UDA Rio Mate Lodge

Lodging Details
The accommodations are set up suite style for double occupancy, and all rooms enjoy a view of the Rio Mate. The lodge features a large porch overlooking the river with plenty of seating, which naturally attracts guests after a day of fishing, and is the perfect place for cocktails, cigars, and fishing stories.

Food and Beverages
In the morning, guests wake up to the sun rising over the Rio Mate, and after a delicious breakfast of fruit, eggs made to order, and baked goods, anglers can jump in the skiffs and be casting to dorado minutes from the lodge. Lunches are typically held at the lodge during the heat of the day but depending on the fishing program, lunch may be held in the field. The cuisine is nothing short of spectacular and includes large portions of home-style Uruguayan classics, and some of the dishes feature locally harvested birds from the area like dove and perdiz.

Typical Length of Stay
Three (3) nights minimum but stays of any length can be accommodated. Depending on flights, it is common for anglers to have a half day of fishing on either the front or back end of their stay. For example, a 3-night stay includes 3.5 days of guided fishing.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
Unlimited shooting with no limit for doves is available with a gun rental of $60 per day and $15 per box of shells. This can be arranged at the lodge per session (usually morning or evening) and can be paid for in cash directly to the lodge.

Internet / Communications
Uruguay provides good cell phone coverage for anglers with international phone plans. There is reliable Wi-Fi at the lodge.

How to Get There
Getting to Uruguay is not difficult. Take an easy overnight flight to Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) from one of several major cities in the U.S. To help ensure things run smoothly and efficiently, UDA has partnered with LOL Argentina, a tourism services company, to provide transfers to and from our fishing destinations. Upon landing in Buenos Aires, anglers will be met by a representative from LOL Argentina who will transport them approximately 3.5 hours on a drive that takes anglers out of the hustle and bustle of the city, over the rivers that make up the delta, and deep into the countryside of Uruguay to the banks of the Rio Mate. Pick-up and drop-off locations anywhere in Buenos Aires can be arranged.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
Arrival and departure times are flexible based on guests’ preferred method of arrival/departure.

Typically, return flights to the United States from Buenos Aires leave late in the evening which offers anglers the ability to have a half-day of fishing on before having to make the drive back to Buenos Aires.

Documents Required

Argentina
Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and other Western European nations do not need a visa for tourist trips of up to ninety days. You will need a valid passport and will have to fill in an ‘arrival card.’ You will then be given a tourist visa stamp for stays of thirty, sixty, or ninety days. Staple the duplicate of your arrival card into your passport as you will need it to leave the country. If you lose it, it’s rarely a serious problem, but you’ll have to fill out a new form at border control. Upon entering the country, you will also be given a customs declaration form. Duty is not charged on used personal effects, books, and other articles for non-commercial purposes, up to a value of US $300. Make sure you declare any valuable electronic items such as laptop computers, as customs officers can be suspicious that you may be bringing them into the country to sell.

Uruguay
Driving between Argentina and Uruguay is easy. LOL Argentina provides the transfer service and their staff is well versed in traveling between these two countries. When travelers arrive at the Argentina/Uruguay border, they will present their passport to receive a departure stamp from Argentina, and an arrival stamp from Uruguay. Occasionally the officials will perform a vehicle inspection but the total time for crossing the border rarely takes more than 10 minutes. Returning to Argentina is the same process in reverse.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes. 

Travel Tools
– Airline Ticketing
– Moon Phases
– Rent This Rod
– Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
– Global Rescue Membership

General Information

Floating
The main stem of the Rio Mate is considered a large river and is generally fished from a drifting skiff with two anglers fishing at the same time, each casting to the bank and targeting various structures to draw out a predatory dorado. Because the lodge is located in the heart of the action, there are more than 50 miles of fishable riverbank from a drifting boat, giving anglers access to what can be called a dorado angler’s paradise. Additionally, the boats are always in the water and remain docked a few hundred yards from the lodge.

Wading
In some cases, when the water levels are low, anglers can wade several sections of the main river and may even have the opportunity to sight fish for hunting dorado. Just to see these fish hunting is a spectacle in itself and is something anglers will find themselves dreaming of.

In this section of the Rio Mate, there are also a number of smaller tributaries that flow into the main river, which offer great opportunities for anglers to pursue dorado on foot. These tributaries vary in size and are accessed by boat. While the tackle remains the same (big streamers and wire leader), the tactics change on the smaller water, and at times it can even feel like fishing a trout stream. Wading these smaller rivers while fishing the fast-moving water, structure, and drop-offs is a thrill that will have anglers wanting more. Watching a slab of gold appear out of nowhere and take a fly on a small stream is memorable and will leave anglers wanting more.

Stillwater
Outside of the river system, the region offers a plethora of lagoons and lakes that are home to the extremely territorial and aggressive wolf fish. These waters offer anglers the chance to fish topwater poppers with the hope of triggering explosive surface strikes to possibly catch a new species. 

Boats and Equipment
Guests will spend their time on small customized skiffs designed specifically for this fishery, which include two casting platforms (front and back) as well as trolling motors. Each skiff can accommodate two anglers and each boat is outfitted with top-of-the-line equipment (rods, reels, flies, and all terminal tackle).

Package Rates
Double Occupancy

• 4 nights / 3.5 days: $4,400 
• 5 nights/ 4.5 days: $5,400
• 6 nights/ 5.5 days: $6,400
• 7 nights/ 6 days: $7,000

What’s Included:

• Transfers in/out of hotel in Buenos Aires, Aeroparque Domestic Airport (AEP), or Ezeiza International Airport (EZE)
• Guided fishing
• Lunch
• Beverages including beer, wine, and alcohol
• Accommodations and meals throughout your time
• Fishing license
• All terminal tackle (leaders, tippet, flies)
• Fishing equipment (rods, reels, and lines)
• Wi-Fi at the lodge

What’s Excluded:

• Gratuities for guides and lodge staff
• Airfare
• Wing shooting

Terms & Conditions
A non-refundable deposit of 50% per person is due at the time of booking for all lodging and fishing packages, and final payment if due 90 days prior to arrival. For cancellations, all deposits and payments are non-refundable. In no event will the lodge or Yellow Dog be responsible for any cancellation of services or operations due to inclement weather, any event of force majeure, airline delays, flight cancellations, or any other reason beyond the control of the lodge. The lodge will not refund payments in the event of poor weather, or if arrival flights are cancelled or airline connections are missed. Additionally, the lodge and Yellow Dog are not responsible for covering costs associated with alternative travel arrangements including flights, hotels, meals or any other expenses incurred. For all of these reasons, and because of the no refund and no credit policy, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance and full coverage for your trip. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be issued minus a $100.00 per person fee charged by Yellow Dog. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. Once again, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance all Uruguay packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT. 

"Over four days, we fished three unique and productive sections of water, all within 1.5 hours of the lodge. On the fifth day, we coordinated a trip to the legendary ‘La Zona,’ where we successfully landed some massive Dorado. We also enjoyed an afternoon of world-class dove hunting on the neighboring property, which was a great change of pace and totally worth it. Maxi and the guides were incredibly skilled and professional, and we had a fantastic time getting to know and fish with each of them!" - Brian G.

"We had an AMAZING trip - Kito and team were fantastic! And it was great to see some different waters! I would say I caught the best fish of my lifetime - we are already itching for another Dorado trip and we just got back." - Jessica T. 

"Truly the fly fishing experience of a lifetime. The ownership and guides have curated an incredible fishing program with a diversity of water types, landscapes and methods. Between Kito's knowledge of the home river, the vast opportunity on the Rio Uruguay, the incredible density of fish up at the Dam, and the ability to chase trophy sized Dorado with an add-on session a "La Zona"; you could legitimately fish here for 2 weeks and not get tired of it. 

The region experienced 13 consecutive days of rain leading up to our trip and the rivers were swollen and turbid. I was worried that this would negatively impact the fishing, but my fears were assuaged immediately as Kito's intimate knowledge of the river put us exactly where the fish chose to congregate in these conditions. We had a 45 minute stretch of wade fishing a fast moving rocky run that I will remember forever as the most insane "catching" moments in my fishing life. Other than a hailstorm or a tornado, these guides can get you in front of fish in any weather or conditions." - Robert M.

"The trip was phenomenal! This was my first time fishing for Dorado and we caught plenty. It was the most consistent I have seen in any fishery. There are multiple sections to fish and explore each day so you are never fishing the same waters, and the guides know the sections of this diverse fishery extremely well. To top it off, I was able to get my hands on a trophy Dorado! Aside from the fishing, the guides and lodge staff are all amazing. Their knowledge and hospitality are great and you're always learning about their culture. Marcelo and Maxi spread a lot of love to the guests and each day I felt very welcomed! Excited to explore that area much more in the future!" - Joseph G.

"We took a crew of 6 down to Uruguay and couldn’t have had a better time. Maxie, Kito, Huevo, and Julian were all amazing hosts and guides. Each day they provided a unique program that allowed us to see many different parts of the rivers and get into tons of Golden Dorados. We had an insane time and can’t wait to go back." - Matt O.