Many rods have already booked their weeks on the Rio Grande, to return and also fish this wonderful river for the first time. There are still some prime weeks available. Travelling to the Rio Grande is about more than giving yourself the opportunity to land the sea trout of a lifetime. It is also about the great food and wine, fantastic lodges and some of the most experienced guide teams anywhere in the world. It is not surprising that rods rarely travel to this great river only once.
Estancia Maria Behety Lodge
While there are numerous excellent lodges spread throughout the length of the Rio Grande, Estancia Maria Behety remains one of the best options. The fact that over half the rods on most weeks are returning is a testament to this. Estancia Maria Behety Lodge sits on a promontory overlooking the Rio Grande. It has spectacular panoramic views of vast pampas and the remnants of the Andean cordillera framing the background. Located upstream from La Villa EMB is part of the same estancia owned by the Menedez family. It is the larger of the two lodges with eight double occupancy rooms that take twelve rods and a maximum of sixteen guests.
Anglers at EMB Lodge rotate through the same water as La Villa, so they have access to over 100 wonderful pools, some of which are the most productive on the river. EMB Lodge offers the complete Rio Grande experience as during your stay there, you will cover a wide range of water types and fishing situations.
The main room is timber-framed and features 20 foot plus high ceilings with banks of tall windows that allow light to flood the room. A roaring fireplace and several sitting areas provide the perfect place to relive the fishing of the day and relax with delicious appetizers and a cocktail. A full bar is well stocked with all the proper libations, including the finest Argentine wines and plenty of cold beer.
Availability (Saturday to Saturday)
From – US$7,500 plus US$300 for fishing licences
A single room upgrade is available at US$500
Prices do not include international or domestic flights, transfers and hotels in Buenos Aires.
Please contact Olly Thompson or phone 01980 847 389 for dates.
La Villa (Estancia Maria Behety)
Located downstream from Estancia Maria Behety La Villa is part of the same operation owned by the Menendez family. It remains one of the most historic and comfortable lodges on the river. All the rooms at La Villa are private, single occupancy rooms, elegantly decorated and with spacious private bathrooms. The lodge has the feel of a large and comfortable country house, although very much in an Argentine way.
Anglers at La Villa rotate through the premier pools of the lower and middle beats of the river, which have historically been the most prolific. With access to more than 102 pools, the lodge can focus on the best water according to the current conditions. The huge variety of water that La Villa offers also means that rods get a wide-ranging experience of what the Rio Grande can offer. One day you could be fishing the upstream with single-handed rods and small flies and the next downstream with a larger two-handed rod.
Availability (Saturday to Saturday)
March 2 – 9 US$9,500 – 1 rod
Prices do not include international or domestic flights, hotels in Buenos Aires or fishing licences which cost US$350
Kau Tapen
Kau Tapen is one of the oldest and most comfortable lodges on the river. It is a superb property that has balanced character and comfort exceptionally well. Kau Tapen has ten en-suite rooms; some offer a king bed, while some have one queen, and others are furnished with two doubles. A large living room opens to views of the Menendez and Río Grande valleys and includes a roaring fire and a well-stocked bar.
Kau Tapen has access to 16km of the Río Grande and much of the Río Menedez. As it is in the middle reaches of the Río Grande, Kau Tapen is ideally suited to anglers who enjoy technical fishing and smaller water. Although this part of the river can fish well all season long, it can be especially productive towards the latter half of the season when many of the fish have shifted upstream. More tracks have been created to allow for better access to the Menendez River in recent years. This is a wonderful river, and although smaller than the main Río Grande, the average size of the fish is very large.
Availability (Saturday to Saturday)
January 6 – 13 US$11,950 – 6 rods
January 13 – 20 US$13,950 – 6 rods
January 20 – 27 US$13,950 – 6 rods
February 3 – 10 US$13,950 – 3 rods
March 23 – 30 US$11,950 – 4 rods
Prices do not include international or domestic flights, hotels in Buenos Aires or fishing licences which cost US$550
Villa María
Villa María is the second of the Nervous Waters’ lodges to open on the Río Grande after Kau Tapen. Taking six rods, it offers small groups the opportunity to fish some of the productive pools in the lower river. The lodge is a renovated farmhouse within the working Jose Menendez estancia.
The lodge features six en-suite rooms, smart furnishings, and spacious living areas. Each evening a roaring fire and well-stocked bar welcome you back from your day on the river. To maximise time on the water and allow for a proper rest after eating, guests have lunch and a siesta at the very comfortable riverside house rather than returning to the lodge.
Villa María focuses on 15km of prime sea trout fishing on the lower Río Grande, allowing anglers to have the first crack at newly arrived sea trout entering the system. The lodge is ideal for anglers who enjoy the challenges of using two-handed rods. Villa María can offer superb fishing during the first half of the season when the fish are chrome silver and fight exceptionally well.
Availability (Friday to Friday)
December 29 – 5 January US$11,950 – 5 rods
January 5 – 12 US$13,950 – 3 rods
March 1 – 8 US$13,950 – 6 rods
March 8 – 15 US$11,950 – 6 rods
Prices do not include international or domestic flights, hotels in Buenos Aires or fishing licences which cost: US$550