Golden Dorado

Golden Dorado:  Tsimane Pluma Lodge, Bolivia 

Rod/Reel: 9 weight set up with large fly 

Fish: The Golden Dorado is the Apex predator in most of the freshwater environments where it inhabits (Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and northern Argentina). It has powerful jaws and extremely sharp teeth. One must be very careful pulling them out of the water as a few fishermen have lost part of a finger to them.

It is a highly sought out fly-fishers “bucket list” fish because of its aggressive behavior, fighting strength, spirit, and acrobatic behavior.

Where: Pluma Lodge, which sits in a remote tribal area in Bolivia. To get there, you fly into Manaus and then take a two-hour small plane flight into the tribal region and land on a grass airstrip.

The tribal lands are owned by the Tsimane people, an indigenous people who primarily live on subsistence agriculture in tribes of 30-40 families.

Conservation is a crucial component of fishing in this area to preserve the fragile area which is very rich in biodiversity of plants and animals.

The primary diet for the Golden Dorado is the Sabalo fish. They move individually but mostly in small schools. They are almost impossible (I tried many times) to catch as they suck and eat organic mud. Their mouth is not adapted for fly fishing.

The locals use a bow and arrow to fish for the Sabalo for substance,

Environment/Landscape: The Pluma River is a crystal-clear river running parallel to the Mosetenes Mountain Range and merges with two other great fishing rivers nearby. It is a very rugged river in parts requiring multiple river and jungle crossings.

I didn’t find the jungle crossings to be difficult at all – sort of like small hikes in the mountains. However, the river crossings, sometimes 6-8 per day, were very difficult for me. It was fast moving water, difficult visibility because of recent rain and the boulders aren’t exactly spaced for a size 14 shoe.

I think for anyone that this is a pre-65 bucket list as it isn’t physically easy. Cardio – nada. Jungle – nada. River crossings are another story. They are not so difficult if you have grown up crossing US Western streams but even here the guys I fished with, experienced Western fisherman, had a few hard stumbles. The boulders are bigger and just different.