Estancia Maria Behety Lodge 2023 Fishing Reports
Weeks 1-4
By: Genaro Molinolo–Headguide
Email or Call 434-249-1783 to book your week in 2024!
EMB Lodge
Jan 7-14, 2023 Week 1
First of all I’d like to introduce myself to the ones don’t know me; I’m Federico’s first cousin. Also from Ushuaia born a raised. I’ve been a guide at EMB for 18 years. Since Federico’s retirement I will be taking his place as head guide, so all the news about RIO GRANDE will be weekly delivered to provide accurate, clear and useful information for the coming guest and people all around the world who may be interested to know what is going on in our river along the season.
Suggestions to improve this report are welcome and please don’t hesitate to request any other data you need from us.
The beginning of our season 2023 at EMB lodge was right at New Year’s Eve. We got a full house since the arrival of a closed group from USA (family, friends, and kids). Second week 6 anglers from UK and Italy.
River condition started a little lower than usual due to the dry weather conditions and lack of rain plus high temperatures around the area. Finally rain came thru so noticed higher water but always clear.
Water Conditions
Water color and visibility: Clear
Water temperature: 8º C to 16ºC
Weather Conditions
Air temperatures: 7º to 24ºC
Wind speed ranges from 0 to 80 km/h
Fishing Conditions
Conditions are very good. After high tides at the end of December schools entered the river as usual, so at the moment we can see fresh fish showing up all over.
Most productive flies:
Emb, red butt, prince nymph, RL copper John, wonder bug, yuk bug, girdle bug. Black wooly buggers, sunray shadow in different sizes, San Juan worm, leech, intruders, Skagit minnow.
Big and black tube flies and intruders for the last 45 minutes of the day is a classic.
Green machine, emb and sunray shadow worked well on floating and intermediate tips.
Fly lines (tips, heads, lengths, densities, etc) mostly used:
Due the low water level I recommend to bring a Skagit head and a Scandi head
Floating and intermediate tips are necessary.
Set of tips from 3 ips sink rate up to T20 such as mow tips, type 3-6-8 etc.
Length and strength of tippet and leaders: 4 to 16 feet. 12 to 20 pounds.
Genaro Molinolo
EMB Lodge Fishing Report – Week 2
Jan 14 – 21
Third week of the season for EMB lodge is over. We had the pleasure to host new anglers who searched for some adventure and came this far south to achieve it, as well as some returning anglers already addicted to this unique tugs. Fortunately as usual the RIO GRANDE did not let them down.
Water Conditions
Water color and visibility: Clear
Water temperature: 8º C to 15ºC
Weather Conditions
Air temperatures: 6º to 17ºC
Wind speed ranges from 0 to 65 km/h
Rain during the week: 7 mm
Fishing Conditions
Everything points at having a great season. Even with a river lower than usual for the time of the year, fish are all over. Upper and lower pools have been productive.
Fresh and strong fish are giving our guest a hard time to land them. From mid to the end of the week we noticed bigger fish started to bite.
NICK WARREN is one of our most experienced anglers at RIO GRANDE. Even though some fish won the battles, at the end he got his reward.
Most productive flies:
Usual nymphs…Emb, red butt, prince, aurelia, wonder bug,.. yuk bug, girdle bug.,
San Juan worm
At sunset: leech, intruders, Skagit minnow.
Big and black tube flies and intruders for the last 45 minutes of the day is a classic.
Green machine, emb and sunray shadow worked well on floating and intermediate tips.
Scratching the surface with a sunray shadow is not recommended for anglers with heart problems!
Fly lines (tips, heads, lengths, densities, etc.) mostly used:
Due the low water level I recommend to bring a Skagit head and a Scandi head
Floating and intermediate tips are necessary.
Set of tips from 3 ips sink rate up to T20
MOW tips type 3-6-8 etc.
Length and strength of tippet and leaders: 4 to 16 feet. 12 to 20 pounds.
TOTAL CATCHES OF THE WEEK: 104
FISH OVER 15 POUNDS: 20
TOP ROD: SIMON ATTERBURY
BIGGEST FISH: NICK WARREN (21.5 POUNDS)
Genaro Molinolo
EMB Lodge Fishing Report – Week 4
Jan 21-28, 2023
RIO GRANDE, week 4. Fishing is getting better and better. We had the pleasure to host some of our most experienced anglers, who knew exactly what to do to take advantage of their chances. Expectations are high since bigger fish are showing up. First timer guest Mark is still sweating after an epic fight from this 22 pound monster
Water Conditions
Water color and visibility: Clear
Water temperature: 8º C to 14ºC
Weather Conditions
Air temperatures: 5º to 18ºC
Wind speed ranges from 10 to 77 km/h
Rain during the week: 9 mm
Fishing Conditions
Fishing is in a very high level. Fresh fish are showing all over. Takes are violent as expected and so are the fights.
Most productive flies:
Usual nymphs…Emb, red butt, prince, aurelia, wonder bug,.. yuk bug, girdle bug.,
San Juan worm
At sunset: leech, intruders, Skagit minnow.
Big and black tube flies and intruders for the last 45 minutes of the day is a classic.
Green machine, emb and sunray shadow worked well on floating and intermediate tips.
Fly lines (tips, heads, lengths, densities, etc.) mostly used:
Due the low water level I recommend to bring a Skagit head and a Scandi head
Floating and intermediate tips are necessary.
Set of tips from 3 ips sink rate up to T20
MOW tips type 3-6-8 etc.
Length and strength of tippet and leaders: 4 to 16 feet. 12 to 20 pounds.
TOTAL CATCHES OF THE WEEK: 142
FISH OVER 15 POUNDS : 34
TOP ROD: DAVE PARKES 25
BIGGEST FISH: MARK (22 POUNDS) and ALAN (22 POUNDS)
Genaro Molinolo