Are you ready to elevate your fly-fishing experience? We are excited to introduce you to some of the most sought-after fly-fishing species, each offering a thrilling challenge in stunning destinations worldwide.
Imagine casting into the wild rivers of Patagonia, where the explosive power of Sea Trout tests your skill with every run. Or picture yourself deep in the Bolivian jungle, targeting the aggressive Golden Dorado, a true freshwater predator known for its lightning-fast strikes and aerial acrobatics. But that’s just the beginning. From the vibrant waters of the Amazon, where the striking Peacock Bass smashes topwater flies, to the remote streams of Alaska, where the mighty Chinook Salmon pushes your tackle to the limit, our tailor-made fly-fishing holidays are designed for anglers seeking the ultimate experience. And for those looking to chase the king of all game fish, the iconic Atlantic Salmon, our expertly curated trips take you to some of the most legendary rivers in the world.
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ATLANTIC SALMON
Atlantic Salmon are anadromous, meaning they migrate between freshwater and saltwater during their life cycle. They hatch in streams and rivers, then move to the sea to grow and mature before returning to freshwater to spawn. This migration pattern plays a crucial role in their development and population dynamics.
As the largest species in their genus, Atlantic Salmon typically weigh between 8 to 12 lbs after two years at sea. However, individuals who spend four or more winters feeding in the ocean can grow significantly larger. The largest recorded Atlantic Salmon, caught in Scotland’s River Hope estuary in 1960, weighed 109 lbs. While most fish fall within the average size range, they can vary from as small as 4 lbs to well over 40 lbs, providing anglers with the opportunity to encounter exceptional specimens.
Below are the top destinations in the world for Atlantic Salmon Fishing.
Chinook SALMON
The Chinook Salmon, or “King Salmon,” is the largest of the five Pacific Salmon species. Native to the North Pacific Ocean and the river systems of western North America, they have also been successfully introduced to other regions, including New Zealand, Patagonia, and the Great Lakes, where they thrive in Lake Michigan and Michigan’s western rivers.
Chinook Salmon spend between one and eight years in the ocean, typically averaging three to four, before returning to their natal rivers to spawn. The Yukon River in Canada hosts the longest freshwater migration of any salmon, stretching over 3,000 kilometers. These fish typically range from 10 to 20 lbs, with specimens over 30 lbs being common and fish exceeding 40 lbs regularly caught on the fly. The largest recorded Chinook Salmon weighed over 100 lbs. Their diet shifts as they grow, starting with insects, amphipods, and crustaceans before transitioning to a diet primarily consisting of fish.
Below are some of the top destinations worldwide for Chinook Salmon fishing.
– Caterina River Lodge, Argentina
– Nicolas Dean, Chinook Fishing, Canada
Giant Trevally
The Giant Trevally is a species of large marine fish and is classified as part of the Jack family; it’s distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean region, and it inhabits a wide range of offshore and in-shore environments. Most commonly found in shallow coastal waters, including coral and rocky reefs, lagoons, channels and tidal flats. The fish maraud across the atolls and shallow estuaries, like packs of hoodlums, and the way they operate is nothing less than brutal. It’s easy to see why they’re known as the ‘Gangsters Of The Flats’.
A true apex predator in most of its habitats, the GT is an acute hunter, feeding individually and in schools. It feasts on a diet of crustaceans, cephalopods, molluscs and a range of baitfish; it’s also known to employ several novel hunting strategies, including shadowing monk seals to pick off escaping prey, as well as using sharks to ambush prey. Amazingly, footage released in 2017 on Blue Planet II revealed a group of fish hunting birds, specifically targeting fledgelings still learning to fly and adults unfortunate enough to pass low enough, allowing the fish to pounce on them. Below are the top destinations in the world for Giant Trevally Fishing.
– St Brandons Lodge, Mauritius
– Providence Atoll, Seychelles
SEA TROUT
The Sea Trout is a common name given to anadromous or sea-run forms of Brown Trout; they are widely found in Europe along the Atlantic and Baltic coasts, the United Kingdom and the coast of Iceland. Through the years, they’ve also been introduced into a wide range of freshwater habitats in Chile, New Zealand and Argentina, to name a few.
Unlike most Salmon, Sea Trout do not usually die after spawning, and around 75 percent of fish will return to the sea to feed and then come back again to the river to spawn.
Going to the sea gives the Trout access to a much richer food source, with a range of small fish, crabs, shrimps and prawns all on the menu. Sea Trout will often be substantially bigger than the resident Brown Trout of the same river. Native fish living in streams and rivers average between 1lb to 5lb in weight, whereas stocked and sea-run fish can grow much larger when presented with favourable habitat conditions; specimens to over 35lb aren’t uncommon. Below are the top destinations in the world for Sea Trout Fishing.
– Bella Sofia Lodge, Argentina
Peacock Bass
The Peacock Bass is a freshwater fish native to the Amazon and Orinoco Basins in South America. The Brazilian name comes from Tupi, an indigenous language of Brazil, meaning “Friend Of The Tree”, as this best describes the fishes nature of staying close to submerged trees to hunt and protect itself and its nests. The fish are very territorial species, roaming an area of perhaps 100 to 200 yards, attacking anything disturbing their peace, whether they are feeding or not.
There are around 15 species of Peacock Bass, but the three species most common amongst anglers are the Peacock, Butterfly and Spotted. The average size is approximately 6lb to 7lb, but 10lb to 15lb fish are very common, and fish to nearly 30lb have been caught and landed. The fish are ferocious predators with a killer instinct. They are often referred to as the ‘freshwater bully’, preying on any species that catches their eye, including Tilapia, Crayfish, Tadpoles and Guppies. They’ll even turn their attention to their own young when food is scarce. Feeding in groups or packs, they’re a pretty sociable species, with juvenile fish feeding in groups of up to two hundred. Even as they grow, a large, old fish would still have company. Below are the top destinations in the world for Peacock Bass Fishing.
Golden Dorado
The Golden Dorado, also known as the ‘River Tiger’ or ‘Jaw Characin’, is a large predatory fish found in central and east-central South America. It’s native to the warm freshwater habitats in southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and northern Argentina. With a large head and powerful jaws filled with razor-sharp teeth, they’re often referred to as the steel-jawed hunters.
A true apex predator in their freshwater habitat, the Golden Dorados diet consists of a wide variety of fish, but they’ve also been known to feed on small vertebrates, such as rodents, lizards, and birds. The size of Dorado typically ranges from 5lb to 10lb pound; however, they grow much larger in some fisheries and fish to over 20lb aren’t uncommon. The current IGFA world record Golden Dorado currently stands at 55lb 11oz caught in 2006 in the Uruguay River in Argentina. Below are the top destinations in the world for Golden Dorado Fishing.
Contact Us
Each trip is designed to offer more than just fishing—it’s a true adventure, set in breathtaking locations and guided by experts who know these waters intimately. If you would like to see more of any of the tours above, or even have any questions, you can contact our dedicated team of professionals today using our direct enquiry form.
