Matias Orellana — Patagonia Trout Adventures

About

Matias Orellana is an Argentine fly fishing guide who has spent his entire adult life on the rivers of northern Patagonia, building a reputation as one of the most skilled and personable guides in the region. Born in San Martin de los Andes, Matias grew up fishing the Rio Malleo, Chimehuin, and Alumine rivers that drain the eastern slopes of the Andes, and his understanding of Patagonian trout behavior is informed by decades of daily observation on water that he considers an extension of his own home. His clients include both visiting international anglers and Argentina's own passionate fly fishing community, and he is equally comfortable guiding in English and Spanish.

Matias excels at matching his guiding style to the personality and skill level of each client. For experienced anglers, he opens access to remote, wade-only stretches of river where large resident brown and rainbow trout hold beneath overhanging willows and volcanic boulder fields. For those newer to the sport, he selects more forgiving water where the trout are eager and the scenery is breathtaking, allowing beginners to build confidence and technique in an environment that rewards effort without punishing mistakes.

His float trips on the Rio Malleo during the fall spawning run are particularly sought after, offering shots at large migratory brown trout that move upriver from Lago Huechulafquen in predictable seasonal pulses. Matias also guides on the Rio Grande for sea-run brown trout, a species that represents one of fly fishing's ultimate challenges.

Specialties