Call Toll-Free: 1-888-TAIL-H20  (1-888-824-5420)

Home   Contact Us

Nic Fin Outfitters

Chilean Patagonia
Cerro Castillo National Park
Simpson & Paloma River Valleys


Chile is located along the western coast of South America’s Southern Cone, between the highest peaks of the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the longest countries in the world, stretching 4,300 km, and also one of the narrowest. Its average width is only 180 km. Chile has a variety of landscapes such as the Atacama Desert in the north – the world’s driest desert - the fertile farming valleys in the center, the fascinating Easter Island (Rapa Nui), the stunning southern Lake District, the Patagonia, and the isolated Tierra del Fuego. This explains Chile’s desert climate in the North, Mediterranean in the Central Region, and cool and damp in the South.


Nic Fin Outfitters offers a extremely fishing intensive experience and is best suited for those anglers who really want to enjoy long days on the water and exploring the most secluded corners of Chilean Patagonia. They are a very small operation, and do not base their program on a crisp schedule or itinerary like the bigger lodges. Head guides, Skip Mullen and Adam Henderson, are two of the most experienced and enthusiastic fly fishing professionals you will ever find. Nic Fin Outfitters is a mobile program, covering many of Chile’s finest rivers and stillwaters every week. 75% of Nic Fin guests land the biggest trout of their lives, trophy brown trout on terrestrial patterns is their specialty!

Following fifteen + years exploring and fishing Chile working with some of the area’s greatest lodges, Adam and Skip have recently launched Nic Fin Outfitters. Also a part of the team is Skip’s wife, Viviana, who is a native Chilean and has over a decade of experience in the local eco-tourism industry in Chile. Their first few seasons have been a smashing success. With only four guests per week, Nic Fin is a true “Mom and Pop” operation that offers a truly unique and intimate experience for North American anglers who are accustomed to the polished & high profile lodges the region. Guests of Nic Fin will gain a true understanding and appreciation of Chile, its people, Patagonia, and its wildest reaches.


Unlike the traditional fixed lodge concept, Nic Fin Outfitters runs a program designed to rotate clients through two distinct areas of the Aysen Region of Chilean Patagonia. Nic Fin’s six night / five day program accommodates a maximum of only four guests per week. Anglers spend three nights and three days fishing out of the lakeside Tamango Lake Lodge in the Cerro Castillo National Park. Then move for two nights and two days fishing the Simpson and Paloma Valleys out of Minchos Lodge, in the Patagonian capital city of Coyhaique.

Nic Fin employs special boats (part jet boat / part cataraft) designed, manufactured, and used by Nic Fin Outfitters are a valuable asset that is part of what makes their program so unique. Anglers utilize the comfort and stealth of a modern drift boat going downstream, and enjoy the convenience and versatility of large jet propelled outboards running upstream. These custom built craft allow for Adam and Skip to access water on both rivers and lakes which is simply impractical for their competitors. Complete with swivel seats, hip brace in front, and modern anchor system, some will testify that these boats are as or more comfortable than modern drift boats. Adam and Skip also utilize comfortable and reliable four wheel drive vehicles for traversing the extremely rugged and remote road system in Chilean Patagonia.

Anglers with Nic Fin need to be prepared for long days on the water covering lots of ground by truck and boat. The reward for all of the effort is tremendous! Adam and Skip pride themselves in offering up the best dry fly fishing in Chile for true trophy sized browns and rainbows.


Nic Fin Outfitters is not your typical fished fishing “Lodge”. Guests utilize two locations as accommodation for the six night adventure. Anglers enjoy authentic Chilean people, cuisine, wine, and culture while staying at both lodges.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, guest will be staying in the beautiful Tamango Lake Lodge, located in the Cerro Castillo National Park area. Each room has a fire place, two oversized double beds and private bath. Breakfast, dinner and cocktails will be prepared by our chef and served Chilean style in the main lodge. Tuesday night guests enjoy a traditional Asado Patagon (barbeque).

From Wednesday night through Saturday, guests stay in the Capital city of Patagonia Chile (Coyhaique). Wednesday evening guests arrive to Minchos Lodge, were each room has fireplace, two oversized double beds and private bath. Meals will be served and prepared by a staff of Chilean chefs in the main lodge. Breakfast will be served Chilean and American style, starting at 7:00am. Of course all meals are served with the finest Chilean wines.


4 Anglers Per Week


Nic Fin operates on a 6 Night / 5 day (Sunday - Saturday) schedule with travelers from the USA departing on the Saturday preceding and arriving home the following Sunday.

Anglers first travel to Santiago, Chile (SCL) via direct overnight flight (9 hours from DFW) from several U.S. cities including Miami, Houston, New York, and Dallas/Ft. Worth international airports. After an early morning arrival the next day, travelers connect on to Balmaceda Airport in southern Chile with Lan Chile Airlines on a three hour flight with one brief stop in Puerto Montt en route. Upon arrival into Balmaceda around 4:00PM, guests are collected by Skip or Adam and transferred approximately 1 hour forty-five minutes to their lodge in Cerro Castillo National Park.

Many guests will prefer to overnight in Santiago on the way down to relax after the long plane ride and see the city. Another option is to push southward to the town of Puerto Montt halfway between Santiago and Balmaceda. The nearby port town of Puerto Varas is a very pleasant and affordable venue to get over jet-lag and hang out before making the onward 1 hour flight to Balmaceda the next morning. Please ask us for details if you are interested.


Nic Fin Outfitters operate a 6 night / 5 day itinerary arriving at their first lodge on Sunday and returning home the following Saturday as follows...

Saturday
Afternoon (red-eye) departure from the United States to Santiago Chile. Arrival into Santiago the next morning (Sunday).

Sunday
Upon arrival into Santiago, guests connect from Santiago on to Balmaceda, Chile with Lan Chile Airlines arriving into Balmaceda at approximately 4:15PM. From Balmaceda, anglers are met and driven approximately one hour forty-five minutes to the lodge.

Monday & Tuesday
Fish the lakes and river in and surrounding Cerro Castillo National Park. Continued overnight at the stunning Tamango Lake Lodge.

Wednesday
Another full day of fishing in the Cerro Castillo region. Instead of spending another night at Tamango Lake, guests are taken to Coyhaique for overnight accommodations in town at Minchos Lodge.

Thursday & Friday
Two full days of fishing out of Coyhaique in the Simpson and Paloma River Valleys. Continued overnight at Minchos Lodge.

Saturday
On the day of departure, a Nic Fin Outfitters driver will take you to Balmaceda Airport for your flight. There is no guided fishing scheduled on the day of departure. Depending on connecting flights, you may need to leave very early that morning, so we recommend packing the night before. If your flight is schedule to departure in the afternoon we will be spending the morning or early afternoon exploring Coyhaique City. As transferring from Coyhaique to the airport can take up to one hour, guests can enjoy a relaxed pace Saturday and enjoy the town and many cafes and artisan shops available prior to transferring to Balmaceda airport and then to Santiago. Flights from Balmaceda airport to Santiago should be coordinated with your international flights to the U.S.A. allowing sufficient time (three hours in advance) to check in to your international flight.

Sunday
Arrive USA early morning.


Nic Fin Outfitters are open December through April. November and December are considered early season and equate the late Spring early summer in the Rockies. Water conditions and river flows have peaked and are stabilizing, and rested uneducated trout are abundant after the winter.

January through mid-March are the peak summer months in Patagonian Chile with warmer temperatures and the lengthiest days with dry fly fishing with terrestrial patterns as the chief style of fishing. Later in March through May marks the end of summer and early fall. By mid April the leaves begin to change and cooler temperatures are prevalent. Anglers should be prepared for very dramatic weather patterns no matter which month you decide to visit Chile. We will provide you with a very detailed packing list so you are prepared for any type of fishing condition that may occur.


Fishing is the predominate activity with Nic Fin Outfitters.


2009 RATES

(based on shared room/guide)
6 Night / 5 Day Package ........$4,100 Per Angler


6 Nights double occupancy accommodations; 5 Days guided fishing with shared guide; Daily transportation to rivers, streams and lakes; Daily housekeeping; Three meals per day; Alcoholic Beverages; All transfers between the Balmaceda Airport and Lodge


Round-trip Airfare to/from Balmaceda, Chile; Use of fishing equipment and flies; Fishing Licenses; Gratuities; Items of personal nature including telephone calls; Laundry service; $100 Chilean Entry Fee; Departure taxes; Meals, Hotels, Ground Transportation & other travel expenses before/after the fishing portion of the trip in Puerto Montt or Santiago

home   |   about us   |   contact us   |   terms & conditions   |   employment   |  
© 2009 Tailwaters Fly Fishing. All Rights Reserved.