Yellow Dog client, George E., just returned from a successful trip to Bolivia's Agua Negra Lodge. Read George's trip recap below:
Q. Did you find the trip booking process through Yellow Dog enjoyable and useful? If not, please share why.
R. Yes! Jack Porter was incredibly helpful with the entire process, as well as Wyleigh Chase. Particularly, Jack hopped on multiple calls with us to download us on the entire trip and what to expect. The 30-page packet we also received prior to our departure was also incredibly helpful. I would definitely book this particular trip—and others—through Yellow Dog again as the coordination effort was excellent.
Q. Was the Yellow Dog pre-trip planning packet(s) and travel itinerary you received for your trip helpful and accurate? If not, how could it be improved?
R. Yes, very helpful and very accurate. Three things I would add to the packet that weren’t mentioned: (1) there should be a section about how to avoid trench foot and what to bring to help heal it quickly in case you do get it. By the last day of our trip, everyone in our group had at least a minor case / symptoms of the good ol’ trench foot - nothing that even slightly dampened the mood on our trip though haha. Albeit, we are “young and dumb” and just wore neoprene wading socks without cotton socks nor Vaseline, but it would’ve been helpful to know about that because this was my first time ever dealing with something like that. The vinegar they poured on our trench feet was a rush haha - so painful, but hey it killed all of the bacteria… (2) Secondly, I’d mention in the packet is a few restaurants / things to do in Santa Cruz since we had ~36 hours in Santa Cruz prior to our departure from Bolivia and that would’ve been great to have if that could be included in a simple page in the packet and updated annually in case restaurants open / close. Zoltan was a wealth of knowledge on that front. (3) Lastly, I would include a more detailed section on fly selection for the trip. Particularly, would suggest bringing mouse patterns and top-water patterns like mega hoppers and cicadas. I was lucky enough to bring but others in my group did not so I was sharing those flies with them throughout the week since we were having success with mice.
Q. Do you have any comments or constructive feedback based on the overall lodging (rooms, dining area, social area, etc)?
R. No, everything was truly excellent. I would love to return to Tsimane another time in the next few years. The trip was absolutely incredible.
Q. Do you have any comments or constructive feedback based on the service, friendliness, etc of the lodge staff?
R. No, the staff was outstanding. Incredibly friendly and helpful / resourceful. They made us feel like royalty all week. It was truly special, and I tip my hat to Yellow Dog and Tsimane for the outstanding hospitality from start to finish.
Q. Did the food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) match what you were expecting? If not, please provide additional comments or constructive feedback.
R. Wasn’t really sure what to expect when it came to food / cuisine as we were so remote, so the food blew my expectations way out of the water. Everything was delicious and beautifully prepared. The chef was outstanding at Agua Negra lodge - across all three meals.
Q. Were you pleased with your guide(s) customer service, communication skills, professionalism, work ethic, and general fishing knowledge? If not, please share why.
R. 1,000%. We fished with Santy Medaglia and Joaquin Borgo all week - both of whom are outstanding guides, incredibly personable, highly professional when it came down to fishing, and both spoke excellent English. My buddy Will Cumberland and I had one of the best days we’ve ever had on the water on the second-to-last day of our trip when we were camping out on the Agua Negra. Both of us nailed the grand slam and caught multiple quality dorados along with it. Couldn’t have asked for better, “fishier” guides. Got all of their contact information after the trip and we’ve already been staying in touch post-trip. Would love to get out on the water with either of them in the future.
Q. What key pieces of gear or flies made your trip successful?
R. To be honest, the best piece of gear that I brought were the Simms flyweight boots (I brought both rubber and felt, and used both about 50% of the time each). The flyweight aspect specifically was important because those boots are so much lighter than other wading boots. Highly recommend since you’re on your feet all day. I also brought an entire selection of huge mouse patterns, and would highly recommend that the pre-trip Yellow Dog packet includes those in the “what to bring for flies” section since it was so fun casting massive mouse patterns and getting surface eats. No one else on our trip brought them so I think it was wise of me to bring since we all ended up using them and finding success on them. I’d also recommend bringing some massive foamy hopper / buggy / rubber-legged patterns that imitate hoppers or cicadas. Also had a lot of success on those. Lastly, we brought a bunch of disposable film cameras with us which was pretty epic. Excited to get those photos developed. Would also bring a nicer camera to take quality photos aside from just a phone camera. It’s the trip of a lifetime and worth bringing.
Q. What piece(s) of equipment would not leave home without for this trip , or your next, with Yellow Dog?
R. Large and diverse selection of flies. That was critical. Though I didn’t lose many (if any) flies—except for a few that were chewed up by dorados—we threw just about every single pattern in my box. I’d definitely bring the same again.
Q. Would you return to this lodge destination? Please share why or why not.
R. 11 times out of 10, over and over and over again.
Q. How would you briefly summarize your overall trip experience?
R. Unforgettable. Trip of a lifetime. Dreaming of the day I can go back.
