Fishing In Panama’s Gatun Lake
Fishing is a great way to spend some time away from the hectic life. Nothing compares to the thrill and excitement of getting to angle your own fish. Panama is one of the “jewels” that Central and South America can offer the nature lover. It is recognized as one of the top fishing destinations. Lake Gatun is a tropical paradise and a great fishing spot in Panama.
Fresh water fishing in Gatun Lake is a once in a lifetime experience. It is particularly famous for its fresh water Peacock Bass fishing. Gatun Lake has an area of 425 square kilometers and is located 26 meters above sea level. It stores 183,000,000,000 ft³ of water. The lake is a major highway for ships traveling from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Gatun Lake has been protected in its natural state for over 100 years. The proximity to the city, good weather, great disposition and skills of the guides all add to the wonderful experience. Many elusive reptiles, birds and mammals can be observed along the countless shores and amid the tropical rain forest during a typical fly fishing day.
Gatun Lake is the home of the Cichla Monoculus [aka Peacock Bass or Sargento] and offers Snook and Tarpon as well. The Peacock Bass was introduced in Panama from the Amazon Basin together with other species such as the “Oscar”. It is well known in South America for its size and ferocity. The ferocious Peacock Bass [ranges from 1lb. to 10lbs] of Gatun Lake is a challenging fish to catch using fly rods.
Fly rods with a floating weight forward line are used to fish the Peacock Bass in the Gatun Lake. Making long casts with a fairly big popper is very important. You will be making a lot of casts and double stripping with erratic jerks. Best flies for the Peacock Bass are big noisy poppers with lots of flash. Other flies that also work are closures, small streamers, sea duecers, whistlers, shrimp patterns, insects imitations and baitfish deceivers on 1/0 or smaller hooks.
An accomplished fly fisher with a veteran fly fishing guide can quite easily catch about hundred Peacock Bass at Lake Gatun on a typical day. As Peacock Bass don’t feed at night they are terribly hungry at first light and again as darkness approaches they become frantic for food. Low light conditions and looming hunger pangs during early morning and late afternoon are the best times to fool big bass.
While fly fishing Panama there are several other wonderful tropical game fish likely to be encountered in Gatun Lake. Jaguar Guapote, a beautiful aquarium species transplanted into Gatun Lake from the Atlantic mountain slopes of Nicaragua, are often caught while fly casting for Peacock Bass. They are somewhat similar in shape and manner to the Peacock Bass, but not as colorful.
From May to December is the rainy season and Gatun Lake is mostly flat calm with occasional afternoon squalls. January to April in which it rarely rains at all is the dry season with typical afternoon breezes from the north creating a 1 to 3 foot chop in open water passes. However, there are plenty of areas for tropical fly fishing in the backwater creeks of the lake and on the lee side of the many islands and points. Resultant weather and lake conditions are optimal for Panama fly fishing trips all year long.
Fishing trips can make your valuable occasion memorable, relaxing, exciting and adventurous. Plan a fishing trip on this vacation to cherish your holiday forever…
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About the Author
Condor Tours & Travel provides you with leisure or adventure travel to Central and South America, the Caribbean and South Africa.
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