I was lucky to have met Monte Becker 15 years ago on my first journey to Chile. His generous nature and knowledge of the area and people were inspiring to me.
I wanted more time with Monte and his family the minute I shook his hand. He is just a good person living a good life. And he knows how to catch fish. I am so excited to be able to offer our friends his unique fishing program.
Granite Canyon Lodge Monte Becker specialize in searching out the trophy trout found on seldom-seen portions of the rivers outside of the Coyhaique region. Most of their destinations require 4WD for access, and involve hard work on the guide’’s part, and technical rafting. Monte Becker and his staff of talented Chilean professionals have the best of the few drift boats in Chile. Their boating skills and work ethic have made Monte and his team a legend among local anglers and other regional guides.
Each day’’s fishing is tailored to mirror angler’’s interests and abilities. Angling choices include classic dry fly fishing on both large rivers and small streams, chucking streamers to structure, or tossing hoppers below miles of grassy banks from Monte’’s beautifully handcrafted, wooden drift boats. Monte has found small streams with few but oversized trout, ala New Zealand; modest-sized rivers where anglers can catch chunky fish on dry-and-dropper rigs until they’’re satiated; big rivers with big trout hungry for large dries and streamers; and just about any other style of fishing one can imagine. There’’s plenty of water around and anglers seldom repeat a stream or river float during their visit. And after 15 years of continual exploration, there is no-one in the Coyhaique region who has a better handle of where to go, and when.
Their season stretches from Thanksgiving through April, and Monte and his lovely wife, Paola, host only six anglers each week at their
Granite Canyon Lodge, perched on the Manihuales River bank. The food, lodging and service are superb, and the entire experience is intimate, and memorable.
Monte's guests stay at ““Granite Canyon Lodge””, appropriately named since it is perched on granite precipice overlooking a fabulous pool on the Manihuales River. You can literally sit on the deck and watch wild trout sip mayflies off the surface. Or if you have enough energy after a full day of fishing with Patagonia Drifters, go down to the home pool and fish these resident, wild trout. The setting of Granite Canyon Lodge is spectacular and the atmosphere is warm, cozy and intimate –– purposely designed to offer world-class service and personal attention.
Monte’’s private lodge consists of three separate (and unattached from the main lodge) double occupancy guest rooms. Room one is located just off the main lodge and is spacious tastefully decorated with an attached full bath and two queen size beds. The room has spectacular downstream views of the Manihuales River and is perfect for those anglers that can’’t navigate stairs. The two additional guest rooms are situated in a two-story duplex building, one upstairs and one downstairs, about 150 feet from the main lodge. These accommodations offer a very private setting along with elevated views of the rock encapsulated canyon squeezing the river. Each of these rooms offers plenty of usable space to unpack and organize your kit, and feature two queen beds and a full bath. All linens are supplied in the guest rooms at Granite Canyon Lodge along with bar soap and shampoo. Due to the lodge only accommodating 6 anglers at one time, there are rarely single occupancy options at Granite Canyon Lodge.
The main lodge is a rustic, timber-framed building with a loft; the latter a living quarters for Monte during the season. The main gathering room offers a panoptic view of the surrounding mountains and home river, and is the gathering spot for hors d'œœuvres, cocktails and chance to share your day of fishing with your fishing partners. The woodwork in the main lodge is spectacular in its attention to detail and innovative use of local hardwoods and natural timber, a refelction of the talent of Monte Becker, a recognized master craftsman and boatwright.
Dinner and breakfast are served in the main dining room, a creation of Monte’’s brother-in-law Hector a graduate of the top culinary institute in Santiago, Chile, and protégé of Axel Manríquez, the renowned, internationally recognized Executive Chef of Bristol Restaurant located at the Hotel Plaza San Francisco. Sebastian’’s creations are amazing, a combination of country Chilean cuisine mixed with modern fusion South America gastronomy, mixing locally grown fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs with range-fed beef, lamb and chicken as well as fresh seafood from the nearby coastal village of Aisen. Lunches are served streamside, complete with table, chairs tablecloth and cloth napkins. Often a fire is built and your guide will roast tasty dishes over an open flame. Lunch entrees are accompanied by fresh salads, fruit, locally made cheeses and sausages and finished with a tantalizing dessert. Great Chilean and Argentine wines are served with lunch and dinner, and plenty of cold beers, along with Chile’’s version of the margarita pisco- sours are available.
To book a trip to Chile please give Rachel Andras a call at 530 227 4837 or andrasoutfitters@me.com / www.andrasoutfitters.com
"Rachel,
Awesome trip to LR! Thanks!
Just one of many, and I actually was able to spot, cast and catch some of my own!
Best,
Jim"
"Hi Rachel,
Thank you for helping to arrange a wonderful trip to Los Roques, what a great time! Great fishing, wonderful place to stay, super staff......Hugh"
"Hi Chris,
I wanted to send along a Thank You for a great week of fishing. The guides were great, very helpful, insightful, and full of sight! Los Roques is surely a spectacular area, one I would like to return to someday. There are a ton of bonefish around and if a fellow was a better bone fisher than any of us, 20-30 fish days might be common. On a personal note, it would be fun to chase some alternative species and have more success. Maybe the other species are just much more difficult to catch, find, not around and my desires are not reasonable. That said, what a wonderful week from fishing to lodging, top rate!
We are compiling some pictures that we will forward to you, might take a week or so. We hope you will share them with the guides if they are interested....Hugo"
To book your next fly fishing trip to Los Roques, give us a call at 530 227 4837
www.andrasoutfitters.com
