Profile of a Fly Fisherman: The Untamed Angler

If you’ve kept an eye out for the blooming jungle fly fishing scene in South America over the last decade, you can’t help but have noticed Brazilian fly fisherman and entrepreneur, Rodrigo Salles. He has done more exploring than most, and - in the process - he has come up with a concept for developing sustainable fly fishing tourism; a model that engages the local communities and helps generate local revenue while at the same time preserving the local fisheries and surrounding habitats.

We’ve hooked up with Rodrigo to talk about his fly fishing career, what it is that he finds so fascinating about fly fishing in the jungle and what’s going on with his business, Untamed Angling.

Full Name: Rodrigo Moreira Salles, born Oct, 1st 1976 Country of origin: Brazil Occupation: Untamed Angling Co-Owner and CEO of Brazil operations Social Media: www.instagram.com/Rod_salles / www.instagram.com/UntamedAngling Website: www.untamedangling.com

How did you get started fly fishing and why?

Growing up in Brazil, I started out fishing the headwaters of the Parana Basin. My interest at the time was primarily the dorado fishing, although the water provided great pacu and matrincha fishing, as well as possibilities for the rare tabarana (silver dorado). My grandfather was a tremendous outdoorsman who first introduced me to the outdoors through ranching, and although he did not fly fish, it opened me up to the wilderness.

My first contact with fly fishing was a trip to Coihayque, Chile with just a backpack. Alex Prior was instrumental in getting me into the fly fishing world as well, as I left that trip with a 6-wt and an intense desire to fly fish for dorado, peacock Bass, wolfish, and anything else I could find!

My mentor Nelson Borges, arguably Brazil’s first fly fishing guide, taught me what I know about fly fishing for Dorado. He guided famous angler in the 80’s, like the prince of Denmark in the Pantanal Marsh for Dorado, and everything I know about Dorado fishing I learned from him.

What is it that fascinates you about fly fishing?

I am fascinated with the deep connection to the wilderness. And I just love being on the water and completely off the grid in my personal favorite place; the jungle. Fly fishing allows me to push the limits of the sport by pursuing and catching new species on a fly rod. In addition to that, after being in the fly fishing lodge business for almost sixteen years, I have made so many friends and I appreciate having a group of amazing people, regardless of location or language, who all share the same passion for the great outdoors.

How would you describe the fly fishing scene in your home country?

Fly fishing in Brazil has grown quite a bit in recent years, but there is still so much to be discovered as far as fishing goes. The majority of sport fishermen in Brazil use spin and bait casting tackle, but more and more are trying out fly fishing. Popularizing fly fishing in Brazil presents its own challenges as well, with no more than three or four fly shops in a country with more than 200 million people and endless water. With such a range of diversity in species and habitat, fly fishing in Brazil is truly dynamic.

From Rainbow trout in Southern Brazil’s mountain streams, originally introduced by immigrants from Denmark in the late 40’s, to snook, bluewater species, and tarpon on the northern coast.

Two different species of freshwater dorado satisfy any angler’s itch, the famous salminus brasiliensis in the Parana River Basin and Pantanal Marsh, and the rare Salminus Franciscanus in Sao Francisco River in central Brazil. As far as Amazon jungle fishing goes, there are fourteen species of peacock bass, including the Chicla Temensis (the largest one) alongside the giant arapaima, a wide variety of pacu species, matrincha, arowana, and more!

I would estimate that Brazilians can catch around 100 different freshwater species on a fly rod, and very few countries or fisheries can say the same. There is so much potential for fly fishing here, and we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg.

You’re the CEO of Untamed Angling in Brazil – a jungle fly fishing operation. Can you tell us a little bit about how Untamed Angling came into existence?

Untamed Angling was founded in 2002, by Marcelo Perez, my business partner and general CEO of the company. The very first project was La Zona in Argentina – Uruguay river where we showed the world the possibilities of catching giant Dorado (over 40lbs) with a fly rod. I met Marcelo in 2004 when he was running the first exploratory season of La Zona, and immediately we became friends and soon business partners. I joined Untamed Angling to develop the marketing and sales aspects of the company and introduce Untamed Angling into the most demanding markets in the world.

Untamed Angling developed two destinations in Patagonia (Far End Rivers in Rio Irigoyen for searun brown trout, Kooi Noom in Capitan River in Argentina), as well as Desroches Island in the Seychelles, and the Tsimane Lodges in Bolivia which pitched the Amazonia Dorado onto the fly fishing scene. Nowadays, I’m the CEO of Untamed Angling’s Brazilian venues, with 4 different destinations: Rio Marié – Giant Peacock Bass, Kendjam – crystal clear water, sight fishing, for multi variety species, Pirarucu – the largest wild arapaima population in the Amazon, and our new venue, Xingu Lodge, for the amazing payara.

What ’s the concept behind Untamed Angling and what core values do you try to incorporate into your work in the jungle?

Basically, our mission is to engage in partnerships with indigenous people in the areas where we work. Our values are founded in the importance of the native people to protect the last virgin and unspoiled areas in the Amazon Jungle. By providing fair work to more than 300 native and 100 non-indigenous locals, our honest partnership allows preservation of century-old cultures and traditions.

Because of this close collaboration, our destinations now provide more economic benefits for indigenous people than any other tourist attraction in Latin America, thus improving quality of life and fostering a sustainable future for their communities. Not only do we work closely with the native people, but we are the very first company to achieve the official license of Indigenous Institution of Brazil to build a solid, long-lasting legal framework that guarantees protection of our projects through the sustainable use of resources.

Untamed Angling contributes to the preservation of over 12 million hectares of rainforest, roughly 30 million acres. We produce thorough environmental reports every season, and dedicate our efforts to studying the fish populations and their life cycle.

We are in continuous search of fresh, innovative ideas that can help us reduce our ecological footprint, whether through the use of renewable energy, proper waste management, or recycling. We provide the best experience for our guests, because we are a company created by fly anglers who are dedicated to the concept of world class fly fishing experiences in the remote Amazon wilderness.

Untamed Angling is a team of professional fly fishing guides, who have specific technical recommendations one moment, and profound knowledge of the rainforest the next. High class settings are a given, from five-star rated rooms and amenities, our glamping tents, or about the “Untamed Amazon”; our specifically designed jungle mothership.

What have been the biggest challenges in setting up a fly fishing business in the jungle?

The logistics of running remote lodges inside indigenous lands in faraway places has proved to be a real challenge. Getting fuel, food, and any other resource requires heavy planning far in advance. Our partnership with the indigenous people was also challenging, understandably, due to the culture shock of our worlds colliding. Their respect for the forest and its intricacies, the rivers, and culture give us great perspective and make the challenging aspects worth the extra effort. The rewarding aspect of this partnership is the mutual respect and protection of culture, as well as the total participatory independence in each project. So much of what we learn through this partnership has been lost to modern civilization.

Can you tell us a little bit about what makes your fly fishing destinations special compared to other destinations across the globe?

The Amazon jungle is the new frontier in fly fishing. Unlike traditional fly fishing for trout, salmon, and other coldwater species, there is unexplored territory in the Amazon, which leads to different species, diverse environments, and a world of possibilities.

Imagine fishing for a 20lbs peacock bass in the Brazilian Amazon that has never seen a fly before! Wading in clear water, dry fly fishing for pacus and matrinchas, or sight-casting to several different species, like peacock bass, bicudas, wolfish, payara, and more in the same river system.

Our destinations are special because we break all boundaries: From the unique Amazonian dorado fishing in Bolivia’s mountain streams, to the leviathan of the jungle, the arapaima, found over 200lbs in Mamirauá Reserve in enormous numbers.

Do you have any special moments from fishing the jungle that you’d like to share with our readers?

So many! I would need the entire magazine…hehehe!

What’s your personal favourite jungle species to target on a fly rod and why?

Half dorado and half peacock Bass, if I need to make that choice! I grew up fishing for dorado and spent so many years fishing for them in South America. It’s part of my angling DNA. They are the most complete fish to catch on a fly rod in moving waters, but I really enjoy fishing for them wading in clear rivers. If I jump on a skiff in the jungle, my favorite species to chase is the giant peacock bass (chicla temensis). My interest in them came years later, and the challenge of catching big peacock bass in the Amazon jungle is similar to other desired trophies like big tarpon, permit, and the Atlantic salmon.

What’s your favourite fishery in South America and why?

My personal favorites are Tsimane, in Bolivia for dorado, Rio Marié for the giant peacock bass, and Kendjam for the jungle sight-fishing opportunities. I also have a deep connection with the payara, and the Xingu river is the perfect place to catch them.

Is there a species or destination outside of South America that you’re itching to fish for?

Yes, I would love to try the Atlantic salmon, the Australian permit and giant trevally in the outer atolls of the Seychelles and Indonesia.

Do you have any exciting new projects or trips coming up?

Yes! We have our new Xingu Lodge opening this season (2021), after an exploratory season in 2019 with tents. We were scheduled to build the lodge in 2020, but due to the pandemic, we were forced to postpone the full inaugural season and lodge building for 2021. We are working hard this year to open this amazing new jungle fishery to the angling community with focus on giant payara on the fly and other species.

The Xingu river is a crystal-clear river with large rapids and runs; one of the best places on the planet to catch big payara consistently on the fly. We are also developing some exciting projects in Bolivia, like the Yuracare Lodge and camps, which will be opening this season. That lodge is in the TIPNIS area, the same national park and indigenous land as our Tsimane lodges, but in another river system.

We are exploring some exciting new heli fishing trips in Bolivia, with an exploratory season scheduled for 2021, into the headwaters of magnificent rivers of Tsimane.