CHILE
The Gear and Tackle List

Gear for Flyfishers
(based on a 1 week trip)

• 1 rain jacket
• 2 polar fleece shirts
• 2 warm shirts
• 1-2 polar fleece pants (1 light weight 1 medium weight for under gortex waders))
• 1 turtlenecks
• 1 set long underwear (top& bottom)
• 3-7 pair underwear
• 3 T shirts
• 2 pair wool/fleece socks
• 2-5 pair standard socks
• 1 wool or fleece hat
• 1 cap with brim
• 2 pair jeans or cotton pants
• 1 pair weather proof boots
• 1 pair fishing gloves - fingered or fingerless
• 1 polarized sunglasses
• bathing suit ( lake or hot tub!)
• personal toiletries
• insect repellent
• camera & film
• waders (Gore-Tex are best) & repair kit
• reading/writing materials
• flashlight
• calculator ( for quick money exchange stuff!)

The weather is usually 45-55 degrees at night and 55-75 in the day during most of the summer. It is   likely to rain sometime during your stay.  One week may be total sun, another total rain and drizzle so be prepared for the worst. There are stores in Puerto Varras and Puerto Montt if you happen to forget something.  If you are heading to El Patagon or Los Banditos there are no stores available.  We have rental flyfishing gear at Yan Kee Way including rods, reels, and waders.  There a couple of  fly shops   in Puerto Varras and one in Puerto Montt.

Most of the fishing is going to be throwing streamers against the bank so your primary rod should be a 6 or 7 weight.  Your sink tip will be used the majority of the time, but I always keep a floating line with me just in case. It's possible you may be throwing mice patterns into the weeds one day and swinging heavy streamers for salmon the next, nymphing on a small creek, or throwing 6X leaders to  fish in a clear spring creek. I have listed the gear below in order of importance.  The guides will have flys but please bring your own or let us put together an assortment.  Tying materials are limited in Chile so if you come with a basic selection it will help out the guides.

Most used rod:

• 9 foot 6-7 weight rod
• 150 yards 20 lb. backing
• 1 floating line  
• 1 - sinking tip line with 15- 24' sinking tip (5-6"; per second sink rate) (a 200 grain head will help you get down quickly

For spring creeks and smaller streams:

• 8'6"-9', 4-5 weight rod
• 50 yards 20 lb. backing
• 1 -floating line

For Estuaries and big river water

• 8-9 weight rod
• 200 yards 35lb. backing
• 1 - sinking tip line with 15- 24' sinking tip (5-6" per second sink rate, 200-250 grain head is best)

Leaders & accessories:

• 8' leader for floating lines (2-3 pound, 2 -5 pound, 6-10 pound
• 3'-6' leaders  for sink tip lines
• Tippet: 1 spool each; 3 pound, 4 pound, 5 pound, 10 pound,15 pound, 2 spools of 8 pound
• Small assorted split shot
• paste floatant
• strike indicators
• Nippers
• forceps
• Rod repair kit ( tip top, epoxy, thread etc.)
• Wader repair materials ( aqua seal or similar)
• crazy glue

You might break a rod or lose a fly line on your trip - be prepared! !

The Fly Box