We were in the Amazon Forest (Bolivia), a few weeks ago, scouting and checking the fishing conditions before our first season start up in August. The Secure River is a pristine clear water stream, where the freshwater dorado live in the Amazon basin. The dorado (8-26 pounds) is a unique blend of two extremely powerful Amazon species: the Yatorana (one of the strongest freshwater fishes in South America) and the Pirapitinga (a pacu species). Both fish are sight-casted and run like torpedoes.

This trip was the first time our team entered and scouted the Agua Negra (means: black water), a small, clear tributary of the Secure River flowing from the Andes Mountains. The further upstream we explored the more run-pool-pocket system we uncovered. Reaching the upper parts of the watershed with Indian canoes, we encountered huge schools of sabalos (common baitfish) running everywhere and literally turning the water black. We finally understood the reason for the name of this stream.

A place truly wild–jaguar, tapir, and small deer’s footprints everywhere denounced that we weren’t alone. The pirapitinga (12-17 pounds) is one the biggest challenges on these waters–spooky and requiring careful spotting and sight casting. When done properly, the follow is made without much doubt and the eating and fighting sequence of these round-bodied, bulldog-jawed fish will run the backing out of the reel.