Yahape Lodge
Location
Estancia Atalaya is located on a 25,000 acre working cattle ranch abutting the upper Parana River opposite the Paraguayan border. It is approximately 1.5 hours drive time northeast of Corrientes, Argentina.
Getting There
Guests typically fly directly from Buenos Aires to the capital city of Corrientes or its sister city, Resistencia. It is a 1.5 hour commercial flight operated by Aerolineas Argentinas. Alternatively, overnight luxury buses leave on a regular basis from Buenos Aires to Corrientes, which is roughly a 12 hour ride. Guests will be met by a representative of the lodge upon their arrival, and from the airport you will shuttled to the lodge via private car or van, with a trip time of about one hour and forty-five minutes.
Accomodations
Owed and operated by the Moncada family, they will be the first to tell you that Estancia Atalaya isn’t a fishing lodge. It’s a classic Argentine estancia that just happens to cater to fishermen. That being said, I have never experienced this level of personal attention, gourmet food and camaraderie at any fishing lodge. It is an excellent environment in which to indulge in some authentic Argentine culture & history that hasn’t been diluted by narrowly focusing on just fishing. Our clients consistently rave about the hospitality of the estancia and overall experience.
The rooms are classic Argentine estancia accommodations, with a bit of aristocracy thrown in. Each has air conditioning and a private bath. Meals are quintessential Argentine fare with copious amounts of good wine, and in the warmer months are served outdoors on the expansive lawn. With a cool breeze, a thunderstorm in the distance, fine wine, and good company, this is a combination that is hard to beat. There is a pool for a mid-day retreat from the heat.
The Fishing
The Upper Rio Parana is a large tailwater system some 70 kilometers below the Yacireta Dam, and this portion of the river forms a substantial part of the border between Argentina and Paraguay. Because it is a tailwater, the water is generally clear, unlike other large rivers in northern Argentina.
Your main quarry on the Rio Parana will be explosive Dorado up to about 25 pounds, but most will be 5 to 10 pounds. This is one of the best destinations for Dorado anywhere, but don’t let that distract you from the other unique angling opportunities available.
Pacu is considered the permit of Argentina, and is a cult attraction among experienced anglers because of its size and power. Pacu in the 14 to 25 pound range are caught, but most will be 8 to 12 pounds. The Pira Pita is a smaller fish, to about 10 pounds, and acts basically like a trout. It is called the Parana Salmon because of its red meat, though It looks nothing like a trout or salmon. It is a hard, acrobatic fighter which can be skittish and sometimes hard to hook. Many fisherman go to the Parana just to fish for Pira Pita, as it is unique to this area. Pacu and Pira Pita take dry flies, often dead drifted as one would for trout. It is an incredible experience to see one of these big bruisers slowly come to the surface and sip in your bumble bee imitation. Other species include dentuda (a small barracuda looking fish) and palometa, the largest of the piranha.
Most of the fishing is done from boats, though when the dam releases a lot of water, it is sometimes possible to wade the small side channels, much like you would a trout stream. Because it is a tailwater, it is not susceptible to low water. The Parana is a huge river, several miles wide in some places, and you will mostly be fishing side channels that are 50 to 150 yards wide. The boats are designed so two fishermen can be casting at the same time. Your guide will keep you in position with an electric trolling motor while you drift downstream parallel to the bank, trying to hit the most productive looking lies along the way. You will be at the same time taking in the verdant ecosystem of the Parana, which is a jungle environment. There are monkeys in the trees, toucans, caiman and an array of other birds and animals.
The nature of the river and its fish rewards competent casters, so it is advisable that you practice your accuracy with big, wind resistant flies. The reason is that much of the fishing is centered around trying to hit specific targets near tree stumps, behind rocks, under overhangs and along cut banks. Accurate casts are paramount to success.
The Fishing Schedule
The fishing day is split into a morning and evening session, with lunch at the lodge and time for a siesta. You will be fishing the side channels of the Yahape and Repeski areas, locations now famous for their concentration of fish. Breakfast is served at about 5:30 AM, which allows you to be on the river at first light (it’s a 15-30 minute drive to the boat ramp). Around noon you will break for lunch and a siesta, and then return to the river at roughly 3:30 PM for fishing until dark. This maximizes the most productive bite time, while also avoiding the hottest part of the day.
Other Activities
Atalaya is the real thing - a classic Argentine working cattle ranch. Fishing clients are welcome to join the gauchos for a horseback ride that can take you through the incredible landscape of the ranch. Prior to becoming the host lodge, Atalaya was an ecotourism retreat, with birders coming from around the world. Birdlife is incredible and the viewing is excellent right out your front door. You can also just relax at the pool where hors’dourves are served, or study the impressive collection of the onsite museum.
Fishing Tackle & Gear
Dorado are THE top-level predators of their domain, and have a voracious appetite to match. This requires us to throw large, noisy flies to get their attention and imitate the local baitfish. Coming with the proper rods & lines to accomplish this will make your fishing experience as enjoyable as possible. Please review the list below.
- 7-9 weight rods. Avoid rods longer than 9 ft, as shorter rods tend to be more accurate and better for leveraging large fish out of structure.
- Tropical Fly Lines We prefer WF lines with an aggressive front taper to help turn over large flies. Rio’s saltwater clouser line is great, as is its F/I saltwater line. Standard bonefish lines work well too, especially if you cut off the front 4-8ft to help with turnover.
- Leader: It is sometimes helpful to use a slow sinking tip, such as an intermediate polyleader. I prefer Airflo’s Bass/Pike or Tarpon intermediate sink polyleader.
- Wire leader: Our favorite brand is American Fishing Wire in 25 - 30lb. Your guide will have this available as well, but it’s nice to bring your own if you decide to rig up without him.
- Tippet: Dorado are not leader shy, so use the heaviest thing you can get away with. I like 25lb maxima ultragreen, but you can use anything so long as it isn’t stronger than your fly line or backing (if you break off you only want to loose your fly).
- Flies: Anything big (4-6 inches on 1/0-3/0 hooks), gaudy and noisy will do the trick. Dark colors are the most popular, with black being the most dominant color. Deceiver style flies with spun deer hair heads and bead chain are very effective. All the fish species of the Parana river have powerful jaws and sharp teeth, so using more durable synthetic materials over feathers is recommended. Puglisi flies (www.epflies.com), offers a great selection of durable, easy to cast flies. A weed guard is also useful to reduce snags, especially if your casting isn’t always 100% accurate. Your guides will have flies, but we suggest you bring a selection of your own as well. Let us know if you have additional questions about tying or buying dorado flies.
- Clothing: Summer in northern Argentina can be very hot, so prepare for the climate like you would any tropical destination. Lightweight clothing with ample sun protection is a must. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, quality polarized sunglasses and sunscreen. A light rain jacket is also recommended. Bugs are typically not a nuisance during most of the day, though mosquitoes can become thick at dusk. Bring bug repellent to apply before you get off the boat at the end of your evening sessions.
2011/2012 Prices: $550 per person per day. Based on double occupancy.
Included
- Fishing License
- Meals, all wines, beer and local spirits at the lodge
- Professional guide services
Not Included
- Ground transfer from Corrientes or Resistencia airport to the lodge (roughly a 1 hour drive)
- Gratuities for guides and house staff
- Airfares
- Buenos Aires transfers and hotels
Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have by dropping us a line at info@FarawayFlyFishing.com, or you can call or chat with us instantly using Skype and we'll start planning your fishing trip right away:
