Fish Patagonia › Guides › Río Yelcho Fishing Guide: Species, Months, Flows and Flies
In short: Río Yelcho is a drift-boat river in the Yelcho area of Palena province, Chile. Species the app lists: Chinook salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, coho salmon and Atlantic salmon. Months by the app's general seasonal guide: Chinook salmon: January to April (peak: February to March); Brown trout: November to May (peak: December to April); Rainbow trout: November to April (peak: December to March). Right now: 332 m³/s (inflow proxy: Futaleufú above the Malito, no gauge of its own); the river is in its ideal range on the app's scale.
Guide updated October 27, 2026 · live data Oct 27, 2026, 1:59 PM (Chile)
Big, clear outflow of Lago Yelcho running to the sea near Chaitén. Float it for large browns and rainbows; at the lake mouth trout chase salmon smolts near the surface, and chinook run it in season. No flow gauge of its own: the flow shown is its main inflow (Futaleufú above Malito).
The app's suggested gear: 7–8 wt (9 ft) · 250–300 gr sink-tip + short 6–7.5 ft 0X–1X fluorocarbon leader for deep runs (+ 6 wt floating at La Boca).
The app's starting estimate (not yet validated by guides): low and clear below 250 m³/s · ideal 250–520 m³/s · high 520–800 m³/s · blown out above 800 m³/s (in cfs: 8,829–18,364–28,252). Right now: 332 m³/s (inflow proxy: Futaleufú above the Malito, no gauge of its own); the river is in its ideal range on the app's scale.
In Palena province (Res. Ex. 2428/2025): artificial lures with a single barbless hook only; one Atlantic, coho or Chinook salmon may be kept per angler per day and every other species must be released; no fishing from bridges or roads, and none between 22:00 and 06:00. Always confirm with Sernapesca. See season and rules.
According to the app's seasonal guide: Chinook salmon: January to April (peak: February to March); Brown trout: November to May (peak: December to April); Rainbow trout: November to April (peak: December to March); Coho salmon: March to May (peak: April to May); Atlantic salmon: January to May (peak: February to April). This is a general guide: the real timing changes every year with weather and flow.
The app lists: Chinook salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, coho salmon and Atlantic salmon. In Palena province (Res. Ex. 2428/2025): artificial lures with a single barbless hook only; one Atlantic, coho or Chinook salmon may be kept per angler per day and every other species must be released; no fishing from bridges or roads, and none between 22:00 and 06:00. Always confirm with Sernapesca.
The app uses a starting estimate, not yet validated by guides: low and clear below 250 m³/s, ideal from 250 to 520 m³/s (8,829 to 18,364 cfs), high from 520 to 800 m³/s and blown out above 800 m³/s. The Río Yelcho has no gauge of its own, so its main inflow is used.
7–8 wt (9 ft) · 250–300 gr sink-tip + short 6–7.5 ft 0X–1X fluorocarbon leader for deep runs (+ 6 wt floating at La Boca).
Provisional data and general guidance. Conditions change quickly: scout, check local rules with Sernapesca and use a local guide on big water.