Dorados on The Fly, owned by Ricardo “Pinti” Pinto, is an exciting dorado fishing destination on the upper Parana River, located near the small fishing village of Ita Ibate, in Northern Argentina province of Corrientes. Pinti is a passionate fly fisher and recognized expert on dorado with a sincere desire to show his guests the very best fishing experience possible. After a week with Pinti you will have a friend for life – he is just one of those special people.

The Upper Rio Parana is a large tail water system some 70 kilometers below the Yacireta Dam, where the river forms a substantial border between Argentina and Paraguay. Because the river is a tail water (one of the largest on earth), water can often times be clear with over six feet of visibility offering excellent and exciting sight fishing opportunities. For those that have seen the lower Parana or the Rio de la Plata near Argentina’s domestic airport, it is hard to believe that this is the same river.

Your main quarry on the Rio Parana will be explosive Dorado up to about 25 pounds, but most will be 5 to 10 pounds. This is one of the best destinations for Dorado anywhere, but don’t let that distract you from the other unique angling opportunities available.

Pacu is considered the permit of Argentina, and is a cult attraction among experienced anglers because of its size and power. Pacu in the 14 to 25 pound range are caught, but most will be 8 to 12 pounds. The Pira Pita is a smaller fish, to about 10 pounds, and acts basically like a trout. It is called the Parana Salmon because of its red meat, though it looks nothing like a trout or salmon. It is a hard, acrobatic fighter which can be skittish and sometimes hard to hook. Many fishermen go to the Parana just to fish for Pira Pita, as it is unique to this area. Pacu and Pira Pita take dry flies, often dead drifted as one would for trout. It is an incredible experience to see one of these big bruisers slowly come to the surface and sip in your bumble bee imitation.

Guests fishing with Dorados on the Fly are accommodated in a very well appointed and spacious traditional Argentina-style lodge sitting right on the banks of the Parana River with spectacular views of the river and jungle environment surrounding this amazing waterway. Each two anglers share a large room complete with ensuite bathroom, air conditioning and all the amenities you would expect in a first class fishing lodge. Meals are taken in the main dining room and fish stories are shared in the full bar.

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Reservations & Rates

Double Occupancy (Single Room and shared boat)
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days = $3,300.00 per person
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $4,400.00 per person
6 Nights / 5 Fishing Days = $5,300.00 per person
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $6,200.00 per person


Single Occupancy (Single room and single guide)
4 Nights / 3 Fishing Days = $4,950.00
5 Nights / 4 Fishing Days = $6,550.00
6 Nights / 5 Fishing Days = $7,950.00
7 Nights / 6 Fishing Days = $8,260.00

If you do not have the proper fly rods and reels, Dorado on the Fly has rental gear available at $150 per person for the week.

Accommodations at lodge | All meals and local alcoholic beverages while at the lodge | Round-trip ground transportation from the Corrientes or Resistencia Airport to the lodge |Professional daily guided fishing | Argentine fishing license | Laundry Service | Wi-Fi Access

Transfers, hotel, and meals in Buenos Aires | Gratuities for guides and staff | Personal shopping and dining in Buenos Aires | Flies, leaders, and tippet | Rods, reels, and tackle are not included (rental gear is available) Flies are available for purchase at $7.00 apiece

The Fly Shop® is not in the insurance business, but we recommend Travel Guard coverage as a service with a desire to see your best interests protected. It is impossible to know when an unfortunate situation (loss of luggage, fly rods, illness in the family, or an accident) may occur. However, such things can and do happen, and this insurance can provide a means of recourse against non-refundable financial losses.

Travel Insurance Information

Seasons at Dorados on the Fly

The BEST months for Dorado fishing on the Parana River with Dorado on the Fly is from October through early January, and again late March through May.

From late January - February and early March, the waters become quite warm and the dorado tend to be off the bite. However, this is prime time for fishing Pacu and Pira Pita on dries flies – technical sight fishing with lighter gear (5 and 7 weights). During these months, we fish for dorado early in the morning and late in the evening.

Dorado on the Fly can fish nearly year round, September 01 through May 31.

During the peak season, it is often possible to sight fish for dorado (with floating lines and top-water flies) either by following wakes, spotting laid-up fish or seeing fish that are moving on lighter bottoms. By the time fall arrives early June, the water cools down and the fish are less active.

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Getting to Dorados on the Fly

Arrival in Buenos Aires:
Located approximately 500 miles north of Buenos Aires, the trip to Amokagny Lodge involves a relatively short domestic flight from Buenos Aires to one of three interior cities, Corrientes, Resistencia or Posadas.

All International flights into Argentina arrive into Ezeiza International Airport. First you will clear Immigrations (Passport Control) then you will

retrieve your luggage, and clear Customs. The entire arrival process in Buenos Aires should take between 1 and 1 ½ half hours.

After clearing immigrations and customs, you will either transfer to your hotel in the city, or continue onto Corrientes, Resistencia or Posadas, depending on your schedule. If you are continuing directly onto Corrientes, Resistencia or Posadas you need to collect your luggage and transfer across town to the Aeroparque (domestic airport) Jorge Newbery. We suggest you prearrange with a transfer company (Lopez & Associates) to do this for you - they'll be waiting for you as you come out of Customs, and direct you to their waiting vehicle. After the cross-town commute, they'll walk you to the correct gate, and get you on the plane to the town of Corrientes or Resistencia, about an hour and a half flight.

Note: Pinti prefers that you schedule an afternoon arrival flight into Resistencia on your day of arrival and a morning departure out of Corrientes on your day of departure.

Arriving at the Lodge:
A lodge representative will be awaiting your arrival at the Corrientes, Resistencia or Posadas airport, and will accompany you on the ground transfer to the lodge - this drive is normally one hour in length. Round trip ground transfers to and from the lodge are included in your package.

The commercial airline tickets (Buenos Aires – Corrientes, Resistencia or Posadas via Aerolineas Argentinas) will run approx. $560 round trip, and needs to be booked well ahead of the trip by you to insure a seat (we suggest our travel agent, Alicia Rodriguez, to make this booking for you - she can be reached at 800-446-1111).

If you are spending a day and night in Buenos Aires prior to leaving for the lodge, let your chosen transfer agent know where you'll be staying, so they can arrange a pickup and transfer from the hotel the following morning.

Many anglers prefer to spend a day in the city to acclimate and adjust to the time changes. There are a number of superb hotels in Buenos Aires, and the shopping and dining are the finest in South America. Our city hosts are thoroughly professional at coordinating travel arrangements and arranging transfers, tours and hotels. Information on Buenos Aires highlights will be included with your deposit receipt.

Fishing Day:
The fishing day is split into a morning and evening session, with lunch at the lodge and a siesta. You will be fishing the side channels (100 km!!) of the Itabate, Yahape and Repeski areas, locations now famous for their concentration of fish. Breakfast, in the summer time, is served at about 7:00 a.m. which allows you to be on the river at first light. Around noon you will break for lunch and a siesta, and then return to the river at roughly 3:30 PM for fishing until dark. This maximizes the most productive bite time, while also avoiding the hottest part of the day. Dinner is served with a nice wine around 9:00 pm after a shower and short period to gather for drinks around the pool table or on the deck.

Most of the fishing is done from boats, though when the dam releases a lot of water, it is sometimes possible to wade the small side channels, much like you would a trout stream. Because it is a tail-water, it is not susceptible to low water. The Parana is a huge river, several miles wide in some places, and you will mostly be fishing side channels that are 50 to 150 yards wide. The boats are designed so two fishermen can be casting at the same time. Your guide will keep you in position with an electric trolling motor while you drift downstream parallel to the bank, trying to hit the most productive looking lies along the way. You will be at the same time taking in the verdant ecosystem of the Parana, which is a jungle environment. There are monkeys in the trees, toucans, caiman and an array of other birds and animals.

The nature of the river and its fish rewards competent casters, so it is advisable that you practice your accuracy with big, wind resistant flies. The reason is that much of the fishing is centered on trying to hit specific targets near tree stumps, behind rocks, under overhangs and along cut banks. Accurate casts are paramount to success.

Two guests fish with a professional guide from custom designed skiffs and cover the most productive beats of the river. Even though the river is a giant, guests are always fishing to structure on the bank. The guide controls the skiff with a trolling motor and puts guest in and around rocks, downed trees, and other productive beats. The river is filled with many species of fish, most importantly, the golden dorado. There are many "doraditos" from the 2 to 6 pound range and several shots at fish up to and exceeding 15 pounds are a daily norm.

Departing the Lodge:
Typically, on departure from the lodge, you'll reverse the same procedure used to get you there. If you plan on departing the same day back to the States, please allow at least 2 hours once arriving in Buenos Aires, (better, 3 hours) for domestic airport to international airport transfer, luggage check-in and international check-in.

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Lodging at Dorados on the Fly

Guests fishing with Dorado on the Fly are accommodated in a very well appointed and spacious traditional Argentina-style lodge sitting right on the banks of the Parana River with spectacular views of the river and jungle environment surrounding this amazing waterway. Each two anglers share a large room complete with ensuite bathroom, air conditioning and all the amenities you would expect in a first class fishing lodge. Meals are taken in the main dining room and fish stories are shared in the full bar.

The rooms are classic Argentine estancia accommodations, with a bit of aristocracy thrown in. Each has air conditioning and a private bath. Meals are quintessential Argentine fare with copious amounts of good wine, and in the warmer months are served outdoors on the expansive lawn. There is a pool for a mid-day retreat from the heat.

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Fishing at Dorados on the Fly

The Upper Rio Parana is a large tailwater system some 70 kilometers below the Yacireta Dam, and this portion of the river forms a substantial part of the border between Argentina and Paraguay. Because it is a tailwater, the water is generally clear, unlike other large rivers in northern Argentina.

Your main quarry on the Rio Parana will be explosive Dorado up to about

25 pounds, but most will be 5 to 10 pounds. This is one of the best destinations for Dorado anywhere, but don't let that distract you from the other unique angling opportunities available.

Pacu is considered the permit of Argentina, and is a cult attraction among experienced anglers because of its size and power. Pacu in the 14 to 25 pound range are caught, but most will be 8 to 12 pounds. The Pira Pita is a smaller fish, to about 10 pounds, and acts basically like a trout. It is called the Parana Salmon because of its red meat, though It looks nothing like a trout or salmon. It is a hard, acrobatic fighter which can be skittish and sometimes hard to hook. Many fisherman go to the Parana just to fish for Pira Pita, as it is unique to this area. Pacu and Pira Pita take dry flies, often dead drifted as one would for trout. It is an incredible experience to see one of these big bruisers slowly come to the surface and sip in your bumble bee imitation.

Most of the fishing is done from boats, though when the dam releases a lot of water, it is sometimes possible to wade the small side channels, much like you would a trout stream. Because it is a tailwater, it is not susceptible to low water. The Parana is a huge river, several miles wide in some places, and you will mostly be fishing side channels that are 50 to 150 yards wide. The boats are designed so two fishermen can be casting at the same time. Your guide will keep you in position with an electric trolling motor while you drift downstream parallel to the bank, trying to hit the most productive looking lies along the way. You will be at the same time taking in the verdant ecosystem of the Parana, which is a jungle environment. There are monkeys in the trees, toucans, caiman and an array of other birds and animals.

The nature of the river and its fish rewards competent casters, so it is advisable that you practice your accuracy with big, wind resistant flies. The reason is that much of the fishing is centered around trying to hit specific targets near tree stumps, behind rocks, under overhangs and along cut banks.

The Fishing Schedule:
The fishing day is split into a morning and evening session, with lunch at the lodge and time for a siesta. You will be fishing the side channels (100 km!!) of the Itabate, Yahape and Repeski areas, locations now famous for their concentration of fish. Breakfast, in the summer time, is served at about 5:45 AM, which allows you to be on the river at first light (it's a 5-7 minute drive to the boat ramp, into the same property). Around noon you will break for lunch and a siesta, and then return to the river at roughly 3:30 PM for fishing until dark. This maximizes the most productive bite time, while also avoiding the hottest part of the day.

What Makes This Destination Special and Unique?

Dorados on the Fly is easy travel to from Buenos Aires (45 minute flight), has no set arrival and departure days and short stays are welcome. This is a terrific and easy add-on to any Patagonia fishing trip, no hassle travel, about as simple and expedited a trip as you can arrange in South America.

• The lodge is very comfortable, located on a high bank above the Parana River and in most cases single private rooms can be secured for each angler. No need to worry about your roomie being a snorer, you have your own private accommodations. And there is no wasted motion with the fishing program, the boats leave and return from the lodge – more time on the water, less travel to and from, more fish to the boat…

• This is a fishery where fly anglers should expect to hook up with a real monster Dorado. Fish over the 20 pound mark are landed every week of the season. If you are looking to land a true monster, this is the place and we know of no other destination where there is a higher potential for a dorado of a lifetime. If size is your thing, then this is the place.

• Ricardo “Pinti” Pinto and his guide staff are world-class professionals, with decades of experience fishing and guiding Dorado all over South America. These guys have forgotten more about Dorado than most experts’ claim to know and are terrific communicators, coaches and fun to spend a day on the skiff with. They’ll fast-track you on the fly fishing tactics needed to be a successful Dorado angler and you’ll learn something new every day.

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Making Reservations to Dorados on the Fly

To make a reservation, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours (Monday - Friday • 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM), or email us at travel@theflyshop.com anytime. We can give you the answers you need, detailed explanations to questions you might have, or check on availability and confirm your reservation in minutes.