Marcelo is an Argentinean architect who was trained as an angler on the Argentinean Paraná watershed from an early age. He is devoted to dorado and has traveled and explored the wild jungles of South America in search of this fish.

He is the Founder and CEO of Untamed Angling and creator of the company’s concept and model project that’s based on a 50/50 partnership with the Indigenous jungle tribes where Untamed Angling lodges are located.

Through Untamed Angling, films, writing, and more, Marcelo has been showing the angling community what the Amazon has to offer. He wrote about fly fishing for dorado in magazines in Argentina and Spain for many years until he founded Untamed Angling. Then he designed and developed fly fishing destinations that are of international recognition, such as La Zona, Far End Rivers, Desroches Fly Fishing Adventures, Tsimane, and, more recently with the input of his friend and business partner Rodrigo Moreira Salles, new venues like Kooi Noom, Rio Marié, Kendjam, and Pirarucú (in the Brazilian Amazon).

1. Home water?  South America’s jungle rivers, and mostly the dorado waters at Tsimane.
2. What 2-3 lines do you use the most and why?  Jungle Titan WF 9F is my favorite line by far. I obviously use it in the jungle, but it also works perfectly in saltwater. There’s nothing better for throwing big flies with distance, precision, and less effort. The Jungle tapers are proven to be very resistant too. I recently landed a 200lb black catfish at Tsimane with the regular 9-weight tackle I use for dorado. I also use the Sonar Titan Jungle Clear Tip WF 9F/I when water levels are high and occasionally a Jungle Custom Cut Tip Sinking line to fish deep pools at Tsimane.
3. Where would you most like to fish?  In the Bolivian headwaters for Amazonian dorado. Crystal clear and shallow rivers, ancient mountains and pristine jungle, sight casting to one of the most impressive game fish on the planet, being guided by the best fish hunters in the Amazon (the Tsimane Indians) — this all creates an experience that is hard to beat.
4. Two Truths and a Lie. First, contrary to what some TV shows like to show, the Amazon forest is one of the friendliest environments on the fly fishing world. And second, you don’t need to be a pro to fly fish in the jungle — just stay focused and follow your guide’s advice. I’ve seen some pros tremble like a leaf when casting to a huge dorado in a crystal clear pocket of water. Lie: Ian Davis (of Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures) deeply envies my fishing hat.