Joe K. and Leah S. recently traveled down to Chile to Magic Waters Lodge where they had a super memorable fishing and lodge experience! Read Joe's thoughts below:
Did you find the trip booking process through Yellow Dog enjoyable and useful? If not, please share why.
-Â Yes, it was very helpful. Jack and Wyleigh were great.
Was the Yellow Dog pre-trip planning packet(s) and travel itinerary you received for your trip helpful and accurate? If not, how could it be improved?
-Â It was definitely helpful...though a little generic. I get it though, you can't make a packet for every specific lodge. some of the rod/reel selection could have been a bit better.....realized after getting there that a 7 wt would have been helpful and some extra reels to line up would have been good...but the lodge had what we didn't have so probably doesn't matter. Everything was good and helpful though....especially Jack helping out with follow-up questions I had and leading up to us leaving.
Do you have any comments or constructive feedback based on the overall lodging (rooms, dining area, social area, etc)?
- Amazing.... hot tub was awesome and a win! Food was spectacular! The music was a really fun touch on friday night and I wish asado night could be every day! Everything was super clean and comfy. Fires in the fireplace on the colder mornings was really nice to wake up to. The location is very beautiful. Rooms, art, bathrooms, really everything were excellent.
Do you have any comments or constructive feedback based on the service, friendliness, etc of the lodge staff?
-Â Everyone was super wonderful, helpful and friendly! They went out of their way. Feel like we were old friends with Eduardo by the end of the week. Carolina was especially awesome. short story that shows how great they were is that I didn't eat my sandwich the 1st day because I don't like mayo (not allergic even, just don't like)... I usually just deal with it but the guides ended up telling the kitchen staff and had a special sandwich without mayo each day... even transferred over to the baker lodge when we fished a day there the following week.
Did the food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) match what you were expecting? If not, please provide additional comments or constructive feedback.
-Â Exceeded my expectations and most people call us foodies. We really like that the menu was not "americanized" and that it was traditional chilean dishes. The hor's douevres were especially a really tasty nice touch each day. The soups at lunch were awesome and really hit the spot on those chillier days. Great piscos and excellent wines!
Were you pleased with your guide(s) customer service, communication skills, professionalism, work ethic, and general fishing knowledge? If not, please share why.
- Guides were awesome, especially Ives, Jose and Colin. Colin doing the planning the night before was super helpful and made sure we got a nice mix of the different waters we wanted to fish. They all knew the waters, had excellent english, were fun, excited, energetic, etc. etc. About the best group of guides i've ever fished with. Some people had a slow day here or there, but we must have gotten lucky because had a great day every day.
What key pieces of gear or flies made your trip successful?
-Â A little soft hackle fly turned a slow part of one day into just bananas fishing. Rain jacket of course....
What piece(s) of equipment would not leave home without for this trip , or your next, with Yellow Dog?
-Â I would have brought another reel to line up my 6 wt. Also, a sink tip was pretty critical one day.
Would you return to this lodge destination? Please share why or why not.
- Yes, without a doubt..... already trying to think of when we could make it again. Also, we were between magic waters and cinco rios when deciding, and both while there and after returning, I specifically remember thinking that we made the right decision to go to magic waters over cinco rios (based upon our personalities, what we wanted to fish, and a number of other reasons etc.)
How would you briefly summarize your overall trip experience?
-Â Trip of a lifetime! something that we will never forget. The fishing there has probably ruined me for the year on my local waters though....."What do you mean I don't get to catch a whole bunch of 18-22" trout everyday?"
