Mike Sadar's world-record fly-caught dorado - 2012.
La Zona Lodge - Argentina
Flies or Lures for World Record Golden Dorado
Our client Mike Sadar broke a world record here.
La Zona is located very close to Concordia city right in front of the Uruguay River in the Entre Rios province, about 270 miles from Buenos Aires. La Zona is the exclusive area on the Uruguay River, downstream from Salto Grande Dam. This is a very restricted fishery. The area is only open four days per week, and only two boats can fish at one time.
2023 La Zona Lodge Hosted Week:
5-nights and 4-days guided fishing
• February 15-21, 2023:
Brad Staples hosts - SOLD-OUT
Jim Lampe with 47-pound golden dorado.Fly Fishing or artificial lures
La Zona freshwater golden dorado fishing is unrivaled in the world and is home to over 12 fly-fishing world records. The shallow lake generated by the nearby dam supports an abundant and very complex food chain. Here, many species, including the dorado, achieve unprecedented growth rates.
More than 300 fish over 40-pounds were landed at La Zona in the past three seasons. The Uruguay River is a tailwater below the large Salto Grande Reservoir.
Six is the maximum number of anglers that can fish inside the exclusion area at the same time. The Lodge can accept larger groups by fishing half a day inside the exclusion area and half a day outside.
Anglers usually average 15 to 25 strikes per day. Fish average about 14-pounds with a chance at dorado over 50-pounds. Twenty pounders are commonplace. La Zona is a unique fishery where dorado reach incredible sizes and numbers due to the impressive amount of food available and the very restricted fishing pressure.
In April of 2012, our client Mike Sadar landed a world record fly-caught 50-pound golden dorado.
Read Mike Sadar's La Zona article.
La Zona Fishing
"...I feel that starting the drift 500 meters away from the dam walls puts the angler in a better position to catch true giants, as evidenced by our results. - In my opinion, La Zona is the world's greatest freshwater fishery."
- Bob Daly - Peacock Bass e-Zine
New Program:
La Zona offers 8-hours, 10-hours, 11-hours, and 13-hours per day guided fishing packages.
The 13-hour guided fishing day is only available during peak season, from the last week of December through April. For the 13-hour day, you’ll have breakfast at 5:00 a.m. A packed lunch is provided. You’ll fish from 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. (depending on the sunrise) to 7:00 p.m.
Peak Season: December 1 to May 15 is when the Uruguay River is at its lowest. Year-round fishing, except for late October to mid-November when the area is closed due to spawning.
Fishing is only allowed with flies and artificial lures. All Lures must be barbless hooks. During the regular season or spring season - August 15 to November - the river is at its normal flow, and huge schools of big dorado migrate to the dam to spawn. Rapala X-Raps and similar crankbaits are hot during this time.
Jim Schmid with 46-pound golden dorado.
La Zona Guides and Boats
The Guides: Experienced professional local guides who are well versed in both fly and spin fishing. Guides speak fishing English—enough to get by. Two or three anglers per boat and guide – package options vary.
Boats: Very comfortable 21’ fiberglass, center console boats with 90-HP, four-stroke Yamaha motors, an 8-HP auxiliary motor, and nice-sized casting platforms in the bow and stern.
Equipment: is not included. A detailed list of what to bring is in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License: is included in the package.
Typical 8-Hour Fishing Day:
7:00 a.m. - Breakfast.
8:00 a.m. - You’ll leave for the docks and start fishing.
1:00 p.m. - You’ll return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you’ll rest for about one hour.
3:00 p.m. - You’ll return to the river and fish until dark, about 7:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. - Dinner is served.
The 11-hour and 13-hour packages take a sack lunch and do not return to the Lodge mid-day.
Getting to the Lodge:
You'll fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Thursday morning, a lodge representative will pick your group up from your hotel in Buenos Aires or from the airport. You'll be driven in an executive van to La Zona Lodge in Concordia, a five-hour 270-mile trip on an excellent highway. Or, for an additional charge, arrangements may be made in advance to take a 90-minute charter flight from Buenos Aires to Concordia. Airfare, hotels, and meals in Buenos Aires are not included in the package.
La Zona's New Lodge
La Zona's new lodge opened in 2019 is a 15-minute drive from Concordia and just five minutes from the fishing at La Zona. The Lodge has air-conditioned bedrooms with private bathrooms. (Three anglers per room.) At La Zona, you'll enjoy home-cooked meals with excellent three-course dinners, an open bar, famous Argentine wines, free laundry service, a swimming pool, a fully equipped tackle shop, a new dock just meters from the Lodge, and friendly staff.
Communications: La Zona Lodge has a telephone and Wi-Fi for guest use. Cell phones work at the Lodge. 220-volt electricity. If you’re a U.S. resident, you’ll need a power plug adapter and a voltage converter.
The New La Zona Lodge
2022 USD Rates:
All Packages are for 5-nights at the Lodge and 4-days guided fishing.
If a group of four anglers books a package, there will be two anglers per boat and guide. A group of six anglers has three anglers per boat and guide.
High Season - Last week of December through April:
8-Hours per day guided Fishing:Group of 4-anglers $6,875.00 per person
Group of 6-anglers $5,625.00 per person
11-Hours per day guided Fishing:
Group of four anglers $7,625.00 per person
Group of six anglers $6,375.00 per person
13-Hours per day guided Fishing:
Group of four anglers $8,125.00 per person
Group of six anglers $6,875.00 per person
Early Riser's Package
October through early March
Includes a lunch break and a siesta at the Lodge. You’ll have breakfast at 5:00 a.m. You’ll fish from 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. (depending on the sunrise) to 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.10-Hours per day guided Fishing:
Group of 4-anglers $7,375.00 per person
Group of 6-anglers $6,000.00 per person
Mid Season
May and September through early December
8-Hours per day guided Fishing:Group of 4-anglers $5,625.00 per person
Group of 6-anglers $4,375.00 per person
11-Hours per day guided Fishing:
Group of four anglers $6,375.00 per person
Group of six anglers $5,125.00 per person
Low Season
June through August
8-Hours per day guided Fishing:Group of 4-anglers $4,125.00 per person
Group of 6-anglers $3,500.00 per person
11-Hours per day guided Fishing:
Group of four anglers $4,500.00 per person
Group of six anglers $4,250.00 per person
Non-angler companion rate:
is 50-percent of the angler's rate. There are several non-angler activities, such as Concordia city tours, spa treatments, and a thermal waters park.
Bedroom at the new La Zona Lodge
Packages Include:
Roundtrip ground transfers between Buenos Aires and La Zona Lodge, lodging, meals and alcoholic beverages (open bar), guided fishing, fishing license, Wi-Fi, and laundry service.
