We Found the Best Golden Dorado Crankbait for Argentina…in Brazil
As we started to research our Fall golden dorado fishing trip to Argentina’s Don Joaquin River Lodge, my first inclination was to investigate tackle. I know that I’m an addict and I’m unapologetic about it – while my habit sometimes (OK, frequently) leads to overpacking, on several occasions my OCD tendencies have substantially improved our long-distance fishing success.
While the YouTube rabbit hole and social media hero shots showed a lot of different lures in the mouths of trophy golden dorado, there was one style that caught my eye. They looked like a primitive crankbait – sort of similar to a Lazy Ike or the old Bagley’s Smoo – but the reason this particular style grabbed my attention because it was close to, if not exactly the same, as one of my best producers on a 2019 trip to Brazil for wolf fish and payara: The CuCu.
After some digging, I confirmed that the CuCu lure is made in Argentina, though it wasn’t easy to track down the exact name at first. Fortunately, my friend, Brazilian angler and writer Alex Koike, identified a similar plug from Alfer’s. That helped me unlock the broader category: the so-called “banana lures.” These quirky baits excel for both trolling and casting -- and now they’re at the top of my list for chasing golden dorado.
Exploring Banana-Style Crankbaits for Golden Dorado
On our Brazil trip, the CuCu banana plug took a serious beating from wolf fish and payara—but it kept running true. Even with heavy braid and a wire leader, it tracked straight, avoided hang-ups, and delivered a solid hookup ratio. That kind of durability is exactly what I want for golden dorado in Argentina.
The version we used was a mix of blue, black, and white. I’m not sure what that color pattern was intended to imitate, but it worked. For Argentina, I’ll stock up on a range of colors and sizes. Between heavy cover, sharp teeth, and the possibility that one shade outfishes the rest, extras are a must.
Here are some of the banana-style crankbaits for golden dorado I’ve found in Brazilian and Argentine tackle shops:
Some of these come rigged with treble hooks, while others feature inline singles. Many serious dorado anglers swear by singles for strength and better fish handling, though I’m still skeptical. For our Argentina trip, we’ll pack both styles, along with heavy-duty split rings, and lean on the guides’ advice about which colors and hook setups work best.
Banana Plugs in Action (YouTube Videos)
I don’t speak much Spanish or Portuguese, but these videos clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of banana plugs:
American and JDM Banana-Style Crankbaits for Golden Dorado
We may have to turn to eBay or hunt down a tackle store in Buenos Aires if we want to stock up on the classic banana plugs—though I’m sure the lodge will have some. If that’s not feasible for you, there are plenty of American and Japanese alternatives that perform exceptionally well for golden dorado:
Giant Square Bills
In the rapids where we caught the greatest variety of species, we had a strong squarebill bite going until we lost our last ones – then we’d have paid anything for a Tackle Warehouse in the jungle. This time I won’t make that mistake. I’ll have plenty – both less expensive US models and some JDM gems, including the following:
The best part? You don’t need to be a Bassmaster Classic champion like David Fritts or Kevin VanDam to have fun here. We’ll be fishing super-productive, low-pressure waters with aggressive golden dorado. Once we dial in the bite, it should be game on.
Ready to test these lures on the Corrientes and Parana Rivers? Join us next fall at Don Joaquin River Lodge and fish some of Argentina’s most exciting waters for golden dorado. Spots are limited, so email us to secure your space today.
