Golden Dorado Surface Patterns

Golden Dorado

Surface Patterns

Fly fishing for Golden Dorado is an addictive sport. These fish make you work for it, but when you connect, it’s an indescribable experience – even better when they produce explosive strikes over surface patterns!

In addition to the sheer joy a surface strike brings to the angler, there are real reasons to choose these types of flies. They have been developed to float or stay very close to the surface, produce signature sounds and vibration, and a unique visual effect that triggers the feeding response in big Dorado. These fish have a very particular feeding behavior, and it can be hard to turn that on.

Another very important reason for selecting surface flies is the natural formation of the waters we fish in the Ibera Wetlands. Most of these channels are shaped and filled with natural weed beds from the bottom to just below the surface. The Dorado often hold in places below the grass, waiting to ambush prey that passes above. A good surface pattern fly will work across these ambush areas without constantly snagging, as a traditional Dorado streamer would due to its weight.

As far as surface patterns go, rat and mouse flies are very popular and produce excellent results. They generate calm-water shattering strikes, and watching the action as they are stripped across the surface brings a smile to the face of every fisherman. Although over a long day of fishing, they require practice to cast and make a proper presentation because of the bulk and wind resistance.

To make it easier, we’ve tried a multitude of different surface flies, such as: Crease flies, bass poppers, and gurglers. And over time, we have adapted designs to the larger hook sizes needed for large-mouthed fish with sharp teeth.

To date, the most effective patterns when it comes to bringing Dorado up from the depths have been the two seen below, tied by the renowned local tier, Hernan Tula. They are easier to cast than a traditional Dorado streamer, and produce more spectacular takes on the surface.

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Golden Dorado

Surface Patterns

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