(Joshua Hutchins photography)
December 02, 2025
By Joshua Hutchins
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This article was originally titled Patagonia's Hidden Walk & Wade Paradise in Fly Fisherman's 2025 Destinations special publication.
For passionate trout anglers, Patagonia is a word that stirs the soul. It conjures vast skies, endless horizons, and water—so much water. Across both Argentina and Chile, this southern wilderness offers an array of fly-fishing possibilities, from iconic lakes to winding rivers, resident browns to lake-run rainbows, driftboat adventures to remote, rugged experiences. After more than 16 years of fishing South America’s trout-rich waters , I’ve explored many of these options—and I always find myself coming back for more.
Yet, there was one thing where Patagonia seemed to fall short, and places like New Zealand consistently excelled: walk-and-wade fishing in small streams. Sure, I enjoy drifting down a big river from time to time, but there’s something about stalking trout on foot that feels more intimate, more rewarding. In Patagonia, I had yet to find a place that delivered that type of experience—until now.
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Enter Estancia Río Pelke, my new favorite trout fishing destination in Argentina.
Southern Dream (Joshua Hutchins photography) Ten years ago, close friends Claudio Martin, Pollo Coscia, and Juan Biott decided to take their passion for fly fishing to the next level. From the friendship of these three, Tres Amigos Outfitters was born. Having grown up and guided in some of the world’s best fly-fishing locations, they decided to show Estancia Río Pelke to the world.
I met these three amigos almost by accident. I had four spare days before a trip to Jurassic Lake and was looking for something in the El Calafate area. I stumbled upon their Glacier King program, and after landing a 40-pound-plus king salmon in an Atlantic watershed, I was keen to explore their other locations.
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Estancia Río Pelke is a hidden gem tucked into the far reaches of southern Patagonia. Unlike the more heavily fished waters of northern Patagonia—the San Martin and Bariloche region, for instance—this area is intentionally small in scale, intimate, and refreshingly uncrowded. The experience spans a network of spring creeks weaving through private estancias—each loaded with wild brown and brook trout and blessed with miles of fishable water.
(Joshua Hutchins photography) Though I’d heard about Río Pelke nearly a decade ago, it wasn’t until recently that I finally made the trip. In the span of 12 months, I returned twice—and I’m already planning my next visit. It’s just that good.
Getting there is no small jaunt—it’s a journey through rolling steppe, past herds of guanacos and towering Andean peaks, into a landscape shaped by glaciers and time. But for those willing to make the trip, the rewards are great.
The lodge sits just over an hour and a half south of the popular tourist town of El Calafate, known for the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier. But while most visitors come just to experience the ice in Los Glaciares National Park, we had set our sights exclusively on the trout.
The new Estancia Río Pelke Lodge has been rebuilt from an old shearer’s house, maintaining the original character and style but with a warm and modern approach. It’s an authentic Patagonia sheep and cattle ranch, and guests are soon immersed in the Argentine rhythms and ways of life.
Big Skies and Brookies (Joshua Hutchins photography) Our first day on the water began just steps from the lodge, with the Río Pelke meandering quietly past the front door. A few locally brewed Dry Fly beers marked our arrival, and the warm-up session on the home waters set the tone for the week: clear skies, eager trout, and endless potential.
One of the highlights of the local program is its brook trout fishing—the fish are wild, abundant, energetic, and beautifully marked. We loaded up the Toyota Hilux with guides Tomas and Juanchi and headed out across private ranchlands. Each gate we passed through felt like stepping farther off the grid, deeper into Patagonia’s wild heart.
We passed through big, open grassy plains, typical of southern Patagonia, with the creek snaking its way back and forth through the fields. Our solitude was broken only by the condors circling the skies and foxes roaming in the grass. They didn’t seem to mind our presence—we were mere observers to the flora and fauna that played on despite us.
The scenery was only complemented by the fishing.
That first day alone, the four of us combined caught more than 100 brook trout, most of them between 16 and 22 inches. We cast a mix of dry flies and streamers, and we used both sight-fishing techniques as well as searching through likely water. We felt immersed in this vast and beautiful place. Either the week had already peaked, or we were in for a special trip.
Camping Ekodomes (Joshua Hutchins photography) One of the great excursions the lodge offers is camping out in Ekodomes on one of the system’s more remote creeks.
Each Ekodome has two beds, and a main larger dome has a wood-burning stove. The camp also features a bathroom complete with a hot shower, only a short walk from the main accommodation.
The Ekodomes are cozy and Instagram-worthy, but it’s the outside vistas that really steal the show. On these campouts, you are really out there. Surrounded by a ring of distant volcanoes, the lava fields merge into the rugged open plains. There are no crowds, no noise, no Wi-Fi signal—just you, the water, and the raw, rugged beauty of Patagonia.
On this visit, Juan Biott—one of the Tres Amigos—took us to a special stream. He said this stretch of water didn’t offer large numbers of fish, but it did hold large brookies. We explored the valley all evening. The golden light was topped only by the fishing. As the sun dipped low and the stars emerged, several extra-large brookies from a still pool were added to our tally, on top of what had already been a sensational trip.
Quality and Quantity (Joshua Hutchins photography) Throughout the trip, we experienced the full spectrum of Patagonia’s trout magic—sight fishing to browns and brook trout, wading with the backdrop of Torres del Paine, one of the most famous ranges in the Andes—and exploring snake-like spring creeks filled with eager fish. We were already satisfied.
But then day five came along. Once again, we packed the Hilux. We journeyed 45 minutes from the lodge to a new piece of water. When we arrived, I noticed something was different, but couldn’t put my finger on it. Then I realized: There was no wind. Patagonia is known for its sometimes ferocious winds, so this day felt extra special.
Guides Tomas and Juanchi explained our plan for the day. But Tomas added, “This is a new place. We’re still exploring.”
These are words every angler wants to hear. The stream was narrow and clear as glass, with a light-colored riverbed that made spotting fish easier. The day began to warm, and the fish came to the surface. It felt as if, maybe, no one had ever fished there before.
We caught several enormous fish—including a 26-inch brown trout—before lunch. And things were only getting better. After our riverside lunch, Juanchi suggested we cover some water he’d fished earlier in the season.
“I saw some big browns in this stretch,” Juanchi told us. He wasn’t wrong.
He showed us to a small section of creek you could easily jump across. We spotted a large brown trout feeding at the surface. It showed no hesitation coming to the fly. That was the easy bit—
getting it into the net was problematic. That fish fought harder than almost any other I’ve hooked, leaping, running, and refusing the net until the very last second.
(Joshua Hutchins photography) It was a fish of dreams—deep orange in color, heavy, powerful, and without blemish. It was as wild as they get. You would never guess this trout could come from such a small stream.
The next day, we twisted the guides’ arms to take us back. After my fishing buddy Pier landed another incredible brown, I couldn’t help but ask, “So how much more of this water is there left to explore here?”
“This is only just the beginning,” said Tomas.
“See that mountain up there?” he said, pointing way up into the distance. “We still need to explore up to there.”
In a world where things can feel overrun and overfished, it was refreshing to know there is still so much more to explore in Patagonia. For anglers who dream of wild trout in untouched waters, walk-and-wade adventures, and the kind of scenery that burns itself into your memory, Río Pelke delivers. It’s a quiet corner of Patagonia where time slows down, trout rise freely, and every step forward holds the promise of something unforgettable.
If you’ve explored the big-name rivers of Patagonia and crave something different—more intimate, more personal, more remote—then it’s time to add Río Pelke to your list.
Because sometimes the best fishing is still off the map.
Recommended Gear A 4- or 5-weight rod with a floating line covers everything. We fished big drys and streamers with the same line. While most guests wore waders, I recommend wading wet during warm days in the summer months if you plan to walk and explore (we fished in January). The ability to move freely and explore on foot made every bend in the creek feel like a new adventure waiting to unfold.
The program’s flexibility is part of what makes it so special. You can walk miles of water each day, or take a more relaxed pace and access productive pools by truck. Either way, you’ll find wild, willing fish—and an angling experience as rich in natural beauty as it is in opportunity.
Book Your Destination The Estancia Río Pelke Lodge is family-run, with space for just four to six anglers per week. Rooms come with a private en-suite, comfortable beds, and warm hospitality. At the end of each day, we were greeted with a cozy fire, Malbec wine, and generous canapés. Meals are locally sourced—there’s a vegetable garden on site—thoughtfully prepared, and paired with fine wines and Patagonia’s famous friendliness. It’s the kind of place where stories are shared around the table long after the fishing ends for the day.
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Joshua Hutchins caught his first fish when he was 13, and it launched him into a lifetime of traveling the world in search of the best fly fishing. He is a guide, professional photographer, and trip host, and owns the travel company Aussie Fly Fisher. Follow him on Instagram at @aussieflyfisher.
