The river´s shore is covered by a dense vegetation and this makes it impossible
to fish, but if the river´s level is low and the caster´s skills are good is possible
to fish in some places.
The river, in almost all its length, is a riffle and flows into the lake with violence,
forming some kind of gravel balconies in each side that fall abruptly into the lake.
In this place, like in all rivers mouths, the best time to try to catch a big trout is early
morning or late evening, because in these moments the bigger fish get into the river
searching food, specially little baby trouts that drift over spawning beds in the upper
section of the river.
Nowadays this fishing spot is not as good as in its golden age, when it attracted
foreign celebrities like Ernie Schweibert, but we can catch good rainbows in an
average weight of 1.5 to 3 kg. (3 to 6 lbs.) and regularly 4 or 5 kg. (8 to 11 lb.)
trouts are caught.
Big sized browns, that were a great attraction, have mysteriously disappeared
after the construction of a bridge over the river.
The modifications in the course after the construction of the bridge, inhibited the
browns to use this place as a spawning spot. Today this place is used only by the
rainbows. So the opportunities to catch a big brown are really low.
The best chances of a good strike are higher in November and December because
in that time the rainbows are finishing their spawning.
In late season (April), the water temperature is low so that the chances are good too.
You can reach this river from Villa La Angostura town by Nº 231 National Route
after 4 km. (2.5 miles).
The best tackle to fish the mouth is: Fast action, 9 to 9.5 ft. #6 to #8 rod; Fast II
Shooting taper and 10 ft. Leader with a 2X or 0X tippet.
The best flies are those tied on #2 to #6 hooks, mainly streamers in dark
colors, like Woolly Buggers, Matukas, Matuka Marabou, Rabbits, Black Leech
or big attractor nymphs with rubber legs like Bitch Creek, Leonis Barbarus.
The best technique is cast as far as possible to the joining of waters (river with
lake waters) and let the line gain depth. Then we have to recover the line, trying
different retrieving speeds and depths. Other chance is to cast to the both sides of
water´s joining.
In these days, we are having a problem because in this place in December 1999
will be done ´99 Eco Challenge competition (organized by Discovery Channel) and in
one part of the race the competitors must navigate along Correntoso River in kayaks.
The big deal here is that navigation is not allowed by rules stated in government
disposition Nº 442/99 : "Navigation as well as other aquatic activities
which may disturb sportfishing throughout the whole length of the river
are prohibited."
In addition, just in that time of the year, the rainbows are finishing their annual
spawning so it can be dangerous for the fish and its litters too.
So many fishing associations, fishermen and ecological associations are fighting
together against this, trying to change the competition's itinerary to protect this short
and beautiful river.
Mr. José Luis Lopez Reale ( President of Neuquén´s Fly Fishing Association) wrote these words:
"... As a serious angler and respectful of all the regulations, I consider this as
a run over to sportive fishing. We respect and want to be respected. To make regulations
thinking in not to respect them later is own of ambitious and selfish interests. I speak
in representation of 460 members of the Association. From environmental point of view,
pretending non or low impact is a no sense because the Eco Challenge advertisement tells
that this river has enough power to flip over a 14 ft. raft.
I believe that all of this make no sense the name of the competition, Ecological Challenge."
Please, support us against this....
After this letter and many others written by fishermen to many associations and to
the organizer of the event, last Tuesday (11/2/99) in a very important meeting,
Discovery Channel people and organizers from Argentina changed their
mind and the course of the competition after the explanations of FSA (Angostura
Salmonid´s Foundation) and APMN (Neuquén´s Fly fishing Association) of the risks
that that kind of event could carry to the environment and spawning trouts.
All fishermen in Argentina are very happy and pleased with this decision.
Collon Cura River (40 km.)
Is a river of big dimensions and a wide river bed due to the joining of Aluminé river
and Chimehuín river. This river flows through a nice valley with a north-south direction.
Its average width is between 15 mt. And 35 mts. (49 ft. to 115 ft.) with long riffles
and wide and deep pools that in late season, with the running of migratory browns
from Piedra del Aguila dam´s lake, hold really good fish.
The shore in some places is clean and free of any object and in other places the
willows are very dense. The river has a good population of rainbows and browns,
being the first easier to be caught. The weight of the fish is between 800 grs. and 2.5 kg.
(1.7 to 5.5 lb.) and the average is 3 lb. aprox. Frequently bigger sizes are hooked
(6 to 8 lb) but bigger fish are rare. Despite it size and current , the river can be waded
easily with very little risk to the angler.
One important thing is that the best spots are accessible only by raft, so a guide
can be really useful in this river.
The best tackle is a 5 wt. to 7 wt., 8.5 to 9.5 ft rod and fast sinking lines like Teeny
or ST (Type III and IV). It is specially recommended to fish the riffles with bucktails
(#4 to #8) and impressionist nymphs.
The places with more depth are better with streamers like Woolly Buggers and every
kind of rabbits.
In the lower section, there are many channels that allows to use #3 or #4 rods and
floating lines for dries and nymphing.
Before you leave to fish our country, please remember that Patagonia is a whirling disease
free area, so if you have fished in infected waters please buy or try to
borrow new waders and boots. ~
Alejandro Martello, Buenos Aires, Argentina
For more on fishing South America visit Ale's
website!
More South American Fly Fishing:
Peacock Bass in Brazil (Brasil)
Dorados in Argentina
Argentine Patagonia - Introduction
Argentine Patagonia - Part 2
Argentine Patagonia - Part 3
Argentine Patagonia - Part 4
Argentine Patagonia - Part 5
Argentine Patagonia - Part 6
A True Chilean Adventure
Futaleufu, Chile, Part 1
Futaleufu, Chile, Part 2
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