Welcome to the first weekly report of our 2025 season at Estancia Las Buitreras! We’re thrilled to kick off our 23rd season of fishing on the iconic Rio Gallegos.
This year, our season started a week later than usual, just after New Year’s Eve. While we missed our traditional staff-and-guest New Year’s Eve party, the excitement for the new season was through the roof! Our first group was almost entirely Swedish—except for Randy from the USA, who, by week’s end, became practically fluent in Swedish. Among our guests, we were delighted to welcome some familiar faces, including long-time friend Thomas L., who has joined us more than 10 times since we began operations back in 2003, and Thomas B., who once again brought a fantastic group with him. We also had a few enthusiastic newcomers, adding a fresh wave of energy to the mix.
After a long, cold, and snowy winter in southern Patagonia, the Rio Gallegos valley is teeming with life. Abundant ground moisture has nurtured a vibrant display of flowers and lush vegetation along the riverbanks—a welcome change from the drier conditions of recent years. The wildlife, both resident and migratory, is abundant, making it a joy to witness all the animals in our “backyard zoo.”
The week began with unseasonably warm temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and gentle winds, which caused water temperatures to rise as high as 17°C (62°F)—not ideal fishing conditions. The river was low, with crystal-clear water, presenting our group with a proper challenge for the first few days. As always, in these low-water conditions, we geared up with floating lines, 15–18 ft leaders, and size 10–14 flies—a tried-and-true setup for these circumstances.
The first day brought very light morning breezes, which made fishing tricky. The river’s mirror-like surface spooked the fish, keeping everyone on their toes. In such conditions, evenings are often the best time to fish, as the fading light makes the fish feel more comfortable and secure. By the evening, we got lucky when Patagonia’s trademark winds arrived, making casting and fishing much more productive.
Our host for the week, long-time friend Thomas Berggren, had a fantastic evening in Beat 5, landing a beautiful 12-lb fish from the renowned Barranca Blanca pool.
Meanwhile, over in Zone One, Roger L. fished the legendary Kitchen Pool during the “golden hour.” Despite fish showing themselves all around, they remained elusive. His guide, Cristian, suggested switching to a smaller, 10-cm version of the Sunray Shadow tube fly he was using. Minutes later, a gleaming, chrome-bright sea trout smashed the fly. Roger and Cristian managed to land the breathtaking 14-lb fish. After a quick photo and an exhilarating rocket release, the trout swam back to continue its journey.
First-time visitor Ludwig Z. struck gold while fishing Little Corner in Zone Two, one of our favorite pools for big fish. Swinging an olive flashback nymph—a guide favorite—he hooked a spectacular 15-lb trout. The fish leaped clean out of the water multiple times during an intense, acrobatic fight. After a short but careful photo session, Ludwig released the fish, watching it swim strongly back into the river.
Randy S. had a very successful week, landing several fish by the end of it. One of Randy’s highlights also came from Little Corner, where he and his guide Genaro worked the upper part, which has a slightly faster flow. Fishing with our classic Copper John nymph, it didn’t take long before Randy was on. He carefully played the fish through the run, which features a few weed lines and stones that can sometimes cause trouble. Everything worked out perfectly, and after a few minutes, Randy released a very fresh 11-lb sea-run brown trout.
By the end of their trip, our first group of 2025 had worked hard, and we tip our hats to them for landing an impressive number of fish during the week. On behalf of the Solid Adventures team, we want to thank everyone for an unforgettable week.
For our next group, we’re happy to report that conditions have already improved significantly. Air and water temperatures are dropping, setting the stage for an exciting week of sea-run brown trout fishing. We can’t wait!
Stay tuned for more reports from Las Buitreras. Tight lines, everyone!
Stats of the week
Biggest sea-run brown trout landed: 15 lbs by Ludwig H. from Sweden
Average size: 7,6 lbs
