lago yelcho and río yelcho — puerto cárdenas
Emerald-green glacial lake on the Carretera Austral, south of Chaitén, where the Río Yelcho begins. Trout and salmon from boats and from the shore.
Yelcho is a glacial lake of about 116 km², surrounded by mountains and forest, some 45 km south of Chaitén. The Futaleufú River joins it at the southeast end, and it drains to the northwest into the Río Yelcho at Puerto Cárdenas, where the Carretera Austral crosses the river at the Yelcho bridge. It reaches 238 m deep. Besides rainbow and brown trout, Chinook salmon, coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are also in the basin. Fishing is from boats along the shores, at river mouths and at the head of the Río Yelcho, with streamers and sinking lines. Sandy beaches are few and found in coves and river mouths.
best season
In Palena province the salmonid season runs from November 1, 2026 to May 2, 2027 (Res. Ex. 2.428/2025). Summer, December to March, is the most sought-after period.
Local rules: Sernapesca license required. The lake and river are in Palena province, where Res. Ex. 2.428/2025 applies (seasons 2025-2029): from November 1 to the first Sunday of May, artificial lures with a single barbless hook, only one salmon (salar, coho or Chinook) per angler per day, and release of trout and other species. Fishing at night (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and from bridges, including the Yelcho bridge, is banned. Wash boats and gear against didymo, as the resolution recommends. Check local rules.
- getting there
- Puerto Cárdenas is on the Carretera Austral (Ruta 7), just over 40 km south of Chaitén. Chaitén has a small airstrip with small-plane flights from Puerto Montt.
- facilities
- Lodging, campgrounds and transport in Puerto Cárdenas and nearby. Chaitén has most of the shops and more lodging options.
- country
- Los Lagos, Chile
tip
With north wind the lake raises 2 to 3 m waves: leave early, stay close to shore and wear a life jacket. Wash your boat before moving to another lake or 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 Chile
Anyone who fishes for sport needs the Sernapesca recreational fishing license (Law 20.256, art. 6), personal and carried with ID. It can be bought online, on the Sernapesca license site, or at the agency's offices. For foreign tourists, the law sets 0.5 UF (one week), 1 UF (one month) or 1.5 UF (one year), always for marine and inland waters; check the site for the options on sale. The peso amount changes every year, because it uses the UF value on the last day of the previous year. Chilean and resident foreign nationals under 12, over 65, or with a disability registered in the national registry are exempt.
- Salmonids (trout and salmon) in inland waters: under the general rule (D.S. 320/1981), season from the second Friday of November to the first Sunday of May, except in Magallanes. Regions may change the dates: Aysén has a closed season from May 7 to October 11 (2025–2027 seasons), and the province of Palena, in Los Lagos, opens on November 1 (2025–2029).
- Bag limits, sizes, hours, baits and catch-and-release-only stretches are set by resolution of the Regional Fisheries Director of each region (Law 20.256, art. 7). Read the region's resolution before fishing.
- Native species classified as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable may not be fished recreationally (Law 20.256, art. 7).
- Didymo: in several southern basins, the invasive alga is a declared pest. Wash and disinfect boots, waders, boat and gear when moving between rivers or lakes.
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 Subpesca — Res. Ex. 2.428/2025, Dirección Zonal de Pesca de Los Lagos (província de Palena, río Petrohué e lago Todos los Santos)Applies to all rivers and lakes in Palena province, including Lago Yelcho and Río Yelcho; seasons 2025-2029
- official Sernapesca — Guía de Pesca Recreativa, Macrozona Sur y Austral: Biobío a MagallanesLists Lago Yelcho and Río Yelcho among the Los Lagos waters with special measures
- official Sernapesca — Medidas de administración de pesca recreativa en Chile 2026-2027 (PDF, atualizado em 11/09/2026)Palena province: November 1 to the first Sunday of May; 1 salmon per day
- market Visit Chile — Lago YelchoPuerto Cárdenas, just over 40 km from Chaitén; brown and rainbow trout and Chinook, coho and Atlantic salmon; flights from Puerto Montt to Chaitén