Welcome to our 2024 season summary, marking the 22nd year at Estancia Las Buitreras. This season brought plenty of surprises, largely thanks to the weather and the ample water flow from the mountains. After several seasons of low water, we had no shortage of water this year, and it feels like we spent more time fishing with sink tips and big flies than ever before. It was a refreshing change of pace, leading to some truly exciting fishing, especially after a big rise when the river was settling.
Another highlight of the season was the impressive number of fresh fish in the system right up until the end. While we typically see fresh schools entering the river until May, this year was different. Usually, by March and April, we catch a mix of chrome and colored fish, including those large, kyped males. However, this season, the big fish were almost all bright chrome, with very few colored fish landed.
We continue to see large numbers of fish migrating up the river, a testament to the health of this remarkable ecosystem. The season started slower than usual, likely because the fish were pushing through the higher-than-normal water levels. But by late January and early February, when water levels stabilized, everything returned to normal, with fish appearing in all parts of the river.
Another exciting aspect of this year was how evenly the fish were distributed across all beats. By the end of the season, it was difficult to pinpoint the best zone because fish were being caught almost everywhere. The unpredictability added a new level of excitement to the fishing each week. Pools like Puesto, which hadn’t been very productive in recent years, came alive again, along with Zones 3, 4, and 5. In fact, a majority of this season’s really big fish (20+ lbs) were landed in Zones 4 and 5!
January: The season kicked off with good water levels, and although the river dropped to -20 cm at times, it quickly recovered with fresh pushes of water from the mountains. Fishing started slower than usual, with smaller schools of fresh fish until the larger schools arrived by mid-January. Nonetheless, each group caught their fair share of fish, including a stunning 22 lbs sea-run brown trout landed by Bjorn-Hugo in the famous “75” pool during the first week.
The good old Girdle Bug fly, in various styles, proved effective throughout the first month, especially when paired with the traditional Copper John during low-water scenarios. The weather started cold, requiring plenty of layers, but soon transitioned to typical Patagonian summer, with temperatures ranging from 18-26°C (64-78°F), allowing for fishing in just a basic shirt during the day.
One of the more memorable stories of the season comes from Marc, a guest from Switzerland, who traveled with friends Gregoire and Pierre. Marc arrived in Argentina with no prior spey casting experience, borrowing a rod from the lodge and expecting nothing more than to enjoy the adventure.
What happened next was extraordinary. On his second day, Marc landed a stunning 20-pound sea-run brown trout at Cantera Pool— a fish most of us would give an arm and a leg for. The reactions and congratulations from his fellow anglers made Marc quickly realize just how special this was, and his smile only grew throughout the week.
Then, during the final session on the last day of the week, at Zoller’s Pool, as if to prove his 20-pounder was no fluke, Marc hooked an incredible 22-pound fish while swinging a silver shadow across the channel. The fish put on a show worthy of its size, leaping into the air no less than six times during the intense fight. Marc finally brought the fish close enough to be netted, adding his second 20-pounder of the week to the catch book.”
During the few low-water days in February, nymph patterns like Vitamin D, Marianne, and Copper John (sizes 8 and 10) were successful. A black flashback variation with an orange bead-head was particularly effective, bringing in plenty of fish. When the water levels rose, it was time to switch to yellow yummies, green lanterns, and the char bugger streamer, which worked wonders in the tea-colored waters.
March: March was a month of fluctuating water levels, with the river rising anywhere from 15-70 cm almost every week. While this made fishing tough on certain days due to high, colored water, the days following were often spectacular, with the river in prime condition.
These conditions led to some incredible moments, like a double hookup by our good friends John and Andrea in Old Bridge, or Linas and Zach landing six fish in one session in Zone 1. (They credited their success to having an afternoon box full of empanadas on the river—we won’t argue with that!) One group even landed 30 fish in a single day. These are the moments you don’t want to miss!
The fluctuating water levels also encouraged us to experiment with different techniques. Zack from Swing the Fly tried fishing near the surface with a larger sunray shadow while the river was +40 cm and dirty. His efforts paid off, landing a good fish while avoiding the weeds drifting downstream.
High water also brought a change in fishing tactics, with many anglers finding success fishing the fly all the way to shore. When the river is high, fish often hang out where they expend less energy, pressing against a weed line or avoiding the main current. Pools like La Recta, which is known for good “high water” fishing, proved particularly productive this season.
April: April was the highlight of the season at Las Buitreras. Yes, the fishing was exceptional, as expected, but what really made us smile was seeing more guests truly enjoying the unique rhythm of end-of-season fishing. With shorter days and a focus on the river, there was more time to relax in the evenings. Our local guides will tell you that April is one of their favorite months to fish, and it’s easy to see why.
The first week of April brought perfect conditions—tea-colored water and a great flow in all pools. We landed four fish over 20 lbs that week, all chrome, including Brian’s 23 lbs seatrout in Zoller’s, the biggest of the season. On top of those four giants, some anglers had unforgettable sessions, like Thomas, who landed a 13 lbs, 15 lbs, and 18 lbs fish, all in one session in Upper 1.
Then, the river received its final top-up from the mountains, rising another 50 cm. While the first few days were slow due to high water, the fishing quickly rebounded. By the end of the week, we saw schools of fish in nearly every pool, with multiple hookups per session, and more clients landing their personal best sea trout. In terms of tackle, we mainly used sink 3 and intermediate tips paired with short floating Scandi shooting heads. On the high water days, we switched to fast sink tips and even sinking shooting heads like Float/S3/S5. What a fantastic way to close out the season—it was hard to leave, that’s for sure!
Looking back on 2024, we experienced a season that had it all and kept us on our toes. Every year, this river teaches us something new, which is something both our guests and team members appreciate. It makes us already look forward to the next time we step into the waters of Las Buitreras, thinking about how to approach each pool or run just after leaving the lodge. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited us this year, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for our 23rd season in 2025!
Stats for the Season:
- Biggest sea-run brown trout landed: 23 lbs by Brian from the USA in Zoller’s Pool.
- Season average size: 8.8 lbs.
- Week with the highest average size: Week 4 with 10.3 lbs.
- Week with the most 20+ lbs fish: Week 14 with 4 fish over 20 lbs.
- Week with the most fish landed: Week 14 with over 200 sea-run brown trout landed.
- Pool of the season: Bridge Pool—consistently delivered big fish nearly every week, living up to its reputation as a prime spot for trophy fish.
Watch the 2024 Season and some spectacular catches through the eyes of our guides:
