EN
I’m JP (Juan Pablo), checking in from the brand-new operation we’ve just kicked off in Bolivia’s Tariquía National Reserve. Before anything else, a huge shout-out to Marcelo Pérez (@jungleangler) for trusting me to lead this adventure. This is way more than a fishing trip—it’s about love for the sport, real conservation work, and giving local communities a meaningful role in low-impact, sustainable tourism.
I’m lucky to be running this with an all-star crew—guides who bring not only serious technical chops but also grit, passion, and heart. We’re based in a valley so stunning the locals call it the “Swiss Alps of Bolivia.”
After a lightning-fast scouting week, where we designed float strategies and set our beats, we did a quick shakedown with Marcelo and his wife Michela (@michelaribera). That went great—but last week was the real test: our very first guests. What a crew to launch with—four South Africans, one American, and one Russian. Great friends of the company, well-traveled, and the perfect team to help us christen this river.
Sunday morning, after a night of pure anticipation, our guests hopped on the chopper and minutes later were stepping straight onto rafts, rods ready to roll. Steven and Petr drew first blood with clear-tip lines.
Petr lost a couple early on, which had Fede (his guide) raising an eyebrow at hook size. As Petr swapped flies, Steven got smashed boat-side by a dorado that tore straight into the backing. These fish are different—oversized tails, absurd power, and no quit.
Steven kept his cool, stuck the hook perfectly, and after a wild fight landed season one’s first golden trophy: an 18-pounder.
Moments later Petr redeemed himself with a true monster—103 cm of gold that looked like it swam straight out of another planet.
Rob and Andrew both added fish to the tally. Granny and Brad had a slower start, but with daily rotations of water and guides, redemption was always around the corner.
Clear skies Monday morning, but spirits were a little muted thanks to the “bad full moon” superstition. Didn’t matter. The river had too much structure, too many ambush points, too much life. By late afternoon Andrew and Granny were in the spotlight, each landing several beautiful dorados.
Tuesday and Wednesday brought identical weather—crisp mornings, sunny afternoons—and crushed the “bad moon” theory. Petr and Brad both landed meter-plus fish.
Brad’s was the stuff of legend. From the stern, he snuck a cast between two rocks. A beast detonated on the fly, felt like a snag, then lit up and ripped into his backing. Fifteen minutes later, Juanchi netted a dorado that made the net look comically small. Epic fight, epic release.
Thursday felt like Friday, with most of the crew flying home early. The morning started slow, but the afternoon exploded—Rob and Brad both sticking multiple fish, including two more over a meter. Pure chaos, pure joy.
We closed the week around the fire, feasting on a traditional Tarijeño lamb roasted on the cross by Diego, our chef. Honestly—what more could you want?
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Conditions were kind: chilly nights (43°F / 6°C), hot afternoons (86°F / 30°C), and steady south winds at 8–18 mph. Nothing that slowed fishing—or flying.
Floating and intermediate clear-tip lines were the ticket. Best flies were big sábalo imitations in green/white, gray/white, and yellow/green, tied on sturdy 3/0 hooks
And that’s a wrap on the very first week at Tariquía Lodge. Thanks for following along—the river is just starting to show us what it’s made of.
Tight lines,
JP & the Tariquía Lodge Team