Pluma
A Week of Unexpected Fish
Week 10 at Pluma brought good fishing, unusual catches, and a few surprises both on and off the river.
The week remained productive despite a major rain event midway through that raised and stained the river. Before the group had even landed its first dorado, they had already connected with a beautiful surubí. By the end of the week, they would encounter a second one, along with several large dorado.
This week brought two groups to Pluma. The Classic Jungle Program had a group of anglers from the United States. Meanwhile, the Heli Fishing Program welcomed six French-Canadian anglers, including the highly experienced Jean Claude. Fishing completely turbid water, he somehow managed to connect with a large surubí, proving that sometimes experience can compensate even when visibility disappears.
And his influence at Pluma didn’t end with fishing. By the end of the week, Jean Claude had also introduced our manager to the world of French wine, with consequences that may prove considerably more difficult to manage than high water.
Jean Claude, Daniel, Andre, Caroline, Jocelyn, & Simon (Canada); Dane, Laura, Brandon, Robert, Andy, & Joshua (United States).
Warm days and mild nights characterized much of the week, with a major rainfall event arriving midway through the trip. The rain significantly changed river conditions but did not prevent the groups from continuing to find fish.
The river began the week at a normal level before rising significantly after the heavy rain. Water remained high through the rest of the week, with some sections becoming completely turbid. Despite the change in level and visibility, fishing remained productive.
Catch of the Week
A Surubí in Water You Couldn’t See Through
Among the week’s most remarkable catches came from the Heli Fishing Program.
Jean Claude, an experienced angler who apparently brought a little X-ray vision with him to the jungle, managed to land a large surubí in completely turbid water.
With almost no visibility to work with, it was an unusual catch and one that demonstrated just how much experience can matter when conditions make reading the water considerably more difficult.
Memorable Moments
Before the First Dorado
Before the group had even landed its first dorado of the week, an angler connected with a beautiful surubí, setting the tone for what would become an unusual few days of fishing.
One surubí is already a distinctive encounter. This week, Pluma produced two, alongside several large dorado.
For a species that is both unique and difficult to catch, having two encounters during the same week made the surubí one of the defining characters of Week 10.
Jean Claude’s Other Contribution
Not every memorable moment this week happened on the river.
Jean Claude decided to introduce the Pluma manager to the wonderful world of French wine. Unfortunately, the lesson was perhaps a little too successful. Our manager has now discovered that wine can come from somewhere other than a cardboard box, and he is currently trying to figure out how he is supposed to get his hands on the good stuff in the middle of the Bolivian Amazon.
So, in summary: Jean Claude arrived at Pluma, caught a large surubí in turbid water, introduced the manager to French wine, and may have ruined his life forever.
An unforgettable week at Pluma, for more reasons than one.
Looking Ahead
Heavy rain and high water could easily have defined Week 10. Instead, the fishing continued to produce, with large dorado and two unusual surubí encounters across the Classic and Heli Fishing Programs.
And somewhere between the fishing, the weather, and a few bottles of French wine, another very different week at Pluma came to an end.
Guides & Staff
Pluma Lodge, 2026
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