Argentina Weekly - Week III

Argentina Weekly - Week III
Estancia Las Buitreras
by Claudio Martin

The arrival of good friends from the UK known to us as “The Baker Group” marked the beginning of our third week of season 2010. For Michael, Martin, David, Derek and Richard it was neither their first time, nor the second one… actually not even close to that.

(Burning Sky at Bridge Pool)

It was their 10 season on the Gallegos… quite a remarkable record and certainly much experience reached as a result of it. For Val, first time chasing silvers in south Argentina, the challenge didn’t look much as he started in his first session with a fresh 15 pounder out of Golfo, a large slow-water, fish-holding pool, where he happened to be after following Bakers usual “week rotation scheme” with Martin as the responsible one for arranging it that let them fish around in even number of sessions in the different beats as well as fishing with different partners equal number of times. Still sometimes the scheme didn’t really work, and mostly when some unknown person tricked the others by changing the real scheme for a fake one… confusion reigned in the room and arguments took place until the truth finally came out.

(Richard - Double Spey)

El Henrik (Pool) delivered, like it normally does, and this time in favor of Richard who managed to get not only a 21 pounder but also followed with an 18 pounder, both on Buitreras top secret fly (meaning a regular Bitch Creek nymph!).

(Chrome on the run)

By Monday noon there were already 20 sea trout caught and a big part of that had double figures… still things got tougher later on in the week making the group use all their experience plus the help of the guides team to figure out the best approach and how to succeed on this task. The wind didn’t make things any easier either, gusting up to 100+ km/h (60m/h – 28m/sec)

(David´s mean male machine)

In contrast to this the average size keeps rising and we hit new records. This Rugby ball-shaped fish are without any doubt feeding very well out in the sea. The best example was Mike’s biggest fish of the week, caught on a session when none of the other zones produced, pulling 22lbs on Juan Manuel’s scale.

(Mike´s 22pounder)

In addition to the fishing a very much anticipated event took place once again at the lodge: the guitar duel. Derek started the session with Animal’s “The House of the Rising Sun”, a Buitreras favorite, and kept amusing his friends and the staff with some great songs that we all followed and enjoyed. On the side of the locals Juan Manuel performed a part of his wide répertoire showing off once again his talent as singer.

(JuanMa lost in music)

Finally, our dear British friends topped it off by performing their own version of Eagle’s “Hotel California” for the staff, where phrases based on the few mishaps, the guides and kitchen team and words in Spanish like “pelado”(Spanish for baldie) got mixed up along the beat to make everyone laugh.

(Male Chromer)

We’ll be looking forward to next year to see our friends again casting flies out into the wind and singing along and playing guitar, maybe some of many things that make Las Buitreras a magic place.

(Estancia)

Claudio Martin – Las Buitreras Camp Manager

Number of Rods: 6

Total Nr of Fish: 48 sea trout

Top Rod: Richard Bright (UK) with 13 fish.

Top Pool: Upper Limit & Peso Ligero

Top Fly: Yellow Tummy #8 + Bitch Creek #8

Biggest Fish: 22lb (Michael Baker)

Average Size: 11,1lb

Las Buitreras - Rods Available

Rods Available!
by Stephan Dombaj

"Close your eyes, feel the breeze in your face, the gras touching your fingertips, the heavy aroma of soil - born out of wind and fire. Let´s take a walk down the river and it´s endless colors. Listen to the spirit of Argentina..."

(Private Estancia Las Buitreras)

Chasing chrome, that´s what it´s all about. Prepare yourself for a lifetransforming fishing trip in the south of Patagonia where the strongest and meanest chromers are waiting for your fly. Be part of a breathtaking trip to the roots of our addiction. Check your schedule, then block your days off for 2010. These rods are still available:

13-20 feb - 2 rods
6-13 march - 4 rods
13-20 march - 2 rods
20-27 march - 2 rods
3-10 april - 4 rods

Live-Feed on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/looptackle

For further information:
travel@looptackle.se


(The Staff)


(Chromer)



>Report<

Bad Guys Fish The Night - Las Buitreras

Bad Guys Fish The Night - Las Buitreras
Story about Cojones
by Stephan Dombaj

I never though it would be that hard to sit right in front of my notebook and write about fishing although I could be fishing right now. Typing these letters here is a real quest for me, especially since we are talking about not some sort of pond or urban stream... One of world´s most renown seatrout-waters, the Rio Gallegos, located in southern Patagonia is literally just a few steps away from the estancia. I know you are going to hate me for that but I am going to stay here the whole season...

(Sunset behind - Seatrout ahead)

Maybe it´s a relief for you to hear that I got to do some work here in the dirty south. The photographers from sports illustrated know exactly what I mean when I say: It´s a hard job but someone...you know the rest. Working the weekends and the nights can be tough... especially in this case. Claudio, Las Buitreras Camp Manager and head guide, told me that there´s a new cut bank-pool just around the bend of a major holding pool (Loop Hole) Still unnamed since no one slammed a Chromer out of it, either because it possibly no holding spot or because Loop Hole is just around the bend so they never really tried. New pool, unnamed and without fish so far. Jesus! Do I have to go on?

(Rio Gallegos - Seatrout-legend)

Chance of a lifetime! Entitling a Gallegos-Pool! The only thing I had to do is catch a chromer... Time for a plan. Either LOOP´s Gass 6120 or 693 Opti Coast, C/I Shootinghead (depends on the Combo) + 0,29mm Runningline + 13ft+1 1/2ft leader and tippet. Fly for the win: Hot cone Spey Bugger with Grizzly Rubber legs tied on TMC 777SP. Thou shall be slamming chrome! Amen. Beyond all theories I really had to check out the water. No watermarks, no m³/sec - just a little walk along the shore.

(Strippin´off)

I love Chromers. Fat-ass, strong, silverish migratory salmonides. But I really adore Gallegos Browntrout's! Every single scale of them. I simply can´t get enough of them and they can´t get enought of giant hoppers: Miss Knobby X for the win! Of course I had to carry a 5weight Loop Yellow Line II (rigged up with an OptiStream WF5F on a CLWC) with me - just in case that something is really stupid enough to rise in a radius of a mile when I am around with a deadly pattern tied and approved in New Zealand.

(Gallegos treasures)

On the way downstream to the section I got a couple of fish rising for this pattern so that it was almost dark when I arrived the unnamed pool. For some strange reason I exactly knew what was going to happen... I changed the leader for a 14ft with 0,22mm tippet... While I was opening my flybox a fish showed up close to the cutbank. Chromers ahead, head&tailing just a few meters away from my position. My welcome present was a Hotcone Spey-Bugger with Rubberl egs. Almost dark and wind picked up rapidly but anyway I managed to hit the spot. Long drift with a floating line to get the the fly down and dirty.

(Amen)

Full contact swing. Forget everything around, the only thing that counts now is something that is really hard to explain. It´s that feeling that takes over when you feel the current in the line, when you know that your fly swings just into the right spot, when you know that everything you are aiming for is waiting for something to pass by just under that specific bubble line... It´s a good feeling! You know that it ain´t no trout, it´s the silver flash, the leaper or simply one of the meanest motherfuckers of the collective of all freshwater fish.

(Prince Beadhead with RL tied on Mustad R90)

Focusing on every on every movement, I started to retrieve my fly. Slow and even. A splash on the surface that simultaneously leads to a violent pull in my line. Stripstrike! Connected! The semitransparent reel gets into serious troubles. Left-handed version hits me on the wrong turn. But right now I don´t give a damn f*ck about it. Jump and run, jump and run... silver bullet is heading downstream. Although I am using a 5 weight I can feel that this is a big fish. The current is too strong to land it here so I move a few steps downstream. Headshakes and heavy pumps hit the butt section of my rod - hell yeah, now we are talking. After a couple of minutes it´s almost done. I am moving backwards, trying to beach that bull. Got it...

(Chromer!)

84cm length - 52cm girth (according to the calculator: 7,95kg) - taken on a tiny yellow trout rod, a dry line and a streamer. A few quick selfportraits and some fucked up night shots with a gorillapod and mama is back on its way to the spawning grounds. Mission accomplished! Some of you may think that I have missed the chance to set myself a monument by calling the pool El Steph or something like that. I have to disagree! We named it "COJONES"... and I guess you know what that means!

Some shots


(Bridge-Pool)


(Hernan: Trinas Bugger for the win)


(Gridle Bug Chromer)


(Claudio and the guys from Mountain Media)


(Richard Pt.I)


(Blast a cast)


(Wild horses)


(Prepare for the darkness)

Argentina Weekly - Week II

Argentina Weekly - Week II
by Claudio Martin

Week 2 started on Saturday as usual with the new group’s arrival at Rio Gallegos City International Airport. There were three things that marked this week: the presence of two different film crews, lost luggage and rolling fish teasing us in every major holding pool, still “showing fish” is not necessarily a sign of “taking fish” and it demanded hard work from all to accomplish it.

(Henke rippin´lips)

The highly expected arrival of Swedish fishing legend and book author Gunnar Westrin completed the group with a mixture of Americans, Swedish, British and one Australian angler, Dr. Paul Gibson, 2^nd timer at Las Buitreras.

(The group)

Mountain Media® from Sweden and Hooked on Fly Fishing® from the US followed some of the groups along the week as the chase for big sea runs was on!

(Chromer)

In the middle of the week partying took place at Las Buitreras for the Birthday of Mr Loop himself, Christer Sjöberg (aka Don Chrillo), who was turning 35 years old – according to him, of course!– but certainly feeling 25 in heart and soul.

For our great friend Howard Evans, the beginning of the week wasn’t quite what he was expecting, and it involved the loss of his luggage and the later consequences: i.e. having to wear the same summer shirt he put on the morning he left his home, over and over again; and the fact that the underwading equipment provided by his former dear friend and top guide from Las Buitreras, El Pollo, was a bit too tight. Someone called this an “accident”… then unfortunately for the rest of us, it’ll be hard to erase that image from our minds.

(Release)

Angler David Moore, who also went through the same, finding himself without his bags at the arrival airport had whatsoever no “unpleasant surprises” on the equipment provided and always available at Loop-Las Buitreras Lodge.

(Juan Manuel with a happy client)

Howard’s temporary loss of luggage had a good side. We were able to put in his hands Loop’s world class Shooting Head System for double handed rods, a tool he found very helpful for managing the existing conditions. Having become a very good caster throughout the years fishing this river, plus counting on the right set up and being ready to follow every instruction the guides had, helped him become the Top Rod of this Week, with 13 fish and a personal average size of 11,2 lb.

(18pounds)

Happily for both of them by the second day the bags were not only found but immediately taken to its owners. Everything was safe and sound.More big fish were coming in and before finishing the first half of the week there were already some important double figure fish on the book, like Swedish guest Lars Ivarsson’s 20 pounder to show the year-after-year improvement of the quality of this river and its fish.

New Yorker Dean Mades also had his share on flights issues, starting with a 24 hr delayed flight, followed also by the temporary loss of his luggage and the late arrival to the beginning of his journey, at Jurassic Lake. Catching up quickly with the rest later on in Las Buitreras and using his experience learnt from Canada’s Atlantic Salmon and other migratory fish to conquer the sea run browns…Even though the final number of caught fish wasn’t that great the week concluded with big smiles among the faces of our guests who’ve achieved once again the challenge of catching these explosives but yet timid, chrome beauties.

Claudio Martin – Las Buitreras Camp Manager.

Number of Rods: 9
Total Nr of Fish: 55 sea trout (over 5lb)
Top Rod: Howard Evans (UK) with 13 fish.
Top Pool: Golfo and Upper Limit
Top Fly: Yuk Bug #6 + Blk Wooly Bugger #8
Biggest Fish: 22lb (Chris Travis – Hooked on FF)
Average Size: 11,4lb

Fight The Elements

Fight The Elements - 3 Months Patagonia
by Stephan Dombaj

"Hola to all Guerillas around the globe!
I am glad to announce too you that I am going to leave Europe behind. Well, at least for 3 months starting Januar 2010. During this time I will be assisting the guys from Loop´s Private Estancia Las Buitreras in Rio Gallegos/Argentina as an assisting host/campmanager, journalist and instructor. Beside world reknown Rio Gallegos and Jurassic Lake fishery I am looking forward to explore Patagonia´s remote areas. Meet me in Argentina. Experience a trip of your lifetime. Fishing the andean Patagonia region is always harshly tinched be the ancient spirit of this region that is bourn out of fire and wind. Take a step on this ground and you´ll feel the deepest greatfullness overcome. Like every usual, I´ll keep you updated with week-reports. Be part of the party or stay tuned for some more action...

Tight Lines,
Stephan Gian Dombaj"

(Argentina approved)

Here are some dates for available rods:

13-20 feb - 2 rods
6-13 march - 4 rods
3-10 april 4 rods
10-17 april 4 rod

Contact via:
travel@looptackle.se


(Rio Gallegos beauty)


(Jurassic Lake)

Addition:

Guys, check out this Email adressed to Don Chrillo himself. As I said before... it´s hard to describe but it´s the truth:

"DEAREST CHRISTER AND SJOBERG FAMILY..

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS... AND A HEALHTY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR..!!!

I am Just back from the Jurasic Lake, Dec 9 thru 12...After arrival around 4 in the afternoon, I fished for about 4 hours... and caught 35 .. fish...!!! NO WIND...!! The next day... weather was UNUSSUAL WARM, and WINDLESS..!!! I fished, DRY FLIES... in the Pool...( the back of the " island" facing the camp... ) was the most awesome dry fly fishing on my life...!! by noontime, I had counted total of 76 fish ..LANDED !! The afternoon, after lunch, was the river time.... by 4pm in the afternoon, had completed the number 100 ...!!!By the end of the day ... I had counted 120 fish.... alll fish were in the double digits...!!The next day... our last day... was a more selective fishing, totalling 167 fish in two and a Half days of fishing..!!!AWESOME..!!!TWO FISH WERE over 22 pounds plus, one male and one female.... have the TV Tape and Pictures of this wonderful trip.... MY FIFTH TRIP TO THE JURASSIC... counting the days and hours to return in March or April....!!!WARM REGARDS, FOR YOU YOUR WIFE & DAUGHTER... FOR YHIS XMAS...!!!
Your Friend
JORGE"

(Get bend)


(Double-Double Digits)

Stealin' Minnows

Stealin' Minnows - Big Bones and Mermaids

by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Stefan & Alexander Haider

Big Pelicans hammering down like a bomb carpet. Thirthy in a row. An incredible spectacle indeed, but I am focusing on something else and these pelicans are the indicator. My illuminated advertisment that is praising big fucking bonefish. My ticket for the ultimate run on a flyrod...it´s just a few casts away!

(Bones)

Excitment is taking over. A pelican just in operating distance get´s in trouble... Street-Gang: A couple of Bonefish are trying to rob paralysed minnows out of it´s mouth. They literally force the pelicans to share their prey by pokeing them. Especally bigger fish are quite vehement. They kill everything that falls out of the pelicans mouth if it just fit´s into the prey-scheme. Quest, present your minnow as close as you can to the pelican...

(Street-Gang: Minnow robbery)

If you come close without an accidential pelican-hookup don´t dare to move your fly too much. Just let sink, nice and neat, keep the contact until something on the other end of the line decides to get you into serious troubles. As I said upon, also big bones are used to penetrate these birds for an easy lunch. Especally when sightfishing is for some reason impossible, the birds will show you the prey and if you are lucky... they´ll also lead you to bonefish.

(Searching for something to pierce)


(Perpare...)

Sun is painting everything in a tinch of orange - an unmistakable sign for dinnertime. I am perpared. And here we go again...

(In range...)


(Nervous pelican)


(Jerk-off time!)

Presentation right infront of the bird. Big fish twiching out, following... following with it´s back out of the water. Sweet marry of mercy, this bonefish want´s the minnow so bad... a few more strips and the fish nails the fly away like burying it with it´s nose into the sandy ground. Stripstrike! Contact! Good fish...

( Fish turns...that´s bad)

Instead of leaving this planet by running it´s tails of in direction of the sun, this fish turns by and starts off in parallel to the beach - passing several anchorlines meanwhile. Must be a good one. No useless rushing...this fucker knows how to get rid of my fly. But guess what, Mr. Bone is not the only one swimming...

(Sunset Rush)

Busy with fighting the fish, untangleing anchorline and worrying about my leader. But somehow I managed to get some line back. Shortpumping, holding the fish away from obstacles, another run... not that intense. It´s not over yet and I don´t dare to get a picture with that rocket until I hold it. I don´t care: Pressure to the max. Last line untangled. Time to finish this...

(Dinner is served: Bonefish with salad)


(K@#O%!)


(Racoon & Bonefish)


(Releasing the rocket)


(...to fight another day)



(8 pounder is swimming away)


(Pt.II)

Hard to explain but sometime i catch myself thinking that the second the fish leaves your hands and swims away is the most precious moment in flyfishing. Nothing lasts longer than the memory... not even the fish population that is, in spite of catch and release, still rapidly decreasing.

Story Of A Mermaid

Ambushing beach-bonefish is also a quite productive way to see/catch legendary mermaids. Ah, you don´t believe me, do you? Well, check this pictures out.

Running Down The Beach

Running Down The Beach
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Stefan & Alexander Haider

Imagine, you are standing on a lonesome island. Nothing but endless bluetones of water infront of you, brilliant white sand under your feet and a couple coconut palms behind you to round up the cliché. While you are glancing into the endless blue, almost forgetting that this is soo real, the firm grip your flyrod reminds you of your quest. Running down the beach… up and down – losing your breath, swearing, getting up and once again.

(Are you ready?)

You would rip off your right legs just to get connected to the unseen force that was killing minnows in a feeding frenzy just a second ago. Here we go… 30 Meters away: Windsprints...too slow. Damn! Tunas, Jacks, Kingmackerel or Flacktail-Snapper? You can’t tell, but it’s raging out there and you wont be happy until everything comes together…

(Bonitos and Jacks killing baitfish)

Another baitball - restless eyes have found their nirvana. And your urge a ventile. Still too far away from the bank. Time to strip off and swim!


(Double-Trouble)


(Baaang)


(Smallie)


(Pop-out! FUCK!)


(Still watching...)


(Garite and small Horse-Eyes)


(Grunting Jack)

Bonitos out of range! Swim for the win...the swarm is passing by... my fly inbetween. A little twich and a massive impact leaves a deep inpression in form of a fleshwound in my finger. That´s passion unleashed! Let´s get it on! Stunning to see the spinning reel losing backing: Meter for meter. 20 Meters left and the fish slows down. Sweet merry mother of mercy!

(Swim for the win. Backing run!)

It´s almost impossible to both comprehend and explain how strong these fish are. They have just one goal... reaching the horizon! After endless 5 minutes...the reward!

(Bright Bonito)


(Tuna-Eyes)


(...)

But for real, even if there´s no fish around... things could be worse:


(Our office)


(Guides)