Week 8 marks the mid-season point here at Las Buitreras, and we were delighted to host a group that included many returning guests. It was great to have our good friend Gary Scott back and his group from the UK, including the married duo Gavin and Yvonne, as well as Barry and Paul – all of whom have visited us multiple times. Andrea from Italy and his longtime fishing partner John from the USA, both regulars, kicked off their first of two consecutive weeks here. Conor from Ireland returned for his third visit. Last but not least, we had Karsten and Andreas from Germany as well as Sune and Lars from Denmark. The lively banter at the first evening meal made it clear – a fun and memorable week lay ahead.
River conditions at the start of the week remained low, around -30 cm, but stable. A push of water the previous week and a fresh run of fish ensured our holding pools were well stocked.
The weather forecast looked promising, with wind predominantly from the west to southwest and occasional rain showers. As mentioned in previous reports, this wind direction is our favorite, making it easier for guests to cover most of our pools, especially in the middle and lower areas (Zones 2–5). For a few sessions, the wind shifted to a more northerly direction, favoring the uppermost areas (Zones U1 and 1).
Temperatures were unusually cool, ranging from 5–12°C during the day and dropping to a chilly 3–8°C at night. Thermal base layers and puff jackets were definitely needed.
What really excited us was the forecast of heavy rain and snow in the Andes – a big push of water was surely on its way.
Tactics for the week remained consistent with the previous one: floating lines with intermediate tips and long leaders (12–15 ft), a tried-and-true method for low water levels. The fly selection was headlined by the “Marianne” nymph, alongside “Copper Johns,” flashbacks, small and mid-sized “Girdle Bugs,” micro “Woolly Buggers” in green/black, green/red “Butt” salmon doubles (sizes 12–14), and for the golden hour, “Sunray Shadows” and leeches.
Day one picked up right where the previous week left off, with fresh, slightly smaller-than-average chromers. This kept our guests busy, with seatrout landed across most zones.
The standout fish of the day went to Gavin, who landed a stunning 16-pounder in “Ochenta” pool – an impressive feat given the west wind. This pool is typically fished when the wind blows from the north or east, making casting much easier. Facing a head-on wind made it a serious challenge, but Gavin did a great job. Hats off to you, Gav – congratulations!
Meanwhile, Lars and Sune had a productive session in Zone U1, landing five fish between them from “Shelf” and “La Curva”. Andrea and John found success in Zone 2, with fish of 8 and 10 lbs from “Cogedero” and “Old Bridge”, while Conor got off the mark with two fish from the legendary “Kitchen” pool.
Day two brought exciting news – our upstream operation at Glencross reported a significant push of water on the way, set to arrive within 24 hours. They also warned us that the rise in water level would bring a bit of color.
That day also saw fantastic catches. Conor landed two nice fish in “Little Corner”, the first at 11 lbs, followed by a new personal best of 16 lbs. Sune and Lars had a good session upstream, landing several fish up to 12 lbs. Later that evening, Andrea added two more in the 8–9 lb range.
Day three saw Conor continuing his hot streak, landing two fish up to 11 lbs in Zone 3’s “Limits” pool. Gavin hooked three smaller chromers in “La Curva” and added a couple more later in “Limits.” John was successful in Zone 4, landing fish up to 8 lbs in “Raquel” and “El Hendrik.” Andrea followed with two fish reaching 10 lbs in “Cogedero”.
Then, on Day 4, the awaited push of water arrived! The river rose over 70 cm in just six hours. Although the water turned muddy, there was surprisingly little debris, allowing us to continue fishing with minimal interruptions.
With the drastic water change, tactics had to shift. We swapped intermediate/float tips for faster sinking tips (3–5 ips), shortened leaders from 12–15 ft to 4–6 ft, and increased tippet diameter to 0.30–0.33 mm. Fly selection adjusted accordingly, with large, bright patterns like the Yellow Yummy and the guide-favorite Poison.
It was a memorable day for first-timer Andreas S. After years of fishing single-handed rods, this was his first attempt at Spey casting. He adapted quickly, landing his first two fish (6 and 7 lbs) in Zone 5 during the morning. But the highlight came in the evening, when he hooked a pristine 16-pounder from “Cogedero.”
Days 5 and 6 saw the river start to drop and clear, but we kept on using big flies and sink tips. Gavin landed three fish up to 9 lbs in Zone 5’s “Barranca Blanca” and “Barranca Negra,” while Gary caught two around 6 lbs in “Alambre.” Lars and Sune found success in Zone 1, with Lars landing a 13-pounder in “Molino.”
Day 6 – the final day – ended on a high note. Gary caught three smaller fish in “Limits,” while Gavin had a surprise in “La Curva” landing a stunning 17-pounder. In his Scottish accent, he said, “It hit me like an express train!”. Yvonne also landed one, making this a great end to their week.
Conor continued his incredible run, breaking his personal best again with a great 18-pounder in “Churchi’s” pool on a Yellow Yummy fly.
The final evening was full of action. Andreas S. landed a 15-pounder in “El Hendrik,” while Sune added a couple more up to 11 lbs in Zone 5. But the star of the night was Andrea, who landed five fish that day, four in the final session—including a breathtaking 20-pounder (93 cm x 55 cm) caught on a leech he tied himself. A proud grin and a celebratory Cuban cigar followed!
Thank you all for an incredible week. Tight lines, everyone!
Stats of the week
Biggest sea-run brown trout landed: 20 lbs by Andrea F from Italy
Average size: 9,2 lbs
