Fly fishing for Golden Dorado has gained popularity over the last few years for all adventure fly anglers, either stalking Dorado in crystal clear streams or fishing structure in coloured water with the added excitement of casting to feeding manic feeding frenzies. When you see all the action you can except using Golden Dorado flies and considering you will also be fishing in some of the most beautiful scenery in the world deep in Amazon jungles it’s no wonder why it has quickly become high on every fly anglers hit list.
You have booked up the saltwater fishing trip of the lifetime with Sportquest Holidays and now the excitement really starts as you prefer for months on end arranging, purchasing tackle and even tieing flies. So like many people you will be wondering what type of Golden Dorado flies will you need, how many you need, what colour do they need to be and what size hooks do you use. Below you will see a real comprehensive detailed list of what to take with you on one of our many trips, this complied with our own knowledge and both suppliers and guides in South America to provide you with the most comprehensive list of Golden Dorado flies.
In most cases, Golden Dorado prefers dark patterns that produce great silhouettes in tannin-coloured waters. But there are situations when carrying a mixture of brighter colours can be effective. So don’t be afraid to experiment across the colour spectrum. All flies should be tied on strong 2/0 to 4/0 hooks. Streamers can be tied from 4 to 6 inches long, or longer. However, it’s important that they’re light enough to cast. For the really big stuff, we recommend hydrophobic materials that shed water and therefore cast farther than a water-soaked piece of bunny strip. In order to make your flies more durable, add glue or epoxy throughout the tying process.
Sinking Golden Dorado Flies
Andino Deceiver (Black, Black/Orange, Black/Red, Black/Purple, Black/Yellow Black/Green)
Info: Andino Deceivers is arguably one of the best Golden Dorado flies around today. The reason they are so effective is the combination of 2 things: Firstly the bucktail head pushes a lot of water and secondly the flexible hackle gives the fly a good action.
Materials: ( Subject to change depending on the colourway you’re going for) Long Black Hackles, Flashabou, Peacock hurl, Bucktail black, yellow dumbbell eyes, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, Hook.
How to Fish: This can be fished with either floating or sinking lines, retrieving with long consistent strips. However, when wading the fly can also be fished on the swing whilst twitching the fly as it moves. This can be particularly effective with sinking lines.
When to fish: This can be fished at any time as it creates a strong contrast with the sky, even when it is cloudy.
Where to fish: This can be fished in any location for Golden Dorado.
Tie: Begin with a base layer of thread and attach the dumbbell eyes by crossing the line back and forth across the eyes. Tie 4 hackles midway down the shank making sure to separate the hackles in 2 and attach with the convexed side facing away to give the tail more movement. Then add flashabou down each side of the fly no longer than the hackles, however, is important not to add to much flash. After, take around 7-8 peacock hurls and attach them to the top of the fly just behind the eyes leaving enough room for the bucktail. Attach the bucktail by taking a small bunch and remove all the short hairs, then stack fibres. Tie the bucktail (exposing a third towards the hook) by making a few lighter turns, before tightening and moving the fibres all the way around the hook. Finish with a whip finish at the eye of the fly and trim the fibres to shape the head.
Synthetic Streamers
Info: The synthetic are a more recent innovation of the deceiver and have proven extremely effective. The fibres can be used and moulded into a number of different profiles to push more water.
Materials: Red and black EP Fibers, red Angel hair, Large plastic eyes, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, hook.
How to Fish: This can be fished with either floating or sinking lines, retrieving with long consistent strips. However when wading the fly can also be fished on the swing whilst twitching the fly as it moves. This can be particularly effective with sinking lines.
When to fish: This can be fished at anytime as it creates a strong contrast with the sky, even when it is cloudy.
Where to fish: This can be fished in any location for Golden Dorado.
Tie: Begin with a base layer of thread and gather a small bunch of fibres together of each colour. Tie the 2 colours top and bottom, towards the end of the shank and trim off the excess. Continue this process up the shank of the hook making the fibres shorter each time adding in a little angel hair each time. When the eye of the hook is reached, complete with a whip finish. Trim the fly down to create a tapered profile. Finish by glueing eyes on each side.
Bagre (Catfish Streamer)
Info: The “Bagre” was originally designed to resemble a catfish and has become popular amongst Golden Dorado fishermen. As catfish can often be prey this can be very effective when fished in the correct way.
Materials: Zonker Strips, Zonker Grizzly Strips, Flashabou, Chenille, Bucktail (grey, tan, black), Rubber legs, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, Red Dumbbell Eyes, TMC 600SP.
How to Fish: The fly fishes with the hook inverted, which is ideal for fishing deep and close to the bottom with sinking lines. However, this fly can also be used with floating lines however is not as effective. The fly represents a catfish therefore fishing it deep is more characteristic of this fly.
When to Fish: Ideally the best time to fish this fly is during very hot periods with high sunlight, when the fish are deeper in cooler waters.
Where to Fish: This fly is best for places with a lot of structure on the bottom to avoid hooking the ground.
Tie: Can be tied with a variety of different colours and styles. Yellow and black can also be very productive. Firstly it is important to tie the eyes on the hook side, so the fly-fishes inverted. Once secured the zonker strips must be tied at the end of the shank before applying chenille up the body, introducing flashabou after. Rubber legs must be attached first facing forward before stacking short bucktail to create the profile of the head. Finish by trimming.
Surface Golden Dorado Flies
Poppers
Info: The popper has become popular with a number of different species however has become very effective with Golden Dorado. Due to the amount of noise and disturbance it creates, it will often make Golden Dorado extremely aggressive towards them.
Materials: Block foam, long chenille, Marabou, Crystal flash, Hackles, stick-on eyes, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread and hook.
How to Fish: This must be fished with a floating line only. Using sharp aggressive strips is important to create as much disturbance on the surface as possible.
When to fish: This can theoretically be fished all the time, however will not be as productive. The best time to use this is when the fish become more active. For example: during last light and early morning.
Where to fish: This can be fished in any location for Golden Dorado.
Tie: Begin with a base layer of thread to the end of the shank. Tie the hackles at the end of the shank and add in 3 pieces of crystal flash each side of the fly no longer than the hackles. Continue by adding marabou in front around the hook to create some profile. Use the long chenille and wrap around the hook to give the fly some flash. Complete with a whip finish. Mold the foam into the popper shape before creating a slit to put it on the hook. Add glue generously on the hook and inside the popper and attach to the hook making sure a large enough gape is open to hook the fish. Let dry and add eyes with glue.
Articulated Mouse
Info: The mouse fly has become a very effective Golden Dorado pattern as it is a large meal item and pushes a lot of water. Ranging from around 4-5 inches it has become a very popular pattern.
Materials: Chenille, Zonker strips, Bucktail, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, 40lb Wire Tippet and TMC 811S hook.
How to Fish: This can be fished with a floating or sinking line, however, fishes better with a floating line. Can either be fished with very short and rapid strips or a long strip but retrieved slowly.
When to fish: This can theoretically be fished all the time, however, will not be as productive. The best time to use this is when the fish become more active. For example: during last light and early morning.
Where to fish: This can be fished in most locations that have rodents.
Tie: Firstly the hook section of the articulated fly must be tied. Begin with a base layer of thread to the end of the shank and tie in the chenille tail around 1-2 inches long. Then apply the tan Zonker Rabbit Fur by first attaching it and winding the bobbin to the other end of the shank. Wrap the Zonker Rabbit Fur up the shank of the hook pulling the fibres back with each wrap. Complete with a whip finish to secure. For the front section begin again with a base layer of thread and attach to the front shank using 40lb wire tippet. Create a loop through the eye of the hook and tie it down to the front shank. Then continue using the Zonker Rabbit Fur again, in the same way, halfway up the shank. Attach the bucktail by taking a small bunch and remove all the short hairs, then stack fibres. Tie the bucktail by making a few lighter turns, before tightening and moving around the hook. Tie in the ears by creating loops and add more bucktail in front to create the head. Use a few black bucktail fibres in each side of the hook to create whiskers. End with a whip finish before trimming the bucktail to shape the head. Add 2 eyes with either a black permanent marker or melt black plastic.
Golden Dorado Flies – Mouse
Info: The mouse fly has become a very effective Golden Dorado flies pattern as it is a large meal item and pushes a lot of water. Ranging from around 2-4 inches it has become a very popular pattern
Materials: Chenille, Bucktail, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread and TMC 811 hook.
How to Fish: This can be fished with a floating or sinking line, however fishes better with a floating line. Can either be fished with very short and rapid strips or with a long strip but retrieved slowly.
When to fish: This can theoretically be fished all the time, however will not be as productive. The best time to use this is when the fish become more active. For example: during last light and early morning.
Where to fish: This can be fished in most locations that have rodents.
Tie: Begin with a base layer of thread to the end of the shank and tie in the chenille tail. Attach the bucktail by taking a small bunch and remove all the short hairs, then stack fibres. Tie the bucktail by making a few lighter turns, before tightening and moving around the hook. Tie in the ears by creating loops and add more bucktail in front. End with a whip finish before trimming the bucktail to shape the head. Add 2 eyes with either a black permanent marker or melt black plastic.
Golden Dorado Flies – Titanica Slider
Info: Although the Titanica Slider does not resemble anything in particular, it has become a very effective fly due to the amount of water it moves on the surface. With this dark silhouette, it makes a very clear shape for Golden Dorado to attack.
Materials: EP Fibers, Flashabou, Marabou, Foam Sheets, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, and Owner AKI Hook.
How to Fish: This can only be fished with a floating line. This can be stripped, however, the most effective way to fish this is by swinging as it creates a consistent wake. Cast across the river at a 45-degree angle and swing the fly across the river.
When to fish: The best time to use this is when the fish become more active. For example: during last light and early morning. However should also be used during periods of intense surface activity or in shallow water.
Where to fish: This can be fished in most locations.
Tie: Begin with a base layer of thread to the end of the shank. Take a small bunch of EP fibres and flashabou, and work them together before tying them into the end of the shank. Take a full marabou feather and attach in front of the EP fibres and continue to wind the thread ¾ up the shank. Wrap the marabou up the shank pulling the fibres back on each turn. Tie the marabou feather off and whip finish. Cut and attach the 2 identical pieces of foam and stick together. Glue the V together behind the eye of the hook first before glueing the rest to the shank of the fly.
Cicada
Info: This is a relatively new pattern for Golden Dorado flies however has proven to be very effective. With its large profile it moves a lot of water on the surface.
Materials: Foam Block, Foam Sheet, Bead Chain, Elastic Legs, Golden Pheasant feathers, Hen Pheasant wings, Guinea Fowl, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, and Owner AKI Hook.
How to Fish: This can only be fished with a floating line and either stripped or swung. Very small and quick strips will also work well. Casting the fly upstream and letting it dead drift like dry-fly fishing for trout will also work. However, can be more effective with a slight movement to make it look more alive.
When to fish: The best time to use this is when the fish become more active. For example: during last light and early morning. However should also be used during periods of intense surface activity or in shallow water. Another time to use this is to fish rising upstream.
Where to fish: This can be fished only be fished in locations that have cicadas in the area at the period of the year where they are active.
Tie: Firstly mold the body of the fly using a file and make a hole through the fly from the middle to the front for the hook. Cut a matching shaped sheet of foam and glue to the top as well as a strip to stick around the front of the head. Attach the body to the hook with glue threading the body onto the hook and allowing to dry. Use the thread and begin winding to create the head of the fly and create a base to attach the wings. Tie in the elastic legs on each side and trim to make them even. Use 2 equal Hen pheasant wings and delicately tie into the fly. Next tie a Guinea fowl feather on top of the wings covering the body of the fly. This is followed by the Golden Pheasant feathers tied evenly on each side of the fly and completed with a whip finish. Add a small strip of foam over the top and add 2 bead chain eyes to the front for eyes. Finish it all off by adding segments for the body with a fine permanent marker.
Large Terrestrials
Info: This style of Golden Dorado flies has often been used for trout in the past however these more robust and larger patterns have become very effective for Golden Dorado. Around 1-3 inches long these flies push a lot of water and Golden Dorado have become very receptive to them.
Materials: Foam Block, 2mm Foam Sheet, Rubber legs, Chenille, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, Bucktail, Hackle, Craft Fur, TMC 600SP Hook.
How to Fish: This can only be fished with a floating line and works well with very small and quick strips. This can also be fished by swinging however is more effective when stripped as the front pushes a lot of water.
When to fish: The best time to use this is when the fish become more active. For example: during last light and early morning. However should also be used during periods of intense surface activity or in shallow water. This can be used at anytime, although the activity will not be as prolific.
Where to fish: This can be fished in all locations, however, works best when fishing near trees and plants as these areas have the largest abundance of these types of flies.
Tie: This fly is tied by first laying a base layer of thread down the shank to the end. Work from the back of the fly to the front beginning with adding the tail first if required. Depending on whether the body is tied all the way down the body, tie the foam in first before adding the body. The body can be made out of a variety of different materials such as chenille, hackle, dubbing and short marabou. Tie the foam down behind the hook leaving enough room to thread line through the eye of the hook. Add other features such as foam pieces or bucktail on top to create wings or wing cases. Small amounts of flash in the fly can add to the effectiveness.
Hybrid Golden Dorado Flies
Diver
Info: The Diver is a fly that fishes subsurface moving from above to below the surface of the water between strips. It is an extremely effective fly creating a lot of disturbance. This fly can often imitate frogs and can be very productive in areas with high abundance of frogs such as the Ibera Wetlands.
Materials: Bucktail, Hackles, Crystal Flash, Rubber legs, Plastic Eyes, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, and TMC 600SP Hook.
How to Fish: This can only be fished with a floating line and fished like a popper with long sharp strips.
When to fish: The best time to use this is when the fish become more active. For example: during last light and early morning. However should also be used during periods of intense surface activity or in shallow water. This can be used at any time, although the activity will not be as prolific.
Where to fish: This can be fished in all locations, however works best in shallower and clearer waters.
Tie: This is tied with a base layer of thread to the end of the shank before tying in 4 hackles and a small bunch of crystal flash on each side. Take a clump of bucktail and begin to tie the bucktail in by making a few lighter turns, before tightening and moving around the hook. Add the rubber legs on each side before adding 2-3 more clumps of bucktail. The colours can be varied as preferred.
As we all like to continuously learn I would love to see who has any other fly fishing patterns for Golden Dorado flies they would like to share? All comments are welcome!
Tight lines,
Peter
Contact us
If you have still not booked your Golden Dorado fly fishing experience, we have lots of great destinations on offer, there is a destination to suit everyone, if you would like to see all of these tours click here. To see videos from these destinations, visit our dedicated playlist here. If you would like to speak to a member of our fly fishing team, you can contact them directly on 01603 407596 or email info@sportquestholidays.com.
