The carpet-bombing surface fishing at downstream was physically demanding but very simplistic. The result of every trial will become clear within 3 seconds. Meanwhile, this count & swing fishing demands patience and much imagination.

Less exciting. But in fact, I do not dislike this kind of quiet fishing either. While I was indulging in a happy imagination - coaching my big black deceiver how to swim, ZOOM!!

to Upper Corrientes 2

The hook was firmly set on the left end of the cartridge. The fish must have taken the fly facing upstream as the fly began turning. When feeling the hook and the downward pressure, the fish would run upstream against the current, offering anglers a great opportunity to strike.

As the sun climbed down on the horizon, the water began boiling with spectacular splashes everywhere. Hatching mosquitoes were the dinner bell, calling up the minnows and other baitfish - as well as those bigger predators looking for a more filling dinner.

The action continued for about an hour, and we had a great with small muddlers on a floating line. We caught some small dorados (locally called, Doradidas) and many palometas. The first day at El Dorado thus ended all well.

At the bottom of the mysterious water, some powerful creature grabbed the fly. Within seconds, a golden bullet shot up skyward at the far end of the big pool.

Keeping the flying fish in the corner of the eyes, I reeled in the line as fast as possible, and when taut, I gave a serious strike, and again, and yet again!!. Good! Now the fish is on!!

The fish, when pulled near to the boat, tried to dive underneath the boat over and over. And all the while he manly fought with his head against the current, Every time he shook his head, the golden glare lighted up the whiskey colored river. What a divine shine. A true gold!!

It is obvious at the first glance that the condition here is quite a bit different from the one downstream, i.e. around Esquina where we fished until yesterday. The river is here much narrower, only 20meters wide, or up to 50meters at the widest. And the river is snaking around in the flat wetland, with no rocks nor trees in sight. All this green carpet are no more than floating weeds, lilypads or hyacinths. Apart from the strips of Tierra Firma along the river, which is also little more than a mound of sands washed up by the current, few places where you can stand dry.

And the clarity of the water! Unlike at downstream where we could see only 30cm thru, the water here, filtered by the grass and gravel on the bottom, is coloured but gin clear. The main channel of the river here is surprisingly deep too, with average depth I would guess at 3 to 5meters. And still we could often see the weeds down on the river bed, dancing in the whiskey coloured mellow light.

And that surely demands a tweak in the way you fish. Here you cannot cast aiming at the banks simply because there are no defined banks in the first place. Those grassy edges are actually a part of (largely submerged) grassy islands, offering few structures for fish to take cover. And because the water is so clear, those cautious big fish tend to shy away from the light, preferring the darker depth in the center of the river. To entice those fish holding deep, you must cast a sinking line across, count it down to reach the desired depth, and let the fly swing. Yes, just like fishing for salmon.

Esteros del Ibera, the huge marshland stretching as far as the eyes could reach. It pours out the water at the southern most point, giving birth to Rio Corrientes.

Estancia El Dorado is located several miles to the south of it, offering great accessibility to the best fishing beats in the river as well as in the marsh.

Generally speaking fish are easier to spot in the river, while the sheer size and the constant water condition of Ibera offers unlimited potentials to explore too.

Looking for a big golden nugget, we are to try our luck here for the coming 4 days.