We are delighted to share the Bolivia 2026 season fishing reports from the Tsimane Bolivian jungle lodges Sécure, Pluma (including heli-fishing) and Agua Negra. These three superb, remote lodges offer exciting fishing in the Bolivian Amazon rainforest for dorado, pacú and yatornana. Keep checking back to this page for all the latest updates from the guides on the river.
Pluma Lodge
Week 1 – June 6thto 13th: The season opens with sábalo migration
The 2026 season opened with one of the signs every Pluma guide hopes to see: the arrival of migrating sábalo.
As schools of baitfish pushed upstream through the watershed, dorado followed closely behind, creating consistent action across both the Classic Jungle and the Heli Fishing programmes. Despite a week marked by cold temperatures, rain, and changing water conditions, anglers encountered active fish throughout the system and enjoyed an excellent start to the season.
The opening week brought together a dozen anglers from the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Switzerland, all visiting Tsimane for the first time. It included some father-and-son duos, experiencing the Amazon together: Brandon and Mason, Jeff and Gabrielle, and Walter and Manuel.
From topwater eats to memorable encounters in remote rivers, it was a week that reminded us why the beginning of the migration is such a special time in Tsimane.
The week’s highlights
The week’s standout catch came from the Heli Fishing programme, where Andre, fishing with guide Nehuén on the Itirizama River, landed a beautiful moturo.
While dorado remained the primary focus throughout the week, encounters like this highlight the diversity of species that inhabit the rivers surrounding Pluma Lodge.
Other memorable moments included the arrival of migrating sábalo which created ideal feeding opportunities for dorado, and anglers enjoyed exciting topwater action throughout the system. While no single fish stood above the rest, the visual nature of the fishing made it one of the most memorable aspects of the week.
Heavy rain and turbid water challenged anglers during the second half of the week.
One highlight came when Matt, guided by Alejandro, landed a dorado in completely muddy water using a Puglisi Sabalito pattern. On the very next cast, an even larger fish struck and opened the hook before coming to hand — a reminder that some of the best stories are the ones that get away.
Agua Negra Lodge
Week 1 – June 5th to 12th: A perfect start to the season
Some seasons begin with uncertainty. This one began with the arrival of the fish.
The first week of the 2026 season arrived at exactly the right moment. Large numbers of migrating sábalo entered the system, bringing dorado with them and creating outstanding fishing throughout the Agua Negra system.
Anglers encountered fish of all sizes feeding along riverbanks, structure, and migration corridors, making for an exceptional start to the season. Even as weather conditions changed later in the week, the fishing remained consistently productive.
This week’s group included first-time visitors Leslie (“Les”) and Lisa from Canada, along with Steve and Jared (“JR”) from the United States, all experiencing Agua Negra for the first time.
The week’s highlights
We had to wait until the last day for the catch of the week – a triple on the Sécure. On this final day, following rain and rising water, the team launched two boats on the Sécure River. The group encountered actively feeding dorado at a confluence of the river. Golden dorado appeared in numbers.
What followed was a “party”: In a brief but unforgettable window, three dorado were hooked and landed at the same time, a fitting way to close the week.
Other memorable moments included an an overnight camp in the Upper Agua Negra, when both Lisa and Les landed pacú on the surface. Wind and rain had pushed large numbers of leaves onto the water, creating ideal feeding conditions. With fish actively rising, both anglers connected with one of the Amazon’s most challenging and rewarding species on the fly.
Lisa’s pacú from the canoe also gets a mention. After several frustrating encounters with fish that inspected the fly but refused to commit, Lisa finally connected.
Fishing from a small canoe in a deep pool of the Upper Agua Negra, she watched another pacú rise and take the fly. What followed was a powerful fight in tight quarters — and one of the most rewarding moments of the week.
We also enjoyed some fine sight fishing on the Chimoré. As JR and the guides pushed deep into the river they were rewarded by outstanding sight fishing in a small river full of structure and pocket water. After several frustrating encounters with fish that inspected the fly but refused to commit, Lisa finally connected.
Fishing from a small canoe in a deep pool of the Upper Agua Negra, she watched another pacú rise and take the fly. What followed was a powerful fight in tight quarters — and one of the most rewarding moments of the week.
If you have enjoyed reading the Bolivia 2026 season fishing reports and would like more information on fishing in Bolivia, please contact Charlotte Chilcott or Olly Thompson or call us on +44 (0) 1980 847389. Alternatively, click HERE if you would like us to contact you.
