In this water, besides the crocodiles, several species of fish could be found, but we were here for the machaca. The river flow was a moderate current that had sweet bubble lines and areas of small rapids, but the crocodiles never seemed to occupy these places – if they did, they went unseen. On the river where we would fish, crocodiles lazily sunned on the shores and occasionally surfaced like a slow but stealthy submarine in the mist of often otherwise quiet water. Howler monkeys bellowed loudly and made you think 200lb apes were hiding in the trees. The air was dry, warm and you could feel the heat of the sun. In just a relatively short drive from San José, the lush greens hills just outside of the city, where coffee plants and strawberries thrive, gave way to tall, sparsely leafed trees, open fields and rice farms. The next day we headed north to the Guanacaste Region, a few hours south of the Nicaragua border. Many species in Costa Rica are overlooked and don’t get much fanfare, but are fantastically appealing for fly fishing anglers, and particularly, tenkara anglers. While Release Fly Travel has a dynamic tarpon conservation fishing program, a billfish school, and some other exciting programs around Latin America, this trip was about freshwater streams and rivers. It was a relaxing day to acclimate, explore the city and take in some of the sights that are often bypassed when partaking in serious destination fly fishing trips. All of this was arranged by Tom and I felt indulged since most of my fishing trips consist only of fishing. We woke leisurely, ventured out for some Gallo Pinto (a traditional Costa Rican breakfast dish of rice and black beans served with natilla, which is similar to sour cream, and eggs), then spent the rest of the day exploring coffee plantations and a lush wildlife refuge, complete with rescued jaguars and invigorating, breathtaking waterfalls. It was in the heart of downtown and was wonderfully comfortable. Tom had arranged for us to be greeted and transported to our hotel in San José. This was my first time traveling to Costa Rica and I didn’t want any issues with TSA security and my carry-on. Considering all I had, everything fit well into my Fishpond Grand Teton bag. Plus, Tom scheduled time for a little saltwater action on the last fishing day, so I packed lines of varying weight and lengths. Preparing for the trip I made sure to bring all my different Zen rods since I wasn’t exactly sure what I was in for. Warm, arid, rolling hills, chilly, high-mountain cloud forests and hot, humid beaches, Costa Rica has it all. Although weather and climate are consistently mild, with only a small flux in temperatures, there was a notable difference in each region we visited and fished. Since this relatively small country consists of such varied climatic regions, he proposed a scouting adventure to experience a broad taste of Costa Rica’s fresh water fisheries, an opportunity to revel in the country’s bio-diversity and time to explore what he and I suspected, to be perfect tenkara waters. An itinerary was set, and this past February I finally got to meet Tom and his crew. We would scout water, experiment with tenkara rods and explore the different waters of the country. The idea of a machaca on tenkara intrigued us both and so, an 8-day trip was planned. What Tom described in his emails sounded like tenkara heaven and while he and his associates did have experience fishing tenkara, they focused on the very small, traditional aspects of the method.
While tarpon and sailfish are Costa Rican mainstays, trout, machaca and other species are untapped fly fishing jackpots for this exotic tropical country.Īfter more than a year of conversation with Tom Enderlin, owner of Release Fly Travel, a guide, outfitting and travel service in Costa Rica, we both decided we wanted to talk more about collaborating and exploring the unspoiled and untapped fly fishing opportunities in his country. In fact, the country is home to an abundancy of cold-water streams and warm rivers that are exquisitely beautiful and home to a multitude of fish species that pair perfectly with the tenkara fly fishing method. But many Ticos spend their time fishing for other species that are fresh water inhabitants. Without a doubt, this is there for the taking. When people talk about fishing in Costa Rica, their minds immediately conjure up images of jumping tarpon and sailfish busting through the ocean surface. Costa Rican women, or “Ticas,” have made their mark in meaningful ways, like fighting to break political schemes, creating artistic masterpieces, and contributing to society’s ethical and social growth.Tico is the affectionate term that native Costa Ricans call those who were born in their country, a country so beautiful, diverse and varied, yet so completely approachable and navigable.
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