Upper Parana River

This section of the Parana River is located in the extreme northern part of Corrientes Province in the North Eastern part of Argentina. It flows for 180 miles as a tail water of the Yacyreta Hydroelectric Dam until its junction with the Paraguay River. This section of the Parana is known for its clear waters making this particular stretch of the river an ideal environment for fly fishing.

Dorado

The golden dorado has a large head, with powerful jaws filled with sharp teeth. It reaches maturity around 37 cm (15 in) long, and is golden colored. The average size of the golden dorado is about 3–10 kg (6.6–22.0 lb). The largest recorded size is 100 cm (39 in) length and 31.4 kg (69 lb).

Pira Pita

Watershed of Plata, Río Paraná, and Río Uruguay. Robust fish, excellent swimmer and has a pinkish gray color. The ventral side is white with slight silver tints. Its caudal fin or tail has 3 strips lengthwise.

Pacu

Pacú (Piaractus mesopotamicus), pez chato.

Photos

Upper Parana Lodge is a traditional “estancia” of Corrientes province. The Upper Parana Lodge is located on a large farmland right by the coast. It provides fantastic views in all directions. The main house has four fully air conditioned-single bedrooms, each with a private bathroom. There’s also a large living room, a dining area, a fully stocked bar, and a fly-tying table.

Being an “estancia”, it has a big garden where our fly fishers can enjoy a walk, read a book under a shady tree, or ride a horse. If you are lucky a “carayá” (monkey) family will visit you from the treetops to say hello.

Our cuisine, managed by an International Chef, allows a mix between traditional Argentinean food and comfort food. We also have internationial cuisine based on meat, vegetables, and homemade pasta.

A couple days, the chef might suprise you with a field lunch in the jungle close to the coast of Parana river.

The mythic Dorado (Salminius Maxilosus) is clearly the main target on this river. Dorado range between 4 and 20 pounds with the possibility of fish up to 35 pounds.

Our fishing will be done using North Carolina type boats (16 foot length) equipped with 90hp four stroke motors as well as remote controlled trolling motors. We will be mainly fishing on river brunches, at the head of islands and along deep banks of the main river where different structures (fallen trees, rocks structures, and cut banks) generate ideal feeding spots for a natural hunter like the Dorado.

For sight fisherman we fish the shallow water on sand bars. This technique is more challenging and demands precise casting. We will be casting to Dorados 12 to 20 pounds in 2 to 3 feet of water. We can transform our boats to a “flats boat” with platforms for the guide to pole the flats and for anglers to rotate casting to visible Dorado. This technique is available and adds a unique variety to the fishing program.

Dorado Flies

The Dorado flies we use are a variety of large deceivers made with feather tails and craft fur heads around small metallic eyes. We tie them in a variety of color combinations on 3/0 and 4/0 hooks 4 to 6 inches long. The guides will provide all the needed flies for the trip.

Other Species Available

Another two species can be captured on the fly during this trip; which are Pacu and Pirapita. Both these species feed on fruits and flowers that fall from the trees of the jungle, so we target them on slow water channels inside the river islands.

The Pacu is a permit profile fish that is highly combative and between 3 to 20 pounds; we will be targeting this fish casting behind branches as we drift the current with a foam bead that imitates these fruits. We dead drift the line simmiliar to the style used for trout when they are eating dry fly and we will be able to witness great surface takes that are spectacular to watch.

The Pirapita is locally known as the “salmon of the river” as it feeds on insects and can be caught on large foam attractors (such as Chernobyl Ant). These species range in size between 2 to 12 pounds with great strength and multiples jumps. These two described species are an ideal target for the middle part of the day where the Dorado can slow down their activity. We target them on lighter equipment. This adds a nice variety to the fishing day and provides a perfect break from casting the larger Dorado flies.

NOTE: We welcome spin gear anglers to join this trip since the technique and species targeted could be easily caught with high success using this type of equipment.

Photos

For Dorado we recommend #8 weight 9 ft rods with a reel loaded with a Tropical WF Floating Line or Intermediate Clear Tip line. Both these lines should be tropical due to the warm water conditions and the high temperatures predominant in this area.

The leaders should be 9 feet long ending with 20 to 40 pound test saltwater fluorocarbon plus a 45 pounds wire bite tippet at the end of the leader to protect against the sharp teeth of Dorado.

For targeting Pacu and Pirapita we recommend #6 or #7 weight 9’ rod equipped with a reel with Tropical WF Floating line. Leaders for these species are built ending with 16/18 pounds fluorocarbon material and the addition of a 20 pound wire bite.

Fishing gear

While our team will supplies any type of backup gear you might need during the trip is good to bring a basic gear of your personal preference which you feel familiar to fish with. Our guide will provide and set you up with all flies and leaders you might need on the trip

Rods

1 8wt 9’ Rod should be your main rod

If you bring a 2nd rod should be a 7wt or a 2nd 8wt 9’

Reels

Two good reels with working drags; they should balance your rods and load with 150yds of 30lb backing

Lines

1st choice RIO Tropical Intermediate WF 8 I/I

2nd Choice RIO Red Fish line WF 8 F

Tippet Material

Saltwater Fluorocarbon 20/25/30/40 lb

Rio Wire Bite 45lb

Since we will be fishing in a tropical jungle area, expect weather to be humid and quite warm. You should plan on dressing in long pans and long sleeves shirts for better sun and mosquitoes cover. We normally use bug repellent at evening time which is the only time of the day the mosquitoes butter us.

Following is a list of gear, clothes, etc, that visitors have found helpful in the past. It doesn’t mean you need to carry everything listed

Bring a photo copy of your passport to carry with you on the river with your fishing license so you do not ruin your original.

Rain coat, gore-tex is recommended

1 Fleece vest or light jacket (just in case of colder weather but only necessary for September/October or April/May)

Polarized sun glasses

Camera

A small set of pliers to cut wire tippet

Hats, one with a full brim, one baseball cap

Long sleeve quick dry shirts

Quick dry pants

A couple of Buffs

Personal toiletries

Medication that you may need

T-shirts

Underwear

Snickers or boating light shoes. They should be light weight and something you don’t mind if they get wet. We will fish 100% from the boat but is important to have you feet cover. You could use also crocks or sandals but we prefer to have our feet covered

Small flashlight or Petzel head lamp if we return or start fishing with low light conditions

Sun screen the best you can find at least 50 block

Chap Stick with sunscreen built in at least 15 SPF

Insect repellant

Small Vest or pack for fishing gear or anything you would like to carry on the boat with you

You will be flying either to the Local Corrientes (CNQ) or Resistencia (RES) Airports which both have daily flight from Buenos Aires operated by Aerolineas Argentinas. The trip begins when your guide picks you up at either local Airport. Corrientes in only 50 minutes away from the Lodge and Resistencia about 1 ½ hours driving distance to the Lodge.