For many, the sea trout fishing in Argentina is a annual pilgrimage as nowhere in the world can offer such size and numbers of fish. Villa Maria and Kau Tapen are two of the best lodges on the world famous Rio Grande and they both have rods available on some of their prime weeks for the 2025 season which have often been considered dead mans shoes. Now, is the time to book if you are interested in fishing this wonderful river.
Kau Tapen and Villa María Lodges are both run to exacting standards and set the bar for others to follow. They offer some of the best fishing for sea trout on the middle and lower Río Grande. If you are looking for superb food, service and accommodation to compliment your fishing, then these lodges take some beating. They have been around for many years and are highly sought after.
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 18 – 25 US$14,950 – 4 rods
January 25 – February 1 US$14,950 – 4 rods
February 1 – 8 US$14,950 – 4 rods
February 8 – 15 US$14,950 – 4 rods
March 15 – 22 US$12,950 – 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)
January 3 – 10 US$12,950 – 6 rods
February 21 – 28 US$14,950 – 4 rods
February 28 – March 7 US$14,950 – 4 rods
Prices do not include international or domestic flights, hotels in Buenos Aires or fishing licences which cost: US$550