For even the most jaded and world weary of flyfishers, freshwater dorado represent an alpha level gamefish. It is hard to imagine beauty and ferocity so well combined, but this is indeed the case for dorado. Not to be confused with “el dorado”, the saltwater “dolphin fish”, Golden dorado display an intense, golden-yellow hue with radiant black body stripes, made up of thousands of black dots. Dorado gill plates and the large striped tail are worthy of some macro photography. You want trophy pictures with these fish. The pointillist painters never did it this well.
Lodge guides Marcelo, Andres and Pablo were congenial and gently persuasive. As full time cheerleaders, fish biologists, casting instructors and psychotherapists, they were blissfully unaware of the hazards our group presented. This ragtag assortment of legal, business and medical A types, combined with a few trout guides and a bamboo rod maker had the potential to transform the most zen like of guides into a relapsing psychotic state. Yet good humour and patience prevailed throughout.
Each day brought more rain, but the fishing continued, as did our success. Our guides displayed extensive knowledge and understanding. With fluent English and endless patience, they put us into fish. The water clarity was limited as were the opportunities for sight-casting. So the mantra was “cast…strip…(repeat ad infinitum)…cast …..strip…(punctuated by the occasional) SET THE HOOK!!”
These predatory game fish like to ambush their prey, so they were often lured by precise casts in front of structure. Submerged logs, overhanging branches, rocky inlets and caves, tail out pools and back eddies were favored targets for a well-aimed and presented fly.
Make no mistake, you are casting all the time, two people per boat, usually around 40 – 60 feet, so there should be no downplaying the effort and skills required. Baseball pitchers get more rest (and are better paid). Sore wrists and shoulders progress with the week. We never hesitated to reach for the Motrin, washed down by a robust Malbec.
Fighting these bad boys and girls is not for the faint of heart. Dorado takes are ferocious and they are wild leapers, once hooked. They also like to go on blistering runs. Ranging from 5 – 35 pounds, their fight can be prolonged and intense. As a top-level river predator, Dorado feast on small – midsize bait fish, armed with a row of razor sharp teeth. The sobriquet “River Tiger”, as they are known in Argentina, is most deserved.