Tariquía
Still Discovering Tariquía
Now, the real beginning of our second season here in Tariquía has finally arrived.
We are still only scratching the surface of this place. There is so much water left to test, so much left to understand, and so much still to discover. And what better way to begin than surrounded by old friends?
This week welcomed a solid and close-knit group of anglers who have already shared adventures with us across some of our destinations: the legendary Joel Silverman group. Great fishermen, great friends, and without question, some of the most entertaining people you could ever spend a week with.
With the final operational details in place and the rafts properly distributed throughout more than 70 miles of licensed water inside Tariquía National Park, we were ready to get the season underway.
Seventy miles is a lot of river.
And after only one season here, we are still learning it.
Day 01 | The Warriors Go to Work
Our first day began under the lingering effects of the powerful storm that had passed through the previous week. The river was still slightly off-color and cold, but that wasn’t about to stop six warriors from swinging rods in search of Tariquía’s dorado.
The fishing started slowly overall, but as the day progressed and temperatures began to rise, the first opportunities started appearing.
Everyone moved fish. Some anglers found more success than others, while a few were still dialing in the all-important strip-set. But without question, the honors of the day went to Matt and Tyler, fishing together and each landing a very good dorado.
A solid start considering the conditions.
That evening, as always, Gonza, our pro chef, was waiting back at the lodge. After a long first day on the water, a table filled with grilled meats was exactly what the group needed.
Day 02 | Finding the Rhythm
The second day greeted us with heavy fog, delaying our departure for a while. Eventually, when the sky appeared to open up, we took off.
But as often happens in the Yungas, things looked very different once we reached the river.
The weather wasn’t quite as clear as it had appeared from the lodge, and our pilot carefully found a safe opening to get us down.
Still, we all know that sometimes a difficult beginning makes for a very good ending.
Joel landed three good dorado, including one standout fish close to 90 cm that delivered a fight worth remembering, launching itself completely out of the water three times.
That was the moment when he truly experienced what makes fishing Tariquía different.
It’s not just the way we fish here, from the rafts, making countless demanding casts, constantly reading the structure and working the fly, but what can happen when everything comes together.
These fights are something else.
A few photos, a hug with Juanchi, his guide for the day, and then the dorado went straight back into the river.
Meanwhile, Tyler made the most of his opportunities and put two very good fish on the board, each delivering a solid fight of its own.
Congratulations to Fede’s team.
At the end of the day, just as the helicopter was coming into view, a rock in the middle of a rapid played a nasty trick on the crew. The result was a couple of wet soldiers.
Fortunately, Fede handled the situation perfectly and professionally, making sure it remained nothing more than an unexpected swim.
Back at the lodge, however, came the mandatory ritual: drinking beer from the wading boot.
Once the ritual had been properly completed, it was time for a hot shower and another delicious dinner.
Day 03 | Back to Normal
By the third day, the river was nearly back to normal.
The mornings remained somewhat cold, but temperatures improved toward the afternoon, giving us a beautiful and complete day on the water.
Nate and Matt had the standout fish of Day 3, each landing a spectacular dorado.
Matt’s was particularly memorable. After a slow day, he finally connected while wading in low water toward the end of the afternoon.
A perfect example of why you never quit casting in Tariquía.
Day 04 | There’s Always a Bigger Fish
Day 4 gave us one of those experiences that remind you just how wild this place really is.
Allen hooked a small dorado of around five pounds.
In the middle of the fight, however, a beast came up from the depths and attacked it.
The giant held the smaller fish in its mouth for a long time while Allen kept the pressure on. They actually managed to bring it close to the boat, but just as the guide stood ready with the net, the monster seemed to work out what was happening.
Somehow, it found another gear.
With an explosive burst of power, it made a spectacular run underneath the boat and disappeared.
The final score?
One monster dorado lost.
One small dorado severely injured.
And one fly rod broken into three pieces.
Welcome to Tariquía.
Day 05 | Over the Meter Mark
The fifth day greeted us with clear skies and the promise of higher afternoon temperatures.
With that came the hope that the big fish would become more active. Our instincts were right.
Despite a large moon, never exactly the best friend of fishermen, we had a very good day.
Matt added a couple more fish to the board, and the fishing was productive for most of the group.
But for Tyler and Joel, everything came together. Multiple fish. Action throughout the day. Some large dorado.
And then the fish we had been waiting for appeared.
Over one meter.
Fede read the situation and guided Tyler through it, giving precise instructions that Tyler executed perfectly. After the cast, the take and the fight, a meter-plus golden dorado finally came to the net.
A fish like that needs very little explanation.
That night, back at the lodge, Gonza once again took over the final part of the day.
Day 06 | One More Push
Our sixth and final fishing day didn’t disappoint either.
By then, everyone was feeling the effects of the week.
Countless casts every day.
Long fights.
Six full days on the water.
And, of course, a few late nights thrown into
the mix.
Still, they found enough energy for one final push and landed several fish from the many opportunities they had throughout the day.
A fitting close to the week for the first group of the season to come to Tariquía.
Gear & Flies
- Rods
- 9-weight rods were the standard setup throughout the week.
- Lines
- Floating / intermediate clear-tip lines proved effective, although, to be fair, they were also the only lines we used.
- Flies
- Yellow/green and white/green streamers were the most productive patterns.
Fishing Technique
One of the most productive techniques of the week was mending the line to allow the fly to sink deeper and stay in the strike zone longer.
And, of course, proper hook-setting technique remains absolutely critical.
Keeping the rod low and pointed directly at the fly, while maintaining solid tension throughout the retrieve, is essential for achieving a strong strip-set and converting strikes into solid hookups.
Still Discovering Tariquía
And almost without realizing it, the week flew by.
Six days. More than 70 miles of licensed water. Rafts, helicopters, countless casts, good friends, and the kind of dorado that can turn an ordinary moment into something you will talk about long after leaving the Yungas.
But perhaps the most exciting part is knowing how much we still don’t know.
We are only in our second season here. There is still water to test, structures to understand, and stretches of river we are only beginning to read.
This week gave us a meter-plus dorado. It gave us a fish big enough to attack another dorado during the fight and break a 9-weight rod in three pieces. And it gave us six days with old friends who already know what an Untamed adventure is about.
A pretty good way to start.
But Tariquía is still keeping plenty to itself.
And that is exactly why we keep coming back.
Thank you all for following us every week and for being part of this adventure.
Tight lines,
JP and the entire Tariquía Lodge team
Tariquía Lodge, 2026
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