We are delighted to bring you the second season fishing reports from Tariquia. Fishing the mythical Tarija River in the heart of the Bolivian Yungas, offers a wonderful opportunity for adventurous anglers to target trophy golden dorado in a pristine setting. Keep an eye on these pages for all the action.
Tariquia fishing report – 15th to 22nd August
And just like that, we were back in the Yungas. Here we are, beginning the second season of Tariquía’s life, making adjustments, fine-tuning the operation, and getting everything ready to welcome the anglers who have placed their trust in us.
Tariquía may be hidden away in one of the most remote and inaccessible corners of the world, but even here, weather and river conditions leave their mark. More intense events and increasingly severe conditions have reshaped the river since our first season.
On our initial reconnaissance flight, we found a totally different river. New obstacles. Different structures. Changed channels. New places to land the helicopter and, most importantly, a completely different puzzle to solve.
That ever-changing dynamic is part of what makes this place so special and, frankly, part of the reason we chose this profession in the first place.
For our first scouting week, we welcomed Marcelo Perez, CEO of Untamed Angling, and his wife, Michela. Together with the team, they would be the first to fish Tariquía again and help us understand what the river had become after months away.
Once the programme was designed, new helicopter landing zones identified, and the rafts positioned throughout the river, we were ready for our first day on the water.
And, as always at Tariquía, we had plenty of questions and very few answers about what that blessed river was going to throw at us.
Our first morning started with cold water (we arrived a couple of weeks earlier this season) and absolutely no signs of fish. As the morning progressed without a single take, the doubts began to grow.
Then, close to midday, a solid eat finally came out of nowhere. A firm take was enough to put our souls back into our bodies, especially Juanchi’s, one of our highly qualified guides. The first golden dorado of the 2026 season went onto the board.
Marcelo officially opened the season with one of the fish we affectionately call “the small ones.” Anywhere else, that fish would be more than enough reason to stop everything and raise a glass.
As the water warmed, the activity increased. A few missed opportunities, a couple more fish landed, and we had made it through the first test. On the other raft, Michela had her own opportunity, and she certainly did not waste it. A take, a solid hookset, an endless run, a hard fight.
And after several minutes, the fish finally surrendered to Fede’s net. Fede had guided her beautifully, giving her the right instructions at exactly the right moments. A photograph, a few big smiles, and the fish went back into the river.
Day two began under a blanket of fog, which quickly burned off and gave us another spectacular day in the Yungas.
With guides and beats rotated, everyone was back on the water, searching for those big-tailed predators that make this river so addictive. Michela quickly added the first of her two fish of the day.
Fede gave her very precise instructions on where to place the fly and, more importantly, how to work the streamer once it was in the zone.
The result was another beautiful dorado that put up the kind of fight worth remembering.
Meanwhile, on the other raft, Fidel was guiding Marcelo. Every cast came with precise instructions, while both angler and guide kept a close eye on the rocks and structure constantly sliding past the boat.
Marcelo never stopped fishing the bank. Not for a minute. Tariquía demands a lot from an angler. Lots of casts. Physical effort. Constant concentration. And very little room for mistakes. After landing a couple of “small ones,” the reward finally came.
A long cast, a couple of strips to straighten and load the line, a mend. Then the fly was worked quickly, aggressively, just the way a big dorado likes it. The fish attacked violently. Marcelo delivered a hard strip-set to drive the hook home.
Then came the real fight. After several intense minutes, Fidel finally got the fish into the net.
A few hugs and smiles followed. We were beginning to find the rhythm again, not only with the fish, but with a river we were still learning to read.
Everything was going according to plan.
We were rediscovering the river, learning its new structures and beginning to understand the changes.
Then Tariquía reminded us how little plans can matter out here. Day three arrived with low fog and a completely overcast sky. Flying the helicopter safely was simply impossible. So instead of heading to the river, we had a lodge day and our chef, Gonzalo, took over.
He treated everyone to his latest culinary creations, combining international cuisine with his own Argentine style and technique.
But apparently, even that wasn’t enough to convince the weather to cooperate. That same night, torrential rain arrived together with a cold front.
And just like that, the fishing week was over. The river rose, turned cold and became heavily stained. Cold, dirty water, a lethal combination for golden dorado.
We had come back to Tariquía expecting to rediscover the river. In two days of fishing, it had already given us a few answers: new structures, new water, and the first dorado of the season.
And, once again, the unmistakable feeling that we are fishing somewhere truly wild.
Hidden deep within the heart of Parque Nacional Tariquía, Tariquía remains a place where the river writes the rules, and where every fish has to be earned.
If you you would like further information Tariquia, or would like more information on fishing in Bolivia in general, please contact Charlotte Chilcott or call us on +44 (0) 1980 847389. Alternatively, click HERE if you would like us to contact you.
