Five Best: Luxury fishing lodges

Hotels so good that it doesn't matter if the big ones get away

Toon Ken Lodge Argentina

Toon Ken Lodge Argentina

Fishing enthusiasts from all over the world acknowledge that the remote Rio Grande river is one of the best places to catch sea-run brown trout. The newly constructed Toon Ken Lodge has a cosy but contemporary feel with beechwood interiors and a beautiful stone fireplace in the sitting room. Fly-fishing is the order of the day and guests here are just a short stroll or Jeep ride from the river. The food is simple, but also fresh and delicious.

Toon Ken Lodge (00 54 11 4331 0444; www.nervouswaters.com). Seven-night fishing packages cost from $4,870 (£2,865) per person with drinks, transfers, full-board accommodation and a licence. Flights are extra

Huka Lodge New Zealand

New Zealand's Lake Taupo has some of the best rainbow and brown trout fishing waters in the country, and at Huka Lodge it's all on the doorstep. The lodge overlooks the Waikato river in central North Island and its 20 guest suites are scattered throughout the lush gardens. Both the river and lake offer excellent fishing, but those keen to cast-off a bit further afield can also take excursions to waters in the surrounding countryside. Days off can be spent exploring the hissing fumeroles of the nearby Wai O Tapu thermal reserve or Huka Falls, just beyond the grounds of the lodge. After hanging up your rod you can wallow in the hotel's hot pools.

Huka lodge, Taupo, North Island, New Zealand (00 64 7 378 5791; www.hukalodge.com). Reservations through Small Luxury Hotels (01372 361 873; www.slh.com). Double rooms start from NZ$1,330 (£468) including half-board accommodation, cocktails and local transfers

King Pacific Lodge Canada

The only way to arrive at King Pacific Lodge is by seaplane from Prince Rupert, 56 miles to the north. Tucked away in a sheltered bay on Princess Royal Island, 90 miles south of the Alaskan border, this is a remote and breathtaking corner of British Columbia. The elegant timber lodge looks out over the crystal clear waters of the bay, and all of its 17 luxury rooms have either ocean or rainforest views. Guests can take to the seas in search of halibut and seasonal salmon, or, for those wanting to retreat further into the wilderness, there are fly-fishing trips by helicopter. For non-anglers there are guided bear viewing, whale-watching, hiking and kayaking trips.

King Pacific Lodge, Barnard Harbour, Princess Royal Island (001 604 987 5452; www.kingpacificlodge.com). The seven-night ocean fishing trip costs C$8,700 (£3,560) per person including transfers, fishing, open bar and full-board accommodation. Guests must also pay a C$225 (£92) conservation charge. The lodge is open May- October. Shorter stays are available

Delphi Lodge Ireland

The wilds of County Galway offer a glorious setting for a fishing expedition. Delphi Lodge is located on the water's edge in a beautiful valley surrounded by 1,000 acres of windswept Connemara countryside. The lodge, which has just 12 guestrooms, dates from the 1830s and was once the home of the Marquis of Sligo. Delphi is one of the best locations for salmon fishing in the west of Ireland and offers a variety of lake and river fly-fishing spots. Overcrowding is unheard of with the number of fishermen limited to between eight and 12 during the unusually long season which stretches from February to September. For those who wish to learn the art of casting, the lodge also offers a fly-fishing school on selected dates. A house party feel prevails; roaring log fires and communal candlelit dinners in the grand dining room are complemented by a carefully chosen wine list.

Delphi Lodge, Leenane, County Galway (00 353 95 42222; www.delphilodge.ie). Weekly fishing packages start from €1,800 (£1,286) per person per week including seven nights' full-board accommodation and six days' fishing. Single occupancy supplement, drinks, guide and a fishing licence all cost extra

Lower Varzuga Camp Russia

The Lower Varzuga river is an angler's dream, offering some of the best Atlantic salmon fishing in the world. A private helicopter takes guests from Murmansk airport to the camp, a row of simple but comfortable log cabins. Fishing dominates any break here - some guests have even been known to fish all night using the light of the midnight sun.

Lower Varzuga Camp, Varzuga, Russia (01488 689 701; www.rbrww.com). From £3,660 per person per week including all fishing, permits, full-board accommodation and transfers. Flights are extra