Sebastián Letelier was born in 1979 in Santiago. He has dedicated more than half of his entire life to fly fishing and fly tying. In 1993, then 12 year old Sebastián met Mr. Adrián Dufflocq who ran the famous "Cumilahue Lodge", where they established a friendship and Sebastián learned many aspects of the development and discipline of fly fishing. It was in his home where Sebastián saw for the first time examples of the beautiful and colorful classic salmon flies. Since then this young man has been tying truly delicate trout flies, and classic Atlantic salmon flies. He started to work as a guide in 1996 when sixteen years old. Sebastián was the youngest guide at Dufflocq son`s operation based in Chilean Patagonia.

In 2000, Sebastián started his regular studies in Fine Arts in a traditional Academy, drawing and painting with the Spanish painter and teacher Martin Soria, who teaches in the tradition of the renowned Real Academia de San Fernando, where he was trained as a painter in the 70s.

In 2007 because of his growing interest in Classic salmon fly tying and in fishing for Atlantic salmon, he travelled and stayed in Scandinavia during the whole summer in Norway, Denmark and Sweden, where he learned many things by visiting the Gaula, as well as being able to fish the Orkla and the Laerdalselva. Meeting several Angler`s there.


In Denmark he payed a visit to one of the best fly tiers, Jens Pilgaard who is also a talented blacksmith ..and learned more about classic salmon fly tying without the use of a vise, while in Sweden he was able to meet again the knowlegdeable angler and Author, Pelle Klippinge and get to learn about and fish his beloved Em river which is so famous for big Sea trout and fishing history.

In 2008 he won first prize at the annual classic salmon fly tying contest in Finland organized by Helsinki Spey Clave. That lead him to get back to Norway, and he fished at stunning Stryneelva, (were he landed and released his personal best, a sturdy 110 cm Atlantic salmon, estimated at 17 Kg), as well as fishing again at Gaula and a few Scottish river`s. During these travels he spent the Norwegian autumm as he was chosen to assist at the school (more really a workshop) that Odd Nerdrum, a great figurative painter, ran in the same way as the old masters did.

In 2013 went to tie some flies for a collector in German a learning experience again, as well be able to fish again the Laerdalselva,Gaula river and Verdalselva, 2014 Travel to U.S and fished several river in the northwest coast.
He has been fishing and guiding every Summer`s in Chile, nowaday guiding in few places…. From tiny waters to lakes for Brown trout. And gaining quite a experience since he was a teenager.

Conservation:

In 2006 he was asked to collaborate on a book about Atlantic Salmon rivers, by the world famous salmon conservationist Orri Vigfusson, chairman of North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF, Iceland ). He donated some twenty drawings of salmon flies to enhance the book.

Since 2006 has been donated Artwork or Classic salmon flies to the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, in Charity auctions in UK and Norway. In 2008 he was able to present himself at the reception, an oil painting of the Stryneelva,Tegelen pool specially done for the NASF Auction, Oslo, and now owned by Mr. Matthe Schouten. As well in 2013 in Oslo Auction.
He has also supported the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Wild Trout Trust.

In 2009 he will donate to GUS (Goran Ulfsparre Foundation) for their charity auction a painting of the Em river and its world famous sea trout and salmon, in Sweden.

He tied and donated an interpretation of the Green Butt Skunk fly for the Dan Callaghan Memorial fly plate. All proceeds from the auctioned plate will go to the North Umpqua Foundation. This will be auctioned during 2009/ 2010

Published work and others:

“Am fluss” Author Georg Rosen (Germany), which is about salmon angling tales in different rivers of Norway, published in 2006.

“A Celebration of Salmon Rivers” for Orri Vigfusson, Chairman of The North Atlantic Salmon Fund (Iceland), 2007.
“River at the End of the World” by Adrian Latimer (England), about fishing in Argentina. All profits go to The North Atlantic Salmon Fund (Iceland) and Wild trout Trust (England), 2009.

“ Fly tiers of the world ” by Steve Thorton and Vem publishing (England). Sebastian is profiled in the third volume, being the only South American fly tier present in the entire collection of books that profile one hundred of the most skilled tiers around the world.

“Laxflugans Magi” by Pelle Klippinge from Sweden,  Atlantic  salmon fishing stories, flies, Some Characters, etc.  I profile there in one of the Chapters, as well some of my artwork

Fly Tying

2006 he won the sixth place at the classic salmon fly tying contest organized by Helsinki Spey Clave, fly shop in Finland
2008 he achieved the first place at the classic salmon fly tying contest organized by Helsinki Spey Clave, fly shop in Finland.

He participated in the British Fly Fair International at Stoke on Trent, England as a fly tying Exhibitor in 2008, along with his Danish friend Jens Pilgaard showing how to tie flies without the use of a vice.

2014 I participated in the Atlantic salmon fly international, show in Renton Seattle, representing South America.

Sebastián is the only fly tier of classic salmon flies that does it without the use of a vice in Chile and South America so far!.