Mike's world-record 50-Lb, fly-caught dorado
La Zona Lodge
Fly fishing or lures for World Record golden dorado.
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.
Fly Fishing or artifical lures
Jim Lampe with 47-pound golden dorado.
La Zona freshwater golden dorado fishing is unrivaled in the world and is home to over 12 fly-fishing world records. La Zona is the unique fishery where fish can reach incredible sizes and numbers.
This is because the shallow lake generated by the dam supports an abundant and very complex food chain. Here, many species including the dorado achieve unprecedented growing rates.
In the past three seasons, more than 300 fish over 40 pounds have been landed here. The Uruguay River is a tailwater below the large Salto Grande Reservoir.
The Restricted Zone area is regulated and allows two boats and four anglers a day. 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.
La Zona Fishing Seasons
New for 2017:
"The new zone restrictions are now 500 meters from the dam walls as set forth by the Argentina government as protection from terrorist activity near the dam.
That said, I have never before landed a true monster over 50 pounds near the dam walls, because too much time is spent battling smaller dorado in the 30-pound range.
And that is a waste of valuable time since the drifts in the zone are extremely fast. Therefore, 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 greatest freshwater fishery." - Bob Daly - Peacock Bass e-Zine
New fishing package option:
Fish up to 11 hours per day.
Peak season is December 1 to May 15 when the Uruguay River is at its lowest. Fishing can be done year-round, except for a period in late October to mid-November when the area is closed due to spawning.
Fishing is only allowed with flies and artificial lures. All lures can only have a barbless hook. Fish from comfortable 21' fiberglass console boats with 90 h.p. Yamaha motors and two big casting platforms,
bow and stern. 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.
Read Mike Sadar's La Zona Golden Dorado Article, a PDF.
La Zona Guides and Boats
Jim Schmid with 46-pound golden dorado.
New for 2017 Season: If you purchase a package that takes place between January through the end of May, you'll have the opportunity to fish up to 10 hours per day.
The guides: Their three guides are from the area, and speak the necessary English for fishing terms. They are very experienced professional guides for both fly and spin fishing.
A normal day of fishing is from 8:00 a.m. until dark (usually about 6:00 p.m.), with around a two and a half-hour lunch and siesta break.
You’ll get in about eight hours of fishing per day, unless you're fishing here between January and May. During that window, expect to fish up to 10 hours per day. You’ll fish two or three anglers per boat – package options vary.
Boats: Very comfortable 21’ fiberglass, center console boats with 90-horsepower, four-stroke Yamaha motors, an 8 h.p. auxiliary motor and nice-sized casting platforms in the bow and stern.
Getting Here:
You'll fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina. You should arrive by Thursday morning to take the lodge’s executive van ground transfer to La Zona Lodge in Concordia, around noon. Buenos Aires to Concordia is a five-hour, 270-mile road trip on an excellent highway. The van driver will either pick your group up at your hotel in Buenos Aires or at the airport. Arrangements may be made in advance to take a charter flight from Buenos Aires to Concordia for an additional charge. That would reduce the travel time from five hours in the van to a 90-minute flight.
La Zona Lodge
The Lodge is located five hours from Buenos Aires, a 15-minute drive from Concordia, and just five minutes from the fishing at La Zona. The lodge is located in an area with many palm and eucalyptus trees and a beautiful landscape. The cozy lodge features seven, air-conditioned bedrooms with private bathrooms, and hosts a maximum of twelve anglers. There is a fully-equipped tackle shop with all the equipment, lures, and flies designed specifically for La Zona. The lodge has a ranch setting, swimming pool, home-cooked meals with excellent three-course dinners, open bar, famous Argentine wines, free laundry service and friendly staff.
2017 Rates:
5-nights and 4-days guided fishing:
8-Hour Fishing Packages:
The rates below include 8-hours of fishing per day, plus a lunch break.
Fish from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Standard pkg. - Restricted Zone
High Season packages:
January - April:
2-anglers per boat $5,500.00 p.p.
3-anglers per boat $4,800.00 p.p.
Regular Season packages:
May and October to December:
2-anglers per boat $4,200.00 p.p.
3-anglers per boat $3,500.00 p.p.
Low Season packages:
June - September:
2-anglers per boat $2,800.00 p.p.
3-anglers per boat $2,800.00 p.p.
11-Hour Fishing Packages:
5-nights and 4-days guided fishing:
The rates below include up to 11-hours of fishing per day, with no lunch break. Fish from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Standard pkg. - Restricted Zone
High Season packages:
January - April:
2-anglers per boat $6,400.00 p.p.
3-anglers per boat $5,400.00 p.p.
Regular Season packages:
May and October to December
2-anglers per boat $5,100.00 p.p.
3-anglers per boat $4,100.00 p.p.
Low Season packages:
June – September
2-anglers per boat $3,700.00 p.p.
3-anglers per boat $3,400.00 p.p.
Non-angler companion rate:
is 50-percent of the "3-anglers per boat rate."
There are a number of non-angler activities: Concordia city tours, spa treatments, and thermal waters park visit.
Packages include:
roundtrip ground transfers from Buenos Aires to La Zona Lodge in Concordia, lodging, guided fishing, boat and guide per two anglers (unless “3-anglers per boat” package is selected), fishing license, all meals and alcoholic beverages (open bar), laundry service, and internet access.
Packages do not include:
passports, visa, international airfare to Buenos Aires, 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, accident or baggage insurance, accident during the trip and subsequent emergency removal procedures, trip cancellation or interruption by the customer, transportation not included in the itinerary, optional side trips, airport taxes (about $30.00 U.S.), spa treatments (booked and paid directly at lodge), items of a personal nature, and anything not mentioned under inclusions.
