Argentina’s Río Corcovado heads up in one of Patagonia’s largest lakes, Lago Vinter, on the border of Argentina and Chile. Kept cold and full all season by this glacial fountainhead, it is known for large browns and decent ’bows. By April, in the southern autumn, runs of chunky brook trout offer a welcome change of pace, and nymphs are the name of the game.

Occasionally, a Patagonia “cowboy” wanders out of the foothills leading a string of ponies, or greets anglers at the rancho to unlock a gate down to the river. Maybe he even serves up a cup of yerba maté with stories of how it used to be down here. Truth is, things still look pretty good in the land of brookies and gauchos.