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Battling Giants in Southern Chile
Skeena River Fly Supply Team member Derek Barber went to southern Chile to check out a newly discovered Chinook fishery down there. I asked Derek to test some of our new “Runners” series of flies, as well as the new proto-type Chinook flies that have been in development for the last couple of seasons. The “Runners” performed very well and were “virtually indestructible”. A step-by-step instruction on a Chinook Snow Runner brush fly can be found here. This trip can be booked through Getaway Tours.
When I think of big fresh Chinook Salmon I immediately think of the Skeena or other north coast rivers of BC in June and July. These are the fish I spend my summers fishing and guiding for. I can literally walk from my house and experience Chinook fishing as good as anywhere on the planet.
I didn’t think of southern Chile in January and February. There aren’t many places on earth further from northern BC than The southern Chilean Andes.
Chilean Chinook weren’t on my radar at all until last winter when I had the pleasure of fishing with Nico Trochine on the Rio Grande in Southern Argentina. He told me about the Chinook that were swimming on the other side of the Andes.
Nico and His Twin brother Alex at that time were in the very early stages of exploring the Chilean coast, looking for a suitable river to start an operation on.
A few weeks after I returned home from Rio Grande I received an email from Alex and Nico with photos of big Chrome Chinook. In all the photos I saw a beautiful green river and towering granite peaks covered in glacier.
The only question I had was, where do I fly into and when should I be there?
12 months later I landed at the Puerto Montt airport and met up with Kim, Bill and Peter. We had all signed up to take the first week on an exploration season at Alex and Nico’s Chilean Chinook Camp, “Austral Kings”.
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The next afternoon we arrived at the very nice riverside camp. Looking in every direction from the camp is jaw dropping mountain scenery. We spent the afternoon assembling our gear and preparing for the next 8 days of fishing.
The first morning of the trip started with a bang. Bill and I were taken by our guide Mariano to a beautiful tail out above a long stretch of heavy water just off the tide. There were giant Chinook rolling everywhere. Bill stepped in and within a few casts was hooked up. He landed a Chrome 10lbs Chinook. We were in the game!
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I Stepped in and threw a long cast out over the seam, created by a large rock. As my fly swung through the seam a fish grabbed my fly and we were off to the races. The fish pulled hard into the deep water mid river. After a lengthy tug of war we brought a 46lbs. Chrome bullet to hand.
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What a start!
As the trip went on we experienced very clear water and high sun. Which really reduced our chances. But later in the week we got some much needed rain. Bringing coloured water and cloudy skies. The fishing picked up and we all cashed in.
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Alex Trochine with a great Chilean Chinook. He pulled the classic guide trick on this one. I gave him my rod to have a cast while I took a break. Within minutes he was into this beauty. After a great battle and a long sprint down stream he landed it. I thought “damn I better get back in there”. I went back to the top and in the second cast this fish crushed my fly.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”12700″ img_size=”362×542″ alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” img_link_target=”_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]50.1lbs
Here are a few more shots of the great fish down there.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”12701″ img_size=”542×542″ alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” img_link_target=”_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Kim Joergensen with a perfect Austral King![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”12702″ img_size=”542×398″ alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” img_link_target=”_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Peter Mejer 38lbs.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”12703″ img_size=”542×373″ alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large” img_link_target=”_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]
Thomas “el cocko” Svensson with a beauty!
Alex and Nico have found an amazing fishery down there. When you consider the average fish is 30 plus pounds. To travel down there for 8 days and put my hands on a fish that is legitimately 50lbs. Pretty hard to beat!
If you are interested in hearing more about Austral Kings feel free to contact me. derekbarber123@gmail.com
(You can also get in contact with Derek by signing in and leaving a reply at the bottom of this blog post)
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