traful lake and river — villa traful
Crystal-clear lake in Nahuel Huapi National Park, known for landlocked salmon. The Traful River, fly-only and catch-and-release, flows from it toward the Limay.
Traful Lake lies in the north of Nahuel Huapi National Park, among forested mountains, with the small village of Villa Traful on the south shore. It is known for landlocked salmon (salmón encerrado, Salmo salar), a form of Atlantic salmon that lives only in fresh water and must be released, and for rainbow and brown trout. Fishing is by boat, trolling and casting, and from the shore at creek mouths. The lake holds the Submerged Forest, with standing trees in the water, where fishing is prohibited in the surrounding area. The Traful River flows from the lake down to the Limay; it is a fly-only, catch-and-release river with no boat traffic.
best season
Season from November through late summer, with stricter rules in November. December to March has the longest days and calmer mornings on the lake.
Local rules: It is a national park: the Patagonian permit or the APN permit is needed, with the parks annex. On the lake, under the 2025/2026 regulation: in November, single barbless hook and 1 rainbow trout under 40 cm per day; December to March, up to 2 rainbows under 40 cm; fishing within 100 m of the Submerged Forest is prohibited. Atlantic salmon and native species are always released. On the Traful River, fly only and catch and release, with no boat traffic. Felt-soled boots are prohibited. Check local rules.
- getting there
- Villa Traful is on provincial route 65, between route 40 (Camino de los Siete Lagos) and national route 237. The nearest airport is San Carlos de Bariloche.
- facilities
- Cabins, campsites, hostels and fishing guides in Villa Traful, with the province's wildlife office and national park rangers.
- country
- Neuquén, Argentina
tip
There is didymo in the lake: disinfect boots and gear on arrival and departure. On the Traful River, the only public access is at the confluence with the Minero River.
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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)Traful Lake and Traful River (Nahuel Huapi NP): bag limits by period, Submerged Forest, river fly-only with catch and release and access at the Minero confluence; Atlantic salmon mandatory release in all waters
- official Boletín Oficial — Resolución APN 417/2025 (Reglamento General de Pesca Deportiva Continental Patagónico e Anexo Parques Nacionales del Sur, temporada 2025/2026)The APN approves the general regulation and the southern parks annex; the annexes are in the same notice
- official Administración de Parques Nacionales — Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi
- official Ministerio de Turismo del Neuquén — Folheto Pesca deportiva 2026Villa Traful among Neuquén's fishing destinations