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CHILE!! 
*****TROUT SEASONER OPENS IN CALIFORNIA! RIVERS REMAIN HIGH BUT FISHABLE, LOWER SACRAMENTO IS ON FIRE! McCLOUD, HAT CREEK & FALL RIVER ARE OTHER OPTIONS. RAFTING/FLY FISHING TRIPS START NEXT WEEK ON THE UPPER SAC!!!*****
In all my years of traveling through Chile the Valley of Lonquimay has to be one of my finest hours I’ve ever witnessed. The area reminds me most of the Mount Shasta area in so many ways with its tall trees, volcanic soil and endless wonders around every corner. On this trip I took a dirt road over a pass into the town of Lonquimay very close to the Argentine border. I was on my way to the Rio Bio Bio to check out some trout fishing and take in the incredible views.
The Araucania Trees lined my journey pointing me in the direction towards the river I was in search of. This was the kind of adventures I had always dreamed about as a child and now as I thought back, I couldn’t help but to reflect on how many different places in Chile I had been over my many journies. .
As I made it to the top of the pass before diving into the town of Lonquimay, I noticed a stand for vending araucania nuts. I saw this small Mapuche women walking up to help me purchase a bag of the delicious nuts.
The araucania nut is 3 times the size of a large cashew, but tastes better than our local pine nuts and is 10 times as large! I bought a big bag of them for about a buck and began munching away…
As I traveled over the pass and started heading down I could see the trees starting to change into their fall wardrobe of colors. I took this picture behind my polarized Maui Jim sunglasses. Being that my sunglasses are polarized, you can really see the brilliant falls colors as the negative sun rays are filtered out. Try it sometime it works good! jt
Then it happened, I made a turn on the dusty road and there was the Rio Bio Bio! Like a desert rose, with its blue clear cool waters cruising the desert floor like a moving oasis that brought life to a barren and dry valley. A valley that called for the river to come in any direction it wanted, as it was welcomed by the open arms of the mountain sides it caressed.
The Rio Bio Bio is a famed rafting river by legend, but I was in the upper stretches above where the rafting commenced and was not interested in waves, spills and thrills. I came for the fly fishing, and to feel the river as it flowed between my legs and maybe catch a trout if I was lucky!
The Rio Bio Bio, is a very long river that travels from the Argentine border all the way through Chile to the second largest city in Chile, called Concepcion. There it spills into the Pacific Ocean in enormous proportions and is one of Chile’s longest flowing rivers. It was Sunday, May 22nd, 1960 at 3:10pm. Ana Maria’s mother Monica, was 10 years old watching a movie at the theatre in Osorno, Chile with her brother, when a earthquake tremor was felt. Shaking the town violently everyone ran out into the streets. Within about 15 minutes another earthquake was felt that would change the country forever. An earthquake occurred that was the largest in the recorded history measuring out at an incredible 9.5 on the Richter scale! From Concepcion to the Isle of Chiloe, some 1000 miles in diameter the force was felt with tremendous impact. The epicenter was centered around Valdivia, an ocean community located along the low lining ocean beaches that inhabit the entire length of the country. Within two hours a tsunami hit the shores of Chile that measured over 1000 miles in width and extended from the Rio Bio Bio north of Valdivia all the way to the Isle of Chiloe. Another fatal tsunami devastated coastal communities as far away as Hawaii that were caused by this same earthquake on that day of tragedy. Many survived the earthquake only to be buried by the waves of the tsunami that ripped villages apart on the Isle of Chiloe, Valdivia and Puerto Montt. Luckily Monica and her brother were spared, and dad came looking for them and later found them safe and scared. All communications were taken out by the storm and relief efforts were difficult at best. The area around Valdivia was completely changed as many were homeless, desperate and cut off from family and friends that lived in the adjacent communities of Santa Domingo. The town was completely separated by water from access north, due to the ocean penetrating through the land and causing complete destruction to homes, roads and bridges. I was in an earthquake with Ana Maria 3 years ago in Valparaiso, Chile and I know now if you’re by the ocean and an earthquake occurs, head for high ground immediately. It’s not always the earthquake that causes fatalities, it’s the aftermath of the tsunami that changes the looks and geography of the land and this is a force that must be reckoned with, for we have no control over this a natural phenom that has occurred throughout the history of the earth. If we do not study history, we are doomed to repeat it. http://www.extremescience.com/GreatestEarthquake.htm
As I made it down the dirt road to the river, I noticed a ferry boat that took cars and people across. I took the ferry across to fish the other side that looked to be much more accessible for fly fishing and wading. (Grass is always greener theory?)
The river was awesome and completely different from the Rio Cautin and its lushness. I loved the riffles and the flows were perfect being that it was the end of the season heading into fall. I saw this part of the river and thought to myself, this is a perfect place to fish anywhere in the world, on any river! I would make my first casts on the Rio Bio Bio here….
Not long after I examined the rocks and looked to see what bugs were represented here in the Bio Bio, I hooked into a nice rainbow trout on a size 18 micro mayfly. Then I hooked another and another…..!
The fight was great as I broke a big one off and wrestled another one in.
This was one of the nicer bows I landed, but wasn’t the biggest that’s for sure.
Thanks to the Rio Bio Bio for providing me a special and magical day, I’ll be back next year to explore more territories and fly fish some of the tribs that flow into the Bio Bio!!!
The next day I woke up and decided to head for the Parque Nacional Conguillio, (say that six times!) I heard so much about the park and the I knew of Lago Conguillio and how it produced good fly fishing for rainbow trout. I saw the Volcano Llaima off in the distance
and knew I was heading in the right direction.
This volcano is still semi-active and smokes daily!
The drive through the park was right out of Jurassic Park.
Araucania Trees with ancient Sierra Nevada Mountain in the background.
Lago Conguillio is a beautiful lake with great views in every direction you look.
I found this log in the lake and thought to myself this is where Pancho and Nico would fly fish if they were here, so I tried it and had lots of success!
My first trout was about 13 inches and fought great!
I caught others that had very large heads and tails and small bodies that proved to me how tough the winters can be in addition to the lack of food up at this high altitude location.
A big thanks goes out to Lago Conguillio! Congratulations Lago Conguillio, YOUR’RE MY SIZZLER OF THE WEEK AWARD WINNER! CONGRATULATIONS SIZZLER!!
What a prehistoric looking area! It was like at any time Fred Flintstone and the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park would go running by me…..
The east side of the park was classic with all the black volcanic sands and high mountain sides lined by araucania tress.
Off into the distance Volcano Llaima was seen smoking its bowl!
It made me stop in my tracks and reflect on the best season I ever had in Chile. I had traveled up as far as 4th region with Ana Maria, in Valle de Elqui. As far down as the town of Chaiten in the 11th guiding with Pancho and Nico, and in between with Juan Ramos’s family, in the beaches of Santa Domingo. I had seen more rivers than any other trip and had experienced more scenic beauty than I had ever see in my lifetime, and I am appreciative of my journeys. But who I’m so thankful to is my bros, Pancho (Francisco Castano) and Nicolas Gonzales, and all the adventures we had guiding together this past season. What a great memory for me and the customers who came down to visit this year.
I am so fortunate to have as great of guides as you, and appreciate all your hard efforts this past season and goodwill with my customers. Outstanding customer service and knowledge on the river, that’s what sets one apart!
Thank you Pancho and Nico, you are my Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms! I can’t wait for next year guiding with you two yahoos again, making our customers dreams come true! Your lifetime friend, Jack Trout *The crazy Gringo that makes you laugh and loves your country as though it was his own.*****HOPED YOU ENJOYED THAT STORY! STAY TUNED AS JUAN RAMOS WATCHES USA vs. CHILE IN TENNIS, AND ANA MARIA’S MOTHER MONICA, MAKES ME HOME MADE EMPANADAS AND PASTEL DE CHOCLO. THEN I HEAD BACK TO MOUNT SHASTA AND WE RAFT AND FLY FISH THE UPPER SAC IN CALIFORNIA! WE ARE CATCHING TROUT ON THE UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER OUT OF MY RAFT, YESTERDAY WAS AWESOME EVEN IN HIGH FLOWS 15 TO 20 FISH DAYS RIGHT NOW. CALL ME
530-926-4540
THANKS FOR WATCHING, JACK TROUT*****
EMAILS FROM YOU!:
Hi Jack,
I wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed your reports on Chile this last season. It makes a guy like me very hungry for a visit.
I haven’t yet started into summer plans for Bryce (& I) other than I have booked a float trip on the lower half of the Grand Canyon in early July. Years ago I did both the lower half and the entire canyon. Both trips constituted some of my peak adventures and Bryce is now old enough for the challenge.
It would be great to get up into N.Cal again this summer and do some fishing with you and I will keep you posted as I make plans. Next week I am taking a vacation by myself …. a well deserved week in Amsterdam.
Best till then,
Spencer
Nice work Jack!
Good job if you can get it.
What dates do you have open for an Upper Sac float???
I need it BAD!!!!!
Off to the Giants game tonight.
Black Crowes acoustic last weekend – all time.
Email me or call me 415…-….
Chris Welch
Hello Jack,
I worked out a schedule with my brother so we would plan to fish with you
on May 9/10/11 (Tuesday through Thursday). I’ll try to call you later today
( I live in North Carolina) to talk about plans and details.
regards,
Woody Lomas
Jack:
Congratulations for your stories and pictures. They teach lots about my country and show how beautiful it is.
I´m so proud that you are so concerned about learning our history and visiting our places.
Way to go, Sizzler!!!
ANA MARIA
Jack
am currently serving in the armed forces stationed in Iraq but I will be returning back to my home in Southern California in September about the 30. I would like to visit your areas as they are of great interests to me. Thank you for your response:
.
Sincerely yours:
SGT. Glenn E Amesquita US ARMY