It’s our pleasure to present this second part of our interview with Gerardo Ortiz, one of the Directors of PatagoniaNation in Santiago, Chile. If you missed Part 1, read it here.
No doubt your team entertains anglers from around the world. Where are the most pleasant / easiest to please angling visitors typically from?
Definitely the anglers of North America they have a unique conscience of their environment, they breathe and love fishing and the give it a value beyond a hobby, for many of you it translates into a very honest form of life.
What’s your favorite time of year to fish in Patagonia?
For sure it would be spring time, it’s the best time of the year, great swarms of fish, amiable weather and few anglers.
Please tell us how you first got started fly fishing?
It’s actually a woman’s fault jajajaj. I learned and loved Fly Fishing because of a woman that loved fishing, as did her family and so as not to be bored and without a girlfriend, I decided to learn, and well here you have me.
[Mark – if you could get them to be honest about it I wonder how many of our fly fishing brethren out there would admit to this very thing. Certainly we’ve run across a fisher or two who fishes to escape from women as well.]
What’s your favorite fly fishing destination in North America? The world?
I haven’t gone to the mythical places in North America, but I believe Alaska is a place I must visit. Beyond its undeniable angling attributes, basically as a believer in this religion you have to at least go once to the Cathedral. And for the ones I do know, it would definitely be Strobel in Argentina, nothing compares to the craziness of the place, there’s really nothing like it.
If you could encourage fly fishers to do just one thing in terms of stewardship this next year, what would that be?
I would just tell them to follow their dreams, to never resign to that place within you that calls upon you. Fishing is not a sport; it’s probably an instance that connects us with that which is most intimate in each of us, just like dreams. Never stop seeking for the perfect place, the perfect fish, because if by any chance you can’t seem to catch up with him, the path taken in its discovery will take you farther beyond any average human being has gone.
Gerardo, much appreciated and thanks again for taking the time to chat with us. You’re welcome at our campfire in Montana, Yellowstone or the Pacific Northwest whenever that may be. And once again, images via the team at PatagoniaNation.
