Bolivia
Jungle, Dorado and Pacu
All images are by Dave McCoy unless otherwise noted and are all under copyright protection.


The view from Asunta camp at Tsimane Lodge, not bad!


As pretty as they get, the golden Dorado in ALL her colorful splendor!


Andy Horowitz with a giant golden Dorado of 22 pounds.


John Baughn jumps a smaller Dorado on the lower river at Asunta.


Besides home to Dorado and Pacu the Bolivian jungle is also home to more than 200 species of butterfly, among other things.


The lone green butterfly that sat still just long enough for a shot from 30ft away.


One of the natives paddles his way up river in their standard dugout canoes.


Awesome jumps are just one of many reasons why these might be the most fun fish to pursue on the planet.


Guide Fabien and Kevin Hughes with his first 15+ pound Dorado of the trip.


Dave McCoy lands a freshwater permit or Pacu that hits the 20 pound mark on the nose. Photo Andy Horowitz


Andy Horowitz, Kevin Hughes and guide Eduardo hiking up to the next run.


Two species for Dorado down here, the silver and the gold, here a close look at the Golden's tail.


Far less prolific and not as big in size the silver Dorado is still fun to catch and for those species hounds, yet another notch in your belt.


John Baughn displays some well eaten hands by some of the local insects. Don't come here without serious Deet. This can happen in less than 5 minutes without it!


Fernando displays the cheek bone of a Dorado given to him by one of the natives.


By the looks of the teeth in this 5 pounder, it should be obvious that your fingers don't belong anywhere near their mouth. Pliers are a must.


Obviously Kevin didn't listen as he avoided stitches, barely!


The aforementioined teeth are also why wire is a necessity. Here wire shows the hardships of a single encounter with a dorado.


Andy Horowitz with a sick fish that kicked his butt... and that was what we came for.


John Baughn fishing under the jungle canopy.


Heading back to camp after a long day down river at Asunta.


All the natives rushing to greet the plane full of gringos at Asunta camp airstrip.


John Baughn arrives at the plane on our way to Pluma Lodge.


Fly fishing taken yet a step further. The normal food for Pacu are these fruit/flowers side by side with best imitation yet from the vise.


One of the scrumptious starters served before our dinners each night. Sardines and red finely sliced red onions on Mozzarella.


A Jaguar print along the river fresh from the night before.


A dental record shot of a Dorado, do NOT put your fingers in here, bass anglers, I am talking to you!


Our usual trademark shot of the Dorado's scales up close. Remarkably beautiful fish.


Wondering if we would get to see any of the wildly colorful birds glimpsed on the way in up close, yep, one waiting for us at Pluma camp. Meet Rocco!


A look up at Asunta Lodge from the water, yep, we're in the jungle.


Guide Jean-Baptiste Vidal helps John Baughn understand where the fly needs to be.


Natives and guide Jean push the boat back up through yet another riffle too low for motors and too swift for poling. We get to walk as well.


Kevin Hughes jumps a nice fish under the expertise of Fabien.


Native girl practices pulling back her bow, the primary method these people catch their fish.


A Savalo, the primary food source for Dorado, sort of escapes the mad onslaught of several large feeding Dorado. I think he sacrificed himself for the shot like all good subjects as usually you can't find any remnants of anything after these epic feeding frenzies.


Kevin Hughes helps this Dorado find his way down through the boulders on our final day.


Kevin releases yet another piglet, last one for the trip in fact, what a way to end the trip.


Final ride back to Asunta camp, getting back late!


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