Argentina November 2024. Golden Dorado report.
Trips to Argentina for Golden Dorado fishing are fantastic.
Here everyone gets to experience exciting and good fishing. That is fun in itself. In addition, you get to experience a completely new way of practising your fly fishing, as these fish really make sure that you, as the fisher, must stay sharp all the time.
Furthermore, the culture, food and weather are brilliant, which together make these trips much more than a fishing trip. We are talking about big, good memories for life.
All this, and much more, was experienced by all of us who joined the trip to Argentina this November.
We will never forget the wonderful smile on Fritz from Oslo when the first Golden Dorado were landed on the first day, on the first round out. Fritz had a flying start to his Dorado fishing this morning in Esquina. This turned out to be the beginning of a fishing week completely out of the ordinary for Fritz. Fritz has fished many places around the world. But this was the top of everything, according to the feedback we have received afterwards. That is of course very enjoyable to hear.
Several others also had big and fine moments during our weeks of Golden Dorado fishing this year. We must mention Stig Åge from Osterøy, who joined us for the second time to Argentina for Dorado fishing. Stig Åge caught several fine fish and also managed a double landing one day. First a fine fish of about 8 kilos. While it was ready for film and pictures, the guide saw another large, fine Dorado close by, inside on the sandbank. Stig Åge grabbed the rod and made another cast. And bang, there was another fine fish of about 6 kilos on the hook. Congratulations, and the picture with Stig Åge and the 2 fish really sets a new standard. Great stuff.
As Stig Åge himself put it: catching these fish here in such shallow water is absolutely fantastic. It was into the backing after a few seconds and just kept going out. This will never be forgotten.
Tor Inge, originally from Bergen but now living in the capital, also caught many fine fish. We especially remember the fish that took on a tight line during stripping and shot like a rocket straight up into the air before doing a couple of somersaults. My goodness, what fun, and that fish and situation will be remembered for a long time. Not to mention the last day, when we were out together looking for fish on the sandbank. Suddenly we saw a shoal of Dorado rolling on the surface. Large fish between 10 and 15 kilos. It was absolutely wild to watch. Unfortunately they were just outside casting distance, but the spot is logged and we will return there on the next trip, you can be sure of that.
We must also mention Lars from Sweden. Lars has joined earlier trips and is now an experienced Golden Dorado fisher, in our view. With his own flies and good tactics, he caught many fine fish on this trip. My goodness, what fun Lars. Congratulations, and thank you for the flies. They worked brilliantly the following week too.
What is so good about the trips to Esquina for Dorado fishing is that everyone catches fish. Everyone gets good experiences, and there is always a good atmosphere both in the lodge and in the boat. The food this year was, as usual, very good, and we also thought the choice of wine was brilliant on this trip. Thanks to the guide team and to the lodge staff, who again delivered at a good Argentinian level.
These trips are simply brilliant, and we are already preparing new weeks in Argentina for Golden Dorado. For those considering such a trip, we can guarantee plenty of fun and very exciting fishing. We also give a fishing guarantee, provided you follow the 2instincts tour leader's advice during the fishing 😊
As mentioned earlier. One take from a mature Golden Dorado is not forgotten. It is completely wild.
Fly fishing regards from a very satisfied tour leader, who is already tying new fly variants for the next trip. Completely hooked...
We get quite a few questions about our trips to Argentina for Golden Dorado fishing. One that often comes up is how many fish one can expect to catch during a week's fishing, 6 full fishing days.
I will try to give as correct and useful an answer as possible, with the obvious reservation that fishing is still fishing, no matter where in the world you swing your flies.
There are two main factors that influence how many fish one can catch on such a trip. It depends on whether you want to go for the larger fish, or whether you are happy with a mix of all sizes, mostly medium and smaller fish. If you go for the largest fish, you fish in and under bigger conditions out in the main Parana River. Here there is the greatest chance of large fish, but there is more time between each fish.
If you fish for all sizes, mostly medium-sized fish, you fish inside the so-called delta. Here there are many small and medium-sized channels that hold a lot of fish, and the catches are also very good. The possibility of a monster fish in the delta is there, but not as great as out in the main Parana River.
We usually fish a mix between the delta and Parana. This gives good experiences, and if I were to make an estimate, you will catch fish every day, with a number from 2 to 8 fish per day per fisher, depending on conditions and how active you are as a fisher. In addition, you get a number of takes that do not result in landed fish, but which add spice to the fishing itself. You are never bored in this fishing.
Helge Vetås
2instincts