You never know how paths might cross and change the trajectory of your life. A story of fate is told in “Return of the Guide” — a new film from Off the Grid Studios.
From Off the Grid Studios:
“A film about friendship, guiding, and the long arc of a wild place.
Set in the remote reaches of Patagonia, Return of the Guide follows fly fishing guide Erik Argotti as he returns to Jurassic Lake—known locally as Lago Strobel—more than two decades after helping establish one of the world’s most legendary trout fisheries.
What began as a chance roadside encounter in northern Patagonia became a lifelong bond. Alongside Argentine conservationist and lodge owner Luciano ‘Lucho’ Alba, and head guide Martín Rubino, Erik reflects on the friendships, risks, and quiet moments that shape a life spent guiding others through wild places.
Jurassic Lake is famous for its massive rainbow trout, relentless winds, and stark beauty. But this film looks beyond the spectacle. Return of the Guide is about the deeper rhythm of guiding—shared meals, long days on the water, trust built over time, and the way wild places leave their mark on the people who return to them again and again.
‘Some guy picked me up on the side of the road to piss off his girlfriend 25 years ago,’ Erik says. “And now I’m here. It just reminds me how much the relationships we make through fly fishing shape our lives.”
Shot in Argentina, Return of the Guide was filmed by Will Phelps and Erika Phelps, written by Miles Nolte, and directed and edited by RA Beattie. The film is an Off the Grid Studios production and will tour globally as part of the 2026 Fly Fishing Film Tour.
Catch it on the big screen The film will screen in theaters worldwide as part of the Fly Fishing Film Tour.
For tour dates and tickets, visit: https://flyfilmtour.com
About the Film
Twenty-five years ago, Luciano “Lucho” Alba picked up a hitchhiking fly fisherman on a dusty Patagonian road. That moment sparked a friendship—and a fishery—that would grow into something far bigger than either of them imagined. Return of the Guide is a story of chance, commitment, and the quiet power of wild places to shape a life.
Produced by: Off the Grid Studios
Directed and Edited by RA Beattie”
To see more from the Fly Fishing Film Tour, please click here.