aluminé river — aluminé
Mountain river that flows out of Lake Aluminé and runs down the pehuén valley to the Collón Curá. Rainbow and brown trout, always released.
The Aluminé River rises in the lake of the same name, near Villa Pehuenia, and flows south past the town of Aluminé until it joins the Chimehuín to form the Collón Curá. It is a river of rapids, pools and long runs between pehuén (monkey puzzle) forests, with Mapuche communities along the valley. Rainbow trout dominate the upper course; brown trout appear in the deep pools and the lower stretch, and criolla perch in the eddies. Fishing is by wading or from a drift boat with a guide, with dry fly, nymph and streamer. The Neuquén government lists the Aluminé among its world-known fishing rivers.
best season
In the 2025/2026 season, the Aluminé River opened on November 1 and closed on May 31. Summer brings lower, clearer water; autumn usually brings the bigger browns.
Local rules: A Patagonian fishing permit is required, sold online by Neuquén. On the Aluminé River, under the 2025/2026 regulation, the season ran Nov 1 to May 31, with spinning, fly, and spinning with fly, mandatory release of all salmonids, single barbless hooks and up to 2 perch per day. Lake Aluminé has its own rules. Felt-soled boots are prohibited. Check the 2026/2027 regulation before you go. Check local rules.
- getting there
- Via provincial route 23, linking Junín de los Andes with Aluminé and Villa Pehuenia. The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Chapelco, near San Martín de los Andes.
- facilities
- Lodging, campsites and fishing guides in Aluminé and Villa Pehuenia. The province has a wildlife office in town, in the Región del Pehuén.
- country
- Neuquén, Argentina
tip
In summer, low, clear water calls for a long leader and a small fly. Early in the season the river runs high with snowmelt: don't wade in strong current.
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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)Aluminé River: spinning, fly and spinning with fly; Nov 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026; up to 2 perch per day; mandatory release of all salmonids, single barbless hook
- official Caza y Pesca del Neuquén — Permisos de pescaOnline sale of the permit; 2025/2026 season prices
- official Ministerio de Turismo del Neuquén — Folheto Pesca deportiva 2026Lists the Aluminé among the world-recognized fishing rivers and Aluminé among the province's fishing destinations