adventure travel writer, editor and world traveler.
About our author, Zach Lazzari
Zach Lazzari is a freelance outdoor writer, fly fisherman and full-time adventure traveler. After a decade of guiding anglers in Colorado, Montana, Alaska and Patagonia, he turned to the travel and media industry to continue pursuing new species in exciting locations. Zach has written for The Drake, Orvis, NRS, and many other brands and publications in the outdoor industry.