Fly Fishing Workshops
"Fly Fishing with young people is sweet: their happiness is clearly visible in their eyes"
I love fly fishing! I enjoy the outdoors, relaxing, and the attention to detail that the activity requires. I also appreciate observing the natural surroundings. The mountains and the rivers for a world which invites contemplation and admiration for something over which one has no control. This is the beauty of fly fishing: it takes the angler to places where one can be at unison with nature. This is a passion which I wish to pass on onto youngsters not only in my community but for those who live beyond Patagonia
Our curriculum
Our courses aim to develop students’ sense of the attention to detail that is required to use a fly-fishing rod. The more one engages in fly fishing, the more technical the activity becomes, hence it is important to learn and use methods that allow fishing anywhere. We aim to introduce out students to learn and use techniques recognized in the world of fly fishing. We want to develop capable guides who will ensure that every fly-fishing trip is a successful experience for their clients and that fly-fishing is practiced ethically, sustainably, and responsibly. Our orientation to casting is based on the many years of experience that different anglers have. This is a very important aspect as we aim to prepare our future anglers to apply a range of skills to different situations and environments.
Courses for beginners in Fly Casting
"Our school is young and so is our curriculum, but it will continue to evolve as students become more proficient anglers"
Our students acquire basic knowledge and skills about fly casting in introductory lessons. They then practice in the river. The aim is to have them applying what they learn in real situations as soon as possible so they develop the confidence and knowledge that they can catch a trout!
Fundamental knowledge and skills:
- History of fly fishing
- Meeting the fly kit: line, reel, rod, flies
- Principles of casting
- Behaviour of flies in water
- Preparing the kit
- Progressive casting: moving the line from the horizontal to the vertical plane.
- Timing and force
- Roll cast
- False cast
- Hauling
Courses for beginners in Fly Casting: Fly tying
"Not only is fly tying essential...it is also an art"
It is essential that every fly-fishing angler tie flies to meet fishing conditions in different environments. Tying different flies can allow the angler to successfully target different species.
As for fly fishing guides, knowing what types of flies to use and being able to produce them can help him/her to ensure that clients feel successful after a fly-fishing adventure. In our fly-tying workshops our students learn to:
- Use a range of materials to tie flies
- Tie a range of patterns including dry flies, emergers, and nymphs
- Observe how flies behave in the water
- Match flies to adequate lines
Certification
"Nothing, and no one remains static: progress is inevitable, especially in fly-fishing™
Fishing guide certification is a factor that continues to influence fly-fishing. The emphasis on safety and on catering for a more diverse clientele makes certification an essential aspect of fly-fishing guiding. Clients expect guides who are experts, with deep knowledge of the type of fish that exist in fishing areas, the types of flies that are necessary to catch fish efficiently and safely. They also seek knowledge about local cultures and environmental protection. How to take care of rivers and fish are factors that are of interest to fly-fishing anglers. Therefore, the professionalism of the fly-fishing guide must be broad. Not only must he/she facilitate the participation in the fishing activity, but he/she must also be prepared to discuss topics that are of interest and benefit to them.
Our aim is, therefore, to introduce certification in fly casting and teaching. This is an area where we seek to make a very valuable contribution to the guides in our area who must learn to apply techniques used in fly-fishing beyond our region. In the future, the school will introduce the opportunity for those students who continually attend specific courses in fly-casting and fly tying to apply for certification. The courses will be based on well-established certification guidelines run by respected international fly-fishing organizations.
Fly-fishing, natural environment, and local cultures
"Nothing compares to an afternoon fly fishing in the middle of a river, or exploring Puelo on horseback, surrounded by gorgeous mountains
Environmental and cultural conservation
Through my participation in fishing clubs and other activities, conversations about Patagonia quickly shifts from fishing to culture and environment. Many people express their desire to visit Patagonia to fish and to admire the beauty of the landscapes. Others still express a desire to contribute to environmental conservation and support youth so that they become guardians of this beautiful part of the world. Through fly fishing, we aim to raise awareness amongst the children about the importance of maintaining the Patagonian flora and fauna. The message is that culture, environment and fisheries are strongly interconnected, hence the value of learning about each element that encompasses Patagonia.
Volunteering
Since our beginning I have been fortunate to have the support of many anglers who have contributed with advice and donations. Anglers from Japan, the United States, Russia, Australia, Spain, Canada, the United Kingdom, Scotland, the Nordic countries, and Ireland have given me immense support. I am also pleased to have established a working relationship with a large non-for-profit organization which specializes in supporting communities and ventures oriented to the conservation of fisheries and education worldwide. My intention is to continue generating interest in fly fishing and cultural and environmental conservation. I believe that if we form bonds with people from other parts of the world we will grow as a school and as a community. I believe that we have a unique opportunity to establish ourselves, as a community, in a global meeting point to further enhance the protection of our culture and the Patagonian environment.
We invite volunteers to help us out! We believe that it is very important to raise awareness amongst communities about the fragility, and at the same time about the strength, of Patagonia as a natural and cultural jewel. Would you like to help? Come along…. we would be pleased to welcome you!
Would you like to contribute as a volunteer? Here are some of the benefits for you:
- Discounted accommodation
- Cultural immersion
- Free fly fishing trips around Rio Puelo and adjacent areas
- Gain a deep understanding of our culture and history through interactions with locals
- Contribute to a great cause
- Enjoy beautiful views of Patagonia and fish in some of the most pristine areas in southern Chile
We need volunteers: book your trip and contribute to a great cause
"Some volunteers have come as strangers and have left as family"
Would you be interested in learning more about us and what we do? Would you like to visit us or to volunteer? Contact us via email or send us a message through our social networks. 1 will be happy to talk to you. I invite you to visit our community! Come to fly fishing in places of unique natural beauty. I am sure that you will love the place, and that you will create bonds with the local people who will make you feel welcome. Do you want to help? Ask me how you can share your knowledge with us and I will find opportunities for you to leave your marks here.
FLY FISHING WORKSHOPS: what have we achieved so far?
Since 2023 we have introduced fly fishing casting and fly tying to a great number of children in Rio Puelo. Our work has been received well by the community and especially, by the children who have attended our courses.
2023 Our project starts with the foundation of our fly-fishing school. April: first lessons on fly tying and casting offered to students of Rio Puelo. September: fly tying and casting lessons conducted at one of the local schools located near the Chilean-Argentinian border
March-April 2024
Casting, fly-tying, and flies exhibition conducted in Rio Puelo. Volunteers from the USA travel to Rio Puelo to assist with the lessons and filming. On-going lessons offered at the local school throughout winter. Children from 4 grade up to 10th grade participate (more than 60 students in total)
March-April 2025
Fly-tying and casting lessons delivered at the Rio Puelo local school. Lessons conducted by volunteers from Australia and the USA. Our school starts cooperating with an international fly-fishing organization based in the USA. Thirteen fly fishing kits donated, including donations sent by Orvis.
Future projects: 2026
- Our aim is to continue reaching more schools to engage more students in learning about fly fishing.
- Seek to establish working relationships with fishing-oriented organizations and volunteers.
- Start to introduce basic certification in casting.
- March-April: fly tying and casting workshops to be conducted at various schools (dates TBA)
Plans to finance our project: take a guided trip with us and help to finance a great project
Patagonia is a beautiful place. It offers many opportunities to enjoy fishing and many other experiences. To take advantage of the beauty of Patagonia, we will include guided outdoor adventures trips. These trips will include:
- Guide fishing trips (both fly fishing and spinning)
- Outdoor adventures, including hiking and horse riding
- Cultural guided trip, including tours around the cities of Santiago, Valparaiso, and typical towns in the Lakes District
I will personally guide these trips to ensure that you get the best out of your trip south. I know the central and south areas of the country very well; hence I can take you through some of the best places that Chile, and Patagonia, offer. Have you always wanted to visit Chile and Patagonia but have not yet taken the chance to do so? Ask me, I can help you plan your trip and I can guide you should you wish to travel guided by another seasoned traveller.
Note: all income that I will raise from this work will be directed towards financing our fly-fishing courses for kids in southern Patagonia.
Interested in a fishing trip around southern Chile? Here are some of the areas where you would fish with us
- Rio Puelo and adjacent areas: this part of Patagonia offers some of the best opportunities to catch great trouts and salmons in Patagonia. You will visit areas of stunning natural beauty and rivers that hold great fish.
- Futaleufu: I consider this area "the heart of Patagonia". To arrive to this part of the country you will travel by car and ferries through (in my opinion) some of the best spots in southern Patagonia. I personally love this area because it is less barren that the southern stretch of Patagonia.
- Rivers and lakes in the Lakes District: this area offers many opportunities to fish in rivers and stunning lakes. Additionally, you will visit some very picturesque towns with a rich blend of Germanic and Chilean cultures.
Take a fishing trip with us; we will make your time in southern Chile a memorable one.
Do you want to travel to Patagonia to fish and to help the kids in our communities? Let me know and let’s see how we can support each other.