The water
Alicurá, Patagonia: the reservoir on the Limay where rainbow trout grow to trophy size
Alicurá is our main water: deep, cold, open all twelve months, with rainbow trout of three to five kilos. The rules, the season, what you catch and how the day runs.
Alicurá is a reservoir on the Limay river, 100 kilometres from Bariloche on Route 237, on the border between Neuquén and Río Negro provinces, in Argentina's northern Patagonia. The dam was built for hydroelectric power, but what matters to an angler is different: this is deep, cold water between basalt plateaus and bare steppe, where rainbow trout live for years and reach sizes that do not exist in the postcard mountain streams. For us it is the main water, and the only one near Bariloche that is fished all year from a motorboat with the right to keep fish.
The water in brief
| From Bariloche | about 100 km, 1 h 20 by car across the steppe; transfer included |
|---|---|
| Season | 1 Nov — 31 Oct, all 12 months |
| Fishing zone | from the Traful confluence (Confluencia Traful) to 500 m above the dam |
| Fish | rainbow trout (the target, often 3–5 kg), brown trout, perch, landlocked salmon |
| Limit | 5 rainbows + 2 perch per person per day; brown trout, brook trout and salmon must be released |
| Methods | motor trolling, spinning, fly; barbless hooks all season; live bait banned |
| Closed areas | the buoyed fish-farm areas and their projections to the shore, no fishing or navigation; 500 m above the dam |
Why trophies grow here
Alicurá has fish farms, floating pens where trout are raised. Around the pens the water is rich in food and fish put on weight for years. That is why a "normal" Alicurá rainbow weighs three or four kilos, and the press has documented one of 7.2 kg: not an official record, but a recorded catch that shows what to aim for. The pens are buoyed: no fishing or boating inside, and inspectors check.
How the day runs
- Departure. I pick you up at your lodging in Bariloche. The drive is an hour and twenty across the steppe, with the Limay and the basalt plateaus alongside; on the way we talk about what you want: a trophy, numbers, or just a quiet day.
- On the water. A half day is 9 to 16, a full day 9 to 20, by daylight in winter. Boat with motor and sonar, life jackets for everyone. We usually start trolling, the easiest way in for someone who has never fished: the gear works behind the boat, I watch the depth and the sonar, and your job is to pick up the rod when it goes off. Anyone who wants to switches to spinning or fly.
- Shore lunch and something hot, included. The fish is cleaned and packed for the trip.
- Back to your lodging. The photos and video of the day are yours.
When to come
Alicurá is open all year and each season has its character. November to April is warm, with long days and more boats on the water. May to September is cold and windy, but empty, the water is cold and the fish are heavy; it is the only time Nahuel Huapi is closed and this water is open (more in fishing in winter). I check the forecast the night before: in strong wind we move the day or change water.
What to bring
A warm jacket and a windproof layer, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen (you need it on the water even in winter), shoes you do not mind getting wet, a passport or DNI for the permit, and a cooler bag if you are flying the fish home. Everything else, rods, lures, net, scale, food and water, is in the boat.
Prices
Half day (9–16) from USD 700, full day (9–20) from USD 900, per boat for up to four people; with four that is 175 and 225 each. Transfer, boat, tackle and lunch are included. The permit is paid at cost: ARS 50,000 a day for non-residents, 10,000 for residents with a DNI, plus 20,000 for trolling (more on permits). Book a day by WhatsApp or Telegram.
Alicurá or Nahuel Huapi?
| Alicurá | Nahuel Huapi | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | 1 h 20 each way | 10–20 minutes |
| Season | all year | November to May, plus restricted May and October |
| Fish | trophy rainbows of 3–5 kg | brown and rainbow, smaller on average |
| Limit | 5 rainbows + 2 perch | 2 salmonids |
| Who it suits | trophy hunters, a full day | families with kids, a half day, if you have one day in town |
| Price per boat | from 700 / 900 | from 600 / 800 |
More about the lake in the Nahuel Huapi guide.
Regulations and limits are from the 2025/26 season, checked on 8 October 2026. The 2026/27 regulations are published in October; I will update.
Sources
Reglamento de Pesca Deportiva Continental Patagónico 2025/26, Río Negro annex, entry "Alicurá (Lago Embalse)": reglamentodepesca.org.ar · The 7.2 kg Alicurá rainbow: Diario Río Negro · Fish farms and the giant trout of Alicurá: Perfil Weekend.