A Season of Patience, Persistence, and Unforgettable Moments

As we close out the 2025 season at Austral Kings Camp, we take a moment to reflect on the year behind us, the challenges we faced, the highlights, and what made this season one to remember.

Fishing Conditions & River Behavior

Throughout the season, king salmon consistently entered the system, an encouraging sign of a healthy run. Fresh fish moved steadily through the river, providing regular opportunities for fishing. However, unusually stable water levels limited changes in flow, making the fish more challenging to provoke.

Since king salmon don’t feed once in freshwater, success relies on triggering aggressive territorial or reaction strikes. Fresh kings, just entering the river, often hold at depths typically between 10 and 30 feet, so reaching them requires precise control of sink rate and presentation depth.

Anglers who adapted by carefully managing their lines, adjusting their leaders, and timing their presentations, while reading the subtle behavior of the fish, had the best chances of success. Minor adjustments in boat positioning, presentation style, guided by daily river conditions, proved critical. Of course fly selection it’s excential too, as the river changes we have to adjust size and colors, but, with the given conditions of this season, our picks were mostly small and colorful flies such as Comets, Frances, Tinsel, even small Intruders, mostly on Pink, Chartreuse, Orange and Silver. Which was the fly of the season? Let’s just say… It remains the guides’ best-kept secret.

Patience, precise presentation, and faith in the process were what turned opportunities into memorable battles and landed fish. Every year, we continue to learn more about these magnificent fish. Their behavior, strength, and mystery never cease to surprise us; it’s part of what makes chasing them so special.

Catch Highlights

Many anglers come to Austral Kings chasing the fish of a lifetime, and this season, that dream remained very much alive. As in previous years, the average king salmon weighed in around the 30-pound mark, with numerous decisive and memorable battles along the way.

Roughly 90% of the fish we catch are bright silver—a testament to how fresh they are from the ocean. Why? It’s because we fish within the first ten kilometers above the tidal zone, where most of the salmon have entered the river few hours/days before.

Several beasts were hooked this season, including a remarkable 47-pound King landed by our longtime friend Matt H., fishing the Bermudian Pool for the first time.

Another memorable moment came from Kristjan R., who caught a stunning 38-pound king—his first of the trip—on the exact same anchor point where he landed his first King the previous year, and with the same guide!!. What a funny twist of luck!

The largest king of the season tipped the scales at 48 pounds—a true standout and a moment that defined the trip for the angler who landed it.

Accommodations, River Access & Equipment Improvements

To improve comfort and access, we introduced several key upgrades this year:

• Accommodations: In addition to the three guest cabins completed last year, we continue to offer cozy riverside lodging with great views and warmth at the end of a long day. We also renewed the main dining tent, increasing both its size and comfort to enhance the shared experience at mealtimes.

• Boats: Our reliable jet boats ensured smooth operations throughout the season, and this year we added a new inflatable boat to access even more remote stretches of the river.

• Expanded Water Access: We consistently explored and fished new pools, thereby extending the fishable water and providing anglers with more variety and space. We plan to continue developing this in 2026 to enhance the experience further.

A World-Class Guiding Team

Our returning team remains one of the cornerstones of the Austral Kings. With combined experience across Argentina, Iceland, Russia, Bolivia, the Seychelles, Iceland, and the UK, they bring deep knowledge, adaptability, and a passion for teaching.

They adjusted strategies daily, tweaking setups, presentations, and positioning to help anglers connect with these elusive fish. Their river sense and commitment to each guest’s success made many difficult days rewarding.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Every season brings new lessons, and 2025 reminded us of the value of flexibility, persistence, and faith in the process. Even in challenging conditions, guests came away with more than just big fish—they left with an unforgettable experience: the chance to be in such a beautiful and unique place, great service and food, cozy accommodations, huge and powerful salmon, and a team that truly cares about the whole experience.

It’s always a pleasure to welcome back familiar faces. Seeing returning guests is a significant part of what keeps us going, and we’re grateful for your ongoing support.

We’re already planning for 2026, excited to share more of this amazing place. Bookings are open, and we look forward to seeing you next season at Austral Kings.

Thank you to everyone who joined us this year.

— The Austral Kings Camp Team