In the heart of northern Patagonia steppe and located about one hour and a half from Chapelco airport, Quemquemtreu is an old working ranch comprised over 200,000 acres.
Bordered by the Collon Cura and Caleufu rivers and surrounded by ancient poplars, the Quemquemtreu lodge has become one of our guests' favorite places to be in Patagonia.
The Lodge
The lodging at Estancia Quemquemtreu is very old style typical Argentine. The lodge is located within the compounds of one of the oldest estancias of this area. It is a small town in itself with its general store, barns, corrals, and the landowner's and worker's houses. This lodge is no bigger than a family house, the main house offers 5 double bedrooms each one with private bathroom, a nice dinning room and a living room with a wide fireplace. Two other rooms can be also used in an adjacent house.
While enjoying drinks in the bar, telling the stories of your day of fishing, you can also show your skills in the pool table.
Cuisine continues to define the iconic nature of the hospitality experience at Quemquemtreu Lodge, menus prepared with a typical Patagonian style, with fresh vegetables from the green house and big asados ( barbecue ).
The River
The Collon Cura ,an extension of the Alumine River, is comprised of the Malleo, and Chimehuin rivers, which provide it with a water quality and river size that are both truly impressive.
This river is famous for its large quality of hard fighting rainbows and browns which average 17 inches, reaching up to 15 pounds.
Runs about 25 miles, through Quemquemtreu's property in a extense wide and flat valley flowing slowly, forming structures such as channels, flat runs, fast waters, deep and slow pools, ripe cut banks and back eddies, that are great holding water for rainbows and browns.
Clients that returning, year after year, have repeatedly claimed the Collon Cura rainbows are the hardest fighting fish in all of Patagonia.
The Fishing
Most of the fishing is done drifting for full or half day, depending the personal preferences, wading is always available, and for those who prefer not to cast from boats, or we can use the boats to reach to the best fishing areas.
The Collon Cura river is wellknown for its numerous 16-20 inch rainbows which are most abundant in the riffles. Larger brown trout are more frequently found under willow branches and along the rocky banks where they have more shelter.
Streamers tend to be slightly more effective then large dries or nymphs. On the Quemquemtreu tributary flowing though the ranch anglers can stalk big hungry trout with dry flies from November to January.
From mid February to the end of the season, occurs a migration of alevins or fry, and trouts go crazy.
For information about suggested tackle and flies
Activities
In this classic Patagonic ranch, whose territory covers almost 200,000 acres, it is hard to imagine the variety of activities to develop in addition to fly fishing.
Horseback riding and trekking through incredible landscapes of the steppe, bird-watching and wildlife, with unique species of Patagonia or photography tours, accompanied by expert guides, are special programs in high demand.
