Fly Fishing in Bolivia: Exploring Untamed Angling’s Tsimane
Tucked deep within Bolivia’s remote Amazon headwaters lies one of the most extraordinary fly fishing destinations on the planet—Tsimane, an jungle fly fishing operation run by Untamed Angling. Since its inception in the mid-2000s, Tsimane has redefined what it means to pursue wild fish in wild places, combining world-class fly fishing in close partnership with indigenous peoples.
Located in the heart of the Bolivian Yungas, where the Andes meet the Amazon, Tsimane is a rare frontier where anglers access truly remote, pristine, freestone jungle rivers while fly fishing for golden doarado and pacu.
Born out of a partnership between conservation-minded entrepreneurs and local Indigenous communities, Tsimane is the benchmark model of eco-tourism that benefits both fish and people. Accessible only by bush plane and boat, Tsimane offers exclusive access to rivers teeming with biodiversity, surrounded by virgin rainforest and tribal lands protected from development.
Tsimane’s Lodge Operations
Untamed Angling operates three distinct lodges within the Tsimane territory, each offering a different style of jungle adventure focused on golden dorado fly fishing.
Pluma Lodge
- The flagship of Tsimane, Pluma Lodge is located along the Pluma River, between its confluences with the Itirisama, and Sécure Rivers
- Offers walk-and-wade fishing across a wide range of river structures—deep pools, pocket water, and clear freestone runs
- Guests can choose boat, helicopter, or blended packages during their weeklong stay.
Agua Negra Lodge
- Known for its intimate fishing experiences and remote headwater access, this lodge focuses on the upper Sécure and Agua Negra Rivers.
- Perfect for adventurous anglers who enjoy hiking into unpressured water.
- Features a mobile out-camp program for overnight stays in the jungle, maximizing access to remote fisheries.
Secure Lodge
- Located on the Sécure River, Secure Lodge caters to those who enjoy casting in broader, lower-elevation waters with more volume.
- Home to larger migratory dorado and a wide variety of fish species.
- A great option for anglers who prefer drift-style days with less hiking.
Tsimane Fly Fishing Experience
Fishing here is raw, physical, and deeply immersive. This is wet wading at its wildest, with anglers stalking golden dorado in ankle-to-waist-deep rivers, navigating rocky riffles, sandy banks, and jungle-laced side channels. Most of the day is on foot, wading clear waters running through a dense jungle canopy, sometimes covering several rugged miles a day.
English-speaking, professional fly fishing guides from South America are paired with up to 2 anglers each day. These experts are masters of these fisheries and the craft of being a fly fishing guide. Whether you are waist deep in a wild river or reliving the day over cocktails, time spent with these guides is always fun and rewarding.
Accessing the best water involves travel by dugout canoe, hand-carved and powered by guides who know every bend of the river. These traditional boats allow navigation through tight jungle creeks and narrow channels that motorboats could never reach.
For the most remote headwaters, helicopter-supported trips at Pluma Lodge have opened up untouched fisheries where the fish are unpressured and the scenery is breathtakingly wild.
This style of fishing demands a lot from the angler—strong legs, good balance, and a solid foundation of fly casting skills. The terrain is uneven, the jungle is hot and humid, and every fish is earned. Tsimane is not a destination for beginners or casual anglers. It's tailor-made for adventurous travelers with intermediate to advanced fly fishing skills who are physically fit and ready to hike, wade and embrace the challenges of fishing in one of the most remote and unspoiled freshwater ecosystems left on the planet.
The Golden Dorado: Apex Predator of the Jungle Rivers
At the center of the Tsimane experience is fly fishing for golden dorado—a fish as ferocious as it is beautiful. With its glowing golden flanks, oversized jaws, and acrobatic fight, the dorado is often compared to saltwater species in terms of power and aggression.
Golden dorado are migratory hunters, moving upstream in sync with seasonal rains and the movements of their main prey: the sabalo, a riverine baitfish that travels in massive schools through Bolivia’s waters. This predator-prey relationship creates a dynamic and exciting fishery, where timing the dorado’s migration can lead to days of explosive action.
These fish strike with violent intensity and are notorious for their aerial fights, often leaping multiple times during a battle. Anglers must bring fast-action rods, wire leaders, and a hunter’s mindset. In Tsimane’s gin-clear rivers, sight-casting to cruising or hunting dorado makes for an unforgettable angling experience unlike any that most anglers will ever encounter elsewhere.
Additional Jungle Fish Species
While golden dorado steal the show, Tsimane’s rivers are full of other hard-fighting and fascinating species. These add variety and challenge to the fishing days and give insight into the diversity of the Amazon ecosystem.
Pacu (Colossoma spp.)
- Often called the “river permit” due to their spooky nature and feeding style.
- Omnivores are often caught on fruit or nut imitations under trees.
- Incredibly strong and wary, pacu offer a technical and rewarding challenge.
Yatorana (Brycon spp.)
- Aggressive, toothy omnivores that hit dry flies and streamers with abandon.
- Known for their speed and sudden strikes, they add excitement to any outing.
- Often found in faster riffles and pocket water.
Striped Surubi (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum)
- A beautiful tiger-striped catfish species found in deeper pools.
- Less commonly caught on flies, but when hooked, they fight like underwater tanks.
- A great surprise catch that adds depth to the jungle fishing narrative.
A Model of Conservation and Cultural Partnership
What sets Untamed Angling apart isn’t just the fishing—it’s their unwavering commitment to conservation and community. From the beginning, the Tsimane operation has been built in partnership with local Indigenous communities, particularly the Tsimané and Mosetén peoples who have lived in harmony with the rainforest for generations.
These communities play a central role in the operation. Locals work as boatmen, trackers, guides, camp staff, and cooks, receiving wages, training, and education that offer real economic opportunity without compromising their cultural values or their lands. In return, Untamed Angling ensures their operations support sustainable resource use, with strict limits on guest numbers, catch-and-release-only policies, and scientific collaborations that monitor fish populations and river health.
By integrating Indigenous stewardship with ecotourism, Tsimane offers a win-win model—preserving vast tracts of the Bolivian jungle while empowering rural communities to thrive. Every angler who visits Tsimane becomes part of that story, supporting a vision of travel that protects what matters most: wild fish, wild places, and the people who call them home.
In Summary
For anglers with the skill and stamina to match the terrain, Tsimane offers an expedition like no other: wet-wading through crystal jungle waters, casting to apex predators, and journeying by dugout and chopper into the heart of the wilderness. It’s challenging, it’s remote, and it’s incredibly rewarding.
Whether you're a seasoned fly fisher or someone looking to push their boundaries, this Bolivian gem offers a journey into the heart of one of Earth’s last great frontiers—with golden rewards waiting in the current.
The Fins and Feathers Guide Service team visited Tsimane in 2014 and 2025 with small groups of adventure-minded anglers. Untamed Angling continues to develop the Tsimane fly fishing program by unlocking access to new fisheries while constantly "raising the bar" in customer service.
The travel, expense, and challenging nature of the angling require a high level of commitment by visiting anglers, so it's definitely not a place for the casual fly fisher. However, the golden dorado fly fishing experience here is unlike any others in that the fishing takes place in intimate river settings that see very little angling pressure. We will be back!
Travel and booking inquires can be made through a variety of travel agencies or by booking direct with Untamed Angling.
We recommend and book with Tailwaters Fly Fishing, The Fly Shop, and Flywater Travel for travel to Tsimane and the suite of Untamed Angling desitinations in Brazil and Bolivia.
