THE
ENIGMATIC RÍO SIMPSON
Perhaps even a lifetime
is not sufficient to know this river.
By Julio Meier
This
river is named in honour of Admiral Simpson, a great English sailor who
produced important cartographic work on the coast of Aysén (XI Region) on
behalf of the government of Chile. The river is born in the Cordillera of
the Chilean Andes, 65 kilometers to the south-east of Coyhaique city close
to the Balmaceda airport. It passes the edge of the city on its long
journey between the high mountains, canyons and green valleys towards the
sea.
On the journey it receives
rich and uncontaminated waters from many important sources and streams,
like the Huemules, Blanco, Pollux, Clarito, Coyhaique, Baguales,
Correntoso and Mañihuales. It then changes its name to the Aysen river
which, after receiving the water of the rivers Riesco, Los Palos and Aguas
Muertas, finally gives itself to the sea.
Therefore, we can imagine the
great number of different places with different waters for sport-fishing
that it is possible to find in this fabulous river. It is said by famous
and expert fishermen from all around the world who have fished in her
waters, that the Simpson is not only one of the best rivers in Chile but
also, in the world. Populated principally by brown and rainbow trout, you
can also find Coho, Chinook and Atlantic salmon in the torrents where they
go to spawn.
For
those who have had the luck and privilege to fish in her waters, they may
agree with me that we could pass an entire lifetime here and still not
know or understand her secrets. Each day is different and presents
surprises with its explosive variety of life, such as Efemerópteros (May flies), Tricópteros (Caddis
Flies), Plecoópteros (Stone flies) and Dípteros (Midges) as well as crustáceos (Pancoras), moluscos (Caracoles),
insects etc. The trout have a very varied diet which has made them very
selective and can exasperate and infuriate the nerves of even the most
patient of fishermen, but it is incomparably compensated when you win a
catch.
"Catching
trout" is one of the most interesting things to do on the Simpson
during the day, and they need to be observed with great attention and care
so you can pinpoint their feeding places and catch your selected
trout. The challenge is to concentrate all your thoughts on
achieving the result. The hours become minutes, the day passes silently
and the dark comes quickly without us having noticed it. Alone, we listen
to the splashes of the trout like the sounds of our laughter. We go home,
but not before pledging, promising or threatening that we will return for
them scarcely it be break of day.
Text and photos by Julio
Meier (fly-fishing guide)
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