Golden Dorado | Argentina

ARGENTINA

A WORLD-CLASS FISHING AND TRAVEL DESTINATION

What to expect

Argentina is one of the finest fishing destinations in the world. The wild and remote trout fishing of Patagonia and the sea-runs of Tierra del Fuego are the stuff of legends. Perhaps overlooked, the golden dorado fishing in Argentina is also deserving of the term, "worldclass". With some of the best combinations of gamefish traits existing in nature, it can seem like the dorado was created in a lab. Striking colors, voracious eats, and thrilling jumps – the golden dorado is truly a force. In Argentina, anglers can experience superb fishing for golden dorado in a more accessible, flexible, and comfortable program compared to some remote jungle operations of other countries. Deciding to fish in Argentina is only the beginning. There are a plethora of options across the Ibera Marsh and Parana River system for golden dorado. And there are numerous options to extend your trip, including: trout, wingshooting, big game hunting, wineries, culture, trekking, and more.

"Pira is a great location and lodge. Staff, service, food, and wine were all outstanding!"

D.M., Ketchum, ID

"The water was very low at the lodge but the guides really figured out how to get on fish... We couldn't have asked for more."

M.S., Denver, CO

Golden Dorado

Golden dorado are some of the most spectacular sportfish in the world, particurely given how relatively few Americans fish for them. Golden dorado fishing in Argentina boasts diverse fisheries such as the Ibera Wetlands and the Parana River. The Ibera Wetlands is similar to the Florida Everglades only three times larger. The fishing will remind anglers of the saltwater flats with Hells Bay skiffs, poling platforms, and sight-fishing on white sand flats, marshes, and lagoons. for singles and schools of dorado.Here fish can often be enticed with mice and skated flies on the surface. The other primary fishery is the Parana River. The Parana has strong populations of larger dorado taken with swinging flies and streamers, as well as sections with dense populations of smaller fish that can be caught on poppers or streamers. Other species include pacu, pira pita, and wolf fish, to name a few. Center-consoled Bay boats allow two anglers to fish simultaneously. With a long season across regions of Argentina, there are excellent cast-and-blast opportunities mixing dorado fishing with shooting for ducks, perdiz, doves, or decoyed pigeons.

Other Jungle Species

Golden dorado are some of the most spectacular sportfish in the world, particurely given how relatively few Americans fish for them. Golden dorado fishing in Argentina boasts diverse fisheries such as the Ibera Wetlands and the Parana River. The Ibera Wetlands is similar to the Florida Everglades only three times larger. The fishing will remind of the saltwater flats with Hells Bay skiffs, poling platforms, and sightfishing on white sand flats, marshes, and lagoons. for singles and schools of dorado.Here fish can often be enticed with mice and skated flies on the surface. The other primary fishery is the Parana River. The Parana has strong populations of larger dorado taken with swinging flies and streamers, as well as sections with dense populations of smaller fish that can be caught on poppers or streamers. It has a mixed bag fishery with pacu, pira pita, and wolf fish, to name a few. Center-consoled Bay boats allow two anglers to fish simultaneously. With a long season across regions of Argentina, there are excellent cast-and-blast opportunities mixing dorado fishing with shooting for ducks, perdiz, doves, or decoyed pigeons.

TROUT

There are good reasons that Argentina is often discussed with the best trout destinations around the world. Diversity is central to Argetina's trout appeal, with great fishing from late October until the end of April depending on the region. There are a multitude of rivers and waters from northern to south-central Patagonia, including spring creeks and freestone rivers, as well as lakes with very large trout. Many waters are contained within private estancias, leading to less angling pressure on their fish. There are prolific and interesting hatches such as the green inchworm and damselflies, in addition to more familiar mayfly, caddis, stoneflies, and terretrials. All of the trout are wild including browns, rainbows, and in same cases, large brook trout. The Argetines excel at customer service and hospitality. All of the lodges that we work with offer a full-featured experience - culinary, wine, culture - as well as excellent fishing. For traverlers wanting to experience the true range of options, t here are opportunities to include two or even three estancias during a single trip.

SEA-Run Browns

Brown trout were introduced to river systems in Argentina in the 1960s. Some of these rivers lacked the biomass to sustain the trout, forcing them to the sea. These browns stay in the system for a year or so before making a repeated migration from sea-to-river for many years. Today, Argentina boasts the densest population of the largest sea-run brown trout in the world. We work with lodges on the Rio Gallegos as well as in Tierra del Fuego on the Rio Grande. In Tierra del Fuego, the season runs from January to early April; in Gallegos, the season runs from November to April. These rivers are an ideal area to learn two-handed casting. Long single-handed rods can also be effective. The majority of fishing is with floating or light-intermediate tips. Noteably, most of our lodges offer single rooms. The lodges also enhance your comfort and confidence with long-tenured guide staffs and top-of-the-line loaner gear. A steelhead or salmon angler will do very well here, particularly when it comes to covering a lot of water and covering it well. Generally speaking, this is the best opportunity in the world to catch large anadromous fish swinging flies.

Wingshooting

Much like its trout fishing, Argentina's diversity of wingshooting, combined with its quality, makes for a very appealing destination. Doves are year-round. Pigeons, perdiz, and ducks are generally best from mid-April to mid-August. Some of the finest decoyed-pigeon shooting anywhere in the world is found here in Argentina. Passing doves are available in a variety of topographies in eastern and western provinces of Argentina. There at least 14 species of decoyed puddle ducks. All of the lodges we work with have high-end semi-automatic and over-under shotguns in common calibers available to guests. The wingshooting, especially doves and pigeons, can be the perfect addon to your fishing trip. Just be sure to book the shooting after your fishing to avoid casting with a sore shoulder.

Big Game Hunting

Northern Patagonia is the primary region for big game hunting in Argentina with red stag as the main attraction. Notably, we work with free-range hunting programs for both rifle and archery during March and April. Red stag hunting can be complimented with wild boar, and in some cases, quail. The stag roar is a mix between an elk bugle and lion's roar. It must be experienced. Most of the hunting programs operate from five-star estancias with top-quality service, accommodations, and culinary programs. A stag hunt matches well with fall fishing for trout, making an excellent multi-species, multiactivity sporting trip. The hunting locations are also close to superb wine regions, adding another appealing option for a trip extension.

Wine

Argentina is most well-known for its world-class Malbecs and red wines, and for good reason. Mendoza has multiple five-star wine lodges and over 1,200 wineries, known locally as bodegas. Salta is another well-known region with high-altitude wineries. Along with wineries, Salta has artisan communities with art musuems, galliers, tours, and marketplaces, as well as the nearby Atacama Desert and Uyuni Salt Flats. Either separately or together, Mendoza and Salta are both excellent options for extending a sporting trip with tastings, sight-seeing, and more.

SightSEeing

Possibilities abound for incredible sightseeing in Argentina. With most international travel happening via Buenos Aires, this magnificent city is the perfect place to start or end a trip with a couple of days experiencing the culture, seeing the sights, and indulging in the culinary scene. Another great option is Ushuaia, located in southern Argentina, and nicknamed "the End of the World". Here you can visit Tierra del Fuego national park, tour penguin rookeries, take a boat ride along the Beagle channel or hike the Martial Mountains. These two cities are only the beginning of the options.

Travel Enhanced

Hunting, Fishing, Luxury Travel, and Everything in Between.

With +50 years of travel experience, we can make your trip right the first time. We provide end-to-end personalized travel assistance that can save you time and often beat prices. Whether you're chasing the catch of a lifetime, a romantic getaway, or your next family holiday, we can help.

Our team of expert agents can coordinate every last detail of your trip, including airfare. We excel at personal touches and customizing your trip to fit your needs and preferences. And if your travel doesn't go according to plan, we are here to help.

Watch a few Argentina videos on our YouTube channel . Check out our blog . Visit our website . Or view our magazine, Field Notes .

Need help sorting through the different lodges to find the right fit? Our destination specialists can help. For more information, please contact:

Hank Ingram, Senior Program Manager

1-800-245-1950, hingram@fron tierstravel.com