Humbare Dorado Lodge



Overview


Another Dorado from Argentina

Argentina Dorado are an agressive hard fighting fish found in the waters of northern Argentina. If you like peacock bass you will love the Argentina Dorado, with more fight, more jumps and gusto per pound than any warm water fish I have seen. They lie some where between a bluefish and a barracuda but in fresh water! The people in Argentina are amoung the friendliest in the world and are worth visiting even if there were not Dorado in their rivers.

The trip starts in Esquina Agentina in the north of Argentina. The latitude is equivalent to Florida and is warm year round. You will be staying in a beautiful ranch that was converted to a lodge when the owners children moved away from home. It is known as “Humbare” which means beutiful place. It is located on the banks of the Corrientes River a short drive from the town of Esquina. See the links in the right side bar for more detail and photos of the lodge.

Read More about Argentina Dorado Fishing

Humbare lodge Dorado fly fishing in Argentina

Each day you will have breakfast at the lodge’s dining room. Breakfast will consist of locally made breads pastries jams and cerals as well as fruit juice and coffee. Your fishing day will usually start around 9 am. After breakfast you will gather your gear and ead down to the dock to meet your guide. Most of the fishing is done from the skiffs but there are lots of opportunities to wade in this area. From the small creeks and lagoons to the huge river there is lots of fishing water.
Lunch will be prepared by the lodge and brougth on board with you and will vary each day. It is served stream side by your guides complete with wine and beer. Occaisionally you will get a roast over the fire for lunch. If it is a hot day you may be take a short siesta under one of the many trees. You will fish till sunset when you return to the lodge. Have a little wine, cheese and salami while you share the days ups and downs with the rest of your friends.

In Argentina is is normal to eat dinner very late. 10 pm is pretty common but the losdge is happy to serve dinne anytime you like. You will be served a variety of foods from some of Argentina’s famous grass fed beef to some delightful local fish dishes. The dinners will include wine, salads, appetizer and dessert and coffee. If you are not familiar with Argenina wine this will be a special treat as it is one of the best values in the wine world.


Lodging


Fly Fishing in Argentina for Dorado at Humbare Lodge - the rooms

Humbare means a “beautiful Place” in the local language and we agree wholeheartedly. Humbare Lodge is near the town of Esquina but it is a private reserve with beautifiul grounds a pool, restaurnant and bar, all on the banks of the Corrientes River. It faces west so you can enjoy the setting sun over the river at the endo of the fishing day or take a quick dip in the pool before dinner.

The rooms are delightful and varied. Some have two twin beds and others have queen beds depending on your needs. all the rooms have a private bahroom as part of your room and all guests have access and full use of the rest of the lodge which has a beautiful living area in the main building. In a separate building you will find the restaurant and bar with an equally spectacular view of the river.

More About the Lodging at Humbare

Fly Fishing in Argentina for Dorado at Humbare Lodge - a look a the rooms

Each day you will have breakfast at the lodge’s dining room. Breakfast will consist of locally made breads pastries jams and cerals as well as fruit juice and coffee. Your fishing day will usually start around 9 am.Lunch will be prepared by the lodge and brougth on board with you and will vary each day. It is served stream side by your guides complete with wine and beer. Occaisionally you will get a roast over the fire for lunch.

Have a little wine, cheese and salami while you share the days ups and downs with the rest of your friends. In Argentina is is normal to eat dinner very late. 10 pm is pretty common but the losdge is happy to serve dinne anytime you like. You will be served a variety of foods from some of Argentina’s famous grass fed beef to some delightful local fish dishes. The dinners will include wine, salads, appetizer and dessert and coffee. If you are not familiar with Argenina wine this will be a special treat as it is one of the best values in the wine world.

Lodge Photos


Fishing


Fly Fishing in Argentina for Dorado at Humbare Lodge

Dorado fishing in Argentina is a new pass time. Each year we are getting new converts. In fact we have had a many of the Dorado world records set here and there are many line classes that are open or can be beaten easily. The fish look like a golden colored striped bass that has some very sharp teeth. It is a beautiful fish that fits the profile of a top gamefish. They take a fly well, they fight better than most freshwater fish and they are a perfect fly rod size -3-25 pounds.

On my first trip to the region I was puzzled when my guide dropped anchor and said ” see that bird – that means dorado are here” It was an egret standing on the bank doing nothing. No sooner did I start thinking “did he mean that bird?” the water erupted near the bank with hundreds of 3 inch baitfish beaching themselves. The bird was quite happy to pick up as many as he could while they wriggled back into the water. One cast, one strip, one hookup – the guide was right as usual.

We are looking for a few adventurous souls to break this area in. It is a vast area and is hardly ever fished.

Read More About the Fishing

Fly Fishing in Argentina for Dorado at Humbare Lodge- a big fish

We approach the fishing with skiffs and some of the fishing is done from skiffs and some while wading. This area has a lot of great wading which is nice as both clients on the boat get a lot more fishing time while wading. The edges of the stream beds are lined with water vegetation but the bottoms are pretty hard and sandy. The water van be clear to tea color with a good chance of seeing many of the fish before you cast. Trout fishermen will find all this seems very familiar – it is just hot and the terrain is foreign. Otherwise you will blind cast through the likely looking tails and inlets of the thousands of lagoons and Fly Fishing in Argentina for Dorado at Humbare Lodge Lisa with a nice Dorado feeders of the Parana and Corrientes river systems. The Parana will run warmer than the Corrientes. The Parana flows from tropical Brazil while the Corrientes is cooler as it is fed by springs to a great extent. In the fall and winter this can be a factor as the dorado will move to the warmer water systems. Having access to both systems is a great advantage.

Hopefully you like fish that hit hard and jump like crazy- cause that is what you are going to get. They are not a subtle fish, strong and aggressive describes them best. Almost all the fishing is done with streamers and a sinking or sink tip line, although poppers are quite a lot of fun as well. Covering lots of water is key as they run in schools. Once you find one you can usually hook into a bunch. There are several other toothy fish that will come to the fly as well.

Fishing Photo Gallery

Tackle & Gear

Here is a list of the basics you will need for your trip.  Many of our destinations are pretty remote with no chance to buy things on site.

Dorado Gear List

SpeciesRodsReelsLineLeaders
Golden Dorado9 foot rods 6-8 wt. (maybe even a 9!) Medium or Large Arbor with 150 yards of 30 pound backing#1 Floating easy to mend line,
#2 Floating with 8-15 fast sink tip (Type 6)
#3 full sinking fast sink
9 ft leaders with 15 lb. wire bite tippet for floating setups, 3-5 foot leader 15 lb. wire bite tippet with the sinking line setups

Fly List

Most any saltwater streamer will work on these fish. Large dorado can eat 10 inch fish but most Dorado feed on bait fish 2-4 inches long. Some of your patterns should include flies that push a lot of water- maybe even a rattle! We are still experimenting with different patterns in this new fishery so feel free to improvise.

Golden Dorado Fly LIst

Fly NameColorsSizesQty for a 1
Week Trip
Tarpon Bunny FLychatreuse, olive, tan, purple/black1/0, 2/0, 3/06
Darlberg Diver black, white olive1/0, 2/0, 3/08
Poppersassorted1/0, 2/0, 3/06
GurglersAssorted1/0, 2/0, 3/06
Enrico's Tarpon StreamerAssorted1/0, 2/0, 3/012
Assorted big game streamersAssorted1/0, 2/012
Clouserschatr/white 1/0, 2/012

Packing List

Tropical Packing List

Packing ItemPacking Item
PassportCamera & media
Photocopy of Passport (packed separately)Computer
Airline ticketsCell Phone
Itinerary with contact numbersReading & writing materials
Emergency Medical insurance docs ( if purchased)Rod repair (tip top and glue)
Major credit cardSun gloves
Cash for tips (there are a couple ATMs in San Pedro but they may not be working))Face Sun protection (buff)
2 Hats with brim and neck guard (or sun hat for non anglers)Sunburn relief spray
2-4 long sleeve shirts for fishing (SPF fabric)Sunscreens SPF 30 or above
2 quick dry pant for fishing (SPF fabric)Sun block for lips and nose
2 quick dry shorts for fishing (SPF fabric)Toiletries
White socks (tops of feet get burned in the boats or wear under wading shoes)Prescription meds
UnderwearNon-prescription Meds
Casual pants or shortsEyeglasses (and spare)
Casual shirts, short sleeveFly Rods
SandalsReels
BeltFanny or other small fishing pack
Light sweater or fleeceWater bottle ( Holster optional)
SocksWaterproof boat bag
Wading shoesLines
Bathing suits,Leaders
T- ShirtsTippet
Sandals or walking shoes ( Barefoot is good)Flies
Rain jacket (an occasional cold squall will roll though or the boat spray may chill you to the bone!)Nippers
Bug repellent (for dead clam days or evenings)Pliers/forceps
Sunglasses (polarized with lanyard)

Rates


Humbare Lodge Fishing Package Rates

Package4 nights

3 days Fishing
5 nights

4 days Fishing
6 nights

5 days Fishing
7 nights

6 days Fishing
2 people fishing/boat

2 per room
2100/person2600/person3100/person3595/person
2 people non fishing

2 per room
895/person1095/person1395/person1695/person
1 person fishing per boat,  1 person non-fishing 2 per room*1795/person2195/person2595/person3295/person
1 person fishing/boat

private room
3357/person3710/person4300/person4969/person
1 person non fishing

private room
1095/person1350/person1525/person1795/person

Prices Include:Transportation from Equina to the lodge ( by car ) all lodging , all meals, taxes, and a guided fishing each day (for fishing packages).

Prices do not include: Airfare to Buenos Aires or transfers to Esquina, alcoholic beverages, or gratuities for your guide or waitstaff. To get to Esquina you can take an overnight super sleeper bus for around $80 round trip or you can charter a plane from the domestic airport in Buenos Aires directly to Esquina. With 4 or more people this is about $400 per person R/T.

Why Book Through Flyfishingheaven.com?

Why book through flyfishingheaven.com?

1. Unbiased Advice:


Most people recognize the advantage of our unbiased advice, there are hundreds of destinations to choose from and our job is to know the ones that are right for your needs. We offer the real story you can't get from a lodge owner. Would the outfitter in questions tell you are booking in a less than stellar part of the year? Remember our unbiased advice is 100% free!



2. We Can Book Anywhere:


Our website highlights many of our favorite destinations but we have access to hundreds more. If there are fish there, we can book it. In fact, we will give you 5% back if you book a trip through us that is not on our website! We enjoy learning about new spots!



3. Loyalty Discounts:


2017 Special: You are automatically enrolled in our loyalty program before your first trip and will get the 5% cash back on your very first trip. This offer is good until December 31, 2017. In January you will ear your loyalty discount on the second trip and every trip thereafter. This discount applies to all your friends who are going with you as well. f you organize a group of 8 or more we will give you 10% off! All you have to do is book the first trip and you are a flyfishingheaven.com frequent fisher!



4. Price Guarantee:


If you find a price lower than ours we will beat that price by 5% if you book through flyfishingheaven.com!

Our Pledge

We promise to work for you, not a lodge, outfitter or resort. We pledge to get you you to a destination that will live up to your expectations at the best possible price. You will never be charged more than booking directly (in fact most of our clients are paying less - *see below). We will make sure you are well prepared for your trip with specific knowledge about the gear, the flies, the rods, packing lists, travel documents, connecting information everything. Since we are not tied to a particular destination we promise honest pros and cons of any destination at the time of year you are traveling.

We do earn a small commission when we book a trip as all lodges and outfitters offer this as they depend on agencies like ours for much of their business. This fee is paid by the lodge not you, and they do not keep different prices for direct bookings vs agency bookings, it is bad business.


Payment and Cancelation Polices

A 10% deposit is required if you are booking more than 6 months in advance, 50% deposit is required when less than 6 months until departure date with the balance due 60 days prior to departure. If you are forced to cancel with more than 60 days notice, you may keep full credit towards another trip or receive a refund less a 10% service charge. Deposits on cancellations with less than 60 days notice are not refundable unless your spot can be filled. MC, Visa, and checks are accepted. We recommend travel and or medical emergency insurance for all our trips.



Seasons


Fly Fishing in Argentina for Dorado at Humbare Lodge

Although Dorados are present in the area year round, the fishing varies throughout the year. After a short period when fishing is banned, usually between mid November and Christmas, summer offers normal to high water, and hot weather fishing. The water levels start to drop by early fall, until the year lowest usually in August and September.

The first Spring rains in late September or early October bring many small creeks back to life and most baitfish species start moving up into the tributaries to spawn, followed by the schools of Dorados.

In summer we find Dorados all over the area, in any type of faster water where they can ambush their prey. This is the time to fish the large Parana River and its delta.

In the fall, the baitfish that spent the summer in swamped areas are forced into the rivers as waters recede, and Dorados are waiting for them in the places where this waters are poured back into the rivers. The lower Corriente, the Guaiquiraro and other medium size rivers fish very well during this time of the year. In winter and early spring, when the waters are the lowest and clearest, Dorados tend to concentrate in the rivers where they find the largest source of baitfish. It’s also the time when Dorados start to follow the large schools of mojarras to the upper Corriente, where they spawn in late spring and summer.

Overall, the fishing is good all year round, with the two best periods being February-March-April and August to mid November.

Gallery


Please take a look at the  photo and video galleries related to Humbare Dorado Lodge.

Fishing Photo Gallery

Lodge Photo Gallery

Scenic Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

There are no videos at this time.


Activities


Fly Fishing in Argentina for Dorado at Humbare Lodge

Although this is a fascinating area there is not much to do other than fish. The city/town of Equina is a throw back to years past , very little English is spoken here.

Please let us know if you are bringing a non fisher along with you so we can make sure you have realistic expectations on the area and all it offers.


Travel


Fly Fishing in Argentina for Dorado at Humbare Lodge

Air:
You will need to fly into Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) then take ground transportation – or charter air transportation to Esquina, Argentina. To get to Esquina you can take an overnight super sleeper bus for around $80 round trip or you can charter a plane from the domestic airport in Buenos Aires directly to Esquina. With 4 or more people this is about $400 per person R/T. We can help you with either option.

Passports and Visas
A visa is not required for a stay of up to 90 days. Traveler must be in possession of a passport valid for 6 months beyond stay and a round-trip airline ticket. A visa may be required if trip purpose is other than basic business meetings.

Passport Requirements:
Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay, and with at least one blank visa page available for visa stamp(s).
2Proof Of Departure:
Confirmed round-trip or onward airline ticket.

Special Instructions:
US citizens must pay a “reciprocity fee” to enter Argentina. This is not a visa, since a visa is not required for US business and tourist visitors. It is a fee based upon the fees that Argentinian citizens pay for a visa to the United States. The fee amount will be subject to change.

The National Immigration Agency (Direccion Nacional de Migraciones) has added a new online form of payment of this reciprocity fee (visitor visa- rate for Americans of USD $160), through the Provincia Payment System. Online payment may now be made in advance for arrival at all airports.

How to pay the reciprocity fee on-line:
Enter the web site https://virtual.provinciapagos.com.ar/ArgentineTaxes/ and register to start the process.
Complete the form with the corresponding personal and credit card information.
Print the payment receipt.
On arrival in Argentina, this printed receipt must be presented at Immigration Control. The receipt will be scanned by the Immigration officials, the information will be checked, and the traveler’s entry to the country registered.

Effective October 31, 2012 for arrivals to Aeroparque and effective December 28, 2012 for arrivals to Ezeiza International airport, all U.S. tourist or business visitors must pay the reciprocity rates (USD $160 for Americans) with their credit card through the on-line system. After these dates, cash payments will NOT be accepted at the airports.

Packing List

Tropical Packing List

Packing ItemPacking Item
PassportCamera & media
Photocopy of Passport (packed separately)Computer
Airline ticketsCell Phone
Itinerary with contact numbersReading & writing materials
Emergency Medical insurance docs ( if purchased)Rod repair (tip top and glue)
Major credit cardSun gloves
Cash for tips (there are a couple ATMs in San Pedro but they may not be working))Face Sun protection (buff)
2 Hats with brim and neck guard (or sun hat for non anglers)Sunburn relief spray
2-4 long sleeve shirts for fishing (SPF fabric)Sunscreens SPF 30 or above
2 quick dry pant for fishing (SPF fabric)Sun block for lips and nose
2 quick dry shorts for fishing (SPF fabric)Toiletries
White socks (tops of feet get burned in the boats or wear under wading shoes)Prescription meds
UnderwearNon-prescription Meds
Casual pants or shortsEyeglasses (and spare)
Casual shirts, short sleeveFly Rods
SandalsReels
BeltFanny or other small fishing pack
Light sweater or fleeceWater bottle ( Holster optional)
SocksWaterproof boat bag
Wading shoesLines
Bathing suits,Leaders
T- ShirtsTippet
Sandals or walking shoes ( Barefoot is good)Flies
Rain jacket (an occasional cold squall will roll though or the boat spray may chill you to the bone!)Nippers
Bug repellent (for dead clam days or evenings)Pliers/forceps
Sunglasses (polarized with lanyard)