chimehuín river — boca del chimehuín
The outlet of Lake Huechulafquen, a classic spot for trout fishing in Patagonia. Fly only, total release and an additional permit.
The Chimehuín rises in Lake Huechulafquen, at the foot of the Lanín volcano, and runs until it joins the Aluminé to form the Collón Curá. The Boca, where the lake turns into a river, is legendary for large brown trout that hunt small fish in the current. Fishing there is with flies, wading, using streamers and sinking lines, almost always in strong wind. Downstream, the Chimehuín has rapids and pools, with rainbow and brown trout in good numbers. The base is Junín de los Andes, less than 30 km away.
best season
Season from November 1 to May 31 (2025/2026). Spring and autumn usually produce the biggest fish at the Boca; in summer the wind picks up.
Local rules: Zone I (from the Boca to 250 m downstream of the bridge) is a Neuquén Preferential Zone: it requires an extra permit on top of the fishing permit, fly only, barbless hook and release of all fish; droppers and boat navigation are banned. Zone II, down to the Collón Curá: release all salmonids, single barbless hook. The Boca is a provincial Protected Natural Area and the lake lies within Lanín National Park, with its own rules. Confirm the local rules.
- getting there
- Chapelco Airport, between San Martín de los Andes and Junín de los Andes. From Junín, a road leads to Lake Huechulafquen and the Boca.
- facilities
- Hotels, cabins and lodges in Junín de los Andes, fishing guides and fly shops. Near the Boca there are campsites and the village of Huechulafquen.
- country
- Neuquén, Argentina
tip
At the Boca, cast minnow streamers at the break in the current at dawn and dusk. Use a sinking line and be patient with the wind.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
before you fish in Argentina
There is no national license: the sport fishing license belongs to each province. In northern Patagonia, the Patagonian Regulation permit issued by Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut or the National Parks Administration (APN) is valid in all these jurisdictions, including the southern parks; in 2025/2026 it cost $40,000 per season for residents of the country and from $50,000 (day) to $280,000 (season) for non-resident foreigners, with online purchase. Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego have their own permits (TDF 2026/2027: foreigners from $78,000 per day to $260,000 per season). On the coast (Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Corrientes) each province issues its own.
- The license is provincial. In Patagonian national parks, the APN permit or the provinces' Patagonian permit is valid, and fishing is only allowed in the environments listed in the parks' annex.
- Patagonian Regulation (2025/2026): general season from November 1 to May 1; in rivers and streams, including 200 m from their mouths, mandatory release with a single barbless hook, except for exceptions in the annexes; as a rule, one artificial lure with a single hook; selling fish prohibited; felt-soled boots prohibited.
- In national parks, all native species (perch, Patagonian pejerrey, catfish, peladillas) must be released; Atlantic salmon must be released in all environments under the regulation.
- Golden dorado: in Corrientes it is a Provincial Natural Monument (Law 6,730/2025); in Entre Ríos commercial fishing is prohibited and sport fishing is catch-and-release only (Law 11,174/2024); on the Uruguay River, shared with Uruguay, there's a CARU closed season from September 1 to December 31.
- Tierra del Fuego (2026/2027): season from October 30, 2026 to May 2, 2027, fly and spinning only, and mandatory release in all provincial environments starting March 1, 2027.
The rules and closed seasons in the rest of the app are Brazilian. Outside Brazil, the regulations of the country and province apply: confirm with the official agency.
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official Caza y Pesca del Neuquén — Reglamento de Pesca Deportiva Continental Patagónico 2025/2026 (com anexos de Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut e Parques Nacionales)
- official Caza y Pesca del Neuquén — Permisos de pesca (ordinários, trolling e zonas preferenciais)
- official Ministerio de Turismo del Neuquén — Folheto Pesca deportiva 2026Mentions the Boca del Chimehuín as a preferential zone with a special permit