Yellow Dog Flyfishing Yellow Dog Flyfishing Destinations

Plan your trip

Accommodations
Duplex Guest Cabins
Season
January-June & September-November
Species
Tarpon, Snook, Snapper, Jack Crevalle & Mackeral
Ideal for
Solo Anglers & Friends

Fly Fishing For Trophy Jungle Tarpon

Silver King Lodge sits on the banks of the Rio Colorado, where rainforest-fed water dumps into the Caribbean Sea to create a fishery that should find its way onto any tarpon angler’s bucket list. There are absolutely massive tarpon that can be found rolling in the waters of the Rio Colorado, and if you book a trip here, it should provide you with ample shots at 100+ pound silver kings! In addition to large tarpon, opportunities exist to explore upstream for rainbow bass or snook in the jungle or head offshore for wahoo, tuna, dorado, and sailfish. Guests stay in a clean and well-appointed wooden lodge that is riverside. With a pool, separate anglers bar, jacuzzi and massage room, and all-inclusive Costa Rican cuisine and drinks, both anglers and non-anglers can unwind in comfort after a day of the pursuit of world-class fish.

Accommodation Details

Lodging Details
The lodge is located on the banks of the Rio Colorado and is situated within the second-largest rainforest preserve in Central America. Guests stay in stilted duplex cabins connected by walkways to the rest of the complex. Each air-conditioned room is 450 square feet with two or three queen-sized beds, rod racks, and walk-in closets. Rooms are walled with native wood and boast their own bathrooms, hot water heaters, satellite televisions, and free Wi-Fi. A step outside the cabin brings guests to a massage room, pool, jacuzzi, and dining room with cozy hammocks spread throughout.

Food and Beverages
The Lodge offers three delicious Costa Rican meals each day. Meals are served buffet-style and are made with sustainable, locally grown fruits and vegetables along with local seafood, beef, and pork. The bar is open from lunch until the last guest goes to bed, and drinks included in all packages include Costa Rican beer, rum, and house wines. Call liquors are all $5 a drink, and anglers can request their favorite beers when they book their trip.

Typical Length of Stay
The Lodge requests a minimum of three days, but itineraries can be customized to fit your needs. 

Non-angling Activities and Options
Although Silver King Lodge is fishing-oriented, non-anglers can stay busy exploring the Costa Rican rainforest or relaxing at the lodge. Costa Rica has earned a reputation as a top destination for ecotourism, and the Lodge sits in the heart of a 400,000 rainforest preserve. Guests can hop on the Lodge’s Jungle Cruise to spot Iguanas, Toucans, Caimans, and Spider and White-Faced Monkeys. If they’re lucky, jungle cruisers may catch a glimpse of the endangered ocelot, jaguar, or Indian manatee.

Internet / Communications
The lodge offers free Wi-Fi for all guests. Most international plans receive limited 3G service. 

Travel Details

How to Get There
Fly to San Jose; Overnight and then transfer via private charter to Barra del Colorado. The Lodge’s host along with your personal fishing guide for the trip will meet you at Barra airstrip, where you will take a five-minute boat ride up the Rio Colorado to the Silver King Lodge.

Arrival and Departure Details / Time
Typical arrival times to Barra del Colorado involve an early morning charter from San Jose Municipal Airport to Barra del Colorado. Departure flights can be scheduled for the early morning as well.

Documents Required
Passport with six-month validity

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.

Travel Tools
Airline Ticketing

Moon Phases
Rent This Rod
Trip Insurance and Emergency Evacuation
Global Rescue Membership 

Fishing

General Information
The Rio Colorado is one of the only dependable, year-round tarpon fisheries in the Caribbean. While most fisheries revolve around the tarpon migration in the spring and summer, the Rio Colorado delta holds resident and migratory fish ranging from 60 to 150+ pounds. This is not a clear water, flats fishing destination. Expect to fish big, turbulent water where the river dumps into the Caribbean Sea, and during the fall months when seas are calmer and summer rains raise the water levels in the river, tarpon can be found rolling in the main channel. Anglers must be prepared to fish a variety of sinking lines, 12-14 weight rods, and large bulky flies. During low light conditions, anglers hope for rolling and feeding tarpon that break the surface. When these large tarpon show themselves sight fishing is possible. Floating and intermediate lines with high riding flies may be used to get into the feeding fish. Most of the time drifting and dredging flies with heavy sinking lines is the most productive method.

The river is typically off-colored and varies in depth depending on precipitation. Tarpon can also be found upriver in an Amazon-like river setting. During times of higher water (late summer and fall), tarpon move into the river and can be found rolling in the main channel or in deep pools. The river is 100% fresh water and not a tidal, brackish estuary.

During the dry season (late winter and spring) much of the bait moves offshore, so the guides search for birds and use their electronics to locate offshore tarpon. These fish can also be seen rolling for baitfish. While tarpon do feed around the river delta any time of year, expect to spend more time fishing in the ocean during the dry months.

It is vital to have the ability to change your tackle to suit current conditions. Consider having second spools with sinking line available, or be prepared to change lines in order to get your fly down to the big fish. These huge tarpon will absolutely punish your fly tackle.

It is advisable to be open-minded to conventional tackle if conditions are challenging for fly tackle. The Lodge provides conventional tackle, but they have limited fly rods and flies, so anglers should plan on bringing their own fly tackle.

Anglers should plan to bring along a lightweight rod, too, such as a 7 or 8-weight if they want to fish the surrounding creeks and lagoons for snook, rainbow bass, and sunfish, a nice respite from the intensity of the tarpon fishery.

Boats and Equipment Required
The guides run 12 boats, each with a 23-foot, deep V fiberglass double hull powered by a Yamaha 150 horsepower motor. These boats are well-equipped to handle the turbulent Rio Colorado delta or fish offshore with safety and speed. Additionally, every boat sports a fish finder, 25-watt radio, and a pair of fighting chairs. For up-river fishing, the Lodge has canoes as well as four 15-foot aluminum skiffs with Bimini tops and Suzuki outboard motors.  

Rates and Terms

All-Inclusive Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. Trips of any length of stay can be arranged, so please call Yellow Dog for details and custom package pricing.

Please contact Yellow Dog for rates.

What’s Included:

  • Three ground transfers in the San Jose area
  • Transportation to-and-from San Jose to Silver King Lodge
  • Our fully air-conditioned accommodations
  • Three buffet-style meals daily
  • A highly experienced fishing guide
  • A 23-foot double-hulled fiberglass fishing boat with radio and fish finder
  • Conventional and spin tackle, a Sabiki for catching live bait, stocked tackle box, and limited availability loaner fly tackle
  • Wi-Fi (limited bandwidth)
  • Daily free same-day laundry service
  • Inclusive bar – Included beverages are locally available soft drinks, Costa Rican beer (Imperial, Imperial Light, Kaiser non-alcoholic beer), Costa Rican rum (Ron Rico and Cetenario Selecto anjeo) and the house red and white wines. Call liquors are still only $5 a drink and other locally available beers can be requested when you book your trip
  • Other available amenities include our pool, the hot tub, and sauna

What’s Not Included:

  • International airfare
  • Hotel and meals in San Jose
  • Gratuities to guides and staff
  • Fishing license ($25.00 for a week or $30.00 for an annual license – subject to change)
  • Top-shelf liquor
  • Airport departure tax (approx. $29.00)
  • Gasoline surcharge for offshore fishing (if applicable)

Silver King Lodge (Costa Rica)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is due at the time of booking for all Silver King Lodge packages, and final payment is due 60 days prior to arrival. For cancellations, all deposits and payments are non-refundable. A refund of the deposit less a cancellation fee of $150.00 per person to Silver Kind Lodge and a $100.00 cancellation fee to Yellow Dog will be issued if written notice of cancellation is received outside of 90 days prior to scheduled arrival. No refund or trip credit will be given for trips cancelled inside of 90 days from start of trip, regardless of reason. Because of the lodge’s strict cancellation policies, we highly recommend the purchase of trip insurance. In no event will Silver King Lodge be responsible for any cancellation of services or operations due to inclement weather, any event of force majeure, airline delays or flight cancellations, or any other reason beyond the control of the lodge. Silver King Lodge will not refund payments in the event of poor weather. If your flights are cancelled and connections are missed, Silver King Lodge is not responsible for alternative travel arrangements including flights, hotels, meals and any other expenses incurred. If a cancelled package is resold by either the lodge or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be issued minus a $100.00 per person cancellation fee charged by Yellow Dog Flyfishing. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. Once again, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance these Costa Rican packages.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW YELLOW DOG GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND CANCELLATION POLICIES

Payment Terms For All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings
In order to lock in your trip reservation, we ask that you please remit payment at the time of of receipt of invoice. For your convenience, Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a direct and secure ACH platform – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Note that all Yellow Dog invoices include a live link that takes you directly to the Yellow Dog ACH platform for fast and easy payment. For open and existing invoices with a remaining balance, payment reminders also include this easy link to the ACH page.

Other customary forms of payment that are accepted are checks or wire transfers. If you would like to pay in a different way or have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (888) 777-5060 or (406) 585-8667. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Beginning September 1st, 2020, Yellow Dog will apply a 3% convenience fee for all credit card transactions.

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures Standard Forms For Payment

  • ACH online payments (for US banking institutions only).
  • Traditional checks (sent via mail)
  • Electronic wire payments (client is responsible for any wiring fees)

*Please contact us if you prefer or require a different payment option. Convenience fees may apply for other payment methods.

**Please be aware that the ACH platform is only available for US financial institutions and bank accounts. International payments can be made via wire or with a credit card.

 

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