Malleo River Photos

Fly angler on the Malleo River beneath Lanin Volcano
Greg LeMond holding a large Malleo River brown trout caught on a dry fly
Fly angler fighting a trout near Goat Island on the Malleo River
Large Malleo River brown trout caught on a size 6 female Adams dry fly
Art casting along the bank at the Willows Pool on the Malleo River
Sunset over Lanin Volcano and the Malleo River valley
Fly angler fishing a hatch on the Malleo River
Greg and Kathy LeMond with a brown trout from the Malleo River
The Red Gate Pool on the Malleo River with Lanin Volcano in the distance
Michael Polaire with a rainbow trout from the Malleo River
Clear water and willow-lined banks on the Malleo River
Large rainbow trout rising in the clear water of the Malleo River
Cathy Beck fly fishing on the Malleo River
Art holding a brown trout from the Malleo River
Aerial view of trout holding in the Willows Pool on the Malleo River
Greg LeMond fly fishing on the Malleo River Greg LeMond fishing the Malleo River
Rainbow trout rising to mayflies in the Malleo River
Michael Polaire fishing the tail of the canyon on the Malleo River
The Malleo River at the Red Gate at sunset
Paul with a rainbow trout from the Malleo River
Fly angler preparing a cast after spotting a trout in the Malleo River
Large brown trout jumping while anglers fish the Malleo River
Aerial view of the upper Huaca section of the Malleo River
Greg LeMond holding a rainbow trout from the Malleo River
Close view of a Malleo River rainbow trout and the small nymphs it was feeding on
Young angler fly fishing on the Malleo River
Snow-covered Lanin Volcano above the Red Gate section of the Malleo River
Michael Polaire fighting a trout on the Malleo River
Wild rainbow trout being released in the Malleo River
Fly angler fishing the bank at the Willows Pool on the Malleo River
Art fighting a trout on the Malleo River
Michael Polaire with a brown trout at Los Chivos on the Malleo River
View upstream from the Huaca section of the Malleo River
Fly angler landing a rainbow trout on the Malleo River
Fly anglers wading the Corrales section of the Malleo River
Greg LeMond holding a brown trout below the canyon on the Malleo River
Art casting a fly on the Malleo River beneath Lanin Volcano
Female Adams dry fly in the mouth of a large Malleo River brown trout
Paul Pare fighting a trout on the Malleo River
Fly anglers on the Malleo River beneath Lanin Volcano near Laguna de Barro
Renato with a rainbow trout from the Malleo River
Michael Polaire preparing to cast on the Malleo River
Fly angler fighting a trout in a wide run on the Malleo River
Fly angler holding a rainbow trout beside the Malleo River
Wild brown trout from the Malleo River
Michael Polaire casting beneath the willows on the Malleo River
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A true legend among dry-fly anglers, the Malleo River begins at Lake Tromen beneath the unmistakable silhouette of Lanin Volcano and winds across the Patagonian steppe before joining the Alumine River.

Despite its modest size, the Malleo offers an extraordinary variety of water. Its upper reaches tumble through rocky pockets and narrow channels; farther downstream, the river slows into clear, spring-creek-style glides before opening into classic riffles, willow-lined banks, deep pools and long, beautifully defined runs. It is a river made for exploring on foot, with intimate presentations and frequent opportunities to watch trout rise or move toward the fly.

Wild brown and rainbow trout respond to a changing menu throughout the season. Late-spring stoneflies are followed by caddis and mayflies in early summer, while terrestrials become important on warm days. Autumn brings cooler mornings and delicate Blue-Winged Olive activity, often calling for lighter tippets and smaller dries. Nymphs and streamers also have their moments, but it is the quality and consistency of the surface fishing that made the Malleo famous.

The quality of the Malleo is also the result of a long-standing commitment to conservation. The care shown by neighboring estancia owners, together with protective regulations established by the Province of Neuquen and the National Parks Administration, has helped preserve both the river and its wild trout. Fly-fishing-only rules, mandatory release of salmonids and the use of barbless hooks have reinforced a culture in which protecting the fishery is considered an essential part of enjoying it.

These photographs offer a glimpse of the river, although they can hardly capture the feeling of fishing such varied water in a single day. We do most of our guiding on the exceptional stretches surrounding San Huberto Lodge and Estancia Mamuil Malal, where generations of local knowledge and a deep connection to the Malleo remain at the heart of the experience.

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Tell us your travel dates, experience level and the kind of fishing you enjoy. We will help you build the right Northern Patagonia itinerary and spend time on one of its most iconic dry-fly rivers.

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