Golden Dorado in the Iberia Marsh, Argentina

Esteros del Iberá Reserve (from the Guaraní language, meaning “Bright Waters”) is one of South America’s most important freshwater reservoirs. Ranked as the second-largest wetland in the world after the Pantanal in Brazil, it’s also enormous. The area encompasses more than 3 million acres of flowing water—gin-clear creeks, shallows, lakes, swamps, and lagoons. Pirá Lodge, in northern Argentina’s Corrientes Province, strategically places anglers at the southern tip of the expansive wetland; a habitat-rich bottleneck where the marsh and Corriente River ecosystems converge. Here, the Dorado is king.

THE FISHING

Dorado fishing at Pirá takes place in one of the planet’s largest ecological preserve. It’s lush and wild. The marsh “floating grass” islands are always shifting and moving, making the marsh truly alive and dynamic. The fishery can be divided into two hemispheres: the Marsh as the headwaters, and the Corriente River located downstream of the Lodge. You’ll be provided the opportunity to explore both of these these two distinctly different environments and learn the various waters for chasing dorado.

The intricate Marsh is comprised of streams, lagoons, and side-channels. Big Dorado annually push into this skinny-water utopia. Here, we typically fish from the bow of our Hell’s Bay skiffs, one angler at a time. When water conditions are low, there can be great wade-fishing opportunities. The stunning Corriente River is the perfect set up swinging and stripping streamers from the banks of the river. In the deeper pools, sinking lines are used, but intermediate and floating lines can work as well.

The average fish ranges from 4 to 8lbs, but many are caught over 10 lbs. all the way to 20+ lbs. Last season´s biggest dorado weighed in at 27.5 lbs. on the scales. We fish a variety of flies from mouse patterns to streamers. This spectacular ecosystem is brimming with wildlife and is one of the most productive environments for Dorado in all of Argentina