What to pack for a week of fly fishing in Patagonia

There are many ways to go about this but this is the way I do it. The full packing list is available as a printable PDF at the end of this article.

The rods, reels and lines

5wt 9ft for dry flies – Whenever sensible (and sometimes when not) I am dry fly fishing. A 5wt rod is a great generalist tool that can present tiny dry flies and throw smaller streamers. Paired with a reel loaded with just a floating line.

6wt 9ft for the big stuff – You might think that the difference between a 5wt and 6wt is not that much but it does make a difference. A 6wt will have a bit extra strength for bigger streamers while still being able to be your backup dry fly rod. For this rod I have a floating, intermediate and heavier sinking line.

Note: If your fishing style is different then the gear requirements will likely be different too. Nothing wrong with wanting to use an 8wt streamer rod or a light bamboo rod. This is just a general guideline. The major restricting thing is the wind.

Wading gear

Wading boots and waders are among the heaviest items on the list but there are some very travel-friendly options nowadays. Wading socks are good to have if the weather is warm so you can replace the waders with just some thin fast-drying hiking pants.

For wading boots I like to use rubber soles without studs. Felt is slippery on grass or on a drift boat and it can spread things from water to water. Studs are banned on boats.

Layers, layers and layers

Patagonia is known for its fast-changing weather. During one afternoon you can get sun, wind, rain and cold. On a warm day you might be happy wet wading and wearing a long-sleeved UV shirt. On other days you might layer a merino shirt, fleece and down jacket.

The basic system:

• Light t-shirt
• Long-sleeved UV shirt
• Merino base layer (top and bottom)
• Light fleece or wool mid-layer
• Lightweight down jacket
• Breathable rain shell

Fly boxes

I like to build a fly box for every trip with dry flies, nymphs and a couple of streamers in the same box. This box will be in my waders’ chest pocket with easy access all the time. In addition to that I carry category-specific boxes in my backpack.

Meiho is a Japanese brand that makes great fly boxes. For fly selection, check Matching the hatch in Aysén.

Leaders and tippet

For dries — 9ft tapered leaders in 3X and 4X. That covers everything from the big foam flies down to the smaller mayflies, and if the fish are on the tiny stuff I just lengthen the leader with a section of tippet.

For streamers — a short 1X leader. The fish are not leader-shy when they are chasing a streamer, and you will want the strength for landing that big one.

Tippet spools in 1X, 3X, 4X and 5X. Tippet weighs nothing, so this is the one category where extra costs you nothing. Bring more leaders than you think you need — running out of them ends the fishing.

The stuff people forget

Sunscreen. Factor 50. The UV at this latitude is often brutal and you’re on the water all day with no shade.

A hat, UV buff and gloves. Sunscreen alone won’t get you through a full week — and the buff doubles as a windbreak for your neck on the cold mornings.

Polarized sunglasses. I like to bring two pairs in case I lose them.

A headlamp — the evening hatches are unforgettable and you will want to find your way back to the cabin.

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That’s it. The full checklist is below as a printable PDF. For the airport side of things and how to pack see Travelling with fly fishing gear.