GOLDEN DORADO

RIVER CRUISER

Capacity 9 Guest

The Golden Dorado River Cruiser is a unique operation that will blow your mind away and will change the way you pictured Golden Dorado fishing!

Going into its fifth season, you can be part of this amazing adventure of our Mother Ship strategically moving inside the huge upper Parana River Delta system targeting the best Golden Dorado fishing while enjoying the friendly and professional first-class attention we are known for.

Come on board the Golden Dorado River Cruiser and follow the currents to golden dreams.

Golden Dorado are, unarguably, among the finest game fish on the planet. Their striking beauty mixed with their strong, aggressive and acrobatic behavior make Dorado one of the best fly fishing species the world has to offer.

Combine that with world-class lodging provided by a full-service Mother Ship, with guaranteed mobility to some of the hottest and most remote fishing spots in the Parana River system, gourmet meals served with some of the finest wines of Argentina, top-notch hardcore guides, and you have yourself some of the best fishing trips for Golden Dorado money can buy.

Come to experience Golden Dorado River Cruiser, the utmost angling experience in the most exclusive set up!

RESERVE

WHY FISH AT THE GOLDEN DORADO RIVER CRUISER

✔ Unique mother ship program nature for the ultimate golden dorado experience (with no one else on sight!).
✔ Mobility means better fishing! Fish the best water, every day.
✔ Being on a mothership maximizes your fishing opportunities adapting to the best fishing schedule (not possible when you are staying at a “land” operation!).
✔ Easy logistics from important cities as Buenos Aires and Rosario, meaning no need of connecting flights after your international arrival or stay in these cities.
✔ Being right on the fishing waters allows for a more relaxed and flexible fishing program, which can be adapted to each angler.
✔ Excellent cuisine and service for a full day of enjoyment.
✔ Our program combines very well with big game hunting in La Pampa and dove shooting in Córdoba, Tucumán, Santa Fe and Entre Rios.

MOTHER SHIP SET UP – MOBILITY MEANS BETTER FISHING

To understand the marked advantages of our program fly fishing for Dorado lodging at a moving Mother Ship rather than at a static lodge, you need to understand the geography of the amazing Paraná River.

The Paraná River is born in the south of Brazil and, on its way south, as it enters Argentina, it receives water from several smaller rivers and tributaries. As it enters the provinces of Entre Rios and Santa Fe, it forms one of the largest deltas in the world, as the famous Uruguay river joins in, finishing at La Plata River near the city of Buenos Aires, before going into the Atlantic ocean.

This large river system is the second biggest in South America, after the Amazon, with a total length of over 1500 miles. Several small towns and cities are settled by this vast and complex river system, and as it is usually the case, the further away you are from civilization, the higher your chances of experiencing the best fishing.

Being ourselves many times visitors at several famous locations at Parana River in its different parts of Argentina, we have encountered, over the years, that many factors could affect the fishing either improving it or ruining it, and with that idea in mind, location becomes a key factor in the success or failure of a trip.

After careful investigation and lengthy discussions with several guides and expert Dorado anglers who grew up in these regions, they all agreed that: MOBILITY IS THE KEY.

If you could move according to seasons, rains, droughts, weather conditions, the arrival of bait fish, Dorado migrations, as well as many other important factors, you have the KEY TO THE BEST DORADO FISHING the Paraná River system has to offer, which is a lot to say!

Come on board the Golden Dorado River Cruiser and follow the currents to golden dreams.

How to get there – The Program

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Mothership

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Welcoming

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Conditions

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First day

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Other information

Another important characteristic of our program is the short distance from Buenos Aires City and Rosario City. If you are in Rosario, you can get to the Marina in 30 minutes. And, if you are coming from Buenos Aires, the Marina is only 2.5 hours away!

To Access the mother ship, anglers frequently travel to the city of Buenos Aires, where a representative of the Golden Dorado River Cruiser will be picking up guests either at the international or local airport or hotel of choice at Buenos Aires. From there, a 2 and half hour- drive north is done by highway, accessing the private Marina where the program starts.

Either the captain of the mother ship or one of the guides will be welcoming the arriving guests, and load the luggage in the transfer boat from the marina to the exact location of the mother ship.

The Paraná Gipsy does not have a pre-set “route”, fishing the same locations every week. On the contrary, the mothership always stays on the best fishing locations, being accessed by the transfer boat.

It usually takes one hour to hour and 15 minutes to access the Paraná Gipsy from the private marina. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by the staff and shown to their rooms and right after that provide a reception with cocktails, drinks and appetizers.

The captain provides an introductory talk, describing the fishing conditions, the areas that will be fishing the guests the next days, as well as checking different details regarding tackle, flies, etc.

The mothership has a very wide supply of loaner tackle, as well as a small fly shop, with the most used things by anglers, plus personally tied Dorado flies.

On the arrival day, it is usually possible for anglers to take advantage of that first day, getting a good half day of fishing, which is a good tune-up session, after a long trip.

The usual schedule includes breakfast every day at 8 AM, provided by our chef, with a good selection of coffee, tea, yogurt, milk, cereals, toast and fresh fruit and juice, as well as any choice of eggs the guests would like.

After breakfast, guests leave in pairs with their guide for the morning fishing session.

Anglers can choose every day either to have lunch in one of the many islands of the river, with meals prepared by the guides, or to return for lunch, prepared by its chef, to the mothership, and perhaps relax and take a nap afterwards.

Fishing continues the rest of the day, finishing it before the sun is down, returning to the mothership.
Snacks and appetizers are served with a wide option of drinks, cocktails and personally selected wines of Argentina while warming up for dinner.

Gastronomy is an important part of each stay, and the Golden Dorado River Cruiser chef makes sure that each meal is a very special one.

GOLDEN DORADO AND OTHER GAME FISH FOUND IN THE AREA

Golden Dorado are extraordinary hunters. They are always in search of an easy prey that happens to go by their holding spot (even a smaller Dorado!). They like moving water, and most times stalk close to river structures.

Paraná River is a huge water system, with hundreds of tributaries, deltas, marshlands, lagoons, side channels, full of fantastic flora and fauna, providing the most exciting adventure in this unique part of Argentina.

Each day you will be fishing new waters, working different locations in its various forms, like runs, inlet/outlets of lagoons, small side channels, tributaries bringing bait fish, and on and on.

Chances are that if you put a good cast close to a hot spot like a log, a bank, a rock, vegetation, a fast run, to name a few, and start stripping as soon as the fly hits the water, a nice Dorado could be charging your fly in a tenth of a second. So, you better be ready!

These are not timid fish. You will know when a Golden Dorado has hit your fly, and you should be prepared to viciously strip the hook, pulling hard on your line or you will end up with nothing (rod sets are like tickles for the “wooden mouth” dorado). And that’s just the beginning…

Once you set the hook, the fight is ON right away. No warm-ups here! Dorado are tackle busting, mean, acrobatic fighters. Be ready to put pressure on these guys right from the start (20 to 40 lb. shock tippet is used). Catches range from 5 lb. to 15 lb. Dorado, with chances of bigger fish during your trip.

Fishing is done from brand new North Carolina skiffs (17 ft.), equipped with 4 stroke Yamaha 90 HP motors, specially designed for fly fishing, with two casting platforms that allow comfortable casting and fishing of two anglers at the same time, with remote operated electrical engine done by the guide.

Besides targeting Golden Dorado, there is also the added bonus of fishing other exciting fish too, like Pacu, Pira Pita, Tararira (wolf fish), Surubi (big catfish), Chafalote (vampire fish), and other freshwater species, which provide fantastic sport.

THE FISHING

The Golden Dorado River Cruiser program fishes in the huge Paraná River Delta, also known as the Upper delta. This enormous area is the second biggest delta in South America after the Amazon, making it also, one of the biggest in the world.

This unique river system has a very large and complex system of marshlands, lagoons, tributaries, creeks, islands, etc, etc, which acts as a big filter making its waters much clearer than the ones of the main Paraná and Uruguay rivers.

Being also where Paraná and Uruguay rivers start to join their waters, all this ecosystem enjoys probably the largest migrations of bait fish, sábalo, pejerrey and sardines, which are the main food source of the golden dorado, as well as other predatory fish, as the Chafalote (Paraná river Payara fish), Palometa, Surubi (big catfish), Pira Pitá, Wolf Fish, Pacu and other excellent game fish, that make fishing very varied and entertaining throughout a week.

DORADO ON THE SURFACE

If catching dorado with a streamer is already very exciting, imagine what it can be if you can catch these bad ass golden assassins on the SURFACE!!!!

Watching a nice dorado half body out of the water smashing a big popper on to is an experience you probably won’t ever forget!!!

There is no other area of Argentina, and perhaps the world, that can offer so many opportunities to catch this fish on the SURFACE!

Due to the unique characteristics of the Upper Paraná delta (second biggest in South America), where the Paraná Gipsy moves along, with its endless network of creeks, channels, lagoons, blowouts, inlets, etc., plus the massive migrations of fish both from the Parana and Uruguay rivers and the other smaller tributaries, there is probably no better program to catch dorado on TOP than the Golden Dorado River Cruiser!!!

LODGING:

Lodging is provided by a very comfortable catamaran, THE PARANÁ GIPSY, that is 70 ft. long by 24 ft. wide (22 meters long by 8 meters wide), with 3 decks/levels.

The Paraná Gipsy, built in the 90’s, was fully refurbished to new and upgraded to adapt it to the requirements and needs of fly fishermen, to be able to access easily from the fishing skiffs.

The mothership has in its first or lower level, 4 very comfortable double bedrooms and 1 single room with en-suite bathrooms, all provided with Air conditioning and heating system, 24 hours electricity, TV, and comfortable twin beds.

The second level has a beautiful living room and dining room as well as kitchen; outside there is a deck to relax and take pleasure in the beautiful view of the river, wildlife while enjoying a cocktail while waiting for lunch or dinner.

The upper level has a very nice solarium, and a magnificent 360 degrees view, provided with comfortable lounge chairs.

TYPICAL ITINERARY:

Our programs normally run Saturday to Saturday, but it is possible to adjust in/out days to other days of the week as well as to do shorter stays due to its proximity to Buenos Aires and rather easy logistics.

To get to the Golden Dorado River Cruiser, a ground transfer and boat transfer is necessary and included.

Normally it will take around 2.30 to 3 hours ground transfer from Buenos Aires hotel or airports, and about 1 hour of boat transfer to the exact location of the Mother Ship, always depending on the location of the Cruiser the day of the transfer.

DAY 1

DAYS 2 to 7

DAY 8

☑ Arrival to the Golden Dorado River Cruiser.

☑ Reception.

☑ Introduction to Golden Dorado fishing and preparation of all fishing tackle.

☑ This is a time to put anxiety away as you really need to get ready to face the explosive catches a Dorado may offer.

☑ Fishing in the afternoon is possible, always depending on the time of arrival at the airport.

☑ Dinner is served around 9 PM. Appetizers and cocktails are available before lunch and dinner.

☑ Breakfast between 7.00 to 8.00 am, depending on the time of the year.

☑ Fishing (morning session): At 8 to 8.30 am you will meet your guide with your fishing partner, and go into another boat to go fishing.

☑ Lunch: Depending on the location of the Mother Ship and preference of anglers, lunch can be arranged at the Cruiser or along with your guide at the most convenient location while fishing.

☑ Normally it will take place around 1 pm.
Fishing (afternoon session): Depending on the time of the year and preference of guests, fishing in the afternoon starts around 3 pm finishing before dark.

☑ A complete fishing day extends for about 8 hours.

☑ Programs can be customized to guests’ preferences and arranged daily with your guide and manager.

☑ Dinner is served around 9 PM. Appetizers and cocktails are available before lunch and dinner.

☑ Departure day.

☑ Guests will be leaving the Golden Dorado Cruiser around 9 am.

☑ Breakfast is served as usual at 8.00 am.

FISHING TACKLE:

All our Golden Dorado fishing programs are designed to try to obtain the best results with the most rewarding fishing techniques.

Fishing is done with 8/9 weights (fast action rods are suggested), with floating and sink tip lines in different densities and sinking rates.

Although regular lines can work fine, during the summer months, weather can be very hot and tropical, so lines that can turn a big fly are suggested.

Fishing for Pira Pita and Tararira (wolf fish) is performed with 5/6 weights and floating lines.
For a full description of the fishing tackle, please request our pre-trip tackle suggestions.

OUR FISHING GUIDES:

Our seasoned first-class professional guide crew, sight fishing oriented and with as many seasons guiding with us, all of them English-Spanish speakers are ready to share with you their invaluable Dorado fly fishing expertise.

Included:

Transfer back and forth Buenos Aires or Rosario city airports or hotel, to/from Mother Ship.
Fishing at Parana River and its tributaries.
Use of motor boats and skiffs during fishing, two anglers and one guide per boat.
Lodging at exclusive Golden Dorado River Cruiser, at double rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
All meals prepared by our Chef. Lunches can be arranged at the MotherShip or by our guides during fishing programs.
All drinks, such as great Argentinian wine, beer, soft drinks, cocktails, whiskey, cognac, gin, Fernet Branca, Campari, Cinzano, Gancia, and others.
Wireless Internet access.