Uruguay Dorado

The fishery below Salto Grande Dam in Uruguay is home to the world's largest freshwater Dorado (aka. "Golden Dorado").  The sheer power and ferocity of this species commands specific tackle requirements and flies to effective fish for them.  Here are my GO-TO setups and flies for covering the spectrum of conditions.

Keith's Dorado Tackle

Topwater Setup
  • Rods: Sage PEACOCK BASS / Sage TCX 1090-4 / Redington Predator 1090-4
  • Reels: Sage 6010 / Ross F1 #5
  • Fly Lines: Sage PEACOCK BASS line / RIO Tropical Outbound Short WF10/11-F
Mid-Depth Setup
  • Rods: Sage ONE/TCX 990-4 / Redington Predator 990-4
  • Reel: Sage 6080 / Ross F1 #4
  • Fly Line: RIO Tropical Outbound Short WF9/10-F/I
Deep Setup
  • Rods: Sage ONE/TCX 1090-4 / Redington Predator 1090-4
  • Reel: Sage 6010 / Ross F1 #5
  • Fly Lines: RIO Leviathan 26 Foot Sinktip (400-500 grain)
Leader Butt Material (30# - 40#)
  • RIO Alloy-Hard Saltwater Mono
  • Seaguar Flourocarbon
Single-Strand Wire Leader Material (30# - 40# test)
  • Malin Co. – BOA No-Kink Titanium Shock Leader Wire (best choice)
  • American Fishing Wire – Titanium Tooth Proof
  • American Fishing Wire - Stainless Steel Tooth Proof (color: camo) NOTE: recommend utilizing Haywire Twist Tool to form loop knot to fly.

Recommended Dorado Flies
Subsurface Flies (Streamers)
  • Puglisi Big Eyes Red Tail (size 6/0 in colors: black over red, black over purple)
  • Puglisi Rattle Peacock / Pike (size 3/0 in colors: red/black, orange/purple
  • Puglisi Peacock / Pike HOT (size 3/0 in color: orange/black)
  • Thalken’s Cruiser (size 2/0 in color: Shad, red/black)
  • Charlie’s Airhead (size 3/0 in colors: black, brown/white, grey/white)
  • Major Bunker (size 4/0 in color: grey/brown)
  • Andino Deceivers (size 3/0 – 4/0 in colors: black, orange/black, red/black, yellow/black)
Topwater Flies
  • Bisharat's Puckerlip (size 2/0 in colors red/white)
  • Banger (size 4/0 in colors: orange, silver, chartreuse)
  • Master Blaster Popper (size 8/0 in colors: blue, chartreuse) *NOTE: RIO Outbound Short #10 or larger to cast this large fly!
  • Master Jack Popper (size 3/0 in colors: blue, chartreuse)
  • Your favorite large topwater fly!