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Rio Miel,
Rio Cocorna
Sur,
Rio Nare
Magdalena Medio
Colombia
2015 |
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click photo for map |
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Picuda's: 1 TWAT's: 0 |
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We decided to target two new species; the Picuda (Salminus Affinis)
and the Umbee (Caquetaia Umbrifera). To be frank, if you want
pictures you will have to look elsewhere on the web, as we failed,
or rather the weather failed us. Just one of those years where the
weather didn't follow climatic norms. It happens, its happened to us
before, it will happen again. We will just have to return one day.
Colombia itself was amazing, we were dumbfounded by it. It was just
so much more developed and 'civilized' than we expected, and seemed
perfectly safe. The scenery was fantastic, everyone was very
courteous, and the food and accommodations were great.
Our guide
Rafael Valderrama (Aventura 4*4 Colombia) could not have been more
attentive and deserves a wholehearted recommendation from us. |
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We arrived at Medellin, a brand new airport, via Bogata, another
brand new airport, with Avianca on brand new Airbus aircraft. Rafael
picked us up in a Land cruiser with all the off-road gadgets that
you could wish for and made our way to Doradal on wonderful smooth
tarmac. Our first stop for refreshments at a roadside eatery that
would put most such establishments in the UK to shame, breathtaking
views, fresh scratch cooked food and spotlessly clean. And our first
encounter with the myriads of fruit that the Colombians consume in
vast quantities as juice smoothies with every meal. |
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We stopped briefly at the
Rio Claro, a private nature reserve. A gin clear river running
through a deep gorge, much like the rivers we hoped that we would fish.
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First accommodations at a rather superior 'Truck Stop' just outside
of Doradal, Campo Verde, again great food, good service, and
spotlessly clean. |
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We then moved on to a small town San Miguel on the bank of the Rio
Miel. A small hotel, and a restaurant just around the corner. We now
felt so safe in Colombia that we just went off on our own to find a
bar for some cold refreshments
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Sadly we failed to catch anything, the river was a tad dirty
from overnight rains, though one of our boatmen did land a small
Picuda from a tributary, the Mazon which we went up as it seemed to
be clearer than the Miel.
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We returned to Doradal and spent the next couple of days travelling
off-road to Estacion Cocorna to fish the Rio Cocorna Sur
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Whilst the Miel was a beautiful river, the Cocorna was even more so,
at the height of our navigation was a most picturesque cascade down
a verdant gorge. Some fish were caught, principally by our
guide Rafael, who apparently fed up with our ineptitude got his fly
rod out and captured a number of 'Dourada' a very pretty Brycon, and
a small Picuda.
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Then the overnight rains came again, reports from both the Miel and
Cocorna were of dark brown unfishable waters. Rafael came to the
rescue, the owners of the Campo Verde where we were staying also
owned the neighboring ranch - and they had a stocked lake that we
could fish! We did catch some fish - Dourada's and were joined by a
couple of charming lads from the farm who were also out fishing. |
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Next we moved north to the Rio Nare,
we knew that the river was 'dirty' after the rains, but reports were
that it appeared to be clearing. So after a few hours by road
crossing the Magdalena by bridge and then by ferry to Puerto La
Sierra we got to the start of the Rio Nare
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The Rio Nare was a larger river, and
like the Miel and Cocorna it rested in a steep gorge. Accommodations
were at the Reserve Rio Nare, a lodge some miles up river.
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Sadly, instead of clearing we had some
overnight thunderstorms that turned the river to an unfishable
torrent of dirty water and flotsam, so instead of some fishy
photo's, here are some butterflies.
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We abandoned the Rio Nare, sitting in a deep gorge in 100F for a
couple of days in the hope that the river would clear was not an
option, so we went sightseeing instead and set off towards Guatape,
via a pretty village of Narices and then San Rafael..
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Guatape and the monolith of El Penol.
Spectacular.
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And our hotel on the shore of Guatape
Lake was very pretty . The lake is stocked with Smallmouth Bass, so
that provided some sport.
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Some culture to finish the trip. A chance to see the inaugural
exhibition of Fernando Botero's 'El Circo' in Medellin
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A great trip, despite our hapless
efforts to catch fish. We shall return to Colombia one day to make
amends! We found Colombia to be very friendly, clean, scenic, and
crammed with fishable rivers. Many thanks again to out host Rafael
Valderrama (Aventura
4*4 Colombia).
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