Longitude: 64 km.
Flow: annual average, 32,5 m³/sec; November average 36 m³/sec and march average 8,5 m³/sec.
Name: araucan voice that means “white clay”
That the Malleo has gotten a great international renown (and still supports it) is not by chance. It seems like the attributes more desirables have been brought together in an almost perfect river. Moreover a lot of trout there is a balance of waters that cannot be bettered and a sensational view, with de Lanin volcano (11,200 feet), like a postcard of the most beautiful pictures.
Usually this course divides its self into two sections: the upper Malleo and lower Malleo. Even for a more deep analysis it was divided into four pieces: high Malleo, upper Malleo, middle Malleo and lower Malleo.
HIGH MALLEO
It extends across between the Tromen lake and near the Piedra Alta Hill (3821 feet). Its mouth doesn’t present any attraction and the firsts riffles appear near its born. Here the Malleo runs into a cannon and fast. The pools, few and small, are far one from the others.
Its rough environment (product of a loss of 330 feet of altitude in less of 10 kilometers) and an almost permanent succession of white waters and boulders, makes it complicated of fishing and walking. The bordering scenery results very attractive, with little woods of araucarias (“monkey tree”) that remain the views of Pehuenia. This stretch stands out because of its low pressure of fishing and the large number of trout.
In high Malleo the rainbows result the most abundant species, in sizes of 10 to 16 inch. With luck you can catch a specimens about more than 24 inch, in the pools near the outlet river, during the first two months of the fishing season.
UPPER MALLEO
It runs from the Piedra Alta Hill, to the international bridge that carries to Paso Tromen (Tromen passing). There the flow increases with the Mamuil Malal stream and the Huaca Mamuil stream, and with addition of the provide of a lot “mallines” that increase its productivity.
In the upper Malleo, they follow big polls harmoniously in the shape of horseshoe (like the case of “Tranquera Colorada”: Red Gate), all kind of riffles, cannons, beautiful basaltic walls with deep wholes and long stretches of slow waters like spring creeks (a copyright of Tres Picos). A big part of its area belongs to private lands like Olsen family, San Huberto´s founders: one of the more fine lodges of Argentine.
This section, with the best care, gives an incredible density of adult fishes. Their averages oscillate between 14 and 22 inch, including big browns of 4 to 8 pounds and captivating rainbows full of miles of dots like the Alaskan leopard trout.
The upper Malleo has a lot of public accesses, like a famous Puente Amarillo (Yellow Bridge), also known as Pino Santo (Holy Pine).
MIDDLE MALLEO
It is situated between the international bridge of Paso Tromen and the bridge that leads Alumine village. This section has medium characteristics between upper Malleo and lower Malleo (view, fishing pressure, and fishes quality). The middle Malleo is full of a lot of “mimbres” (willows) and it doesn’t present the riverside degradation of Auca Pan. This wind protection increases its aptitude for the dry fly fishing.
Though all this stretch has a public access, during a big part of its extension the river goes away from the route. This makes it more interesting for the people that accept to make a long walk to increase the fishing quality.
LOWER MALLEO
It extends across between the bridge that carries to Alumine village and its confluence with the Alumine river. From there the Malleo becomes slower, the riffles decrease and calm pools appear. This make a comfortable and safe wading. The landscape more arid, is full of rocks and hills that challenge the gravity like gigantic medieval castles.
One of the main problems is the degradation of the riparian vegetation and its environment, vital elements in the river dynamic. The indigenous of Auca Pan reservation, cornered because of the poverty, erode the land with goats and sheep. This fact has caused a considerable desertification even around the houses and the road. While the willows are extracted to use as firewood, the sheep doesn’t let grow up the sprouts. This destruction increases the sedimentation, that produces high mortalities to the frys, and the permanent lost of cover for the adults trout. Nowadays the problem is important, and if an official intervention doesn’t mediate at soon it could lose one of the more calificate Patagonia’s fishery.
Despite of this bad signs, the exceptional conditions of the lower Malleo become it in a good option. The survivors trout (doctorate in fishing techniques) had converted in trophies really hard to catch. There it is convenient to fishing sight fish and to act with common sense to be successful.
This stretch houses a lot of small trout (specially rainbows of 8 to 12 inch). The big boys fluctuate between 14 and 20 inch. With high water or at the end of the season (during the reproductive runs), the pools near to Alumine can offer browns between 4 and 8 pounds.
Food Source
The unbeatable conditions of Malleo resound in an amazing food source. The pancoras (freshwater crabs) proliferate everywhere and they are the regular food for the adult trout. In addiction to them there are a lot young trout; a valued proteins contribution for the big browns.
Among the insects, the mayflies (genus Meridialaris, Baetis, Amaletus and Chiloporter), caddisflies (fam. Glossomatide, Hidropsychidae and Leptoceridae) and a lot of stoneflies from the Gripopterigidae family stand out. The chironomids reach their “climax” in March, when the temperatures have decreased and the biggest insects hatched. Also there are a big number of snails, and some scuds and turvelarians.
In the Malleo the terrestrial insects have a great importance. Lengthways to the all river there are big sources of pulgones del sauce (willow fleas). In January and February the inch worms can be excluding in the middle and lower sections. It is the same with the tucuras (hoppers), near to mallines and grassland.
Fly fishing tactics and tackle.
This river offers a big number of proposals, so it requires and tackle that combines gentleness with versatility. A four rod whit a soft tip that allows protect fine tippets will be ideal, with WF floating line to use nymphs and dries. Add another sinking line (like 130 grains Teeny or ST II to IV): the more appropriated to fishing streamers in high water conditions. After January the ultra-light tackles assure epics experiences.
Too test your skills with really astute trout, try in the end of the season. In that moment, the most have been hooked and in the river there are only small insects. The feeding periods usually extends for several hours, proposing a lovely matching the hatch. Between the best dries fly, Black Irresistible and Attractor Patagonia Nº 10 to 12 (ideals for big browns at late afternoon), Elk Caddis and Patagonia Dun Nº 14 and 16 (like jokers in mayflies and caddis hatches) and Griffith´s Gnat Nº 18 to 22 (during midges hatch or spends of “pulgones del sauce”).
Between the wets and nymphs, stand out the Soft Hackle (as light dressed as Peacock), Prince, Pheasant Tail, Skip Nymph, “Jabalí” (wild boar nymph) and Caddis Pupa imitations Nº 12 to 20. It is advisable to have the same patterns in floating versions, extremely effectives with difficult trout.
Complementary reading: Malalco creek, and Quillen, Nilson and Meliquina rivers.
Access: from Junin de los Andes along national route Nº 234, as far the junction with the provincial route Nº 23. After twenty kilometers arrive at the bridge that carry to Alumine village. From there, going to the right, it can reach to more than 15 km of lower Malleo. On the contrary, going to the left to the provincial route Nº 60 (almost 35 km) we rich the detailed access to the high Malleo, upper Malleo and middle Malleo.
Regulations: no navigation. Between Tromen Lake and National Park limit: fly fishing only, barbless hook and catch and release only. Between the National Park limit and the bridge of the route Nº 23: fly fishing only, barbless hook and catch and release. Daily limit, 2 “percas” (native perch). Between the bridge of the route Nº 23 at its confluence with the Alumine river: fly fishing only and barbless hook. Daily limit, 1 trout smaller than 12 inch and 1 perca. End of fishing season May 31 st.
