As soon as we dropped into the seats Peto gunned the engine and we started a frantic stampede. The boat cut every corner of the snaking river like a motorbike in a GP race - a great sport had it not been a serious fright.
The storm was catching up and the roaring of the lightening were heard even in the gushing wind. They had an unfair advantage not having to follow the meandering river!

The hell broke loose as we barely managed to reach home - violent winds, torrential rain and deafening thunderbolts!! We'd have been goners had we persisted 5 minutes longer!!
Having landed a few fish, as we too shifted into the top gear, Peto stopped us saying ''Now, pack up please. We've gotta run!''

''Why already!?'' As I turned back, what I saw was ominous black clouds barely afloat in the dark sky. Skipping the Q&A session, we rushed to reel in the line and pack up things around. Even as we did that, the gang of bad black clouds were approaching us at an alarming pace!!
''Fish often bite well before the storm. I suggest we fish until the last minute, what do you think?'' Not knowing how serious Argentinean storms, we had no reason to reject Peto's proposal.

And sure enough, the activity of the fish was so high that we received a bite, say, for every 5 casts. There were enticing boils in the shallows, where not only dorados but even Palometas were chasing the baitfish in a hunting frenzy.
After lunch and the usual siesta, we went down to the river again at 4p.m. True to the weather forecast, the sky, which was looking so blue and bright in the morning, was now heavily covered by thick grey clouds.

''Winds from the south . . .
A thunderstorm's coming'' said Peto.

It often happens in early summer, after a spell of several hot days with wind from the north. When cold draft from the south comes in, it brings storms and heavy rain, he explained. Now even the herons and the eagles seemed agitated.
The heat and the humidity could become oppressing at times. In the marsh there were absolutely no places to seek a shelter. And the only possibility to chill down is to go jump into the water scaring off the school of dorados and palometas.

The river is supported by abundant spring water welling out of the sandy bottom. The temperature stays consistently at 27c, serving as a nice spa!
An average sized fish, 45cm, ca. 3lbs.

Juvenile fish up to this size seem to swim in groups and could often be spotted in the shallows.

As we slid our boat into narrow channels we often saw sparks of gold fleeing in a panic.
The thunderbolt hit the powerline and we had a black out in the lodge. Despite that, we felt so relieved catching a lukewarm shower, and sitting at the dinner table to dine & wine in the candle lights.

As we finished our second glass, the chorus of frogs and crickets began. We stepped out in the flooded garden to look around, and what we saw up there was a remarkable thing - the sky flooded with millions of stars. Buenas Noches Argentina.




to Upper Corrientes 3



Fishing was hot from the start - two smallish but chunky dorados nicely bent the rod in the first half an hour. Not bad!

Now even Sabalo, a herbivorous fish, which are abound but rare to be caught on a fly, somehow ended up on my mylar tube minnow. An accidental catch probably, but then again, such accidents are anytime welcome!!
Upper Corrientes

This humorous looking fish is San Antonio.

While the name sounds somewhat like a saint, they are more like a hermit staying in the grassy covers or shadowy under cuts where they wait and ambush for a prey.

Weighted zonkers on a slow retrieve, or swung in the current like a light weight jig produced unsuspecting strikes. Surprisingly powerful fish for the size.
At some miles downstream of the lodge, the area offered relatively more dry places where we could walk on and fish from. Although they were not much more than narrow strips of drift sands..

Casting to the center of the channel to let the fly sink, and then swing it down into the bank's undercut hles worked well.
Our guide Peto - he was a true professional, making sure every taste and preferences of his guests shall be listened to, while discreetly showing more productive places or techniques when there was one.

On top of his field knowledge, his excellent command of English made our life a breeze. He was very factual about what he knew, and very honest about what he didn't - which gave us a lot of confidence the whole time being guided..

Update 2017) He established his own guiding service, in the town of Itati on Parana. See his website.
The day 2 dawned with not even a single patch of clouds in sight, and the fresh morning air was filled with an anticipation of great adventure waiting ahead.

The ranch keeps some thousand cows, and these cows around here are all at ease with the waters. They happily wade into the swampy marsh to munch on the juicy grass all day long.