Falkland Islands Fly.Fishing

John Byron would surely have loved the fantastic fishing opportunities at the Sound, if trout had already been stocked on the Falkland Islands in the 18th century.

The whole fishing fun did not start altogether before a bridge was built over the bay including the culverts. This created a basin that would generate a good exchange between high and low tide, but still allows such a high water level during low tide that the fish like to stay in it.

A beautiful river feeds the Sound, which is also of great importance for the reproduction of the sea trout and the reason for them staying here.
The river is referred to, and here we have our little homage to Harry Potter, “he who must not be named“, because this place ought to remain an insider tip…

This fishing spot is – without sticking my neck out too far – the best fishing spot on the Falkland Islands (unless a few voracious marine mammals are hanging around, which only happens rarely).

A little aristocratic anecdote that will make you smile: A Scottish nobleman shared this opinion when he was lucky enough to fish here a few years ago. He immediately decided to expand his estate by this particular river and made an offer to the perplexed Falkland Islanders.
They went in it for fun, knowing that only land can be privately owned, not rivers or bodies of water, because they belong to the British territories. A little while later, the generous aristocrat got stuck in the mud and it was not without malicious joy that people took their time pulling him out of his misery.

But back to the present and back to the middle-class: There are certain times when the Sound will allow you to hook sea trout between six and eight pounds with every cast.
Well, this explains the great number of "me and my fish“-selfies on Facebook and mobile phone displays.

At special moments, depending on the tides, large schools of wonderfully round and well-nourished sea trout come into the Sound from the bay. They then linger for some time in front of an island that can be easily reached from the shore. It is incredible what force and vitality these mighty fish display to reach for the fly!
After a while, these fish swim their rounds in the so-called "lake".
The latter is a widening of the brackish water a little further up. You can see them jumping there and doing their rounds.
Sea trout in all sizes - like on a fish size wish list.

Lucky the one who is at the right place at the right time, when these fish move into the river during heavy rainfall.


Fishing permits must be obtained from the landowners before entering.

Peter Nightingale is your man for the West.

He is a very pleasant and extremely friendly guide who chauffeurs his guests in a relaxed manner across the grandiose scenery of the West Falkland Islands and provides them with a lot of background knowledge in a humorous way.

He lives on a farm in the beautifully situated Hill Cove with his wife Shelly (a true 5th-generation Falkland Islander, with a slight tinge of blue blood) with a wonderful view over the Byron Sound, very close to the legendary fishing spot.

Peter and his wife are the contact of choice when it comes to your fishing pleasure at the Sound. And if you want to make yourself comfortable, you can stay with the Nightingales in their beautiful Hill Cove home, because they also offer full board accommodation.
Contact via: inquires (at) kelpertours.com.