Hola
Pablo, Polo and Benito: I wish to thank you once again
for a fabulous trip to Patagonia. Our four days with
the group from the Mendoza Fly Shop were the highlight of
our two week trip. Charlie's favorite Rivers are now
all in Patagonia. The accommodation at the Hosteria
Milla Piuke was above our expectation. It was clean
and contemporary with fine service. The food at the
restaurant Ruca Hueney was excellent and the atmosphere great
fun. As usual Paulo provided a fine days fishing, each
and every day. He was knowledgeable, punctual and overall
a fine river companion and guide. He started every morning
with a fresh pressed shirt and a big smile no matter how hard
he worked the day before, and there were some long days on
the river. It was also great fun to spend time with
Benito (the professor) on the river. He is truly a fountain
of fishing knowledge, aside from being an accomplished artist,
writer and poet. Pablo, your fishing package is
certainly the best value in Patagonia. We were the envy
of the other American fishermen staying at the hotel.
We look forward to seeing you again next year.
Your compadre
John Wilson
San Francisco - USA
Febrero. 2005
Pablo: I apologize for not having written sooner. I must thank you, the
Professor (Benito), Palo, Scott Edwards and the staff at the Spring Creek Lodge.
I will write a separate letter to Scott about Spring Creek. You provided Jay
and I with the most incredible flyfishing experience I have ever had! The
fishing around Junin was fabulous, even for August ( Ha Ha). I have not fished
with a guide who works harder than Palo. I have a reputation for fishing long
hours, sometimes longer hours than guides are willing to put in. Palo
provided us with fabulous fishing late into the night and was ready to go again
bright and early the next morning, with a smile on his face and a freshly
pressed shirt. He did this not once, but seven days straight. He even laughed at our
jokes. He is a real gentleman. What can I say about Benito? It was a
pleasure to meet the Professor. He loves the river even more than I. It was a
privilege fishing with him and an education at the same time. I now have a
Bachelors degree in Entomology and Riverology!! What can I say about the food?
It was wonderful and the Malbec superb. As much as I tried to resist your
wonderful custom of a long lunch, bottle of Malbec and a Siesta, I was unable
and finally succumbed on day three with my first nap. But it was the camaraderie
of Palo, Benito, and Enrico that made the experience so special. I cannot say
enough about every aspect of the trip you put together for us, Pablo. I can
assure you that we will be back. My tentative plans are to return next
February with my wife. I can assure you that the Mendoza Fly Shop will be our
first contact. If you wish to use us as a reference, please do not hesitate. It
would be an honor to recommend your fly shop to any prospective fishermen. We
will pass the word around American Airlines and our local fly fishing
community. I plan on a presentation about the trip to the membership of our
local fly fishing club in the near future. Please stay in touch and give my regards to
Palo, the Professor and Enrico. Sincerely John Wilson ( Hopperman)
I’m
very thankful for all the professional help that Pablo and
Matias gave me in my recent visit to Junin de los Andes but
much important was the friendship that they shown to me and
I hope that I did the same for them because that was my intension.
The
float trips, fishing in pools, the wild strikes of the rainbows
and the size of the browns were amazing. No doubt that Junin
is a fly fisherman paradise. This was my second trip to Junin
in the season and it was even good or better that the one
that I did in March.
But
the most important experience was haw I take vantage of the
fishing time and the pleasure that was to fish from the new
raft as a lonely fisherman. All the casts were really easy
to make because the guide can put the raft right in the place
that you need to put your fly in that spot…I had a lot of
new knowledge because Pablo knows everything that you need
to improve your skills.
The
one who knows, knows and the one that don’t know, learns.
And I learnt a lot. Thanks for everything.
Mario
Basanta.
I
tell you that was AMAZING……. In Junin de los Andes the landscape
is incredible, the river and of course, the fishing.
The
first day we went to Malleo, it was quiet until the afternoon
comes, we ate and then we went back to Chimehuin, in a small
place that Pablo always like to go by noon…. We had a lot
of strikes, nearly with anything that we cast to the water,
imagine that also took the flies that I tied, this trout must
have some vision problems… it was hard for me to learn to
hook up at the right time… otherwise we could had a lot more
for the pictures.
The
second day was windy and cold, but we went to Chimehuin, instead
of the weather, with the raft. It was really fun. I was fighting
all day wuth the line in my feet, try not to fall out from
the raft and avoid the flies in my guide head…my wife was
trembling because of the cold and I didn’t stop to drink the
whiskey from my flask…really funny…. and I also had some very
nice trout about 1 pound one near 3 and another one near 4
pounds… beautiful.
Manuel
I
have to thank Pablo and Polo for the services and professional
help that gave to me in my visit to Junin de los Andes in
March, 2003.
I
have to divide my speech in two parts. One is all the new
knowledge that I had
in technique style of fly fishing and the other one is the beauty of
the fishing place.
For
me it was like a crush course of high level in fly fishing.
Pablo and Polo never stopped to teach me the things that I
was doing wrong with my line and always telling you details
of what kind of fly or moment to use it, because of the demands
of the river, and also how to make a trout rise. Being an
average fisherman I learnt a lot in this trip to Junin.
In
Junin you breath “Flyfishing”, no doubt it’s the place for
fly fishermen, everywhere you go in town you will be surrounded
by fishermen, in the hostels, restaurants… We fish the Chimehuin,
Malleo and others that I don’t remember their names. We used
dries and tiny nymphs too. We caught a lot of browns and Rainbows
( two pounds average ). Several up to 3 pounds a
beautiful one about 4 pounds, which, because of my
experience, cut the line off and went home..( the same old
story, ah? ).
The
landscape is gorgeous and the rivers are perfect for fly fishing,
very comfortable to cast and we had a perfect level and temperature
of waters to make the fishing unforgettable.
Briefing,
this trip to Junin was a success and the good memories will
last in our minds for ever. Thank you very much.
Mario
Basanta.
Hi
friends of Mendoza Fly Shop:
How
can I start this letter, it must be difficult because there
are a lot of things that I want to tell you.
All
the message is THANK TOU, for so much information, attention
and most of all, to the instruction that I had before my beginning
in this beautiful art. Such as the south lakes and all that
I learnt IN the water with great surprises.
I
want to thank Pablo
and Omar for all the time that they gave to my lessons, so
my beginnings were great with no frustrations, the right word
of a friend that demands for the better, and that’s how I
felt with both.
For
you are this memories of the Rio Grande, 60 kms from Esquel
city, where I caught my first sea run browns, that I pictured
for you. Thanks again for all the help.
Leonardo
Medina – Proud student of
Mendoza Fly Shop.
Huge
greetings for all the team in Junin de los Andes, I’m still
enjoying the trip to Filo Hua Hum, every time I see the pictures
or search for info in the web site. Benito!!! I started with
Browns!!! It was a baby brown from Uspallata, but brown at
last. Thanks again and continue with your work.
