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.
SÉCURE LODGE
Week 2 – June 19th to 26th: When cold water doesn’t matter
Conventional wisdom suggests cold water slows dorado down. This week, Sécure proved otherwise.
Despite cool air temperatures and cold water throughout the week, anglers witnessed extraordinary feeding activity across the watershed, with dorado of every size hunting continuously in shallow water. Combined with excellent river levels and improving clarity, conditions produced one of the most visually exciting weeks of the young season, with great sight-fishing opportunities.
Sécure welcomed three first-time visitors this week: two from the United States (Joe and Chris) and one from Argentina (Tuqui). Together they experienced one of the Amazon’s greatest spectacles: watching wild dorado hunt in water barely deep enough to cover their backs.
This week’s highlights
Moving quietly well away from the shoreline before making a careful approach, Carlos “Tuqui” delivered what guides affectionately call a yellow offering. His fly landed in the middle of complete chaos. Several large dorado were tearing apart migrating sábalo in barely six inches (15 cm) of water — completely shallow — their backs breaking the surface as they attacked only a few feet from shore. Moments later, a magnificent 16-pound dorado inhaled the fly. It was the kind of visual encounter that defines Tsimane’s wild Amazon fly fishing.
During one unforgettable encounter, guide and angler stopped fishing altogether. Instead, they reached for their phones. Two dorado fought violently over the very same sábalo, behaving more like a pair of wild attack dogs than fish. It was one of those rare moments that perfectly explains why golden dorado rank among the most exciting species in the world to pursue with a fly rod.
In another remarkable hunting sequence, three dorado weighing 5, 9 and 14 pounds were landed from the exact same location.
The feeding activity lasted unusually long, allowing anglers to witness — and fish through — one extended frenzy after another as migrating baitfish kept pouring through the shallows.
Week 1 – June 12th to 19th: The river always found its shape
Sécure Lodge welcomed its first guests of the 2026 season under cool air and cooler water — and an opening week defined by excellent river levels and an abundant stock of fish.
The healthy population of dorado reflected the abundant rainfall that nourished the watershed throughout the summer, creating the ideal foundation for the season ahead.
This week welcomed a family of anglers, most of them from Utah, USA, who were experiencing this fascinating jungle fishing game for the very first time. Despite being new to these waters, they quickly found themselves immersed in the rhythm of the jungle, enjoying memorable moments and connecting with dorado of all sizes at the end of their lines.
From fly lines repaired right on the water to pacú converging at an angler’s feet, the lodge’s first week set an encouraging tone for everything still to come.
The week’s highlights
The week’s standout fish was a beautiful 20-pound female dorado, landed only moments after repairing a damaged fly line on the river. A perfect example that sometimes the best fish come immediately after the unexpected.
One of the week’s defining stories was a succession of epic moments on the water. Several medium and large dorado were successfully landed using fly lines that had been repaired right on the river during the session. This proves that determination and quick thinking often become part of the experience.
Clear water often reveals moments that happen too quickly.
Cole presented a seed imitation only a short distance away. Within seconds, four pacú converged on the fly at his feet! Each pacú tried their best to steal what looked like an easy meal, but one finally won “lunch” and took the fly. Everything happened in crystal clear water at his close sight. Moments later Cole was holding one of the week’s most memorable fish.
Pluma Lodge
Week 3 – June 20th to 27th: Crystal water, active fish
Pluma ended the week with something every fly angler hopes to see: crystal-clear water.
Although water temperatures remained low throughout the week, the steady upstream migration of sábalo kept bringing life into the system. As visibility improved day after day, anglers found dorado actively hunting despite the cold, proving once again that there are no perfect temperatures.
This week’s highlights
Our friend Bob had the opportunity to hook a beautiful surubí — a species encountered far less frequently on the fly than its golden dorado counterpart. What made it even more memorable was how it happened: a blind cast into a large run where everyone expected a dorado. Instead, Bob came tight to a powerful surubí and landed it — a rewarding surprise, and one of the week’s true highlights.
Despite the cold water, the steady sábalo migration kept pushing predators into feeding mode, producing consistent encounters with aggressive dorado throughout the week. After losing two pacú earlier in the trip, Julia finally brought a beautiful specimen to hand, closing the week with one more memorable victory.
Week 2 – June 13th to 20th: Following the migration
The sábalo migration didn’t stop after opening week, it simply kept moving.
Although rivers remained high and slightly stained, stable weather allowed anglers to make the most of each day on the water. Sábalos continue their migration, and golden dorado spread throughout the system, creating consistent opportunities across both programmes: Classic Jungle and Heli Fishing. Pacú also became increasingly active, adding another exciting dimension to the week.
From powerful dorado in deep runs to aggressive pacú willing to chase streamers, our guests experienced everything from technical sight-fishing to memorable dorado frenzies in remote Amazonian waters, proving once again that productive fishing in Tsimane happen when you flow with its rivers.
We welcomed 12 anglers from the United States across both the Classic and Heli Fishing programmes.
The week’s highlights
Hunter landed the week’s largest dorado. A beautifully conditioned 90cm fish that ate after the second strip in a deep run. Although the migration of sábalo and dorado continued upstream, pacú provided some of the week’s most exciting moments. Both Brian and Hal were both lucky enough to experience the raw power of Amazonian pacú, aggressively taking streamers. Brian’s fish fought fiercely, tearing into his backing twice!
After days of overcast skies, helicopter flights finally revealed the first clear sunshine of the season.The break in the weather offered spectacular views of Pluma’s rivers as the migration continued moving through the watershed. George and Nick, a father-and-son duo, shared a memorable day on the water. Together, they cast into an intense dorado hunt, and both were rewarded with a memory of a lifetime.
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 2 – June 12th to 19th: Sábalos are still arriving
The second week of the season continued with schools of migrating sábalo arriving throughout the watershed and dorado actively hunting across every river in the system.
Cool weather, with a few particularly cold days, accompanied the week. Although the rivers remained slightly stained after the previous rise, the fishing stayed consistently excellent, proving once again that active fish matter far more than “perfect” weather.
Agua Negra welcomed two father-and-son duos for the second week of the season.
Returning guest Donald returned alongside his son Vernon , while Charles experienced the lodge for the first time together with his son Colter.
Sharing six days on the river together made the week about far more than fishing, creating many memorable moments that all of them will carry from their experience in the Amazon rainforest.
The week’s highlights
Returning guest Donald finally achieved a goal that had eluded him during his previous visit: landing a beautiful pacú at the end of the fourth day, after several missed opportunities over the years. Both fishing groups were made up of fathers and sons, creating a week filled with shared memories that extended well beyond the fishing itself. Charles and Colter spent a night camping on the Upper Agua Negra, where they landed a large pacú along with several quality dorado. This experience that captured the spirit of remote Amazon fishing.
On the final day, Vernon landed the largest dorado of his life while fishing rocky structure on the Lower Sécure.After a long and demanding fight, guide and angler finally brought the fish to hand, ending the week on a memorable note.
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.
