The flight from Buenos Aires descends through thick cloud to reveal an undulating and serpentine river carving its way through dense jungle. We are going deep into the heart of nowhere to prepare for an encounter with this carnivorous river predator.
Leaden skies and rain greeted us upon arrival in Resistencia. The drive to our lodge, Parana on the Fly, near Itati, seemed somewhat ominous as the 4x4’s haltingly negotiated deeply rutted and muddy roads. Creeks overflowed. Livestock were seen swimming in fields. Mud is barro in Spanish. Mucho barro became the mantra for our drive. Was tough slogging going to be the metaphor for our week?
It is late October and we were fishing the Rio Parana, in Argentina, a massive river watershed that flows through south Central South America. Merging with the confluences of the Paraguay and Uruguay rivers, the Parana ("like the sea” in the Tupi language) is the second longest river in South America. Fittingly, it is home to the Golden Dorado, our treasured quarry and denizen of fevered fly fishing dreams.
The repetitive calm of casting and stripping is brought to an abrupt conclusion. An unseen force strikes and nearly rips the line from my hand. Surprised by the ferocity of the take, I still manage to connect, hook set - and the fight is on. The first leap confirms my hope. I am fighting pure gold.
An Alberta angler shares his experience...