Bolivia Trip August 2009

In conjunction with Aardvark McLeod our first group has just returned from the wilds of the Bolivian Jungle. The Tsimane operation is the first to access these incredible rivers where it is possible to sight fish for huge golden dorado and the equally impressive pacu. The excitement before departure to this jungle wilderness has been tangible, not just for the clients travelling but also for all of us here in the office. With every new destination it is difficult to know what is going to happen with the first group. We are pleased to announce that Tsimane is everything we hoped it would be. Aardvark McLeod sent their photographer Henry Gilbey along to bring back the evidence. Here is his report:

Tsimane, Bolivia
The Tsimane operation is located on the River Secure. It is reached by a two hour flight from the city of Santa Cruz and a boat ride further into the remote jungle. The river is very clear, and unlike every other golden dorado environment you can see the fish cruising. In the “home pool” below the lodge we saw golden dorado well over the 30lb mark. Some truly massive fish were in evidence around the rapids we fished that day, indeed we often saw them coming up and breaking the surface or killing the abundant bait fish.


Only a handful of people have ever seen, let alone fished where we did that day. In one particular instance Gordon had just sight cast to a huge golden dorado that turned and hammered the fly immediately. It then proceeded to charge downriver through all the boulders and white water ripping line off with Gordon in hot pursuit. After an incredible battle, including some fantastic aerobatics, Gordon managed to subdue the fish and bring it to hand. I think that golden dorado are the nearest equivilent to giant trevally in freshwater, especially in terms of their savagery.


The operators run a two lodge operation to take advantage of the different rivers. We discovered when we moved that the other rivers have been fishing really well for both dorado and the pacu, sometimes referred to as the freshwater permit. I had yet to see one of these fish, and out here they too grow to unusal sizes. Pacu have been taken to over 40lbs from these rivers!! A few days later we fished a section of river with huge numbers of pacu swimming around in one particular pool, with some looking like they were well over 30lbs. Gordon was smashed by a huge pacu in the blink of an eye that just bit straight through the wire, and there were countless follows that came to nothing.


Dorado sometimes herd the poor sabalo, their principal quarry, and smash into them like jacks do in the sea. Gordon hooked fish after fish from the same pool for a mad hour or so, but we kept on moving up river to look for more dorado and pacu. After hearing so much about these mythical fish, I so badly wanted to see one actually hooked and landed. Finally I got my chance, everything these guys say about the pacu is true – they are indeed the freshwater permit. They are not easy to catch, and when hooked they scream off with proper speed, and they are hugely strong.


The Argentinean guides in Bolivia are truly outstanding, indeed every single aspect about Tsimane is awesome. It staggers me that people can create such a fantastic lodge in the middle of the jungle many hours from the nearest town or city. It is one of the most impressive places I have ever visited, and the fishing is really beginning to open up and reveal itself. The golden dorado live in savage water there, and fly fishing is perfectly suited to nailing them. Sea trout fishing is hugely popular in South America, but dorado are off the scale, and I love being around them.

Booking information
If you are interested in receiving some information on Tsimane or would like to go then please contact us as soon as possible. Space is very limited and demand is high already. Places are already booking fast for next year. The season is from May to October and we do still have some last remaing rods in October this year. This operation is limited to four rods and is fly only.
For more information, please click here