Season
Fishing in Bariloche in winter: where you can fish in Patagonia from June to September
Short answer: yes. While the national-park lakes and rivers close from 1 June to 30 September, Alicurá stays open all year, with motor trolling and a five-rainbow daily limit.
Almost every site about fishing in Bariloche, Patagonia, says the same thing: the fishing season runs November to April and winter is closed. That is half true. What closes are the lakes and rivers of Nahuel Huapi National Park. Alicurá reservoir, 100 km from town, is open under the regulations from 1 November to 31 October: all twelve months, and in winter you fish it from a boat, trolling, with the right to keep your catch.
What is open and what is closed in winter (2025/26 regulations)
| Water | June — September | Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alicurá, the reservoir on the Limay | open · 1 Nov — 31 Oct | 5 rainbows + 2 perch a day; brown trout, brook trout and landlocked salmon must be released | motor trolling, spinning, fly; barbless hooks |
| Nahuel Huapi, the lake in town | closed · 1 Jun — 30 Sep | in season 2 salmonids; in May and October 1 fish under 40 cm, not within 200 m of river mouths | in season, trolling |
| Moreno, the lake by Llao Llao | open · 1 Nov — 31 Oct | 1 salmonid under 35 cm; from 30 April catch-and-release only | spinning, fly |
| Limay inside the park | closed · 1 Jun — 31 Oct | 1 salmonid; from 1 April, release only | no motors; trolling banned |
The conclusion is simple. If in winter you want to go out by boat, troll and take fish home, there is one option near Bariloche: Alicurá. Moreno is open all year too, but from 30 April it is release only.
Why Alicurá fishes in winter
Alicurá is a deep, cold reservoir out in the steppe, east of the cordillera. Trout farms operate there in floating pens (balsas jaula); around the pens fish feed and put on weight for years, so a rainbow of three to five kilos is no rarity, and the press has documented one of 7.2 kg. In winter the water is cold, the fish are heavy and hold deeper, so trolling with sonar works. And the main thing: there is nobody there. On summer weekends there are many boats; in July you are alone.
The weather is honest: the steppe gets far less snow than the mountains, but mornings are frosty and windy. Dress as you would for skiing: base layer, warm jacket, something windproof over it, hat and gloves. There are always spare gloves, a hat and a rain shell in the boat.
How to pair it with skiing
In winter Bariloche lives on the ski season: Cerro Catedral opened on 6 July 2026 and extended its season to 12 October. There are several flights a day from Buenos Aires at that time of year. The classic plan is three or four days on the mountain and one day on the water in between: your legs rest, and that evening there is your own trout on the table. Winter days are short, so we go out by daylight, roughly nine to five.
The permit in winter
Same as in summer: the permit is personal, compulsory and valid across Patagonia. For Argentine residents (with a DNI) a day costs ARS 10,000; for non-residents, 50,000; the motor-trolling supplement is 20,000 a day. The details, with a table and who counts as a resident, are in the permit guide. I arrange it in advance from a photo of your passport or DNI.
What a winter day costs
The same as in season: Alicurá from USD 700 for a half day and from USD 900 for a full day, per boat for up to four people; with four that is 175–225 each. The price includes pickup from your lodging and back, boat with sonar, all tackle, shore lunch and something hot. The only thing not included is the permit, which you pay at cost. All options are on the trips and prices page.
In short
Can I take fish home in winter?
On Alicurá, yes: up to five rainbow trout and two perch per person per day, all year. On Moreno winter is catch-and-release only, and Nahuel Huapi is closed from June to September.
How cold is it on the water in July?
Below freezing in the morning, around zero or a little above by day, almost always with wind. Dress as for skiing: base layer, warm jacket and a windproof shell; I keep spare hats, gloves and rain shells in the boat.
Do I need a separate winter permit?
No, one permit covers the whole season from 1 November to 31 October. A day permit is ARS 10,000 for residents and 50,000 for non-residents, plus 20,000 for trolling.
When this information expires. The regulations and the permit tariff are reissued every year for the 1 November opening. The table reflects the 2025/26 regulations; the 2026/27 edition is published in October 2026, and new-season permits go on sale on 15 October. Checked on 8 October 2026.
Sources
Reglamento de Pesca Deportiva Continental Patagónico 2025/26, Río Negro annex (Alicurá, Moreno) and National Parks annex (Nahuel Huapi, Limay): reglamentodepesca.org.ar · Permit tariff: permisosdepesca.com.ar · Cerro Catedral 2026 season: ANBariloche, 6 July and 18 September 2026 · The 7.2 kg rainbow: Diario Río Negro.