FISHING TOUR EN PARAGUA RIVER - PAYARA FISHING
( 5½ days 4 nights )

After more than 10 years working at Uraima Falls we feel that a 5 ½ days fishing trip is the best fit to enjoy, relax and fish at Uraima Falls after a long international flight and domestic connections that is needed to get to us, this is our best advice.
Anyway we can set up a trip with less fishing days if needed, prices vary depending on how many anglers come in a same fishing party and how many days the clients wish to fish, please contact us for an updated quotation different from the above.

Full days of fishing:
A normal angling day begins with a 5:30 AM wake-up call followed by breakfast at 6:00 AM. Your guides will be ready to depart as early as 6:30 AM, although you can remain in the lodge at your leisure. Return to the lodge for a lunch break each day.
Because of the Lodge’s location, you are located right in the midst of the fishing grounds. Long runs back to the Lodge are virtually non-existent.

BOAT/MOTOR:
configurations used at Uraima Falls Lodge are long, roomy, dugout canoes with powerful outboards. The boats accommodate four-passengers (two anglers plus two guides – one guide services the anglers needs while the other constantly maintains boat position. All boats are equipped with comfortable seats and ample coolers to store drinks and snacks.

CAMP & ACCOMMODATION SPECIFICS:
Built in typical ‘jungle’ style, the camp itself is a collection of Indian-style thatched huts. Each
round unit contains two bedrooms, a sitting area and a great bathroom with flush toilets, running water and a real hot-water shower. Fishermen enjoy spacious, private bedrooms with real beds, sheets and pillows. This just isn't roughing it!
Uraima falls provides a taste of luxury in the jungle.
The camp is set right on the water with the huts arranged in a cleared, landscaped area connected by stone walkways leading to the huge dining area. This is the center of camp life. Comfortable chairs and sitting hammocks line the unwalled structure, topped with a gigantic conical thatched roof. Breezes, coming off the surrounding water keep the open air pavilion cool and comfortable.
In the evenings, anglers trade fishing stories (and fishing lies) and sometimes solve the problems of the world while sitting at the convivial bar.

FOOD & BEVERAGES
The Lodge provides both quality and ample meals throughout your stay.
A hot breakfast is typically served at 6:00AM each morning. Pancakes, eggs, toast, fresh fruit,
bacon, cereal and fresh coffee are all standard fare. Lunch and dinner are served family style. In the evening, appetizers are usually on the table as soon as all anglers return from the day’s fishing.
Dinner is usually served on or before 7:00PM. A mixture of Venezuelan and ‘American’ foods dot the Lodges’s dinner menu. Fresh fish, beef, and chicken are accompanied by an assortment of beans, rice, bread and mixed vegetables. The camp supplies soft drinks, beer and local liquors with dinner. Anglers enjoy three terrific full course meals a day.

PERSONAL POSSESSIONS:
Thievery is nonexistent in camp. The camp staff are honest, reliable people who respect all your belongings. Valuables can be left in your room without concern, though it is always a good idea not to leave large amounts of loose money lying around.

IMPORTANT TIPS:
Always use your life vest during prolonged boat rides.
Always use sunscreen and a hat or you could be severely burned (Sun Gloves and sunglasses should be worn during long boat rides).
 Always bring along a rain suit.  Have repellent handy for use during the day’ fishing.
 Make sure to drink plenty of water or other fluids to avoid dehydration.

POWER SOURCE/BATTERIES:
The lodge has a large generator that is run during the hours when the anglers are in camp and not sleeping. The lodge runs on 110-volt electricity.

WEATHER:
Tropical temperatures prevail in Venezuela with mid-day temperature ranging between 85 -100 F. Generally, there is light to medium wind and an extremely intense sun throughout the day, so please be mindful of dehydration and overexposure to the sun. At night, the temperature slowly drops to 72-78 F.
Rain can be common throughout the week’s fishing,so bring along a good quality, lightweight
rain suit (pants included) to avoid a cold boat ride.

GUIDES:
The Venezuelan guides are hard working individuals who aim to please. They do not speak English very well, but will be able to help you select the right lures/flies and also show you how to fish each lure in the correct manner.
Guides are expected to fish approximately eight hours per day.

HEALTH/INSECTS:
All our camps are located in extremely remote areas. Those who have serious health problems should think twice about going to such a location with limited medical attention. In the case of emergency, we can have a light plane flown in as soon as possible, but this can take up to half a day (night flights are not possible). The lodge does have 24- hour radio communication. The lodge uses bottled water and also has it’s own deep well for water, therefore water-born contagious diseases are uncommon. There are a few reports of light diarrhea, but you can eat and drink with confidence in camp. Do not drink the tap water in any hotel rooms or public areas!

FISH SPECIFICS:
The Uraima Falls fishery is undoubtedly the most dynamic payara fishery in the world. One can catch both payara and occasionally large aymara in close proximity.
Uraima falls provides a variety of fishing environments. Your guides may take you into fast
water beneath the falls or the quick current of the river. You may troll in some locations and cast in others. You can even fish from the islands shores and very effectively catch large payara.
It's advisable to have 2 sets of tackle, ready to fish., one medium rig to cast lighter baits and one heavy rig for trolling and casting bigger baits.
It’s a good idea to have adequate tackle ready to handle these powerful and aggressive adversaries.
Payara can also exceed 30 pounds and they readily take cast or trolled subsurface baits. They strike with tremendous power and can strip off line like a bonefish and jump like a salmon. These traits, coupled with their terrific stamina not only make them a favorite of anglers but also a great consumer of lures.

CATCH AND RELEASE:
To insure the best fishing possible, a strict catch and release policy is in effect at the lodge. We strongly encourage all clients not to handle fish, not only to reduce stress on the fish, but also because these fish species have strong jaws and sharp teeth that can severly injure you! The guides are well trained in fish handling and care. If you catch a trophy and want to photograph, measure, or weigh the fish, use a fish handling tool such as a Boga- Grip,or sturdy gloves. Or better yet, have the guide hold the fish. Your understanding and cooperation will ensure that this fishery remains as productive as ever.

EQUIPMENT RECOMMENDATIONS:
The tackle mentioned is what we consider to be the optimum type for the conditions experienced.
Recommendations are a concise combination of opinions and experience from clients and professionals who have spent a great deal of time fishing Uraima Falls. Special tackle suggestions should be taken into consideration to ensure a hassle-free trip (remember, the nearest tackle store is about 3,000 miles away from camp).
Casting & Spinning Rods/Reels: We highly recommend bringing three or four-piece spin, casting, and fly rods that you can carry on the plane. The cumbersome one-piece models often get lost or broken in transport no matter how well they are packed. Baitcasting and spinning rods should be long-handled, medium and heavy action models designed with plenty of backbone for hook setting/pressuring big fish (recommended for 1-3 ounce lures). Baitcasting reels should have a high-speed retrieve ratio, as lures are normally worked at an extremely fast rate. Bring at least two rods and reels, because you might break a rod or strip the gears in one of your reels.
Here are a few examples of the most popular tackle combinations:
Baitcasting: G.Loomis, GL3, three piece 7-foot
heavy or medium Casting rod + Abu Garcia's 5600
C4-High Speed level wind reel (6.3 to 1 retrieve).
Spinning: G. Loomis, GL3, three piece 7-foot
heavy or medium light Spinning + Shimano Aero
Stradic 4000 spinning reel or Daiwa SS 1600.
Recommended Lines (Spin/Casting):
Monofilament: 20 to 30 pound copolymer or a soft line such as Ande.
Braided: Strongly recommended! 20 to 30- pound braided line (Berkely Fireline is an excellent
choice).
60-lb./12" Steel Leaders are recommended for
payara fishing.

FLY FISHING:
Fly fishing for payara can be productive, but can also be very tiring if you're not used to blind casting (and then rapidly stripping) a heavy-weight fly rod all day long. If you don't think you have this type of endurance, we strongly recommend that you bring casting or spinning tackle to give yourself a break.
Payara are fished with a slightly heavier 9-10- weight rod and either a 300-400-grain, 24-foot sink tip line depending upon water conditions.

CLOTHING:
We recommend wearing loose fitting, lightweight, light-colored cottons or synthetics (Tarpon Wear, Patagonia etc...). Some fabrics allow passage of UV rays, so don't bring just any old shirt (we've seen people severely sunburned right through their clothes!) If you are sun sensitive, long pants and sleeves are best to protect from sunburn and hide ankles from biting insects. For those who tolerate the sun well, wear as little as you are comfortable with, but slather yourself with SPF 30 or better sun-screen. Don’t skimp and don’t miss spots because you will burn quickly. It’s always unpleasant and unfortunate to miss miss fishing time with an unnecessary sunburn.