Southern Nicoya Fly Fishing Charters

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What was once a niche interest is turning into one of the most popular hobbies of people of all ages. From the retired to Millenials, fly fishing has become a massive hit. And it’s no surprise why. Another popular venture of the recent decade has been visiting the beautiful country of Costa Rica.  Mesh these two together and you are ready for the experience of a life time. 

This stress free activity allows you to interact with nature, in group settings (play los vivos), and requires minimal equipment. If you develop an interest in it, you’ll find a whole community of people ready to welcome you with open arms and help you improve your craft.

Fly-fishing is the simple act of attaching a lure to a line, standing in a river, casting it into the water, and waiting for a fish to bite. It can be an incredibly meditative experience because of how the sounds of the river block out all other noise. You are, for those few minutes, completely surrounded by nature and focused entirely on the rod in your hand.

Recent years show people with high-stress jobs driving out of the cities to fly-fish over the weekends to relax and destress themselves. Especially in Costa Rica, where fly fishing has become an entire experience. 

While it may not be immediately clear to the uninitiated, there are a lot of differences between flying-fishing and other types of fishing. First, you have technical differences. This includes lighter and longer rods, with a heavier line, and an artificial, extremely light bait. What this means is that you’re not fishing with live bait like worms, but instead with an artificial imitation.

Also, all of the fishing takes place in rivers, with the fisherman standing in the moving water. So, you’re not in a boat in a lake or sitting on a chair calmly holding your line in the water. Fly-fishing requires your complete physical involvement in the act. It is a moderately athletic activity and can function as a fun workout.

Second, you have a difference in the end goal. With people who like reel fishing, they’re usually hoping to catch a bunch of fish while lounging in a boat or a chair. It’s meant to be a relaxing, low engagement activity. Fly-fishing is fun, challenging and is one of the most rewarding types of fishing you can do.

When it comes to gear, there’s really no need to go all out for your first time. As a matter of fact don’t worry about anything and just head on over to our boat and fly fish with us in Costa Rica. As time goes on and you become more involved, (if you’re not already)  you can start experimenting with different types of lines and flies. You make your own flies so you’ll want to get tools to help you tie knots, cutters to trim the line, gel to waterproof it, but these are all additional materials for later on. When you start out, all you need are waders, a rod, a reel, and a few flies. 

If you’re fly fishing in Costa Rica, you’ll spend most of your time catching Machaca, which is relatively aggressive when it comes to fish. They actually happen to be related to the piranha, except they are herbivores. You can also catch trout depending on the area. As a beginner, you should find a guide to take you out to a popular fly-fishing spot like Rio Tenorio. There’s no particular time you are restricted to. You can pretty much go fly-fishing and catch a good amount of fish year-round, once you know what you’re doing.

Fly-tying is the process of making your own flies and is a methodical, detailed task that a lot of experienced fly fishers really get into. Once you begin fishing, you’ll gradually find yourself attempting this yourself, if only to save money. There’s no need to become overwhelmed. Start with a few simple knots and some feathers. Remember, this is not a beginner activity, so there’s no need to worry about it when you’re just starting out.

There are no restrictions on who can or can’t join the fly-fishing movement. If you are vegetarian, you’ll find a whole subset of enthusiasts who follow the “catch and release” method. So you get all the enjoyment of catching the fish, and then you let it go. For people not bound by dietary restrictions, fly-fishing can become a safe and healthy way to catch your own food.

This exponential increase in the interest in fly-fishing has resulted in a boom in the hospitality industry. So, there are a lot of up and coming guided fly-fishing trips and guides available for newbies. When it comes to fly-fishing, this isn’t a skill that can be self-taught. The activity involves a lot of movements and actions that need teaching. So we suggest if you don’t have experience that you book a trip with us and let us show you the Pura Vida way!

If you are looking for a glamping and fishing adventure of a lifetime, ask about staying with us at our secluded private beach.  Playa los Vivos Glamping Costa Rica.