WINSTON PREFERRED LODGES ®

Winston Field Advisor, Todd Moen, visited the Spatsizi Wilderness Lodge several years ago and featured them in Issue # 33 of Catch Magazine. “The opportunity to meet and film the Collingwood Family at Spatsizi Lodge was an incredible experience for me as a filmmaker. The lodge sits in the remotest of remote northern B.C.’s Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park, nearly 2 million acres of protected land that includes the upper reaches of the Stikine River. Once there, settled into the Lodge on the banks of Laslui Lake at the headwaters of the Stikine, I discovered that the best way to film, and what they relied on daily, would be in the air. Billy Labonte and bush pilot legend Ray Collingwood flew me into the most spectacular waters (and waters particularly special to his family) via his PA-12 Super Cruiser, a Piper floatplane. Ray is an experienced bush pilot, and it was on these flights over rugged land and waters that I learned about the Collingwood’s remarkable history and family homesteading there in northern B.C. I knew I had to get it right, I had a great story to tell in film and things just clicked. With the help of Carrie and Ray and the folks at the Spatsizi Lodge, a great film unraveled and became the featured T-Motion Theater film called “Spatsizi”. To be able to experience Spatszi Lodge with the Collingwood Family was fantastic, and to be able to tell their story was an honor.”

Spatsizi Wilderness Lodge is the only outfitter licensed to guide and fly into the wild and pristine Spatsizi Wilderness Park region, an area roughly 3 times the size of Yellowstone Park. Boat and plane provide exclusive access to the most beautiful, prolific and unspoiled trout fishing in the world including the legendary Firesteel River. With only 8 fly-in guests a week, the weeklong trip merely scratches the surface of over thirty rivers, lakes and streams to choose from. Spatsizi offers a customized trip to suit your fishing preferences and with a multitude of water conditions and hatch activity available, you will be in constant pursuit of beautiful rainbow, arctic grayling, lake trout and trophy sized bull trout. Stationed floatplanes allow for spectacular scenery, fantastic fishing and a new destination each day where you can tie on anything from a huge mouse pattern to a delicate #20 Adams. Spatsizi has a full range of Boron III LS and Boron III X rods available for guests, from a 3-weight to 6-weight. A Boron III Plus 9’ 5-weight would be also be a great choice for large water, bigger bugs and big fish.

This comfortable, rustic lodge offers incomparable views while tying the next day’s flies or relaxing. Guests can stay in the four cozy log cabins that come with private baths, modern wood stoves and breathtaking mountain views. Exquisite cuisine is as important to the experience as the adventures themselves and Spatsizi guests are treated to fresh, local, homemade fare paired with the finest British Columbia wines.

View Spatsizi by Todd Moen – British Columbia Fly Fishing on the Winston Blog

The beautiful, recently built lodge is spectacular, sitting on a promontory overlooking the majestic Rio Grande River. It seems that once you are there, there is nothing Maria Behety doesn’t offer in the way of comfort. Exceptional meals, luxurious accommodations, a fishing schedule designed to maximize your success, custom wader room, outstanding guides, all on an original, authentic working estancia with 495 square miles of cattle and sheep grazing country. The lodge is limited to only twelve anglers for each of the 14 weeks of the season. Everything about the Estancia Maria Behety Lodge revolves around the Menendez Family’s personal guarantee and commitment to offering the finest sea run brown fly fishing experience in the Americas. If you want to catch a trophy sea run brown and impress your friends and family with a photo holding a massive trout, Maria Behety should be on your bucket list! If you have the time, we recommend combining a trip to Maria Behety with a visit to other parts of Argentina. It’s an amazing country. We have fished throughout Patagonia and, though we don’t really recommend it, one year, we even spent a few weeks driving south on route 40, fishing our way down through Patagonia all the way to Tierra del Fuego and to Ushuaia. We loved every minute and every beautiful trout we caught. They seemed to get bigger the further south we went, with the biggest fish at Maria Behety. Our catalog and website one year featured photos from that trip.

La Villa De Maria Behety

Also on the spectacular 275,000-acre Estancia Maria Behety, is a gem of a small fly fishing lodge, La Villa, near the city of Rio Grande. It is among the most beautiful ranch mansions in all of Tierra del Fuego, having been painstakingly restored by local craftsmen who have combined modern convenience with traditional old world charm. The magnificent ranch home is now available for up to six anglers who prefer a more intimate and extraordinary upscale lodging experience while fishing for enormous sea-run brown trout. Anglers at La Villa will rotate through the premier pools of the Rio Grande (33 river miles), all within the massive borders of the estancia. From when we visited a few years ago, we were impressed with the unique experience that anglers will enjoy, with luxurious private (single occupancy) accommodations, excellent meals, Jacuzzi Tubs, the finest Argentine vintages, and one of the best fly fishing experiences in the world. We hope to go back very soon. We recommend any of our Boron III TH two handed rods, especially in the 12′ 6″, 12’9″ and the 13’3″ lengths. For single handed users, the strong southern Patagonian winds demand a little extra power, so we suggest a Boron III SX 8-weight or 9-weight in whichever lengths you prefer, though longer rods will make for easier mending since all fishing will be using a downstream swing…after that, you’ll need to hold on!

Despite the long flight south to Argentina and then to the town of Rio Grande, most people are pleasantly surprised to find that the lodge is located only 15 minutes from the Rio Grande Airport. Estancia Maria Behety for a few years has offered a supply of Winston Boron Two Handed rods. However, we encourage you to bring your own. To optimize your experience we recommend bringing any of our Boron III TH rods, especially the 12’6” 6wt, 12’9” 7wt or 13’3” 7wt. For single handed casters, the Boron III SX 9’ 8wt is perhaps the perfect single handed rod to handle heavy winds, especially in Tierra del Fuego.

Designed by award-winning architect Joseph Esherick, the lodge is an outstanding combination of elegance and comfort. With open and inviting public spaces and beautifully designed rooms, it’s easy for guests to feel at home and unwind. The famous expansive open-air porch overlooking the spectacular Henry’s Fork is a perfect place to relax and share fishing stories after a day on the river.

The main lodge has six rooms, including two deluxe suites with oversized fireplaces and views of the Henry’s Fork River. In addition, beside the Lodge, there are eight cottage suites, all with separate bedrooms, sitting rooms, and cozy fireplaces.

Dining at the Henry’s Fork Lodge is excellent with made-to-order breakfasts, lunches on the river and a seasonal rotating dinner menu with exquisite Rocky Mountain fare.

On any given day, anglers at the Lodge have access to either the Henry’s Fork, South Fork, Madison River, Hebgen Lake, Yellowstone Park, as well as a collection of other still waters and smaller streams in the area. The Lodge works closely with area outfitters, so if you have a favorite guide in the area, chances are it can be arranged. And, of course, the Lodge has a collection of Winston Rods available for guest use. Based on our experience, we expect you will find that a Boron III X 5-weight or 6-weight will cover 90% of your fishing situations, though you could also bring lighter rod, a Boron III LS 4-weight for smaller stream dry fly fishing or light wind days. We have fished the Henry’s Fork for years and have been longtime fans of the Henry’s Fork Lodge – deservedly famous as one of the very best fly fishing lodges in the country.

For four days in February, we cast to hundreds of tarpon between 10-40lbs in water under 6 feet deep, our final two days stalking baby tarpon tailing in water under two feet deep. Because of the fantastic collection of excellent restaurants in the town of Holbox, the schedule at Isla Holbox Flyfishing Lodge is refreshingly different from most lodge operations. Up early with cappuccinos waiting to breakfast at the lodge before heading out for a full day on the water fishing virtually exclusively for tarpon. After late April, the large tarpon (over 100lbs) move in outside the lagoon. This is peak season in Holbox for anglers as well as tourists since the migration of the larger tarpon overlaps with the arrival of the spectacular whale sharks. However, there appears to be no off season for the baby tarpon as they live year around in the massive sheltered lagoon (yes, far less wind) and provide constant action, ideal for anglers eager to catch their first tarpon.

The Isla Holbox Flyfishing Lodge fronts the beautiful two-mile beach shared by local fisherman and an assortment of small bungalows housing visiting European, Mexican and North American tourists. The accommodations are small and very comfortable; the manager, Luciano is a wealth of fishing and other information; and the guides are excellent. Perhaps the most unique draw of Isla Holbox (aside from the number of tarpon, of course), is the wonderful town of Holbox. There are no cars on the island of Holbox. Residents as well as visiting anglers and other tourists travel along the sandy streets in golf carts or by foot. The restaurants in Holbox are fantastic; alive at night and the food is excellent.

Isla Holbox carries a collection of new Winston Boron III SX rods for you to try and will recommend which rods to bring depending on the time of year. If you are there after mid March, you should definitely bring a 12-weight just in case the big tarpon are around. For most of the trip fishing for smaller tarpon we used a Boron III SX 9-weight that was ideal in handling the wind, large flies, and medium-sized tarpon (up to 45 lbs). An 8-weight or 10-weight Boron III SX would also work well. When fishing in shallow water to smaller tailing tarpon in the lagoons, a 7-weight or 8-weight Boron IIIx was perfect for more delicate presentations with smaller flies.

Depending on when you are there, Mission guests fish for five species of Pacific Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Arctic Char, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling, Lake Trout and Northern Pike. Unlike other excellent but rustic Alaskan lodges, Mission Lodge is a modern beautiful all-inclusive deluxe family lodge with exceptional fly fishing. Mission also provides a sauna, hot tub, private rooms, and other facilities for group gatherings. An enormous deck surrounds the main lodge and is just steps from the water, float planes and boats. Mission has excellent guides and carries a collection of Winston Boron IIIx and Boron III SX and Boron III TH rods. Mission can make specific recommendations based on the dates of your visit and the anticipated size of the salmon and other species you will catch. We suggest a Boron IIIx and/or Boron III SX 6-weight for fishing for rainbows, and a Boron IIIx 8-weight (either 9 or 9 1/2 foot) for salmon. For spey casters, we suggest either a 12’ 9”or a 13’ 3”Boron III T Two Handed rod.

With its first rate crew and unique air and water transport system, Nomads of the Seas can deliver the thrill of fly-fishing, whale–watching, bird-watching, and nature photography and other activities for a varied selection of outdoor adventures in the southernmost corner of the world. This is unique trip with exceptional fly fishing.

Long-time Winston rod enthusiasts, Nomads of the Seas has discovered unexplored waters, developed new programs, and added new infrastructure to make their trips over the past eight years different from the any other flyfishing operation in the world. It is for this reason that it has been selected as a Winston Preferred Lodge and is on the list of many adventurous anglers seeking new experiences. The flyfishing opportunities in Chilean Patagonia near the coast are as varied as the many different river systems Nomads of the Seas can access. Consequently, the Atmosphere carries a selection of Winston Boron III X (all-around rods) in 5-weight through 8-weights, as well as 6 through 8-weight Boron III SX rods for more challenging conditions.

The accommodations, food and service are exceptional. In fact, PRG-Trevelin is one of the few lodges in the world we have visited where we wouldn’t hesitate to bring less experienced anglers or non-fishing companions. The area surrounding Trevelin and Esquel boasts over two-dozen rivers and some of the most diverse fishing in all of Patagonia from temperate rainforest in Los Alerces National Park to the arid Patagonia steppe – all intentionally within striking distance of the lodge at Trevelin. The area is a fly fisherman’s dream come true.

The waters, fishing, and scenery are so plentiful that PRG recommends trying their “fish a different river daily” program to make the most of the experience. Those who do will enjoy casting dry and wet flies in every kind of water imaginable, catching a variety of strong, wild and large trout. The area’s rivers and lakes hold excellent numbers of rainbows, browns, brook trout, and landlocked salmon. Each morning, you are literally asked “what would you like to do today?” as you decide between…wade, float, river, lake, dry, wet, large (or very large) trout.

PRG carries a full assortment of the latest Winston Boron IIIx and Boron III SX rods for you to try, and will recommend which rods you should bring to optimize your experience. We found that, though there is a substantial variety of fishing available, a Boron IIIx 6-weight is the ideal all-around rod for PRG – Trevelin. However, as you should always bring more than one rod on a trip like this, we would also suggest bringing a Boron IIIx 5-weight as a lighter rod for the smaller area rivers, and, if possible, a Boron III SX 6-weight to handle big flies when it is windy.

PRG – North

Where: San Martin de los Andes (north of Bariloche), Patagonia, Argentina
Guests: 6-10

PRG guests also have the option of fishing the renowned San Martin and Junin de los Andes region a few hours north of Bariloche and stay at one of PRG-North’s spectacular authentic and vast Argentine estancias. We at Winston recently stayed at the beautiful estancia Huechahue and fished some of Argentina’s most famous trout rivers: the Chemehuin, Malleo, Limay, Aluminé, and the Collón Cura. PRG-North has a full collection of the latest Winston Boron IIIx, Boron III LS and Boron III SX rods available for their guests and will recommend which rods you should bring to cover all the available fishing situations. Because of the mix of small and large rivers, we suggest you consider bringing a lighter line dry fly rod (e.g., a Boron III LS 4 and/or 5-weight), as well as a Boron IIIx 5 and/or 6-weight which can generate more line speed for when the wind picks up.

PRG – Rio Pico

Where: Rio Pico, Patagonia, Argentina
Guests: 6+

A beautiful two hour drive south from Esquel, PRG-Rio Pico is a delight and serious fisherman’s dream. The rugged countryside near the Chilean border provides a spectacular backdrop for some of the best fishing in Patagonia. A strongly recommended add-on to any PRG trip, we highly doubt you will be disappointed. PRG-Rio Pico also has a collection of the latest Winston Boron IIIx and Boron III SX rods available for their guests, and will recommend which rods you should bring to cover all the available fishing situations. If you go, we strongly recommend you bring a Boron IIIx 5 and/or 6-weight, as well as a Boron III SX 6-weight as it will make casting large flies into the wind for large trout a dramatically more enjoyable (and rewarding) experience.