The Fishing
There is little written on Dorado fishing on the fly making the species an exciting species in a new fishing frontier.
Our guides have been exploring the area and Dorado fishing itself for more years than most. Do follow their advice, designed to maximize your enjoyment of this incredible fighting fish.
The Dorado, (salminus maxillosus), is an aggressive fish, and once hooked makes impressive and acrobatic multiple jumps.
This complex and challenging fish can be found near confluences, on edges of eddies, riffles, sharp bends in the current, and close to overhanging carpets of water hyacinth. It can be fished in narrow runs, on skinny water, large fish are hooked in a multitude of differing locations, so let your guide show you the multitude of ever-changing locations where you can make contact with these fish.
Fly-Fishing Equipment
Dorado fishing requires casting large flies in high temperatures. If you think your casting abilities are not up to it or want to take a break during the day, we suggest you bring a casting or spinning rod. Double-hauling is an easily learnt technique which will pay dividends when you're fishing for Dorado and elsewhere. Why not get a refresher course from your guide before you get out on the water?
It's important to remember that the fly you present to a Dorado must be stripped from the moment it touches the surface of the water. Fast Stripping of the fly is the key to more fish in the boat but it can be tiring after a long day, another reason to bring your casting rods.
Rods
We recommend bringing 2 different single-handed rods. An 8ft. 9wt. rod, with reels carrying tropical floating lines and other carrying sink tips (teeny 200 / 250 works fine or shooting heads that sink fast) to cover most fishing conditions, as well as to approach bigger fish in the 8+ lb. range. A 6wt 9 footer’ with a reel carrying a floating tropical will work perfect to fish smaller flies in the dense marsh, where most of the fishing is done with floating lines and smaller flies in clear crystal water.
Reels
Open-face spinning reels are the easiest to use but, in experienced hands, baitcasters are the easiest to use accurately and they give you the best chance to place your lure where you want it. Baitcasters should feature a high-speed retrieval ratio, as lures are normally worked very rapidly. Whichever style is your favorite, it will need to be loaded with 10-20 lb monofilament line. Don't plan to fish with braided lines; they tend to cut themselves and weak spots are hard to detect.
A quality reel is important. A strong, smooth drag is a must, as many fish will take very strong, fast runs. Reels (and spare spools) should have capacity for the fly line and 100 yards of 20 pound backing. Reels such as: Abel, Tibor, Hardy, Lamson, Scientific Anglers, and Ross have proven quite successful.
Lines
You should bring Weight Forward Floating lines for warm water (saltwater, tarpon, bonefish or tropic) or intermediate tip lines. Lines such as: Scientific Anglers Ultra 3 Bonefish Taper, Tarpon Taper, Cortland Tropic Plus, or comparable warm water lines will prove invaluable. Do not bring conventional coldwater floating lines, as the hot weather makes the lines "soft and gummy" and therefore very difficult to cast. Also bring a fast sinking shooting taper like Teeny's T-200 or T-300 or comparable sinking line for the Corrientes River fishing. The Rio "slime line" intermediate sinking line has also proved very effective.
Leaders
The Freshwater Dorado isn't particularly leader shy. While reasonable stealth should be exercised, the leaders should be heavy enough to turn over big wind resistant flies, so heavy-strong butts are important.
Spools of mono should include 8, 12, 16, 20, 40lbs, test weights, for tippets. For floating lines you should have 6 to 9 foot long tapered leaders (Knotted or Knotless, depending on your personal preference). For sinking lines, 4-7 feet of 20 lb. mono with a piece of 16 lb. tippet should work well. The most important thing to consider in a Dorado leader is the shock, or bite tippet. These fish have very sharp teeth that will cut even the strongest mono. We recommend using a 15 to 30 lb. wire section at the end of your leader. American Fishing Wire and Malin BOA wire are both good selections. Bring plenty 20 to 30 lb test steel leader for your stay.
Flies
The Lodge provides a wide selection of fly patterns as well as a modest supply of backup tackle at very competitive prices. This notwithstanding, we recommend you bring a good supply of your own flies to get you through your stay.
Wet flies:
· Big Saltwater Streamers are usually the norm.
· Colors: Black, Black and Chartreuse/Red/Yellow, Red/Black, Purple and Black with plenty of flashabou.
· Deceivers traditionally work very well. Other well-known patterns such as: Lefty's Half and Half, Whistlers, Cock-Roaches and Clouser Minnows are excellent choices as well. Poppers & Divers in similar color patterns have proven very effective in certain conditions.
· All flies should have a generous quantity of flat, wide holographic flashabou. Weed guards, though not a must, have proven to be quite useful.
· Size: from 1/0 to 3/0 (mostly 1/0 and 2/0)
Floating:
· Large Bombers, frogs, soft foam poppers, pencil poppers, deer hair poppers, Chernobyl ants and large bass or pike bugs. Bring a selection of different colors as shade is often more important than style.
· Size: 2/0 to 3/0
Keep your hooks razor sharp. Pira Lodge strongly encourages the use of barbless hooks.
Spinning & Casting Equipment
Rods
An 8-foot 6-inch, two-handed medium- to heavy-action rod for 8- to 20-lb line will let you cast the 1/4 to 1 1/2 oz lures we normally use here. A 6-foot single-handed rod is also good to have to fish pockets and smaller waters. Take 2- or 3-piece rods for ease of transport.
Reels
Open-face spinning reels are the easiest to use but, in experienced hands, bait casters are the easiest to use accurately and they give you the best chance to place your lure where you want it. Bait casters should feature a high-speed retrieval ratio, as lures are normally worked very rapidly. Whichever style is your favorite, it will need to be loaded with 10-20 lb monofilament line. Don't plan to fish with braided lines; they tend to cut themselves and weak spots are hard to detect.
Leaders
Steel leaders are a must. Dorado have sharp teeth and a 5 to 10 inch, 20-30 lb test (Sampo) steel leader is needed. Don't buy cheap leaders.
Lures
Of course, the list available is never-ending. Don't be afraid to take your own and experiment. There is a good possibility that a lure you bring will change our way of fishing forever.
Below is a sampling of those we have tried that have worked:
· Spoons, all colors; 1/4 to 2 oz silver and gold are very effective
· Rat-L-Trap, 1/4-3/4 oz
· Rapala Husky Jerk, 3/4 oz
· Rapala Jointed Minnow (very effective)
· Rapala Original Floating, 3/4 oz
· Rapala Rattlin Rap, 3/8 oz
· Daredevil Spoons, 2 oz
· Mepps Spinners, 1/2 oz
· Zara Spook
· Slugg-O Plastic Baits
· 1/4 to 3/4 oz Jigs with varied plastic bodies
· Any topwater prop bait
Note: All sinking lures are better with weed guards.
Clothing
The summer climate in the northeast of Argentina is very hot. Normal "flatsgear” is ideal, keeping in mind that long days in the sun are common, thus lightweight and light color pants and shirts are best.
Tropical shirts and pants such as: Ex-Offcio, Patagonia, Tarponware or Columbia.
A good hat and sunscreen are a must and many guests use sun-gloves and stripping guards.
A light rain jacket is also recommended as tropical showers do commonly pop up.
Laundry service is available at the lodge.
On the boat, comfortable tennis shoes, tevas or canvas deck shoes are ideal.