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, "The Zone," is on the Uruguay River in the Entre Rios province, about 270 miles from Buenos Aires. La Zona is the exclusive and Restricted Zone on the Uruguay River, downstream from Salto Grande Dam. The area is only open four days per week, and only two boats from the Argentina side and two boats from the Uruguay side can fish at one time. This is a very restricted fishery. Our client Mike Sadar landed a world record fly-caught 50-pound golden dorado at La Zona in April 2012.
Jim Schmid with a 46-pounder.
La Zona freshwater golden dorado fishing is unrivaled and is home to over 12 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 of 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.
La Zona Lodge, which has exclusive rights to the Argentine side of the river, can fish a maximum of six anglers at a time inside the Restricted Zone.
La Zona Fishery
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. 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.
"...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.
La Zona Fishing Facts:
La Zona Season: Peak season runs from the last week of December to late April when the Uruguay River is at its lowest. La Zona is a year-round fishery. During the regular or spring season - August 15 through October - the river is at its normal flow, and huge schools of big dorado migrate to the dam to spawn. Rapala Super Shad Raps and similar crankbaits are hot during this time.
Fishing is only allowed with flies or artificial lures. Barbless hooks are required.
The Guides: Experienced professional local guides well-versed in fly and spin fishing. Guides speak fishing English—enough to get by.
Boats: Very comfortable 21-foot fiberglass, center console boats with 70-HP, four-stroke Suzuki motors, an 8-HP auxiliary motor, and nice-sized casting platforms in the bow and stern. (Each boat can have two or three anglers. If you plan on fly fishing, two anglers should be the maximum.)
Fishing Equipment: is not included. You will need to bring everything with you as the lodge does not have any tackle or lures. You can rent a spin or baitcasting outfit for $20.00 per day; a breakage fee applies at replacement cost. A detailed list of what to bring is in our Confirmation Packet.
A Fishing License is included in the package.
Jim Kever with Huge Catfish (surubi).
Jim Schmid with Huge Catfish (surubi).
Typical 8-Hour Guided Fishing Day:
7:00 a.m. Cooked to order breakfast.
8:00 a.m. Your group will be driven to the boats, about a 10-minute drive, then a 15-minute boat ride to The Zone.
12:30: You’ll return to the Lodge for lunch. After lunch, you’ll rest for about one hour. (The 11-hour and 13-hour packages take a sack lunch and do not return to the Lodge midday.)
3:00 p.m. You’ll return to the river and fish until dark, about 6:30 to 7:00. You'll boat back to the moorage and then the 10-minute drive to the Lodge.
8:00 p.m. Three-course dinner.
La Zona's New Lodge
La Zona Lodge
The Lodge has six large air-conditioned bedrooms with private bathrooms. (Three anglers per room.) Free daily laundry service, a swimming pool, a fully equipped tackle shop, and friendly staff. The Lodge is wheelchair-friendly.
Meals: Delicious home-cooked meals with excellent three-course dinners.
Alcohol: An open bar, plus famous Argentine wines, are included in the package.
Communications: La Zona Lodge has free Wi-Fi. Cell phones work at the Lodge, but you'll need an international calling plan. We recommend WhatsApp.
View Russ DeFusco's Photos from his 2023 Argentina Trip.
Bedroom at the La Zona Lodge
Large bedrooms, with three beds and ensuite bathroom.
Ensuite Bathroom
Each bedroom has a bathroom with a sink, toilet, and walk-in shower.
Dining Room
Dining Room at the Lodge.
Getting to the Lodge:
1. You'll fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2. On Thursday morning, a lodge representative will pick the group up from your hotel in Buenos Aires or the airport.
3. 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 fee, 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 2024 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 21 ft. boat and guide. A group of six anglers has three anglers per 21 ft. boat and guide. (We do not recommend fishing three anglers per boat as it will be tight.)
Peak Season - Last week of December through April:
8-Hours per day guided Fishing:Group of 4-anglers $5,000.00 per person
Group of 6-anglers $4,700.00 per person
11-Hours per day guided Fishing:
Group of four anglers $6,875.00 per person
Group of six anglers $6,250.00 per person
13-Hours per day guided Fishing:
Group of four anglers $8,125.00 per person
Group of six anglers $7,500.00 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 $6,875.00 per person
Group of 6-anglers $6,250.00 per person
Mid Season
May and September through early December:
8-Hours per day guided Fishing:Group of 4-anglers $4,700.00 per person
Group of 6-anglers $4,375.00 per person
11-Hours per day guided Fishing:
Group of four anglers $5,625.00 per person
Group of six anglers $5,000.00 per person
Low Season
June through August
8-Hours per day guided Fishing:Group of 4-anglers $3,500.00 per person
Group of 6-anglers $2,750.00 per person
11-Hours per day guided Fishing:
Group of four anglers $4,375.00 per person
Group of six anglers $3,750.00 per person
Non-Angler Companion rate:
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.
The Packages Include:
• Ground transfers between Buenos Aires and the Lodge
• 4-days guided fishing
• Fishing license
• Daily ground transfers to the fishery
• 5-nights lodging
• Meals / wine / open bar
• Wi-Fi Internet Access
• Daily laundry service.
The Packages Do Not Include:
• International or domestic airfare• Meals, hotels, or ground transfers in Buenos Aires, if needed
• Fishing gear, flies, and lures
• Phone calls, $5.00 per minute
• Gratuities to guides and staff
• Excess baggage charges
• Optional side trips
• Spa treatments at the Lodge
• Global Rescue
• Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
LA ZONA LODGE Policies:
Deposit Policy: La Zona’s Deposit Policy: A 50% deposit is required to confirm the booking, with the balance due 90 days prior to arrival at the Lodge. Reservations made within 30 days of the trip date require full payment. If this installment is not paid when due, the Lodge reserves the right to treat and consider the reservation as canceled.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations will be confirmed only upon receipt of written notice by the customer that the trip must be canceled for him or her. The reservation deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE unless the client is replaced. The following fees will be charged:
a. 180 days or more before the departure date: 50% of trip cost.
b. 90 to 179 days before the departure date: 75 % of trip cost.
c. Less than 60 days before the departure date or no-show: 100 % of trip cost.
We strongly advise the purchase of international trip cancellation insurance after purchasing a trip. The operator also reserves the right to cancel the trip for any other reason judged necessary. In the case of trip cancellation by the operator for any reason judged necessary, a full refund will be made to the customer.
Fishing with Larry strongly recommends purchasing Trip Insurance and Global Rescue.
Click here for our Travel Insurance page.
