South America fly fishing tips

If you’ve ever found yourself spiraling into a gear-packing black hole before a fly fishing trip, welcome to the jungle. Literally. Fly fishing for golden dorado in Bolivia’s Amazon headwaters, particularly at the legendary Pluma Lodge, is not your average river run. Think machete-sharp teeth, acrobatic hook sets, and fish that hit like linebackers. Now add remote rivers, dugout canoe rides, and zero cell service (but full jungle bar service) and you’ve got one hell of a packing challenge. So, let’s make it easy. Whether you're already booked or just manifesting the trip of a lifetime, here’s a breakdown of what you’ll actually need to pack for fly fishing Bolivia’s wild, crystal-clear waters. The Core Gear You’re going to want two main rod setups, minimum: Minimum TWO 9-weight rods. Winston & G Loomis One Clear Tip (Sonar Titan Tropical Jungle Clear Tip) MOST USED LINE One WF Floating Line (Tropical Jungle Titan) The sweet spot is having one rod rigged for topwater flies and the other ready for deeper streamer work. You’ll also want: High-quality saltwater reels (large arbor, strong drag). Think Nautilus CCFX, Ross R Salt, Hatch Iconic, Lamson Speedster. 40 lb. Fluorocarbon shock leaders 40 lb. Wire tippet (yes, dorado will destroy your mono) Maybe a dozen flies, Tsimane has their fly shop dialed in and so purchasing flies from them is the better option. See our Top 6 Golden Dorado Fly Blog. There’s a small fly shop onsite. Flies are $15 each—so if you're short, you'll be covered, but it’s worth noting the cost. While we recommend bringing 12 dozen flies, understand you may not use them all—especially if you're dialing into a few patterns that work well early on. But better safe than sorry. Hot Tip: Andino Deceivers are non-negotiable. Bonus points for mouse patterns, big dries for dorado, pacu and yatorana The Wardrobe Jungle Edit You’re not here to impress the fish with your fashion sense—what really matters is comfort, sun protection, and staying dry-ish. Pluma Lodge offers free laundry service, and it’s a game-changer. We highly recommend getting your clothes, sun gloves, buff, and neoprene socks from the previous day washed while you're out fishing. Keeping a solid rotation going makes a big difference—especially with sun gloves, which tend to stretch out after a full day on the water. If you plan to do a nice dinner in Santa Crus before or after your time in the jungle then bring a nice oufit. For ease we packed everything into 1 checked bag and everything arrived. But we saw other anglers using the the carry-on rod luggage options with backpacks. Pack this: 3 quick-dry long-sleeve shirts (hooded is a win) 3 pairs of quick-dry pants (bonus: zip-offs work great) 1 Lightweight fleece or sweatshirt (mornings/evenings can be cool, especially in Santa Cruz) 2 Buffs 2 pairs of sungloves Finger Sleeves 1 hat (plan to buy one from the Fly Shop) 2 pair Neoprene wading socks 1 pair FELT-soled boots (no rubber soles EVER) 100% WATERPROOF daypack for hiking, wading, and canoe rides. (Patagonia, Fishpond, Yeti) 1 pair of sandals OR 1 pair of tennis shoes for wearing around the lodge. Remember any skin exposed will get eaten by sand fleas so be prepared if you choose sandals. Insects, Heat, & Hygiene While the Bolivian Amazon is surprisingly bug-tolerant, you’ll still want to armor up. And when in doubt, spray again. Permethrin-treated clothing is your new BFF 30%+ DEET insect repellent Sunscreen & SPF Lip Balm (reef-safe if you care about the fish as much as the tan) Medical Kit Claritin, Benadryl, Calahist, Dayquil/Nyquil, Band-Aids, Blister Aids, Ear Plugs, Melatonin, Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Stool Softener, Anti-Diarrhea Electrolytes, because jungle dehydration is real. Think Liquid IV, LMNT Cash, Travel Docs & Jungle Details Yellow fever vaccination recommended, some say its not needed but do you really want this to be the one thing that denies you entrance to the most epic fishing of your life? Passport (valid 6 months beyond your trip) Printed visa forms & confirmation letters (letters provided via Untamed Angling once you fill out your angler form via Google Docs) Fill out their 250 Form online while in line at customs. $160 in uncreased, unmarked U.S. bills for visa fee (yes, it matters) $1500–$2000 in cash for tips (10%-15% of trip total cost), food and drink outside of the lodge, and shopping from the local that great you in the jungle. They accept $100, $50, $20 and $10 al crisp and unbent bills. Copies of documents, PRINT EVERYTHING, including your return flight reservation. At the customs desk they will ask you for you return flight info and if you do not have it, you are NOT entering their country. Store these in a folder in your back pack for easy grab. Misc Gear We Love Sunglasses (x2 in case the jungle eats one) Pliers with built in nippers Wading staff (especially for Itirisama River) Camera or GoPro (waterproof case mandatory) Flashlight or headlamp for late-night jungle strolls Pluma Lodge: What to Expect & How to Prepare Pluma Lodge features 16 private cabins—there is no default double occupancy here unless you specifically request it. Your rate reflects single occupancy, and it does not change if you decide to share. When I first visited in 2019, we flew into Oromomo and took boats upriver to reach the lodge. However, due to updated travel logistics and timing, the program may now include a helicopter transfer depending on your group’s arrival time. It’s not always guaranteed, but if you're lucky, you might get to kick off your jungle adventure by air. Daily Routine at Pluma Lodge 7:00am – Coffee 7:30–8:00am – Breakfast 8:30am – Meet your guides 9:00am – On the water 4:00pm – Off the river (beat dependent) 5:30pm – Post-fishing snacks 7:30–8:00pm – Dinner Evening – Free time or, let’s be honest, bedtime for most of us (I’ll admit—I was usually the first to crash from sheer jungle exhaustion. 😂) Fishing Program The walk-and-wade program rotates between five different beats: Lower Pluma, Middle Pluma, Upper Pluma, and Lower/Upper Itirizama. Your beats are assigned by Chucky or Nico unless your group has a host coordinating rotations—like I did. We had seven anglers in total and switched beats and fishing partners each day. I tagged along with different beats to experience as much as I could. Extras & Pro Tips Massages are available: $35 for 20 min or $70 for 40 min (bring cash or prepay online here: Pluma Massage Store). Guests Final Thoughts "From start to finish Brooke made this trip fun and exciting. With the Tsimane Lodge updates leading up to our trip with the updated packing lists, reminders of upcoming due dates, and check ins to make sure we were prepared and ready to go. Brooke never hesitated to answer our groups hundreds of questions before and during the trip, she was truly the perfect host. We were lucky enough to fill our group with friends so we knew each other pretty well before the trip, but she created a group email thread for us to make sure we were all communicating efficiently anyway. The actual trip was incredible and beyond anything I could have imagined even with the Tsimane lodge updates! The lodge staff and guides were friendly, the food was awesome, and the accommodations were always a welcome sight after a long day on the river. I was happy to have caught so many dorado and have fun conversations with the guides. We saw so much wildlife and the beautiful jungle was truly magical. The lovely gathering space was nice for our group to unwind and catch up and give our highlights for the day, share pictures, and eat dinner together. It really was the perfect trip and we were already planning for when we'd go back a few days into the trip. We're absolutely grateful for Fishwest/Brooke for making this trip happen and can't wait for the next one! 10/10 would recommend the trip. Thank you so much!!" - Sarah Geary "I would title this trip "A Culmination" the genesis of this trip started from a want to discover more of Utah. Working at my uncle's tannery in lander Wyoming for a summer he taught a young Jeff the basics of fly fishing to a kid with no patience for it. Years later after being stationed at Hill AFB and a deployment or 2 under my belt I wanted to explore Utah with my new wife but hated hiking. "Lightbulb" fly fishing was neat, this led to a Fly Fishing 101 class with Fishwest, Carlin and JC taught the class. We instantly bought two 5wt rods and had no idea what we were doing. A fateful introduction to an individual named Chris led to a creepy but thoughtful reddit DM after I had asked for help on the fly fishing sub-reddit. Chris mentored Sarah and I for the next few years until we became peers in the fishing game. Countless hours on the water, in the shop, and practicing on the lawn; every fish and cast fueling our obsession turning into addiction. One day BSing at the shop JC asked about bucket list fish. GT and Dorado were 1&2 he said "let me call Brooke" 2 weeks later we had dates and a down payment on the trip of a lifetime. I am not a spiritual person even being raised in a very Catholic/Christian household(s). This trip was a culmination of dreams realized. Every cast at the school yard to my dog and whip finish on every fly led to this trip. Like I told you I was playing with house money after 2 days. The fact that my mentor Chris and I had the experience on the upper Itirisame, and that was nothing short of what I assume a religious experience is supposed to be. Beauty, harsh jungle, hard work, and big fish is what this experience was. To see Sarah actually realize her potential as a fisher-woman of skill brought a tear to my eye (if I could feel things) I have been telling her for years she is awesome at this and to watch her come into her own was caterpillar into butterfly awesome." - Jeff Geary "Arrival & First Impressions Flying into the jungle was jaw-dropping. The single-prop Cessna skimmed above broccoli-like trees, winding rivers, and towering Andes peaks. We landed on a wild grass airstrip before transferring via helicopter straight into camp—a surreal “Apocalypse Now” experience. The lodge staff greeted us with cold drinks and warm smiles. That night, Brooke led us on a frog hunt—herpetology instincts kicking in from her Panama research days—where we found poison dart frogs, bullet ants, and more. Fishing Highlights Day 1: We fished near the lodge, shook off travel dust, and learned how to rig and strip for dorado. Even a small 14” fish lit up the rod with energy. Day 2 (Upper Pluma w/ Jaunchi): Chris, Dave, and Brooke trekked deep. Over 25 fish to hand, wildlife everywhere, and first mouse eats. Chris ended up chest-deep retrieving a fly on the opposite bank—welcome to Bolivia. Day 3 (Lower Itrizama w/ Nico): Steep learning curve and wild water. Pacu shots, heavy jungle wading, and more than 25 dorado landed. Bonus points for dugout canoe teamwork with the Tsimane. Day 4 (Middle Pluma w/ Martin): Chris, Jeff, and Brooke worked the skinny water. No big fish landed, but another 25+ day and great vibes. Day 5 (Lower Pluma & Sécure w/ Juan): Chris and Sarah powered through despite an uninspired guide. Highlights included Sarah catching a jatuarana and an encounter with a massive caiman. Brooke, dubbed “Zara” by the locals, held it down. Day 6 (Upper Itrizama w/ Milton): This was the day. Chris and Jeff both landed their best dorado—8kg and 10kg+. Endless jungle miles, blue morpho butterflies, and non-stop sight fishing made it unforgettable. Even found a jaguar-killed tapir. Day 7 (Upper Itrizama w/ Jaunchi): Spider monkeys, big dorado, and weary legs. Chris and Dave powered through and closed out their beats with strong numbers and some epic wildlife viewing. Wildlife Encounters From blue-throated macaws to spider monkeys, from massive moths to caiman, the jungle teemed with life. Chris compiled a full list—dozens of birds, butterflies, and bugs too crazy to believe until you’re there. Final Thoughts from Chris: “The Bolivian jungle is unforgiving, magical, and soul-filling. Every cast felt earned, every eat unforgettable. The Chimane are humble powerhouses, and the guides are next-level. I didn’t land the mythical 10kg+ dorado—but I got close and left with fire in my gut to return. 11/10 trip.” PS: One of our anglers tied a fly using their dog’s fur before the trip. It caught a legit golden dorado. No joke." - Chris Osborn Have questions? Need help dialing in your gear?Reach out to us at Brooke@fishwest.com or swing by the shop. We’ve got gear, jungle stories, and fly recommendations to get you dialed before you ever step on that dugout canoe.