Estancia Laguna Verde, Jurassic Lake – Argentina

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Experienced anglers from all over the world visit Jurassic Lake year after year to target the wild chrome silver, torpedo-shaped, drag-smoking Rainbow Trout. Rainbow Trout are the only fish in this lake and because the lake and river are separated, the trout have no immediate threats (besides you) and have exclusive access to all the food in the lake, making them trophy status huge! Their main food sources include the crustacean family, Dafnia (a microorganism), snakes, and various insects (flies, beetles, etc.).

With over 10 miles of Jurassic Lake shoreline access and 40 miles of private access total, you’re guaranteed incredible fishing with just you, your guide, and miles and miles of water. You’ll feel it down to your bones that you’re alone to enjoy the solitude, remoteness, and peacefulness of this incredible place that’s strategically located with no possibility of poachers or anyone else besides the lodge guests. 

The lodge has perfected its fishing methods and learned what draws the attention of these out-of-this-world Rainbows. Hone your skills or learn to sight fish in crystal clear waters, using floating lines, slow stripping small to medium-sized streamers and nymphs, skating big foam flies and mouse patterns, or hanging scuds and small nymphs from big dry flies (the famous “hopper dropper”); The Rainbows are the main attraction at this fly fishing lodge, but there’s also plenty of other bodies of water to fish during your stay. Fish for Brook and Brown Trout in over 6 miles of the best river sections on the Barrancoso River, as well as the newly discovered Moro Creek, and 12 other lagoons. 

Strobel Lake AKA: Jurassic Lake

Slowly over the years, the lodge has gained private access to more than 10 miles of Lake Strobel. Several areas are protected from the famous Patagonian wind, but you should still be prepared to fight the wind (and dress appropriately). Fish in bays such as Monsters Bay, Camelot Bay, Finger Bay, Tasmania Bay, Sea Bay, Puesto Bay, and Dry Fly Bay, where you can have outstanding sight fishing opportunities, regardless of conditions. Jurassic Lake lies in the sanctuary of Patagonia, one of the few unspoiled places on Earth. Jurassic Lake is a peaceful place to make contact with nature and like the landscape, the fishing is off the charts and will blow your mind! All the fish are big here, this is THE place; Nowhere in the world compares, not even Kamchatka!

Barrancoso River

The Barrancoso River is the only tributary of Strobel Lake and as a guest, you’ll be able to fish most parts of it. The beautiful, dreamlike, freestone river, with see-through waters, is one of Estancia’s highlight programs. Running over 6 miles long, you’ll fish to the very last 300 ft. that enter into the mouth of Strobel Lake that are inaccessible due to Argentinean fishing regulations. This river boasts outstanding and demanding runs of huge trout and is separated into 3 parts: the upper, middle, and lower sections. Fishing here is done mostly with floating lines, numbers 6, 7, & 8 weight rods, utilizing streamers, nymphs, big dry flies, and mouse patterns (known as mousing).

Moro Creek 

This area was recently discovered in 2021 and is a “creek-like” stream that chains each of the 12 lakes inside the Estancia (the estate or ranch). This is a favorite early-season creek that has won the hearts of many guests. The creek flows mainly during spring and early summer (see the seasons below for Argentina’s spring and summer dates) and the lodge fishes 4 sections of the creek as well as inlets and outlets and the chained lakes, like the Los Flacos, Campamento, Los Chanchos, and La Reja Lake. 

Smaller Lakes & Lagoons

With over 12 fantastic waters, the outfitters at Jurassic Lake will bring you to popular areas such as Verde Lake to hunt big Rainbows, Browns, and Brook Trout, Texas Lake to wade or boat to Rainbows and Browns, or various other bodies of water that all offer fantastic fishing opportunities. These are great locations to try varied combinations in different programs all season long. 

The Seasons

The fishing season starts in early October and ends in late April. Although there’s always a prime fishing timeframe, fishing is good all season, even in the early and later parts of the season, when fish are spawning. 

Early Season – October, November, December

In Argentina, spring runs from September to December. The early season offers lots of river fishing with lots of fish. You can look forward to using mostly mouse patterns and streamers during this time of year, as well as dries, nymphs, and neck patterns. You can expect to catch a high number of fish, although they might be smaller than the normal monsters you’d catch out of Jurassic Lake. 

Mid Season – January, February, and the 2 First Weeks of March 

Around this time, the river starts dropping, and fishing Jurassic Lake becomes the main area of focus. There’s plenty of fish during the mid-season and you’ll enjoy longer days with more fishing opportunities on the rivers as well. More food is available to fish closer to shore and the mid and late seasons begin producing bigger fish. 

Later Season – Last 2 Weeks of March To The End Of April 

This is the time to catch the biggest and best fish of the season! 90% of the time, you’ll float the line and use sinking tips. Although you’ll catch less than early and mid-season, and it’s colder, rainier, and windier around this time, the work you dedicate to your time on the water will pay off when you land a trophy rainbow!