Casa Mar Lodge

Costa Rica
 

Harry with Machaka

I made a trip to Central America in June 2004.  I was invited to visit Casa Mar Lodge in Costa Rica by one of the owners to assess the country and the lodge. My hopes were to find a new offering that would be suitable for my hosted fly-fishing adventures. What a pleasant surprise I was in for!

The country was impeccably clean filled with anxious to please, hospitable people. All transfers were timely and my planned overnight stay at a downtown local hotel, El Presidente, was pleasant and affordable.

I was traveling with a friend, Franz Mayr, who has been to many parts of the world with me in the past on my trip. I valued his take on the quality of the food, lodging and transportation we would encounter. My host along with a friend, Ray Boone, joined Franz and me for an early dinner including an interesting  conversation about the history of the lodge. Ray had been sportfishing in this area for over twenty years, as had my host.

The four of us traveled the next morning to a domestic airport. We boarded an air taxi and landed on an airstrip thirty minutes later near the area where the Rio Colorado River spills its silted waters into the Caribbean Sea.

We were welcomed by smiling guides, lead by Lefty, who is the Head Guide. We were whisk away in a clean, well appointed, new boat and  in five minutes arrived at the dock at the lodge. I observed there is a flotilla of well-maintained boats of varying size attended by a full time dock boy. The boats well fueled and ready to accept guests at any time. The lodge can comfortably accommodate twenty guests.

The grounds are immaculate with two full time gardeners working every day. The cottages that house the guests are sprinkled artistically throughout the property. Each two guests occupy a cabin with a private bath, twin beds, an overhead fan and DAILY laundry service.

The lodge furnishes any and ALL tackle to all guests, fly, spin or boat rods! The gear is of high quality, well maintained and suitable for lagoon and canal fishing as well as handling the hundred pound plus Tarpon that is their mainstay.

Meals well served buffet style, and as fine as any I have encountered worldwide in a jungle setting. Imagine having an ice cream freezer with several flavors, chocolate sauce, fresh, toppings of jungle fruit at fingertips… 24/7!

I take these exploratory trips during envelope seasons. I can tell a great deal about a lodge without being there prime time and taking up a revenue spot. This trip I arrived in mid-June and the rainy season was trying to infringe early. I fished three days and caught the targeted species each day that included Mojarra, Machaka and several types of Guapote . These  fish range 1-8 pounds in size and are all you want on a five weight fly rod!

The day after I left ( what’s new ) the owner caught a nice 12 pound Snook! I used a 5 wt. fly rod with a suggested tippet of ten pounds. The jungle fish are fiercely aggressive and must try to seek cover immediately after taking a fly. The indigenous Caiman (alligator) might be very close by looking for a meal also!

While in camp and traveling the short distances to the fishing areas we observed countless multi-colored butterflies, monkeys and  myriad flocks of parrots and birds.

I will be returning to Casa Mar in April, their driest month, with a group targeting the jungle fish when they are driven from cover by receding water. We will use fly rods and light spinning for those who wish. If you would like to join me or have questions about the cost and details of this trip contact Harry Robertson at Fly Fish The World, (877) 937-9359 or visit my website, (www.hanoverfly.com), for information on this trip and  other adventures.

Email:
harry@hanoverfly.com

Hanover Fly Fishers Ltd., LLC
Box 525  Hanover, VA 23069
Tel: (804) 537-5036
Fax: (804) 537-5046

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