Pataongian Chile
Rainbow and Brown Trout
All images are by Dave McCoy unless otherwise noted and are all under copyright protection.


A Coyhaique tree poses for the glacier in the background.


Rio Azul Lodge in Region X on the Futaleufu River.


One of the many river valleys in Patagonia holding gorgeous scenery and fish. Photo Jose Marti


Utilizing horses to access remote sections of streams and lakes can make an ordinary trip extraordinary. Photo Marcel Sijnesael


Dave McCoy with nice brown taken on a small tributary to the Rio Palena. Photo Mike McCoy


Mike McCoy anticipates the Rio Azul.


Mike McCoy hooks into one at quite a distance. This water was so clear, it demanded a fly first presentation from about 60ft. away. Nice work dad.


View of the lodge from the front is pretty nice, only gets better from out back.


View from Rio Azul Lodge up the Futaleufu River valley.


Represents its namesake quite well.


Some coloful flowers about to bloom.


Mike McCoy sites one in on the Molito.


The Futa is world famous for its whitewater. To put this in perspective, this rock in the middle is nearly as large as the lodge.


Tall canyon walls surround much of the lower section of the Futa before it spills into the lake where it flattens out as it heads towards Chaiten.


Josh and Cory spotting a nice brown in the shallows on the lower Futa.


Well, they got one but not the one they spotted, that one took the mouse pattern with it. An average size fish here, about 18 inches.


View from the road heading over to Palena.


Down here, sometimes you have to make your own boat launch, one of the biggest reasons rafts are the best choice of boats, versatility.


A couple of Billy's wonder what we are doing here so they proceeded to chew on anything we left on the bank.


Camera case chewed, lunch half devoured but it was worth it. Not a ton of fish but the ones here on this tiny little river were all this size or larger.


After a couple pitchers of Pisco Sours, Josh takes to the vice, here is his Galunga. Not sure if that is the name or if that is just how it sounded when he said it.


A traditional Chilean rodeo in the nearby town, quite different from the ones here.


All the hardware these guys wear is hand made and meant for work. They don't like their pictures taken either as I was told afterwards.


The second to last corner on the Rio Azul before the confluence with the Futaleufu just a short walk from the Rio Azul Lodge.


A nice brown on the Rio Azul fishing a mouse at night. About as much fun as trout fishing gets. Photo Josh Grounds


A look at Rio Azul from the bridge just before the lodge. I wonder where it got its name.


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