Sea run brown trout are available in various locations and the Rio Grande in Tierra del Fuego is the river that boasts the best established sea trout runs on the planet.

Brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) are the second most widely distributed non-native fish introduced to Patagonia. The first brown trout were stocked in Tierra del Fuego by John Goodall in 1935. Shipped from Puerto Montt in Chile, 60,000 'salmo trutta' eggs survived the arduous journey to be planted on the Candelaria and McLennan rivers, both tributaries of the Rio Grande. These fish eventually found their way to the sea, possibly attracted by the rich nourishment of the estuary.

These sea-run brown trout now complete the yearly migratory cycle of salmonids, spawning during the summer months in freshwater. Salmo trutta remain in the river for a period of time which ranges between 1 and 4 years until their first migration to the sea, where they will feed and grow for about 6 months before their first return to freshwater, weighing approximately 6lbs. Researchers have found trout which had spawned more than 6 times. A trout which has completed 4 cycles of returning to freshwater can weigh over 20 lbs. The frequency with which they return to freshwater is also an indicator that the fish face very few threats. Whilst also providing a very real example of the benefits of Catch and Release.

Brown trout have been introduced into at least 24 countries outside their native European range (Elliott 1994). They proliferate throughout their introduced range, often forming sea-run migratory (sea trout) populations in the southern hemisphere (Frost and Brown 1967). Ironically, sea trout stocks in their native European range are in significant decline, largely due to overfishing, aquaculture activities, and river regulation.

A National law establishes the town of Rio Grande, in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, as the Sport Fishing Capital of Argentina. The road that leads to the Rio Grande has a sign that makes reference to the honor vested upon this place in the southern most part of the Patagonia. But the absolute truth is that the Rio Grande does not need sign or monuments to claim to be what it really is: The Best Sea Trout River in the World.

The Rio Grande is born in the Chilean Patagonia at Lynch Lake and after flowing through Lake Blanco it crosses the border to the Argentinean Patagonia and travels 137 miles to its meeting with the Atlantic Ocean.

Catch and release is obligatory in the Rio Grande and the results of this special care are remarkable: in 1983 an average of 12 sea-runs were captured per week, weighing in at around 6 pounds each. In 2002 that average climbed to 36 fish per week, tipping the scales at over 11 pounds, although the majority of anglers that travel down to the Rio Grande can expect to land a 20 pounder during their stay. The fly fishing record is an outstanding 35.12 pounds.

Travelling Fly Fisher recommends Tierra del Fuego and Santa Cruz in Patagonian Argentina for your Sea Run Brown Trout fly fishing adventure of a lifetime.

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