Substance over style

You don’t travel to Patagonia to make pretty casts. The incredible seat trout fishing here is about getting close to the bottom, finding fish in tight pockets, and putting your fly where it counts.

Rio Menéndez, a narrow tributary of the Rio Grande in Argentina, is a perfect example. Its deep bends hold sea trout tight against the riverbed, and the only way to reach them is with quick-sinking setups and precise presentations.

My go-to for the Menéndez is the single-hand ZX 890 with an Opti Runner, paired with a shooting head, fast sinking tips, and a heavy nymph, articulated streamer, or Sunray Shadow. It’s not elegant casting, but it’s effective.

This setup won’t win you style points – the casts are heavy, sometimes clumsy – but the fish don’t mind. What matters is accuracy. Putting your fly tight to the opposite bank gives you the longest drift and the best chance of a take.

Another excellent option is the double-hand ZT Travel 6122. With a 6 piece make-up it is ideal for travelling. The rod tube fits neatly into a standard suitcase, saving the hassle of checking oversized gear. I fished it with a VersiTip system and multiple sinking tips (down to T-16), always going one line class heavier than recommended. The result was being able to push through the infamous Patagonia winds while still maintaining a good element of control.

Fishing the Menéndez is a reminder that results matter more than form. It’s not about perfect loops or graceful casts – it’s about getting the fly down fast, hitting the pocket, and trusting the fish to do the rest.

The casts might not be the most pleasing on the eye, but it’s the result that matters.