GOLDEN DORADO RIVER CRUISER

Our favourite Golden Dorado fishery is the Parana River, Argentina. The second longest river in South America only to the Amazon.

WHERE AND HOW

Golden Dorado action Parana River Argentina. The Parana changes characteristics as it makes its way through Argentina. From the clearer single channel meandering river up North. With time gathering size and attitude as it makes its way towards the junction of the Uruguay River. Here creating huge braided systems and ultimately the Parana Delta before discharging into the Atlantic. Around the town of Rosario is a pleasant 3 hour drive from the bustle of Buenos Aires. Here is a myriad of split channels, back waters and shallow lagoons that, without the help of GPS and a good guide, one could be lost in forever. The water here is that of a typical lowland river, fairly heavily laden with sediment. Visibility is not great, but the nutrient load is overwhelming and the shallows alive with baitfish. With the complexity of channels there is no way this system could be fished out of a lodge. Bait concentrations and hence the Dorado move huge distances. What better way to keep up with them, than with a Live aboard operation. Guests sleep in air-conditioned cabins downstairs. While enjoying a luxurious bar and dining room upstairs that has breathtaking views over the pampas and floodplains.

THE FISHING

Fishing is in Carolina Skiffs, undoubtedly one of the most versatile and angler friendly boats in the world. These are super fast,  roomy and so stable that if your boat partner makes an unexpected lunge for the cooler box, you don’t even know he is there! Two anglers to a boat the guide holds in the current and off structure with a GPS enabled trolling motor. This is operated by a remote control leaving him hands free to wire trace your fly and excitedly point in the direction of fish holding structure. One day you will be swinging pigeon sized Andino Deceivers on a shooting head. This could  raise a 10 pound plus fish from the depths on a 9 weight. Another guide enjoys more delicate presentation of poppers and frogs stalking smaller fish in shallower lagoons on a 6 weight. The fishing timetable is very relaxed early full breakfast and on the water. Later returning to the mothership for a three course, gourmet lunch and siesta. However if you want stay out- a picnic on a picturesque island out on the river.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

If the novelty of catching dorado all day on every method from streamers to skipping frogs off lily pads wears thin then the pursuit of a Parana Grandslam can be undertaken. This is something I am sure the guides made up only last year ( the operation is fairly new! ) This entails a fly caught Dorado, Tararira ( Wolf fish ) and Chafalote ( sort of a mini Vampire fish )  the latter requiring super light leader and thin piano wire with a tiny fry imitation swung smoothly in the current with no retrieve, all in one day.

WHO OWNS IT

The Golden Dorado River Cruiser (GDRC)  is the first of its kind in Argentina and the brain child of great friend Luciano Alba. Owning Estancia Laguna Verde, the best lodge on the legendary Jurassic Lake. Running a slick, world class fishing operations in ultra remote areas, for these guys is a piece of old hat! Collection point is the marina in the town of Rosario and then a run in a comfortable fast boat to where the Houseboat is moored.