Patagonian Fly Fishing's Box Of Chocolates Chile

Contributor Jonathan Boulton explains why Chile remains one of his favourite fresh water fly fishing destinations.

My good friend and renowned guide based in Bariloche, Argentina, is, like me, getting a bit long in the tooth. He is exactly what you might expect from someone who has been guiding almost their entire working life. Pretty much nothing fazes him. Fishing now is about the experience, scenery, company, long river lunches and laughs. Way down the list is how many fish are caught in a day. And he loves the company of like minded people. If you are an uncouth fishmonger, driven only by size and numbers, and don't stop to smell the roses, you and Danny won’t have a great day on the water. He tells it like it is without sugarcoating, and his rudimentary, yet surprisingly witty, English often leaves me in stitches. 

If you ask him what the weather is doing and how it might impact the fishing tomorrow, his response is: “Jon, who cares? It is what it is – have another splash of Malbec, my friend.” Hence, Danny and I get along well and regularly fish together. Several years ago he told me how, when he gets a gap, he tows his pontoon boat over the Andes Mountains on the scenic and relatively short drive into Chile where he fishes with friends. When a seasoned guide tells you where he goes fishing in his off-time, your ears should prick up, so I’ve been meeting Danny in Puerto Varas, Chile, for a few years now.

PUERTO VARAS AND ITS UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT