malleo river
Open-valley river with a view of the Lanín volcano. Dry-fly fishing in clear water, wading, with release.
The Malleo rises in Lake Tromen, in Lanín National Park, and flows east to the Aluminé. It runs through an open steppe valley, with short rapids, pools and long stretches of shallow, clear water. It is a wading river for dry flies and nymphs, for rainbow and brown trout of good size. Insect hatches make the river famous among fly fishers. The base is Junín de los Andes, and many stretches are reached via RP 60 and RP 23.
best season
Season from November 1 to May 31 on the provincial section (2025/2026). Spring and early summer bring the hatches and dry-fly fishing.
Local rules: In the Lanín National Park section: fly only, mandatory release and no boat navigation. In the provincial section, from the park boundary to the RP 23 bridge, fly only and release all fish; from the bridge down to the Aluminé, release all salmonids and use barbless hooks. The Patagonian permit is required (Neuquén or APN). Confirm the local rules.
- getting there
- Chapelco Airport. From Junín de los Andes, RP 23 and RP 60 cross the river about 20 km from town.
- facilities
- Hotels, cabins and lodges in Junín de los Andes, fly fishing guides and specialty shops.
- country
- Neuquén, Argentina
tip
Approach crouched and cast upstream: the water is shallow and clear. Dry flies and small nymphs work better than streamers.
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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 Boletín Oficial — Resolución APN 417/2025 (Reglamento General de Pesca Deportiva Continental Patagónico e Anexo Parques Nacionales del Sur, temporada 2025/2026)The annexes (general regulations and park annex) are in the same notice
- official Caza y Pesca del Neuquén — Permisos de pesca (ordinários, trolling e zonas preferenciais)