Northern Patagonia Trout (Argentina) Fishing Guide

Northern Patagonia has wild brown and rainbow trout in rivers like the Chimehuín, Malleo, Aluminé, Collón Curá, Limay and Traful, plus big lakes. Most rivers are catch-and-release with a single barbless hook, and several are fly-only. In the national parks, any water not listed in the park rules is closed to fishing.

📍 Neuquén and Río Negro provinces, Argentina: Junín de los Andes on the Chimehuín River, San Martín de los Andes on Lake Lácar, and Bariloche on Lake Nahuel Huapi. Lanín National Park and Nahuel Huapi National Park cover much of the water. Chapelco airport serves Junín and San Martín.

Map: spots, ramps and marinas

★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)

Open the full Patagonia (southern Chile & Argentina) map →

Quick facts

Nahuel Huapi National Park (1934) covers more than 717,000 hectares in Río Negro and Neuquén and grew from the Parque Nacional del Sud of 1922, the first national park in Latin America.
Lanín National Park (1937) covers about 412,000 hectares and has about 24 lakes under the 3,776 m Lanín volcano.
Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut and the National Parks agency share one Patagonian sport-fishing regulation.
The Boca del Chimehuín, about 21 km from Junín de los Andes, is a 'Zona Preferencial' that needs a special permit.
Junín de los Andes sits on the Chimehuín River about 35 km north of San Martín de los Andes.

What you can catch

Brown trout
Wild fish; late-season browns hit streamers before spawning.
Rainbow trout
Common in rivers and lakes; Lake Traful allows small rainbows under 40 cm.
Brook trout
Found in some waters; more location-specific.
Landlocked salmon
In Lake Nahuel Huapi and some other waters.
Atlantic salmon
Must always be released under the Patagonian rules.
Perca (native perch)
Native species; must be released in national parks.
Patagonian pejerrey
Native species; must be released in national parks.

Month by month

January	Midsummer; caddis, mayflies and hoppers; low clear water for sight fishing on the Malleo.
February	Warmest month; wide choice of rivers, terrestrial dry flies.
March	Cooler and stable; last month of the general lake bag limit (Dec 1-Mar 31).
April	Late season; browns aggressive before spawning, streamers.
May	General season closed May 1 (2026); Limay, Lácar and Huechulafquen open to May 31 in 2025-26.
June	Closed season in most waters.
July	Closed season in most waters.
August	Closed season in most waters.
September	Closed season in most waters.
October	Some lakes (Huechulafquen, Lácar) had October openings; permits go on sale mid-October.
November	Season usually opens Nov 1; spring runoff, streamers and nymphs. Fiesta Nacional de la Trucha in Junín.
December	Flows drop; dry-fly fishing improves. Lake bag limit applies from Dec 1.

Tips

Buy your Patagonian permit before the trip; Neuquén sells it online at cazaypesca.neuquen.gob.ar.
Pinch your barbs: rivers and streams need one single barbless hook and all fish go back alive.
Do not wear felt-sole wading boots; they are banned at almost all park waters.
Clean and disinfect boots, waders and boats between waters to stop didymo algae.
At the Boca del Chimehuín, enter upstream of other anglers and keep rotating; never step in below someone.

Rules and license

Administración de Parques Nacionales (Lanín, Nahuel Huapi); Neuquén Dirección Provincial de Fauna; Río Negro province · Official rules page ↗

2025-2026 season ran Nov 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026 (some waters later). 2026-2027 dates: check current rules.
Rivers and streams, including mouths and 200 m along the bank: catch-and-release, one single barbless hook.
Lakes: 1 fish per day Dec 1-Mar 31 unless the park/province annex says otherwise (Nahuel Huapi, Lácar, Huechulafquen allowed 2 salmonids).
National parks: any water not listed in the park annex is closed; all native fish must be released.
Malleo and Traful rivers: fly only, catch-and-release, no boats. Upper Limay: fly only, catch-and-release, no trolling.
No fishing within 100 m of the Bosque Sumergido on Lake Traful.
Daylight fishing only; lead-bodied lures and weighted lines banned.
Boca del Chimehuín: special 'Zona Preferencial' permit required.

Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.

Boat ramps and marinas

The map above shows 17 boat ramps and 10 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.

Amarras del Nahuel
Bajada de Botes
Bajada de Lanchas
Boat ramp near Ensenada de Huequecura
Club Náutico Bariloche
Cumelen Country Club
Isla Fresia
Pirehueico
Port Huemul
Puerto Arrayanes
Puerto Elma
Puerto Maqueo
Puerto Península
Puerto Pireo
Puerto Traful
Terminal de Embarque Puerto Fuy

Sources

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.