Golden Dorado In Crystal Clear Water

Salta Province in NW Argentina is the only place on earth where you can consistently catch large freshwater dorado (Salminus maxilosus) on small, clear streams.

Parque Nacional del Rey in Salta is located in the transition zone between the high altitued Andes range and theYunga, an extension of the Amazon watershed.

Our home waters, the Rio Tucanes, is a tributary of a tributary of the Parana River basin.

Our new Dorado Lodge is located on a 20,000 acre private ranch with exclusive access to the best section of Rio Tucanes, adjacent to the border of a National Park, a great sanctuary for wildlife, including the fabled Golden Dorado.

Our private stretch of river is 19 km long and only 30’ to 60’ wide.  It is protected within a jungle (yunga) canyon and here’s no wind, making it very easy to fly fish.

From Dorado Lodge we have access to the Juramento River.  This fantastic river was tamed after the building of a hydroelectric dam in 1973.
Dorado migrated from the Parana River basin and created what is the only clear tailwater river with “L” size Dorado (up to 40 lbs)

The Juramento averages 100 ft wide but you rarely cast longer than 50 ft.

The average Dorado is 8 to 10 lbs and during your stay you may hook fish well over 20 lbs.  Our record Dorado to the boat on a fly is 37 lbs.

Golden Dorado In Crystal Clear Water - Salta Province, NW Argentina
Rods: 9’ to 10’ for # 7 to 9 wt


Lines: Floating, Intermediate and 200 grain sinking lines


Leaders: 7’ to 9’ tapered to 12 to 20 lb tippet tied to 15 lb multi strand wire leader


Flies: Muddler minnows type flies sizes 1/0 to 3/0; Puglisi type; Awesome minnows; Half and half; Deceivers; etc.


Clothing: We will be fishing from flats style boats and wet wading. Long sleeve pants and flats style shirts are a must. Bring a rain jacket and a fleece pullover for the evening boat rides. Flats style boots are the shoes of choice. Polarized glasses are mandatory.

Two lodge to serve you best:

For better access to Rio Juramento we will stay at Hosteria Ayres de Campo which is located in the small town of J.V. Gonzalez and from there we have very easy access to the best stretches of water on the famous Juramento River.
There are 5 double rooms available, each with private bath.  
The Lodge is located on a private cattle ranch and belongs to a local family since the late 1900’s
It was formerly a logging ranch until the owners decided to follow the same rules as the National Park and preserve it as such.  There are ancient trees with extremely hard and precious wood and in its most remote parts there are incredible wild animals like Puma, Tapir, Yaguarete (South American Jaguar), Monkeys, Toucans, several species of Parrots and the tasty but protected Pava del Monte or wild South American turkey.

The main building (Ranch House) has a large living room with open kitchen and bar and  second floor with enough place to hold up to 4 anglers at a time.  At a later date we'll have more rooms built to lodge up to 8 anglers.

We do not have electricity and we depend on a generator and solar panels, but you will have enough power to charge your batteries, check the internet and make phone calls either from our sat unit or, strangely enough, walk up the hill 100 yds. And you’ll have good cell phone signal, how about that!

The fishing season for Golden Dorado is from March to November. The weather during these months is warm and absolutely pleasant.
Prime time - March 15 to May 31
            August 15 to November 30

Rates include: All meals, all drinks including wine and beer, transfer from and to airport and to fishing locations, one guide per two anglers, fishing license, and supplemental flies.