The 2026 season has officially ended, and winter is closing in here in Patagonian Chile. As the days get cold and snow begins to coat the mountaintops, it is wonderful to dream back to those warm summer days of just a couple of months ago. Having said that, the 2026 season was a strange one in terms of weather. Hot days, cold days, sunny days, rainy days – we experienced more of all of these in our season than ever before. While January was mostly sunny and warm (hotter than normal, actually), December and March were rainy and cold, and February – normally a warm, dry month – showed a bit of everything. With all the rain, our worries for a low water year (after how little snow we received in the winter) never materialized, and we could float almost all our rivers through the end of the season. And that is exactly why our BaseCamp program is so much fun! We have an enormous number of different rivers, creeks, lakes and lagunas available, all just a short distance from the lodge. Throw in our outpost camps – IslaLeon on the Rio Palena, and TempleCamp on the banks of the Rio Figueroa – and you will have different waters to fish for years. Maybe that is the reason why so many people choose to return, season after season!
The strange weather also had an impact on our rivers’ bug life. While in normal years stoneflies start to come off heavily by the end of January and form a very important part of the trout’s menu through March, this season the hatches were very poor. Also, while we were in “The Year of the Cantaria Beetle”, they were not as prolific as in normal years. But trout still have to eat, there is plenty of other food around, and the guides perfectly figured out what was on the menu, both on the surface as well as deeper in the water column. And some truly wonderful trout were caught; many browns over 20-inches and good numbers over 25-inches, as well. The rainbows always seemed to want to play, and they kept anglers busy and focused. It is so much fun to see them cruising just under the surface…placing the right fly just two feet ahead of them…and watching as they lazily slurp it from the surface. Sight-fishing in Patagonia never gets old! This is actually one of the unique aspects of fishing down here. Because there are no birds of prey hunting the fish, trout routinely swim worry-free near the surface in search of bugs, making for great sight-fishing.
The Temple Camp was a big hit as always for those choosing a longer stay with us – its dining cabin overlooking the Rio Figueroa, complete with fireplace, kitchen, and both indoor and outdoor dining tables, makes for some memorable meals. And the comfortable domo tents spread out through the trees, with boardwalks, real beds, and outdoor flush toilets and showers make it a comfortable adventure. Typically guests stayed either two or three nights here, choosing different water to fish each day.
The IslaLeon Camp on the Rio Palena is an amazing, remote experience, only reached via boats. Guests this year loved catching fish all day while floating the upper Palena, then at day’s end cruising into a fully-situated tent camp with all the amenities. Meals were classic Disco (wok) extravaganzas, and there was always a lot of laughter and reminiscences of the day’s fishing, and looking forward to what the next day’s float back to civilization would bring.
As always, the food was a high point for guests in 2026. Our chefs at BaseCamp immerse you in an unforgettable South American culinary fusion experience, with a new masterpiece every evening…though it is often the famous “Disco Meal” the guides cook up during the Palena overnight float that will be taken home as one of the highlights of the week.
Our 2027 season will take off by the end of December and run into late March. As always, we will run two different programs in parallel – our standard 7 night/6 fishing day program including the famous overnight float on the Rio Palena, and our 10 night/9 fishing day or 11 night/10 fishing day programs, which include the 2-3 night add-on at TempleCamp. Both programs take a maximum of six anglers. We hope to see you here at Basecamp next season – we have a lot of beautiful, dry-fly eating trout waiting for you!
Patagonian BaseCamp enjoys a loyal following of returning anglers every season; space is always limited. If you are wanting to give this remarkable destination a try in 2027, give me a call or drop me an email. It is one of my favorites, especially for anglers traveling to Chile and looking for larger trout in stunningly beautiful surroundings. There is no place quite like it in the fly fishing world! – Mike Mercer
Call or shoot an email to Mike Mercer to learn more about PBC. (800) 669-3474 | (530) 222-3555 | E-mail: mercer@theflyshop.com.