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Rises on the lower Rio Verde
(click image for detail)
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EL RIO VERDE
The Rio Verde (Elev. 3282 ft - 39*50' 09.48" S)is one of the shortest and moodiest in all Patagonia. It is 900 yards long and flows from east to west from Lake Curruhe Grande to Lake Verde. In its 900 yards of length we find almost three different rivers from deep and slow to riffle and pool to spring creek like. It is located on the foothills of the extinct volcano Acheniyen.
The Rio Verde is the outlet of Curruhue Grande Lake and the feeder stream of Lake Verde. This may be the reason why it is such a fish factory during spawning time. In early season it is full of rainbow trout, in mid summer you can find mostly resident brown and brook trout (including two residents of 10 + lbs that refuse to take our offerings year after year) and late season get runs of brook and brown trout and Atlantic landlocked Salmon.
Even though the area receives a lot of tourists from early January to mid February, there are not many fishermen in it. We fished hot summer days with no other fisherman around.
At first sight it seems there is not much fish activity, even though it has countless trophy trout “cribs” but with careful observation, the Verde, shows signs of trout life. It is an ideal river to measure our skills against some really difficult trout, especially during the days prior the spawning runs, when the larger fish enter the river to scout for nests in crystal clear water.
In order to be successful it is very important to take your time. If you jump in the water without watching you may spook the fish in this pool for good. Look carefully what is going on around you. Are there any hatches? Rises?
Use the surrounding vegetation to camouflage yourself and watch. Look behind large boulders and submerged logs. Watch for movement near the reeds. Once you have located a fish, work it slowly and try to imitate in size the specific hatch. If you don’t see any fish rising or moving cast a weighted bunny leech to the deep upper stretches and work it slowly, tight against the reeds. If you are in the middle part, where submerged logs abound, use large attractor dries, you will occasionally hook a large trout that will break you off in a blink, but what a rush…
The Verde River is as fragile as it is productive. It is small, pretty and easily put out.
During my last visit, in mid February we caught rainbow, brook and two large brown trout with the biggest one topping 9 lbs that took a # 12 Royal Wulff skated behind some boulders on the fast riffles.
Most landlocked salmon are 18”
It is best fished with a 9’ # 5/6 rod with a floating line and long leaders. Fluorocarbon is preferred due to its camo qualities.
The flies that worked for me on the Verde are:
Bunny leech # 4
Rubber leg wooly buggers # 4-6
Royal Wulff # 12-14
Parachute pheasant tail # 16
Pheasant tail nymph # 14-16
Watson’s Fancy # 14
Swishers PMX # 6-8 |
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