DESTINATION FLY FISHING

Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to go fish in some amazing places around the world. Along the way, we’ve met guides and lodge owners that we’ve established friendships and partnerships with that have lasted many years. We invite you to join us on any of our destination fly fishing hosted trips or to simply book a time that is right for you. Below is a list of our favorite places from Argentina, Chile (Patagonia), New Zealand, Cuba and Belize.

The Blue Bonefish Lodge Belize

We have found our new favorite Lodge in Belize, and our overall favorite Saltwater destination! The Blue Bonefish offers a small lodge setting and great fishing in a place that is much easier to get to and from than many of the other salty destinations.

The Blue Bonefish is truly a destination where a Grand Slam is possible during any week with an abundance of Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit on nearby flats and lagoons.

Lodging is comfortable and food is delicious. The new 4 new Villa rooms are perfect for couples, and the lodge rooms are great for any angler, and work well for singles or pairs of men or women not sharing a bed. At the Blue Bonefish, service is outstanding from top to bottom. I have seen the owner work for the customers benefit in so many ways, always putting the customer first. I love this and wish it was standard practice at every lodge but it is one of the things that sets this lodge apart from the others and why we will go year after year and recommend it first to our FFP customers. Prices range from $3,695.00 double occupancy per week and up.

Join Jeff and Tina for a hosted trip April 6-12, 2024 or November 2024. Jeff can book you for any week of the year the lodge is open from November through July.

TURNEFFE FLATS LODGE BELIZE

Turneffe Flats is located on the Turneffe Atoll about a 2 hour boat ride from Belize City. One of the nicest lodges in the world, Turneffe Flats also happens to be smack in the center of some of the best flats fishing in the world. If you are looking for a relaxing week in a lodge that has the best boats, great guides, very good food, fabulous lodging than T-Flats is for you. Turneffe is a great place for a couple where one partner does not fish much, or at all. No worries, Turneffe offers an atoll adventure package for the non-fisher in your group. From selective bonefish, to schools of permit and even migratory tarpon, Turneffe Flats lodge is a great place for the discerning saltwater angler to spend a week. For more details go to http://www.tflats.com/

PATAGONIA REGION ARGENTINA & CHILE

I first met my friend Esteban Urban when he was guiding at one of the lodges we used to go before it changed ownership. A long drift down the Rio Chimehuen cemented a forever bond between us, and a business relationship that will endure because of how well he treats our customers.

Esteban has one of the best programs and pricing in the Northern Patagonia region I have seen, and it offers fly angling travelers a lot of fun and flexibility while fishing all the same water that lodges costing thousands more per week are fishing.

The Southern Loops Fly Fishing Program includes options to do an overnight camp trip on the Rio Chimehuin or Rio Caleufu, day trips on the Rio Collon Curra and Rio Alumine and Lago Tromen and Lago Lolog. The entire week with Southern Loops can be done fishing from the boat on the rivers and lakes making this an ideal trip for anglers who prefer not to wade or who don’t want to carry waders and boots all the way from home.

One of the ways we keep the cost affordable on this trip is instead of a fishing lodge as a home base, we stay in a lovely Hotel in the middle of the resort town of San Martin de los Andes. On 3 of the 7 nights after fishing we are on our own to choose from about 30 restaurants within 8 blocks of the hotel. And it is quite inexpensive to dine out and enjoy some great wine here! After dinner we usually stop for gelato or at one of many chocolate shops before going to bed to dream of the trout.

This is truly one special experience and whether you go on a hosted trip with Jeff or we send you on your own, Southern Loops and Esteban will take care of you the whole way down and back, including excellent airport transfers, hotels and restaurants in Buenos Aires with our superstar Trini who handles all of those logistics, including booking your Argentine domestic flights at the best rates.

Prices range in the $4000 p/p for 7 nights with 6 guided days of fishing.

Several years ago at the Water Watch of Oregon fundraiser I was introduced to a lodge in Chile in the region where I had visited other lodges so many times before. The owner of the Magic Waters Lodge, Eduardo Barrueto Guarda has been donating a trip to his lodges in Chile every year to help us raise money to support water conservation in Oregon. How cool is that?!!!

At that same time we were in a good position to make a change in our outfitter of choice in Chile, and became fast friends with Eduardo and his wife Consuelo and now have enjoyed many great trips to their lodge near Coyhaique. We have hosted many trips there,  and sent many customers their way who have raved about the experience. The Chilean trout fishing experience is one you’ll never forget.

Eduardo and Consuelo started with the one lodge called Magic Waters, but have grown the operation to include an out camp called the River of Dreams Basecamp, and in 2023/24 are just beginning a 3rd lodge operation further south in Patagonia called the Baker River Lodge which is spectacular. Who am I kidding? They are all spectacular and you won’t find better cooking or service in all of Chile that you’ll find with these folks at any of the operations.

The River of Dreams Base Camp is unique, located on a remote river where you and your group will be the only people there. Most guests ride horseback to the camp and then jet boat the final distance up the the river to the comfortable elk camp style location. There is also a helicopter drop off option for an added expense for those of us who are not up to the horseback adventure. Each large canvas tent is set on a sturdy platform so you won’t be sleeping on the ground. It is nearly glamorous as far as camps go! There is a spring creek that runs through the camp with a good brown trout population, and each day you’ll float the main River of Dreams, and jet boat back up to the camp when the fishing day is done. The camp even has its own chef.

At the Baker River Lodge the operation is set for float trips down the Rio Baker and Rio Cochrane, with options for doing a morning float, and if desired taking the afternoon off to rest, and explore the region known for incredible mountain vistas and expansive lakes. Add another float in the afternoon and evening before dinner to complete your day, or stay out with the guides all day and fish to your hearts content.

You can even enjoy a round of golf at the local 9 hole course outside of town. There is no better place to get a trophy brown trout than this area of Chile

The flagship lodge is, and always will be the original Magic Waters Lodge located in the 7 Lagoons area a half an hour out of the hub city of Patagonia called Coyhaique. We love this lodge and the many lakes, rivers and small streams you can fish near there. The Rio Simpson, the Rio Paloma, the Huemales stream near the Argentina border and my favorite dry fly stream the Manuales River that tumbles out of the steep Andes on its way to join the Paloma River. There is also a spring creek just up the hill from the lodge that has some really big brown trout to be found and is especially fun when the grasshoppers are out.

The 2024 prices are $6500 per person for a week at Magic Waters and $7500 per week at the River of Dreams Base Camp and Baker River Lodge. Join Jeff and Tina for our hosted week at the Baker River Lodge in January of 2025.

The website is under construction but you can explore below in the meantime

Cuba

A Trip to Cuba can be as simple as a quick flight from Miami to Havana, and after clearing customs you’ll be whisked off to your fishing destination. Once there, you’ll be enjoying lightly fished waters, and be well taken care of by the guides and staff at either your land based or ship based operation. My favorite spot is http://www.cubafishingoutfitters.com/playa-larga which is a land based operation.

I think a second trip should include a ship based operation and this is the one I have experienced and enjoyed http://www.cubafishingoutfitters.com/jardines

But….
If all you do for your trip to Cuba is go fishing for a week than I think you are missing some the best parts of travel there!

We love fishing in Cuba. It is truly a spot where any day on the water might offer a Grand Slam. Or multiple bonefish. A huge Permit. Maybe seeing huge tarpon daisy-chaining during their epic spring and summer migration through Cuban waters.

On my 2 trips (so far) to Cuba I have experienced these fishing conditions first hand.
But when I think of my experiences in Cuba I remember so many more parts of it than just the fishing.

I remember walking the Malacon in downtown Havana and walking to the Hotel Nacional for an afternoon Cuba Libre. More than that, I loved visiting the Lizt Alfonso Dance Studio and watching all the dancers knowing they were telling stories of their lives on this island through dance. The last time we were there, every one of my guests left the studio emotional from the performance.
We have been moved by Cuban artist in so many ways, with private performances for our groups by Ballet Dancers and talented musicians, and seeing fine paintings on walls of galleries and incredible graffiti on so many walls throughout the city.

We’ve traced the path of Ernest Hemingway from him home outside of Havana to the famous bars he frequented looking for the perfect daiquiri. We’ve gone to the baseball stadium and cheered on the famous Havana Indstriales take on a rival team. The excitement of baseball in this country is high and being in a stadium with fans like that is something really special whether you’re a passionate fan or just casually enjoying the game for an afternoon.

We’ve gone out to visit an elementary school on several trips to bring the teachers and the students much needed supplies and to remind ourselves the importance of education all over the world. It is beyond special to see the light in the eyes of the youth who will someday change Cuba.

We wouldn’t be able to do this alone, but thanks to my long time friend Jon Covich who I would say is the utmost expert on Cuba Fishing and Cultural Touring we are dialed in completely to make sure that every single guest is getting more than a fishing trip if that is what they want.

There is nothing wrong with just a fishing trip! But Cuba truly offers so much more for an angling traveler, so we hope you will consider letting Jon and I show you around and take advantage of some truly interesting cultural travel experiences. We can both offer hosted trips or schedule you for a trip you can do any time. Be sure to ask about specials because if you have a flexible travel schedule sometimes there are better deals to be found.

Call (541)549-3474 or email Jeff for details, or contact Jon Covich at jcovich@mindspring.com directly or visit his website at http://www.cubafishingoutfitters.com and please mention Jeff sent you his way. He will take the best care of you of any of the 3 or 4 agencies qualified to do trips to Cuba, and is far more versed on both sides if travel there, not only the fishing. But I guarantee you he is one heck of a great fly angler.

BACK COUNTRY TROUT-KEVIN PAYNE IN FAIRLIE NEW ZEALAND/SOUTH ISLAND

Jeff made his first trip to fish with Kevin in 2004 and came home so impressed he went back with friends and has sent many guests over the years to fish with Kevin. Fairlie is located in the central part of the South Island an hour and a half west of the Pacific Ocean on the way to Mount Cook. Kevin does not provide lodging service as he is only a guide service, but Kevin and I can both suggest great lodging in the area when you are planning to fish there. Plan ahead to fish with Kevin, he is a very popular guide who gets booked a year ahead. From mountain rivers to pastoral streams, Kevin always has a fresh river to fish, and who knows, maybe you’ll have your best big fish fishing day in you life as Jeff once did when fishing with Kevin!

ASPIRING FLY FISHING PAUL MACANDREW IN WANAKA IN NEW ZEALAND

We met Paul on our trip to the South Island in 2016, and love his approach to fly fishing the Wanaka area. Paul’s rivers and streams near his home are amongst the best you’ll find in NZ, and he also provides some great lake fishing options if that is your preference, or if the weather might have the rivers blown out, your trip will still include great fishing.

Paul is easy going and a great fish spotter. In many cases, expect to walk a lot during your day with Paul.
For more details go to http://www.aspiringflyfishing.co.nz