Thanks Steven! If you have navy and brown you are in good shape. So you could try something mild (like a tan or olive) or you could be more daring (cream). That really depends on how you want to wear it. I have some light/drab suits from them that I love.
David, I know trout fishing is your first love. But, have you ever given carp a try on the fly rod? They've been a new obsession of mine the past few months.
I can appreciate the carp interest. I just have a very full angling deck and am trying not to add to that. Having said that I just cast in small, small, small streams in Colorado to very little trout and it was lovely. So a new interest—you can’t stop them!
Hello, David! I'd love your recommendations on fishing lodges for Patagonia I'm hoping to plan a week next year and want to do it right. Duel emphasis on long days of fishing coupled with great food and wine! Rustic is preferred over refined! Basically, what's your favorite!
Basically Tipiliuke is a great all around lodge and probably what I would recommend to most people. There are ways to break it up and fish at two different lodges. I have to recommend my friends at Fish Patagonia (https://www.fishpatagonia.com) that's who I fish with every year. And they can arrange and advise on all matters and book you at all the lodges (and it doesn't cost you any more than booking directly). They can help you find the right balance. I would advise Tipiliuke for 3-4 days and then an estancia (whichever looks best to you) for 3-4 days. They list all the spots on their site. Good luck!
This is GREAT! I'm new to the Contender (but not to your books), so I'll dive in and check out the Patagonia newsletter. Greatly appreciate the Tipiliuke/Estancia recommends. Ever Onward!
John - Permit me to guild the lily and heap praise on Peter and Holly at Fish Patagonia. Based on David's endorsement in print and with Michael on the podcast, I arranged a trip for with my father to celebrate his 75th birthday. It was a triumph. We did stay at Tipiliuke, and the team there executes at a really high level. They have perhaps 10 rooms. We went in early December right before the peak season, and it was an exceptional experience.
Peter picked us up at the airport and it was a 12-minute drive to the lodge. He and his cousin Tomy took care of us fishing for 5 days, Holly presided over logistics, and we really enjoyed just placing ourselves in the team's good hands. Their recommendations exceeded expectations on every front. Peter will consider your skills and interests, your mobility (dad's got a bum knee, so we did a lot of floating, and that was just great), and the weather, and will hatch a plan that will leave you grateful.
We appreciated having a quick Zoom with them ahead of time, and they couldn't have been more accommodating. Throw a bottle of Talisker in your luggage and you'll be welcomed as a hero.
An asterisk to consider is that you won't have control over who the other guests at the lodge are (and this is probably true no matter where you stay, unless you have a crew that will take the whole space); it is possible that another angler harbors great admiration for his own hunting prowess and mistakes a polite incline of the head as an invitation for him to show you lots of pictures of dead African animals. That's sort of the price of admission for staying at a great but intimate lodge; take strategic advantage of the delightful evening happy hour to assess your preferred dining companions.
Three final notes:
- An unexpected treat was a post-asado, post-siesta late-afternoon horse ride with Holly, Peter, and Jorge, the head gaucho at Tipiliuke Lodge. We aren't big horse guys, but it was a delightful way to see the land and get a small flavor of the important role horses and ranch life play in Patagonia.
- Attend every asado that is available -- they arrange things so that every guest gets at least one, but if you play your cards right, you may have a chance for a couple during your stay. This may mean coming back from the water at maybe 230 or so to dine, but you can always go back out there after.
- For your first visit, you may consider working with a travel agent to help with the Buenos Aires/transfer portions of the trip, particularly if your Spanish language skills are still developing. The domestic airport in B.A., from which you'd fly to Chapelco (airport near San Martin de Los Andes) has some nuances that might be jarring to some travelers (e.g., you can't pay for your overweight luggage at the spot where you check in and drop your luggage; they take your luggage there, but then you need to head back outside and find the cashier counter, pay them, and only then will you get your boarding pass). We arranged to have a navigator coordinate a car, and come into the airport to handle these matters, and it made the proceedings especially frictionless. This ended up paying huge dividends when we were leaving B.A. to come back to the States. For unknown reasons, the line to check in with Delta was running hours long; using a combination of charm, connections, quick-thinking, and perhaps even adroitly-applied palm-grease, Marina with PostaExperiences expedited things and we were having a pre-flight glass of Malbec in moments. Thue Posta team handled transfers, and expedited customs, and Marina's brother Massimo also gave us a great tour of the city. That may be worth the expense if you are new to B.A., or just want to hit the easy button.
Will, Thanks for the intel. I was checking that one out just as you wrote. It looks solid. Just pinged FishPatagonia to get things rolling. Thanks, Gents!
Just back from 2+ weeks in Neuquen Province in No. Patagonia. It is way out of the fishing mainstream and name lodges but you have a shot at unfished water. Not giant fish but so lightly fished that we now go regularly. The lodge Chochoy Mallin is really fantastic. Handsome rooms, good little bar, friendly staff.
Hi David, thanks as always for doing these! Was wondering you had may recommendations for foot shaped shoes that don’t look like clown shoes or toe shoes? I’ve found them to be a game changers for standing for 12 hours at work, but most options are so darn ugly.
The phrase "foot shaped shoes" has caused my cortisol levels to spike, Gregory! I'm afraid it's the rare situation where the name is as bad as the object. There has to be a better solution--canvas Sperrys or camp Mocs would be my choice.
Hi Caleb, I'm not really plugged in down there. I like Martin's Tavern in Georgetown. I was there a bit when I did a book signing at Sid Mashburn's nearby. Not exactly a secret, but I enjoyed it.
I’m reading Light Years. It’s great. It’s kind of crazy how it checks soooo many very specific Central Division boxes. Anyway, not a question, but humorous, and I thought it was worth dropping a note. Have you guys discussed it on pod yet?
Logan! We have planned to do our first ever Central Division book club on Light Years for about the last six months. We're going to do it this summer for sure. So you're ahead of the game. But, yes, it's wild. Shirt-makers, English fishing. A lot.
Burning the Days has one of the most beautiful written lines I've ever read. I was in a hotel room in Barcelona for the weekend from Amsterdam, where I was living. I've forgotten exactly what the line was, but not how it made me feel. RIP James Salter. Many years later I heard him at a reading at the library on the highway in Bridgehampton. Mr. Salter knew where to make an appearance! Why am I telling you that? It's James Salter.
There and Then by Salter is some of the best travel/sports writing I have ever read. Spectacular. Burning the Days is good, but so far I have enjoyed There and Then even more. Props to Coggins for that recommendation.
I've been rocking the unstructured linen suit look for summer—olive green, tobacco brown, off-white. Other than more linen, what do you recommend for shirt fabrics? Chambray? Pique? Going for a casual look here. Thanks—you're the texture guru chez Archambeaux!
I like poplin, which has a refreshing texture. Pique, as you mentioned, is good--Lacoste are always an option. Chambray, if it's been washed a lot, is thin enough to work. Finer fabrics in general. In person you can tell, of course, on eBay you have to guess. Good luck!
Hi Matt, shoes are tough. I think a velvet slipper is really nice. Usual suspects: Crockett & Jones and other English companies. Baudoin & Lange has really nice black tie shoes, more of an investment. And Belgian Shoes have some as well. I wear velvet slippers myself. All work well!
Hi David, I could've missed the lounge window but figured I'd ask anyway.
Any recommendations for quality used menswear in Paris and London. Unstructed sports coats, tantalizing loafers, possibly a well worn flannel? I'm thinking Ebay IRL, I could be dreaming.
That's pretty dreamy. I go all the way down Portobello--still can find some things at the far end on certain days. The best place for all of this is Thoroughbred New York, you can find him here: https://www.instagram.com/thoroughbrednewyork/
My darling wife has banned me from taking my beloved Weejuns on our trip to Rome and Slovenia this October, remarking that they are wholly inappropriate for European walking and give me blisters. Any recommendations for something appropriate for long cobblestone walks that doesn't make me look like a middle-aged American that's given up?
In Venice I would go to Chiarastella, a truly great home goods store. And San Rocco the scuola with all the Tintorettos. And avoid the entire area east of the Rialto Bridge, which is where Google Maps and the local yellow signs will direct you. Mass touristic chain stores and not where you want to be. Rome I keep it simple. Locarno Hotel (or bar if you're not staying there). And Battistoni the great men's store, but good for anybody, they have wonderful art from some of their old clients.
Well I’ll drink an Athletic N/A beer. Or sparkling water. Or iced tea. Wouldn’t say these are by choice. More an anti-choice based on some regimen I’m on.
Advise on taking a chance on new (at least for me) labels and brands. I’m consistently pitched offerings from clothing and accessory brands that at first glance seem to be up my alley. I’ve had mixed results with my purchases, mostly positive, sometimes a disappointment follows a couple of good garments. Reviews are subjective when one cannot consider the source. Without having the luxury of in hand inspection it’s a bit of a shot in the dark. I’d use more colloquialisms if they weren’t so hard to swallow
Hi Jon, it’s hard with new brands. I try to sense if they care about what they actually make. Not if they’re trying to create a “brand.” I also try to see if they make one thing they really care about before expanding too quickly before they have something mastered. Sort of like a restaurant, something you know about very well.
Verlon says hello! My wife and I had a great time fishing w him at Idaho Rocky Mountain. Thx for the recommendation.
Nice! Love it.
I am planning on commissioning a linen sport coat from J. Mueser. Do you happen to have color/fabric recommendations?
For references , I already have navy and brown sport coats in summer fabric.
Love your work! Thank you for everything!
Thanks Steven! If you have navy and brown you are in good shape. So you could try something mild (like a tan or olive) or you could be more daring (cream). That really depends on how you want to wear it. I have some light/drab suits from them that I love.
Incredible! Thank you!
David, I know trout fishing is your first love. But, have you ever given carp a try on the fly rod? They've been a new obsession of mine the past few months.
Thanks for all the hard work you put in!
I can appreciate the carp interest. I just have a very full angling deck and am trying not to add to that. Having said that I just cast in small, small, small streams in Colorado to very little trout and it was lovely. So a new interest—you can’t stop them!
Hello, David! I'd love your recommendations on fishing lodges for Patagonia I'm hoping to plan a week next year and want to do it right. Duel emphasis on long days of fishing coupled with great food and wine! Rustic is preferred over refined! Basically, what's your favorite!
Hi Jonn, sounds fun. I wrote a more involved newsletter about this, you can read it here: https://thecontender.substack.com/p/fishing-patagonia
Basically Tipiliuke is a great all around lodge and probably what I would recommend to most people. There are ways to break it up and fish at two different lodges. I have to recommend my friends at Fish Patagonia (https://www.fishpatagonia.com) that's who I fish with every year. And they can arrange and advise on all matters and book you at all the lodges (and it doesn't cost you any more than booking directly). They can help you find the right balance. I would advise Tipiliuke for 3-4 days and then an estancia (whichever looks best to you) for 3-4 days. They list all the spots on their site. Good luck!
This is GREAT! I'm new to the Contender (but not to your books), so I'll dive in and check out the Patagonia newsletter. Greatly appreciate the Tipiliuke/Estancia recommends. Ever Onward!
John - Permit me to guild the lily and heap praise on Peter and Holly at Fish Patagonia. Based on David's endorsement in print and with Michael on the podcast, I arranged a trip for with my father to celebrate his 75th birthday. It was a triumph. We did stay at Tipiliuke, and the team there executes at a really high level. They have perhaps 10 rooms. We went in early December right before the peak season, and it was an exceptional experience.
Peter picked us up at the airport and it was a 12-minute drive to the lodge. He and his cousin Tomy took care of us fishing for 5 days, Holly presided over logistics, and we really enjoyed just placing ourselves in the team's good hands. Their recommendations exceeded expectations on every front. Peter will consider your skills and interests, your mobility (dad's got a bum knee, so we did a lot of floating, and that was just great), and the weather, and will hatch a plan that will leave you grateful.
We appreciated having a quick Zoom with them ahead of time, and they couldn't have been more accommodating. Throw a bottle of Talisker in your luggage and you'll be welcomed as a hero.
An asterisk to consider is that you won't have control over who the other guests at the lodge are (and this is probably true no matter where you stay, unless you have a crew that will take the whole space); it is possible that another angler harbors great admiration for his own hunting prowess and mistakes a polite incline of the head as an invitation for him to show you lots of pictures of dead African animals. That's sort of the price of admission for staying at a great but intimate lodge; take strategic advantage of the delightful evening happy hour to assess your preferred dining companions.
Three final notes:
- An unexpected treat was a post-asado, post-siesta late-afternoon horse ride with Holly, Peter, and Jorge, the head gaucho at Tipiliuke Lodge. We aren't big horse guys, but it was a delightful way to see the land and get a small flavor of the important role horses and ranch life play in Patagonia.
- Attend every asado that is available -- they arrange things so that every guest gets at least one, but if you play your cards right, you may have a chance for a couple during your stay. This may mean coming back from the water at maybe 230 or so to dine, but you can always go back out there after.
- For your first visit, you may consider working with a travel agent to help with the Buenos Aires/transfer portions of the trip, particularly if your Spanish language skills are still developing. The domestic airport in B.A., from which you'd fly to Chapelco (airport near San Martin de Los Andes) has some nuances that might be jarring to some travelers (e.g., you can't pay for your overweight luggage at the spot where you check in and drop your luggage; they take your luggage there, but then you need to head back outside and find the cashier counter, pay them, and only then will you get your boarding pass). We arranged to have a navigator coordinate a car, and come into the airport to handle these matters, and it made the proceedings especially frictionless. This ended up paying huge dividends when we were leaving B.A. to come back to the States. For unknown reasons, the line to check in with Delta was running hours long; using a combination of charm, connections, quick-thinking, and perhaps even adroitly-applied palm-grease, Marina with PostaExperiences expedited things and we were having a pre-flight glass of Malbec in moments. Thue Posta team handled transfers, and expedited customs, and Marina's brother Massimo also gave us a great tour of the city. That may be worth the expense if you are new to B.A., or just want to hit the easy button.
Save travels, and enjoy!
Jon, this is fantastic. I love the deep intel, including the asado asides! I'll be reaching out to PostaExperiences! Thank you so much.
Hi John, wanted to chime in here too. My wife and I stayed at Estancia Quemquemtreu this year for part of our trip, and I can't recommend it enough!
I haven’t been there. But it’s high on my list. And have only heart good things.
Will, Thanks for the intel. I was checking that one out just as you wrote. It looks solid. Just pinged FishPatagonia to get things rolling. Thanks, Gents!
Just back from 2+ weeks in Neuquen Province in No. Patagonia. It is way out of the fishing mainstream and name lodges but you have a shot at unfished water. Not giant fish but so lightly fished that we now go regularly. The lodge Chochoy Mallin is really fantastic. Handsome rooms, good little bar, friendly staff.
Doug Biederbeck
This is excellent intel! Thank you, Douglas!
A
Hi David, thanks as always for doing these! Was wondering you had may recommendations for foot shaped shoes that don’t look like clown shoes or toe shoes? I’ve found them to be a game changers for standing for 12 hours at work, but most options are so darn ugly.
The phrase "foot shaped shoes" has caused my cortisol levels to spike, Gregory! I'm afraid it's the rare situation where the name is as bad as the object. There has to be a better solution--canvas Sperrys or camp Mocs would be my choice.
I thought the idea might stress you out. Thanks for the suggestions, but not ideal for manual labor.
Well then Blundstone’s. The classic 500. Quite lightweight. Easy to wear all day.
If it's truly outdoor oriented, Jim Green makes a "Barefoot Ranger" which might pass your muster: https://jimgreenfootwear.com/store/african-ranger-barefoot-boot-bronco/
Or, vivo trackers: https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/tracker-forest-esc-mens-aw22?colour=Forest+Bracken
Favorite DC bar? I like the Willard and Old Ebbitt's, but my wallet takes a beating!
Hi Caleb, I'm not really plugged in down there. I like Martin's Tavern in Georgetown. I was there a bit when I did a book signing at Sid Mashburn's nearby. Not exactly a secret, but I enjoyed it.
Strong co-sign re. Martin’s Tavern.
I’m reading Light Years. It’s great. It’s kind of crazy how it checks soooo many very specific Central Division boxes. Anyway, not a question, but humorous, and I thought it was worth dropping a note. Have you guys discussed it on pod yet?
Logan! We have planned to do our first ever Central Division book club on Light Years for about the last six months. We're going to do it this summer for sure. So you're ahead of the game. But, yes, it's wild. Shirt-makers, English fishing. A lot.
I recalled some talk of doing that but wasn’t sure if I had missed it. Glad to know I’ll be ready for it when you get to it!
Burning the Days has one of the most beautiful written lines I've ever read. I was in a hotel room in Barcelona for the weekend from Amsterdam, where I was living. I've forgotten exactly what the line was, but not how it made me feel. RIP James Salter. Many years later I heard him at a reading at the library on the highway in Bridgehampton. Mr. Salter knew where to make an appearance! Why am I telling you that? It's James Salter.
There and Then by Salter is some of the best travel/sports writing I have ever read. Spectacular. Burning the Days is good, but so far I have enjoyed There and Then even more. Props to Coggins for that recommendation.
I've been rocking the unstructured linen suit look for summer—olive green, tobacco brown, off-white. Other than more linen, what do you recommend for shirt fabrics? Chambray? Pique? Going for a casual look here. Thanks—you're the texture guru chez Archambeaux!
I like poplin, which has a refreshing texture. Pique, as you mentioned, is good--Lacoste are always an option. Chambray, if it's been washed a lot, is thin enough to work. Finer fabrics in general. In person you can tell, of course, on eBay you have to guess. Good luck!
Finally having a tuxedo made -- but where in Manhattan should I shop for appropriate shoes?
Hi Matt, shoes are tough. I think a velvet slipper is really nice. Usual suspects: Crockett & Jones and other English companies. Baudoin & Lange has really nice black tie shoes, more of an investment. And Belgian Shoes have some as well. I wear velvet slippers myself. All work well!
Hi David, I could've missed the lounge window but figured I'd ask anyway.
Any recommendations for quality used menswear in Paris and London. Unstructed sports coats, tantalizing loafers, possibly a well worn flannel? I'm thinking Ebay IRL, I could be dreaming.
That's pretty dreamy. I go all the way down Portobello--still can find some things at the far end on certain days. The best place for all of this is Thoroughbred New York, you can find him here: https://www.instagram.com/thoroughbrednewyork/
My darling wife has banned me from taking my beloved Weejuns on our trip to Rome and Slovenia this October, remarking that they are wholly inappropriate for European walking and give me blisters. Any recommendations for something appropriate for long cobblestone walks that doesn't make me look like a middle-aged American that's given up?
Would suede loafers be acceptable? Sounds like time for some Aldens.
She said it should be something with laces. What about some suede chukkas? Any ideas?
Well, this would be the Outsider IV, my collaboration with Viberg! https://viberg.com/products/uplands-1905-outsider-iv-cojb
But the Alden chukka is also a classic.
Do you have any “must stop here” spots for Rome and Venice? Restaurants, museums.. anything and everything goes. Thank you!
In Venice I would go to Chiarastella, a truly great home goods store. And San Rocco the scuola with all the Tintorettos. And avoid the entire area east of the Rialto Bridge, which is where Google Maps and the local yellow signs will direct you. Mass touristic chain stores and not where you want to be. Rome I keep it simple. Locarno Hotel (or bar if you're not staying there). And Battistoni the great men's store, but good for anybody, they have wonderful art from some of their old clients.
If you're not drinking, what's your beverage of choice?
Well I’ll drink an Athletic N/A beer. Or sparkling water. Or iced tea. Wouldn’t say these are by choice. More an anti-choice based on some regimen I’m on.
I actually just discovered how enjoyable Athletic Lite is if it's an incredibly humid and hot day but I need to begin working.
Any recommendations for a few nights in Quebec City? Taking a side trip drive up from Midcoast Maine.
I don’t have any for you in Quebec. Was in the province last year to go fishing. But not in the city.
Any recs in Maine, Bar Harbor specifically? Taking the family in August to see Acadia, but always looking for a stream to fish and a nice meal.
I don’t have Bar Harbor. I would put Blue Dolphin antiques and Big Chicken Barn Books on your list. In the midcoast area. I wrote something for Drake’s a while back with some other favorites. https://us.drakes.com/blogs/news/a-maine-field-report-with-david-coggins?srsltid=AfmBOoqjmX_qzYKQ9kqIYjhSIFsWI1f7zaHn0BWZhwVvZlbYuWHu49AX
Advise on taking a chance on new (at least for me) labels and brands. I’m consistently pitched offerings from clothing and accessory brands that at first glance seem to be up my alley. I’ve had mixed results with my purchases, mostly positive, sometimes a disappointment follows a couple of good garments. Reviews are subjective when one cannot consider the source. Without having the luxury of in hand inspection it’s a bit of a shot in the dark. I’d use more colloquialisms if they weren’t so hard to swallow
Hi Jon, it’s hard with new brands. I try to sense if they care about what they actually make. Not if they’re trying to create a “brand.” I also try to see if they make one thing they really care about before expanding too quickly before they have something mastered. Sort of like a restaurant, something you know about very well.
Good analogy.
Good advice as always.
Cheers to getting wet
and to picnic days