TroutJournal.com

[Tropic]

Although the sportfishing in Costa Rica is mainly focused on Tarpon, Snook, Sailfish and Marlin ... there is some excellent freshwater pocket water fly fishing for trout in the high cloudforest rivers in addition to the lower elevation rivers offering some great fly sport for Guapote and Machaca. These uncrowded waters can offer some very exciting experiences using 2 to 4 wt. rods and top water flies.
One could ask why would an angler come from the north to fish in the south for trout and more so in tropical areas? It is a unique beautiful experience and an addition to a flyfisher's life enjoyment. These are wild trout in even wilder areas.

[TarponJim]

Now that looks DAMN COOL! Imagine a great fishing trip. The greatest sport fish on the planet, Tarpon and snook, in the world's greatest place for them. Then, a little dry fly fishing on a high rain forest trout stream for a little icing on the cake!

Sounds like heaven to me! Sign me up!

What are Guapote and Machaca?

[Tropic]

The Machaca or Brycon guatemalensis is found in the more tropical rivers and lakes situated at lower elevations of the Atlantic coast of Central America. Here in Costa Rica there are a few rivers and lakes that have very healthy populations of large fish and these are considered ideal tropical freshwater sportfish for the flyfisher. Using a 6 wt. flyrod with floating bug tapered line, the topwater action with bass poppers, large floating insect flies and brightly colored flower patterns will encourage immediate strikes. The use of thin wire bite tippets or longer shanked hooks will protect the leader from their very sharp and powerful teeth. Once hooked, the machaca becomes a spectacular acrobat on the water surface with many leaps and runs that give it the reputation of being a very determined and strong fighter. In my favorite river I average fish from 4 to 8 lbs. in numbers of released fish being from 10 to 25 fish per angler per day. The ideal method for fishing the machaca is to float and drift the river, casting flies towards the shore below overhanging trees and onto the tail of current lines or behind log structures.

Machaca Flower Flies

Machaca

James Prosek with Machaca

Machaca teeth

[Tropic]

The Guapote or Parachromis dovii is also know as the Rainbow Bass to many of the sportfishers seeking an angling experience that tests the best skills in bassfishing. For the fly fisher it is an ideal sportfish when using an 8 wt. flyrod with a bass tapered line and big bass poppers or sometimes streamer flies.

Guapote Pinto or Tiger Guapote

Guapote or Rainbow Bass

Peter Gorinsky with Guapote

Peter Gorinsky with Guapote.jpg (19.08 KiB) Viewed 673 times

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Capt. Peter Gorinsky
http://www.flyfishcostarica.net

[TarponJim]

I just visited your website. Outstanding! I can't imagine anything better than a few days of tarpon and snook fishing combined with a few days of dry-fly fishing for rainbows.

Knowing that fishing is not completely predictable, what time of year would you recommend to combine the two. Tarpon and rainbows. Preferably, tarpon in the rivers or lagoons, and rainbows with dry flies. I'm not into trout fishing with anything under the surface any more, and I catch large tarpon in the Florida Keys much of the winter. I LOVE catching smaller tarpon in rivers and estuaries though, and trout fishing those beautiful creeks and rivers in your photos looks very enjoyable, as well as providing a rest from wrestling big tarpon. I've never met a snook I didn't like either!

Do you see an average size in your rainbow trout creeks? What about your inshore tarpon?

[Tropic]

Knowing that fishing is not completely predictable, what time of year would you recommend to combine the two. Tarpon and rainbows.

With the hurricanes raking havoc these past weeks in the Caribbean and causing our Atlantic coast to be table-top glass calm, the statement "You should have been here fishing last week" holds true. Fly fishing was really fantastic! I would say that for covering the potential of snook & tarpon plus trout in the cloud forest rivers, the Fall season from September to the middle of November is my favorite fly fishing period. Naturally, this will always be subject to the unstable weather and the ability to fish between tropical downpours. Then there is the period from February to April that is good for the tarpon and trout but not for snook. The inshore lagoon juvenile tarpon average between 6 to 30 lbs. and can get to larger sizes in Cano Negro area.
The cloud forest rivers with trout are able to be fished for most of the year and are only limited by occasional flash floods during the rainy season from July to October. Average wild trout sizes range about 8 inches with large 25 inch trout possible in the deeper pools and with higher water levels in the rivers.

Juvenile tarpon in lagoon.

[TroutJournal]

Welcome Tropic, thanks for sharing!

[TarponJim]

Thanks again Tropic. I've just got to do this. Baby tarpon and some rainbows for spice. I'll contact you via the website to work on some details.

[highcountry]

Wow! If I were still young a new goal would have been set! Have always been intrigued by Costa Rica, but never new of such outrageous fresh water fishing... Damnit, to be young again!

[79Ford]

Wow! If I were still young a new goal would have been set! Have always been intrigued by Costa Rica, but never new of such outrageous fresh water fishing... Damnit, to be young again!

Your only as old as you tell yourself you are, and your never too old to set new goals. Especially when it comes to something you love to do.