"For non-boaters Guapote Fishing on Lake Arenal can be successful by walking the shoreline and casting parallel to the shore in early morning or late afternoon.  Since Lake Arenal is located on the equator, the days and night are almost equal in length.  There is 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of dark.  It gets daylight around 5am and very dark by 5-5:30pm in the evening.  Guapote Fishing is best at or just after daylight.  The fishing is good up until 8:30am, and then slows as they move offshore to deeper water. However, one local Guapote Fishing Guide reported catching the unofficial IGFA World Record Guapote Rainbow Bass weighing 6.5 Kilos at 2 PM in November. So you never know when a big Guapote will strike. You may have to switch to a trolling technique and try lures that will run 18 to 20 feet. Catching big Guapote requires a lot of dedication, persistence and luck." 

    You can fish Lake Arenal from the shore in many areas and from a boat as there are several free boat ramps with access to the lake.  We offer Kayak Fishing on Lake Arenal to our guests. We provide the latest in lures, graphite fishing rods and reels. Tackle will be similar to bass fishing tackle, except the Guapote will make a much harder run, more like the Florida Saltwater Snook. Fishing licenses are required by law, but the process of securing one is complicated and takes time.  Most people fishing Lake Arenal do not have fishing licenses and I have never seen anyone checking for one on or around the lake.  You will be able to spend the entire day on the lake and will probably not even see another boat.  Also, marinas and houses on the water are not allowed, so the lake is very beautiful.  The rainforest growth goes all the way down to the lake front in most areas.  The lake is approximately 33 miles long and up to 200 ft deep in areas.  The water temperature is a constant 76 degrees year round.  This is one of the cleanest lakes in the world.

   Some of the local guides swear by white or red spinner baits.  Others swear by dark red floating/diving plugs.  The lures you use will depend on the type of Guapote fishing you are doing.  In the morning try jointed minnow imitations in red, green, orange and yellow. Also try some top water plugs in silver, red and gold.  Guapote will hit almost anything a large mouth bass will.  Later in the morning use lures that will dive from 5 to 8 feet as the sun rises.  Its difficult to fish deep diving plugs from shore as they will get hung up in the sunken trees or the rocks as you retrieve them to shore.  During the middle of the day when the sun is warmest try trolling 18 to 25 feet deep a hundred yards off the shore. 

   There are a couple of public ramps with free access to Lake Arenal.  One of the most popular ramps is located in the Arenal Public Park located just outside the small town of Nuevo Arenal and the other ramp is located at the dam itself.  The ramp at the dam would probably require a 4X4 vehicle, but the Arenal park ramp is paved and very easy to access.

   Book your Lake Arenal Accommodations and Kayak Fishing with us. We can explore the coves inaccessible to larger boats.  If you like Fishing, Canoeing and Kayaking, then this is the adventure for you.  We can give you the guided fishing trip of your life.  We also capture your fishing adventure on camera and provide you with a CD of your days fishing.  We will feature your photos on our Lake Arenal Fishing web page.  We offer Kayak Fishing and Kayak Rentals to our guests.  Its a great picture taking opportunity. We assist our guests in finding the best restaurants and tour activities for their tastes. Our Bed and Breakfast is located approximately 30 miles from and across Lake Arenal from the Arenal Volcano.  The town of La Fortuna is approximately 30 minutes from our rentals. We're a safe distance from the volcano with action activities nearby such as White Water Rafting, Fishing in Lake Arenal, Aerial Trams,   Zip Lining the rainforest, Windsurfing on Lake Arenal, Sailing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Hiking, Boating, ATV Rentals, Horseback riding to 5 remote Rainforest Waterfalls, Eco Tours, Butterfly Museums, Snake Museums, Coffee Plantations, Monteverde Cloud Forest, great restaurants and very friendly locals. We can update you on the latest local conditions including the roads, the weather, and the fishing. Book your accommodations with us and we'll help you choose the best activities for your vacation in Lake Arenal, La Fortuna or even the nearby beaches.

    When planning a Vacation to Lake Arenal, Costa Rica you have to try the local lake fishing.  Lake Arenal is world famous for lake fishing trips for the Guapote rainbow bass and world class windsurfing. We provide Eco Friendly Lodging to guests that prefer a little Exercise and Adventure on their vacation or that just want to relax and enjoy the rainforest. We often have Howler Monkeys, Toucans, Parrots and Hummingbirds on our property.  Lush tropical landscaping and a wonderful view of Lake Arenal. Guapote fishing has been featured by Bass Pro Shops, American Sportsman, Costa Rica Fishing Reports and many other world outdoor fishing magazines.   Kayak Fishing On Lake Arenal Costa Rica

   The lake however is very beautiful and clean. I highly recommend a boat tour / fishing trip to view the lake up close.  On our last boat tour in April 2009 we saw Toucans, Howler Monkeys and many other species of local animals. We also got some great footage of Arenal Volcano from the lake. Kayaking on the lake is also becoming very popular."

                                                      Lake Arenal Fishing Tip:   

     According to Glenn from Lake Arenal Pontoon Boat Tours & Fishing Excursions,  the best fishing for Guapote is when the lake starts rising (mid June through July) and when it's starts dropping in level (Feb-April).  Thanks Glenn for the hot tip.  Go on a boat tour or fishing with Glenn.

   One of Glenn's many happy customers!!

   Glenn also has a 40 acre estate with one of the most beautiful and modern rental homes on the lake. The home will accommodate up to 14 persons. His rental clients have the entire home, private pond, waterfalls, jungle trails with 40 acres of virgin rainforest and direct lake access. My wife and I rented Glenn's beautiful home when we first visited Nuevo Arenal and we could not give a higher recommendation for his rentals and his fishing tours.