Giant Bows at Jurassic Lake

Giant bows at Jurassic Lake

Co-Founders Corinne and Garrison Doctor wrap up their adventure in Argentine Patagonia with a return trip to Jurassic Lake Lodge.

  

A photograph of a river running into a large lake with bluffs in the foreground.

A photograph of a man holding a large rainbow trout with a lake in the background.

There are many things that stay consistent about Jurassic Lake Lodge and some pieces that are always changing.  The absolute constant that we have witnessed at Jurassic Lake since we first visited in 2017 is that the accommodations and service and remain first class, the incredible fishing requires making friends with the wind and of course, results in absolute monster rainbow trout.  Over the years we have noticed that if anything, the big fish are not just staying big, but averaging even larger than that first trip 4.5 years ago.  Either the fish are continuing to prove they can continue to max out their growth, or the lodge staff is learning more about the fish and we as anglers are getting better at targeting the big ones.   One of the most surprising changes we have observed is the water level of the lake.  


Arguably the toughest beat due to the wind always coming straight at you, although often fruitful for big chromers, is the aptly named “Bay of Pigs” or “Cochinos. ” While heading out to fish Cochinos for the first time this year, we were able to spot the rocks we had casted from in past years. They were now not just dry, but meters above the water level showing the effects of climate change: lower snowpack and more extreme weather patterns.  The wind is always a force to be reckoned with in southern Patagonia, and even though the lake has no outlet, the wind blows so much water off the lake’s surface each year, that the inflow from the Río Barrancoso simply can’t keep up.  Those who have seen and fished this lake for much longer than we have know even more so how much the character of the shore line has changed.   

A photograph of a women fighting a fish with a fly rod on the rocky bank of a large lake.

All that being said, the fish seem completely undeterred to grow huge and willingly eat flies when presented to them. On our second day fishing the lake beats near the mouth of the river, we promptly rigged up versions of our Jurassic Lake confidence flies: olive, buggery, and maybe most importantly, on stout hooks. Even with waves attempting to knock us off our feet and cold wind burning our cheeks and fingers, almost as soon as flies hit the water the line went tight.  The different fish in the lake seem to have different personalities and thus react very differently to being hooked.  Garrison hooked up to one that just wanted to run.  It peeled off most of his fly line as it headed to the middle of the giant lake.  As he was starting to win the fight, I felt the light tick tick on the end of my line.  Upon setting the hook the monster bow launched straight in the air in a series of dolphin jumps.  I kept it glued through all of the chaos of jumping and trying to tangle with the fish Garrison was bringing into the net.  Doubles are not uncommon at Jurassic and Garrison hollered, “Corinne, quick, get that fish over here for a double photo,” as his was finally ready to be netted.  At that moment mine changed tactics and swam quickly past the breakers into the depths.  The double was not meant to be, but why not snap a photo of the moment anyway.

 

A photograph of a man holding a large rainbow trout with a women fighting a fish behind him. There is a large lake in the background.

To learn more about fishing at Jurassic Lake Lodge or to plan your own trip, please check them out at www.jurassiclake.com

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2 comments

So awesome. I need to work on wind casting. Thank you

stan

Awesome article and I love that lake and the staff.

Brent Dawson

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