Salta

Dorado fly fishing in Salta: a real adventure trip, only for those fisherman who love wilderness and are avid to seek for new fly fishing experiences. Here, it is not weird to come across toucans flying up, thousands of butterflies of different sizes and exotic colors, footprints of tapirs and pumas, corzulas, mount pigs, and even anteaters!

In this new program, you will have the chance to make a two days floating trip and a full day wading. Juramento river, Del Valle river and Dorado river flows through the yungas (warm rainforests), forming big pools and riffles where the fighting Dorado, the tiger of the rivers, is found. The most interesting thing about Dorado fishing here is that fishing is done by wading crystal clear waters, almost imposible in other destinations. Moreover, the Dorados are hardfighting, wild jumping and brilliantly colored. The average of the Dorados -in Del Valle and Dorado rivers- is around 5 pounds, fished with lightweight tackle, # 5 rods.

Fishing Juramento river, is where we are going to find the biggest ones: between 10 to 20 pounds. Floating it, will let us reach the hot spots and give the chance to fish this giant Dorados. In this case, you will need a # 8 rod. Try us, you'll never forget this experience. Come to fly fish for Dorado.

Season:

A)    March and April

B)    September, October and November

Note:
Please bring a small backpack to carry fishing tackle, accessories and some extra-clothes on the way to the river.

Fly Fishing tackle:
Rods: Two, if possible. 9ft, 5 and 8 weight. 3-or 4- piece, if possible.
Reels: A reel with a good drag system, holding at least 80 yards of 20-pound test backing.
Lines: WF floating line and sinking shootings Teeny T-200. Leaders: for 5- to 7-foot floating lines with strong butts to turn big flies, 16-pound test tippets with 20 cm of 20-pound test steel wire.
Flies: Sizes 2/0 and 3/0, Deceiver patterns. Also poppers and divers with muddler head, weighted. Colors: black, black and red or black and yellow, chartreuse, white and yellow and white and olive have proved good options.
Accesories: Tweezers, hook sharpener, nippers, polarized glasses, sun block, lip protector, insect repellent, a boga grip, etc.

Tackle tips:
Fishing is usually done with floating lines and traditional dorado flies. In some sections, sinking line may be used. Black-and-orange and white-and-yellow flies have proved to be the most effective.

Fishing Program:

DAY 1
- 06.30 hrs Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight N°2450 leaves Buenos Aires Aeroparque (airport for domestic flights).
- 08.40 hrs Arrival at Salta Airport and reception of the fishermen.
- 11.00 hrs Arrival at the Dorado fishing area in Juramento river. Getting ready.
- 12.00 hrs Start a 2 days / 1 night fishing trip.
- 20.00 hrs End of fishing activity.
- 21.00 hrs Dinner.

DAY 2
- 07.30 hrs Breakfast
- 08.30 hrs Full day fishing / 2nd day floating trip on Juramento river.
- 19.00 hrs End of Dorado fishing activity and transfer to Las Lajitas town.
- 20.30 hrs Accommodation at the fishing hotel.
- 21.00 hrs Dinner.

DAY 3
- 07.30 hrs Breakfast.
- 08.30 hrs Depart full day fishing / 3rd day wading trip Rio Dorado or Rio Del Valle (depending on the season and weather conditions).
- 17.00 hrs End of fishing activity and transfer to Las Lajitas town.
- 20.00 hrs Dinner.

DAY 4
- 09.30 hrs Breakfast and departure to Salta.
- 13.30 hrs Arrival at Salta Airport.
- 14.35 hrs Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight N° 2456 to Buenos Aires.
- 16.40 hrs Arrival at Aeroparque, Buenos Aires.

Las Lajitas Hotel, close to Las Lajitas village offers with exclusive double-occupancy rooms, with private baths and A.C., sitting rooms with comfortable sofas, bar service, restaurant, etc.

Included:
Tent camp if needed, Accommodation in double-occupancy rooms with private baths, breakfast, meals on days of fishing, soft drinks and beer, typical dinner served with wines from Salta, bilingual guide and assistant, transport to and from fishing locations, transfer in/ out from Salta airport, fishing permit.

Not included:
Air fares, whisky or any other strong drink, cigars, fishing tackle, flies, clothes and personal equipment and gratuities.

Equipment:
Light shirt and trousers for tropical weather (Exoficcio, Patagonia, Columbia, etc.), hat or cap, neoprene wading boots, many pairs of socks, a light water-proof jacket, a polar sweatshirt or warm jacket (the temperature decreases at night and it gets cold).

“We arrived to the Dorado River. About a half hour later I hooked and landed my first fish a seven pound Dorado. The fish jumped about 7 or 8 times before we landed him, took a photo and released the fish back to the river. The guide spoke enough English to communicate effectively with me. He is very knowledgable of the Dorado holding spots in the river. I soon discovered that Dorado occupy holding spots frequented by trout. But there the similarity ends. The Dorado are Ambush Predators just like Large Mouth Bass. You need to slap the water hard with the large flies. If something hits the water hard it is the dinner bell for the Dorado. They come to investigate and are looking for a meal. You set the hook bonefish style with a hard strike. You pull the rod away hard and fast. Otherwise the hook does not set in the hard mouth."

Yes!! I am going back next year!!

Ed McDonald
USA