We know the water and the area around Patagonia very well! Some of us were born here and the rest of us have been fishing here for at least 15-20 years.
We are young enough to still have the appetite for catching fish! We won’t leave the river or lake without catching fish – this is a job for us but at the same time it’s our number 1 passion. In addition, we have been guiding for many years and we know what we want, how to do it and how to make a great experience in every sense from little details to everyday things.
Our host Pancho Panzer is in his mid-30s and very fluent in English, as are all our guides. He’s been guiding for over 10 years and fly-fishing since he was 8 years old. He guided in Chile for some years as well as Argentina. Pancho has fished in Alaska, Montana, Colorado, Oregon and many other places in the U.S., as well as Venezuela, all around Argentina, Chile, and Labrador. He was born in Santiago, Chile, and then moved to Buenos Aires, studied economics at the university, then came back to El Bolson, not far from Cholila, where he’s pursued his passion of fly fishing off and on for 20 years. Pancho wrote 90% of this website, in English. This is his “voice” you are reading.
Diego Raimondi, Guide, he is in his late-30s, he has lived in Patagonia since he was 4 years old. Hehas been fly fishing for over 20 years and knows the area extremely well, he has a great sense of humor and he takes fishing very seriously perhaps it is one of the few things he takes this way, he won’t leave the water without catching enough fish and trying all of his fly box.
Diego Ravi, Guide, in his early-40s, he was born in BA where he learned how to fly fish and fly tie. He studied Accounting and Hotel Management and around 1995 he couldn’t avoid Patagonia’s call any more and moved to Esquel. He became a certified fishing guide in 2002 and has been working in the area since then; he is very fluent in English and speaks a little Italian and French too. A day with him will leave you with many histories and a new knowledge in flies and his special creations as he is the expert tier of the Lodge.
Facundo Arrias, Guide, he is in his mid 20s, the young face of the Lodge but don’t let this foul you, he is a great oarsman and a passionate fisherman, if you combine this it turns to be into a great guide to be with. He was born in El Bolson and he has been fishing these waters since he was a little kid, he speaks very good English and he will have you laughing all day long.
Aldo Milton Castillo, we will need many great words to describe this incredible friendly person, guide, driver, Asado Expert, host and the person that can make everything happened at the Lodge. He was born in Cholila and has been at the Lodge since it was built, a hard worker and a great friend, everybody feels like they are leaving a long time friend when they leave the Lodge and say good bye to him.
Roberto Ciarlo, Chef, another young guy but with the skills of an older and expert Chef, he works with us during fishing season and then he goes to Spain for the rest of the year, always happy to cook and to make great dishes, very fun to talk with and to see him at work.
Nicolas Montecino, Chef, same as Roberto, they work together as a great team, they are always willing to make people go crazy with their dishes, they take turns to go on the Chubut Float trip, they complement each other very well.
Andres Muller, Guide. He was born in Buenos Aires and moved early to Esquel. He has been fishing at the Alerces National Park since he was eight years old, he speaks perfect English and German, he first started guiding as an assistant guide for Raul San Martin who was the pioneer in guiding in the area and then around 1992 he started guiding in The Chubut Province also.He is a certified casting instructor by Mel Krieger , He guided 3 years in USA at the Gunisson River and 2 years in Ireland for Atlantic Salmon. He was the President of the Guides Association and he is still a part of it.It is a pleasure to spend time with him, very patience and fun.
We have a bigger staff, house keeping and drivers, and we all get along very well and have known each other for many years. We work together like a family.
