Just got off of the phone with Ben Hoffman from Frontier Travels who did confirm the following rumor floating around on the 'net:
If you are headed to Chile to fish, you will probably have your flies confiscated in Santiago. This is a knee-jerk reaction on the part of the Chilean government to the threat of Avian flu.
Those travelers who look like anglers (ie:carrying rod tubes) will be taken out of line, searched and have their flies confiscated. This is a new protection enacted without warning on February 1st.
I sent an order in to Cabelas 2 days ago and got an automatic warning That highlighted the CDC feathers I had ordered. The warning said "This is a restricted product. Do you with to remove this product and proceed with the rest of your order. I took out the feathers and the order was accepted.
They were the only feathers in my order the rest was hooks and synthetics.
Ps I live in canada so it has to cross the US/Canadian border.
H&H accepted an order with the CDC and some other feathers in it later the same day.
By law any wildlife products coming into Canada from the USA must get a Permit at a cost of $38.50 US, it appears that the Customs folks are getting real picky about this as there are more and more shops who are unwilling to deal with shipping things across the border.
Luckily for me and my shop there is nothing like that for things going from Canada to the USA, i guess it is just another example of our tax everything policy here.
BWO,
Another knee-jerk reaction by a government that has no scientific basis, it just panders to the fear mongers. I imagine that the amount of fishing trips to Chile are about to take a big nosedive.
I just returned from 6 days of fishing in Patagonia, and the rumors about the feathers are definitely true. Although things are a little inconsistent at customs, they are confiscating flies tied with feathers pretty regularly, and it is best to leave them at home for now. Nobody knows when this crazy ban will end - none of it makes a darn bit of sense from a medical standpoint. Maybe some enterprising soul will set up a fly shop in the airport at Santiago…
I don’t think I’ve heard anything about flies being returned. It would be hard for them to organize that, with as big as the Santiago airport is. If you are fishing at a lodge, they will probably have flies there. An additional suggestion is hair-wing patterns without hackle. Not perfect, but I had some success with them.
No fly shops in Coyhaquie. I was down there in October and November. There is a couple of fly shops in Santiago, but I have never been out of the airport at Santiago the three times I have gone to Chile.
This must be new, I had no problem on either in-country or International flights.
Here is a suggestion: Why don’t you just FedEx your flies ahead to your hotel, or if you are using a lodge or guide directly to them? Then mail them back before you leave? Might be a bit expensive for an International FedEx, but alot cheaper than being without your bugs!!! I took alot of flies with me for three weeks of fishing, but you know they all would pack up into a reasonable FedEx box.
And IT IS WORTH GOING. What a wonderful place to fish. Since I was so early in the season it was all about big streamers, some nymphing and a few sparaodic hatches. By now it has to be BIG terrestrials drys. Make sure you take you Chernobal Ants and such.
We were fishing out of El Patagon Lodge, located several hours north of Coyhaique near the village of La Junta. I didn’t see anything of Santiago but the airport, so can’t tell you anything about fly shops there. With a city that size, I would think there would be something available. I did see an Orvis fly shop in Puerto Varas, near Puerto Montt, though.
The fishing was great for us - we fished the Rio Figueroa, the Rio Claro, the Rio Rosselot and the Rio Picoo. I had a lot of success with a black Clouser and a black rabbit zonker on a rainy day on the Rio Figueroa, and also took some nice fish on a sort of faux Prince that I tied using a shiny pearl micro chenille body, soft brown rubber for the tail, and white rubber wings. A no-hackle elk hair caddis did nicely on a small stream that I fished on the last day. Leggy foam body dries were fine, too. I was pretty upset about the ban, too - it is a very recent thing - but between my flies and the ones that the guides already had, we had a lot of fun. I don’t get to do a lot of trips like this, and am glad that I went.
I’m going with an outfit called Rumbo Patagon - the trip organized by thier US rep from Sisters, Oregon.
I’m thinking of putting all the “feathered flies” in my wife’s luggage and see if she makes it through.
I will have a 2 days in Santiago to see if there is a fly shop and just what kind of stock they have. They may not be able to sell flies with feathers.
Glad I don’t have many down coats or vests anymore.
Gaston’ owner of Rumba Pantagon is EXCELLENT!!.. I fished with him two days out of Coyhaquie in Early November, not expecting to when I headed to Chile, but ended up finding him as I was passing through. He has top notch gear, and really knows the water, very good english, and a heck of a nice guy. We had two fantastic days on the water. He lent me one custom streamer fly of his that we nailed so many browns on, and I kept fishing it the next week, until it was down to a bare hook. It landed a lot of Browns. If I remember right Gaston’ does not tie, but had someone locally in Coyhaquie (one of his guides I think) tie some flies for him. Tell him Flyboy in AK said hi…
Also, the Orvis shop in Puerto Varas is pretty small, and had a just a basic supply of flies, nothing really tuned into local water.
If anyone wants a custom tier in Puerto Varas (Lakes District) let me know, I have a contact there.
Just got back from Chile – no problem with Customs taking flies. However, it did happen to the group just ahead of us. The outfitters are working to bring this to a stop and maybe they have been successfull. In any event, they had plenty of flies to use in the even that ours were taken.
Please note, the Chilean customs did return the flies when the fishermen departed from Chile.
How was your trip?? Did it meet your expectations? Three months after being there I am still savoring my fishing in northern Pantagonia. Been wondering about how you fared.
flyboy - the trip was fantastic. We had no problems with the flies as I think I mentioned.
Fishing was what I considered to be very good. Lots of fish and only one day when fishing was poor – mainly due to weather (I think). Could see large fish but couldn’t get them to bite.
Gaston and Claudio remembered you when I told them hello from you.
Will probably go back again next year or the year after. Only reason that I would not go back is if there is somewhere else in the world to go to.
This part of Chile has awesome natural beauty. Love the people and scenery(SP?). In some respects, the fishing was just an add on as this areas that we fished in where so beautiful.
That is interesting hearing about your trip, as I felt the same way. Everyday was great, somedays I worked real hard to entice one or two big spooky browns onto the hook, and other days, like a couple with Gaston’ I had fast and furious action. The mystique and aurora of that region is fabulous. And the scenery is wonderful, in many ways looks like some areas of home here in Alaska. The water clarity is unbelievable in some waters.
Thanks for sharing. I will be going back. Between Alaska and Chile, I find it hard to beat for trout fishing. I hope to go to the “Fu” (Rio Futalafu) and continue my exploring between Coyhoquie and there next winter.
Chill factor here has been running -20F to -40F the last few weeks, so getting cabin fever for fishing big time.
