Interview with
Carlos Caballi
Also known as “Carlitos”, he has been a part of The Golden Dorado Experience since the beginning. He has accumulated more hours on the water chasing Dorados than any guide could wish for, and his knowledge about the species and his outgoing personality make him a great guide and sought after fishing buddy!
During this interview Carlitos was at Jetu’u Cañanas de Esteros, aligning the boats and preparing everything to receive a group of our trout guides from SET. It’s evening time, and as he speaks I hear the crickets chirping in the audio.
Interviewer: What’s your most vivid memory about fishing?
Carlitos: There is not a particular memory I have, that I could say, ‘this is it’. There are several moments that are always present from my angler’s life. For example, back in the days a trip in the upper Parana river with Marcelo Callegaris. I remember it because of the situation, because back then we were still trolling for dorados. We got a few huge ones that trip, in particular at a big rock that nowadays is covered, at the outlet of a well known stream where Marcelo twice lost dorados so big they pulled the hooks open. Then I landed a really good one under a massive rain storm!
Then, fishing again the upper Parana close by Itati, but this time fishing with my old man and my mother in the boat. We were at a great spot below an island, fishing spinning rods and small lures for dorados. Watching my father catching dorados! My father used to only catching a small species of catfish with bait at the local stream where I grew up fishing. I won’t forget those dorados with my father and mother.
Another is the first time with Andy that went into the Misteriosa lagoon, navigating deep into the Ibera wetland in such a unique place, where probably no one has been for decades. Then I think how this place could have been 500 years ago, and the answer was there, the same as today as we witnessed with Andy. That day I got emotional at the beauty of the place, I remember telling him, “ Andy, stop the boat and let’s just enjoy this! Look at the bottom, all covered by weeds and aquatic grass, everything so virgin and it has been this way forever. Other than perhaps a hunter 50 years ago, who else besides us has ever been here?
I can tell you, that those are not just memories of fishing, but memories of moments with people I appreciate who have had a special impact on my life. We shared those moments, I think it was with the excuse of fishing, we shared those moments and places. The fishing was just the bonding action between us, and the time spent together with those people is what made it so memorable. Moments that happened 15 or 20 year ago and I still remember them as if it were yesterday. Some of them are more recent, but I’ll keep them all forever. So, it’s hard to talk about just one memory.
I: Tell me more about the Ibera Wetlands. I know you have special feelings about the place, and how was it to build Yaguarete Avà Camp?
Carlitos: As I was hearing the questions and started remembering, I got goosebumps!
To go through the Ibera wetland, an area that is so virgin and almost unexplored, you think that there are no other places left like this one. Where you can’t see any signs of human presence, there are not that many in the world. I’m not saying it’s inhospitable, but where you have the feeling of you cannot envision other humans having been there. Then finding yourself there, you feel you are in a unique place.
I remember the first time with Andy, exploring some of the small creeks looking for connections to specific lagoons or bigger channels (for those who haven’t been there there is a link to understand this geography Deep in the Marsh.) We had to navigate through tight channels where the boat could barely pass and in some places it was impossible, so we had to portage over these floating islands. We did it several times a day, but when we found our way to get there, the emotions and satisfaction were overwhelming. Then once back home and looking at the satellite images where we were, felt unreal!
Then, the feelings when we were able to reach “La Misteriosa” lagoon, no doubt. Mainly because of all the mysticism around it. Not many locals have been there and not even the park rangers knew the way to get there. But we knew it was there, so after researching on maps, finding our way through the small channels for days, I was admiring that pure state of immaculate nature… my thought was that it couldn’t be real, it felt like the movie: Avatar, something from another world. The emotions were so strong.
Afterwards, when we started to frequent the place more often, I felt I was not connected to what I was doing, I was lost in the nature around me and not always paying attention to navigating, I was watching and admiring everything and almost crashing into the reeds! It was a satisfying, but nerve-wracking feeling to explore for the first time, those places where there is no human presence and lack of any trace of them. Then I realized I was in a real one-of-a-kind and unique place.
To build Yaguarete Avà, it was through the middle of the Covid-19, it was to go there and escape from all that craziness, to be on that island with a great group of people with Salta, Andy and the boys. I think in that moment I couldn’t really understand what we were doing, the difficulty of the logistics at least, I didn’t until later. We transported an entire stable camp by boat (14 feet long and 2 hrs to get there). Tons of timber loaded in those boats, through many tight channels, to then reach the edge of the lagoon and then tow the boat over the swampy area to the mainland. Then to start setting the first columns, then the platforms, then the rest of it.
We were building a puzzle, but I was not conscious about it. Now that I can see it finished, I enjoy it and I have a deep connection with the place, and I understand that were where we wanted to be.
During the process I believe we weren’t aware, at least I wasn’t, about what we were building, but I can tell you that during that season that the world was living such a dark episode, we were involved in such a positive and beautiful project that it cleared our minds from all of that. I didn’t suffer the Covid lockdown, thanks to being involved with the construction of Yaguarete Avà.
Definitely we weren’t bothered at all by the pandemic, as it was for other people, because we were gone for ten days, lost on that island surrounded by nature. We would wake up in the mornings and cook outside, and have a bonfire at night. Then the next day again working on the project, seeing it taking shape, bringing up ideas to solve different challenges, we were experiencing something positive and enjoyable while the rest of the planet was on a different dial.
I think we were super lucky to be able to be there in that place, during those difficult moments for humanity. We were there and we were happy, doing what we love, in direct contact with nature. Building, navigating with the materials, going back and forth through the Ibera, trying not to forget anything because there wasn’t a hardware store close by, we had to be prepared before departing. It was such a special time to me.
I: Who introduced you to fishing?
Carlitos: It was my father, we used to go to the banks along the Carcaraña river (tributary of the Parana river). He fished with conventional gear and bait for a certain catfish, while with my brother we fished minnows with just a pole made out of bamboo, monofilament tied to the end, bobber and a worm on the hook. When possible, we were always outside, living outdoors. That passion for fishing and hunting was because of my father, he really enjoyed it and I followed him,
I remember on Saturdays, my parents would get the “maté” ready (traditional Argentinian herbal drink, similar to strong green tea), jump into the Ford Falcon and off to the river to spend the afternoon fishing and enjoying time with the family.
Later I met Marcelo (Marcelo Callegaris, founder with Andres Martinez of the Golden Dorado Experience) and then I started to go crazy for Golden Dorados. We first started trolling for them, focusing on passing the lures next to deep submerged rocks in the river bed, where the very big ones are. It was important to make a good plan to have success. We would plan our strategy for the different features of the river, the speed of the boat, water speed, line diameter combined with the different lure actions. Then he introduced me to fly fishing and it completely blew my mind.
Today I cannot imagine living in a place where the Parana River is not running close by, and it was because of my father that I enjoy being by the river.
I: Back in the days, it was known that Dorados over 40 lbs were more than common doing trolling, but did you ever think it could be possible to reach those trophies on a fly?
Carlitos:
No, I didn’t think that we could catch these big fish on a fly, but Marcelo did. Then he learned how to catch them using flies.
By that time I was working hard in a multinational company and slowed down my fishing with Marcelo at the Upper Parana. So one day I met with Marcelo, and he commented that they were not taking trolling gear any more and were just fishing with fly fishing gear. So my answer was: Why? You guys are nuts! You are crazy for not trolling! Then Marcelo explained that, yes, they were now just using flies. Marcelo and Andy, they realized that it was possible, and evidently they were right, but I was not a believer at first. I thought it was nonsense, I still remember those talks, and we transitioned from trolling to fly fishing. Then I was in!
I: What aspects of guiding do you enjoy the most?
Carlitos: I think all of it. First because I love fishing, so when I’m guiding, I’m fishing with the angler’s arm. When I say to someone, “Cast there, that log, hole, or let it drift over the rock,” I’m telling the person what I’d do if I were holding the rod in my hand, because I love fishing.
That’s the first thing that comes to my mind, because I’m a passionate angler. But then I like everything about guiding. The lifestyle, what I like to do and the places where I like to be, on the water, the river, and navigating. Then the situations you find yourself in. It’s a job, but I don’t think of it that way.
The fun of meeting a new group of anglers, and if they are repeat guests, to see them again and find out how they have been and talk about the moments we shared before.
Then, we are very fortunate to have a job where we can live and work in such beautiful places. Most people start their days getting in a subway or metro, then catch a bus to spend most of their day in an office in the middle of a big city. But for us, the most bother we have could be an egret or cormorant flying over the pool where we are and spooking fish. Those are the biggest problems we can have!
Another point is, I get to know “the best version of every person” who comes to fish. They are doing what they enjoy, usually with a group of friends, surrounded in a charming environment where there is also good food, good drinks, and generally speaking, a friendly atmosphere of people in a good mood.
All those are the things that make this work very pleasant. But again, the first thing that comes into my mind is that I love fishing, so I’m fishing all day long!
I: What can you tell me about the new addition, Jetu’u Cabañas de Esteros, to the Golden Dorado Experience?
Carlitos: I like it because it’s not just targeting the trophy Golden Dorado, as in the Upper Parana, but you can still catch very nice fish with the chance at far more fish in a day.
Then, if we include all the wetland system areas where there is almost no fishing pressure, there is the opportunity to fish in many different areas. From the same location you can be fishing two completely different water systems, with very different features.
So Jetu’u combined with the Ibera Wetlands, or The Itati Lodge, in my opinion is a very good option. I was always passionate about fishing the Upper Parana, but now that I fish and guide in this new middle section of the river with access to the wetland, that combo is my favorite place to fish. Because of the variety of fishing situations and the surroundings, everything. I was talking about this same thing with the other guides; I’d definitely rank it first. If you ask me today where do I like to guide better, I say Jetu’u, but the combinations of any of the other destinations we guide are all great.
From the angler’s perspective it’s exceptional, because many people have never had any experience with Golden Dorado. Fishing the wetland area gives you the possibility of more action to start understanding the Dorados, how to effectively set the hook on them and prepare the angler to enjoy our other destinations. I think Jetu’u is a great compliment to The Itati and La Alondra lodges, and a very positive experience for the anglers.
Other golden dorado articles
Contact us