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

The Testing River Test & the possibility of being a fishmonger!

Last Saturday we were the fortunate guests of Locksley Ryan to fish on his lovely beat on the Test. He has a rod on the Broadlands beat near Romsey.

Amy and I were spending the weekend with Peter and Elisabeth McLeod in Whitchurch, so for us, this was a wonderful Hampshire fest. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, but we were in such a fabulous mood, that little could have brought us down.

Peter and I started the day spending a very entertaining hour or so with Alastair Robjent in his superb tackle shop in Stockbridge. Robjent's truly is one of those wonderful tackle shops one dreams of having down the road: a generous selection of tackle, books, clothing and the most enormous selection of flies I have seen for a while. It was the first time I had met Alastair in person, but hope feel sure it will not be the last. By the way, thanks for the wonderful selection of flies you recommended. They did very well thank you.

We then motored down to Romsey and met Amy, Elisabeth and baby Thomas in time to share a lavish picnic with Locksley (who had taken a break from hauling trout out of the river).

Sadly there was no sign of a rise, and even Robjent's Daddy couldn't lure the fish up from the depths. However the nymphs did their work and Amy caught two lovely brownies, as did Peter. I failed to catch anything, but of course, I was so busy making sure everyone else was catching I barely fished. Look, that's true, ok??

We arrived back at the McLeod's, fairly shattered, but ready for a tall drink and the absolute BBQ fest he laid on.

Sunday morning, Pete and I walked down in order to drool at the Fulling Mill beat which is near his house. My goodness, I can honestly say that no fly fisherman can fail to go weak at the knees before this water. Gin clear, with perfectly kept weed beds, this stretch is straight out of the Fly Fisherman's Book of Beats he Dreams of Every Night. Not to mention, the absurd number of fish we saw, both Trout and Grayling: and big too! Incidentally, this beat can be booked through Fishing Breaks.

The Fulling Mill beat on the Test

We ended our walk on the bridge by the mill house (one of the most stunning properties I have seen for a while) and bumped into a pair of charming couples out for a walk. They had brought some pitta bread to feed to the ducks and trout.
We began chatting and one of the most priceless conversation with Pete McLeod went like this:

Wife No 1: "You guys seem to know a bit about fish!"
P. McLeod: "A bit, I suppose, we are in the business."
Wife No 2: "Oh, are you fishmongers?"

At this point, we literally doubled over.

After parting company with the couples, we wandered back for to start a second bbq, unable to take our eyes off the river, heaving with fish. We certainly were a happy couple of fishmongers!

I found this vid on Youtube and thought it might be of interest. It is a trailer for a forthcoming film by some Australian fisherman who went on the noble quest for giant Golden Dorados in Argentina.

This is the first footage I have found of the amazing fishing at La Zona. La Zona is totally unique and is without parallel when it comes to specimen dorado. They are repeatedly caught up to and above 50lbs. They are only spinning for them, but fly fishing is also highly productive.Check out the vid, it is mouth watering.

Click here for more info

Dever Springs is a corker.

For many years now I had resisted fishing at Dever Springs in Hampshire. I always had a gut reaction against the oversized beasts they stocked there. Add to which, in my experience, big trout over 6lbs never fought as hard as a fit 3 or 4lber.

Well, I will eat humble pie.

Ian Macdonald generously invited me to fish on his corporate day yesterday. There was a healthy mix of novices, semi-novices and hardened veterans.

One particular novice who was receiving his first ever casting lesson from Ian as I arrived, took us all by surprise bagging a 10lb fish after an hour or so. The surprise did not spring from his catching it, but more by how he caught it.

Ian had tied a Montana on the beginners leader and wished him luck. Aforementioned beginner fished the Montana for twenty minutes or so when he spotted a length of red wool on the ground by his feet and decided to tie a couple of inches of it to the leader just above the fly. He cast out and within seconds the rod nearly flew out of his hands as his first ever trout (a double figure fish no less) took him for a merry dance around the lake. I doff my cap to you sir.



I was delighted to see Fred Richardson again after a ridiculous 2 years. Fred is, aside from a fine angler, one of the most pleasant people you could ever travel and fish with. Hope we do it again soon.

In fact the less experienced fishermen outdid the veterans yesterday. Ian's friend Barry nailed a 12lb fish, see below. I believe it was Barry's third ever time flyfishing. According to him, not his last!!! Wonder why?

The record fish was caught by another comparative beginner whose name I didn't catch who nailed a 15lb monster. Seeing him carrying this fish to his car was was on of the highlights of a tough afternoon session.

My best (see top picture) was a 9lb beauty. Far from being the sack of rubble I expexted, this fish gave me fine fight that lasted well past the 5 minute mark. Having said that, I was fishing a Greys Streamflex 5 weight, so not overly gunned up.

Great fun, great day. Only disappointment was the lack of a rise. There were plenty of sedges, but no mayfly. Shame.

Have a look at this beauty

This is a video of my friend Rodrigo Salles landing a 28.5lb Dorado on the Rio Juramento in Northern Argentina. Clearly the beauty I refer to in the title is the fish!!!! :)
The guide in the vid is the wonderful Pablo Orfeo. One of the best, most passionate guides I have ever fished with. Hello Pablo if you read this.
For more info on this destination, please click here.

Sportfish Open Weekend Reading

The two intellectuals you see above are myself on the left and Peter McLeod, our chests heaving with pride as we finished setting up our first ever joined trade show stand.
Actually, the weekend was a huge success, partly due to the enormous fun we have meeting up with all our buddies in the trade, but also as it is such a great way to chat face to face with many of our clients.
This year had two added bonuses for us: first was the new hotel we all stayed in, second was the fact that many of our friends and supporters came down on the Saturday, helped us man the stand and stayed overnight at the hotel. As you can imagine, that led to an evening of abstinence, early bed and all fresh as daisies on the Sunday morning.
I would particularly like to thank Tony and Tara Hooley, Wayne and Sue McGee and Joerg for their touching support and enthusiasm.

Tara Hooley taking the stand

But where would I be without Amy and Gordon? Thanks guys for your cheery assistance, putting up with the set up and take down. Grrrrr.

Pete and Charlotte of Aardvark McLeod were amazing, super supportive and fantastic company.

There were also some notable personalities present. What would these events be without Steve O'Dea and Malcolm Cocliff of Donegal Flies. Their rapier wit always keeps the proceedings several millimetres above the gutter :) The face ache from laughter is always firmly their responsability.
Peter Gibson, Howard, Steve and Gavin from Hardy Greys, or the Hardy Boys as we all like to call them. Again, laughs a plenty. Ian Gordon, Scott McKenzie, Bill Drury, Hywel Morgan and all the other Salmon Gurus were there too.

The Sportfish Crew

As ever the Sportfish Crew were on hand to smoothly field customers from one rod display to the casting lake with dexterity. Particular thanks to Grant Harris, Allan Shepherd, Glen Dickerson and all the others for their great support.

Many of the top manufacturers were present, many with great new tackle and products. Hmmm love it. Patagonia Fishing with a great new waterproof rucksack I can't wait to take to South America. Donegal Flies are now agents for the fabulous Zpey Rod system: trust me, not just a gimmick. Cost del Mar were so ably represented as ever by Steve Chance and Ty Pollock were showing off their excellent 580 lenses, which are, quite simply, the best.

I was very flattered to be asked by Allan Shepherd to give a talk on Golden Dorado and Peacock Bass Wilderness Fishing. The lecture room was full, including several dogs. I am delighted to announce that the only hecklers were my own business partners (Pete McLeod was late and Charlotte got stuck on the floor with a dead leg causing some mayhem as Amy and Tara helped her up).

Anyway, great weekend and a great taste of what the Game Fair will be like.
Thanks all.