Pira Pitá Fly Patterns
At Suindá lodge, anglers target resident Pira Pitá with lighter tackle than what is typically used for dorado. We recommend 6 weight rods for presenting assorted dry flies. Patterns might represent from bugs o small fruits that fall from local trees and even flowers. It is important to choose hooks that are strong and light at the same time for this flies. In addition to dries, we also fish small, bright baitfish imitations and leech-style streamers.
Some examples:
Gurgler
Info: This fly is no more than 2-3 inches long and is often used for a number of different species, such as Bass and Redfish. The Gurgler was given its name due to the “gurgle” made when stripped and has been widely accepted as a very effective fly.
Materials: Foam Sheet, Rubber Legs, Craft Fur, Hackle, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, Gamakatsu P10-2L1H Hook.
How to Fish: This fly should be fished near structure and trees where it is common for insects to fall off. The fly should be stripped with very short and fast twitches with pauses in between to make it look like it’s a moving insect in distress.
When to Fish: Best to fish when pira pita are more are more active. This is often during the morning and evening periods.
Where to Fish: This can be fished in the upper Parana River or Alto Parana where Pira pita are common.
Tie: Tie a base layer of thread to the end of the shank before tying in a small clump of Craft Fur to create the tail. With the 2 pieces of cut foam tie in the back section first and add the rubber legs on each side. Pull the foam back and tie in the end of the hackle by the tail before winding the thread up to just behind the eye of the hook. Wrap the hackle up the shank, making sure the fibers are pointing back, until just behind the eye of the hook before tying off and trimming the excess. Pull the foam forward and tie down the front section of foam. Add the rubber legs again on both sides followed by a small piece of foam on top. Complete the fly with a whip finish.
Terrestrial Hopper
Info: The terrestrial hopper in the past has often been used for trout fishing, however in recent years has become more popular in Pira Pita fishing. The inch long fly although small is very effective although is important to use stronger hooks then trout terrestrials.
Materials: Foam Sheet, Rubber Legs, EP fiber, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, Gamakatsu P10-2L1H Hook.
How to Fish: This can be fished in a dead drift like fishing for trout, allowing the fly to move naturally with the current, however a small twitch every so often can be very effective. Stripping the fly can also be productive with very small fast twitches with pauses in between to make it look like it’s a moving insect.
When to Fish: Best to fish when pira pita are more are more active. This is often during the morning and evening periods.
Where to Fish: This can be fished in the upper Parana River or Alto Parana where Pira pita are common.
Tie: Create a base layer of thread down the shank of the hook and begin to tie in a foam strip backwards for the top section of the fly. Then tie a second foam strip in front and begin creating segments in the body with the thread. On the forth segment pull the foam facing backwards over the top and tie it down. Add a short bunch of EP fibers to the top of the fly facing backwards to create the wings. Add rubber legs on each side with more rubber toward the back and tie knots to create bends in the leg. Tie in a small strip of foam on top to cover the EP fibers a little before moving on to the next segment. Bind the 3 pieces of foam together and add legs again on both sides again. Complete with a whip finish and trim any excess foam, rubber legs or EP fiber.
Terrestrial Hopper Edition. 2
Info: The terrestrial hopper in the past has often been used for trout fishing, however in recent years has become more popular in Pira Pita fishing. The inch long fly although small is very effective although is important to use stronger hooks then trout terrestrials.
Materials: Foam Sheet, Rubber Legs, Bucktail, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread, Gamakatsu P10-2L1H Hook.
How to Fish: This can be fished in a dead drift like fishing for trout, allowing the fly to move naturally with the current, however a small twitch every so often can be very effective. Although stripping the fly can also be productive with very small fast twitches with pauses in between to make it look like it’s a moving insect.
When to Fish: Best to fish when pira pita are more are more active. This is often during the morning and evening.
Where to Fish: This can be fished in the upper Parana River or Alto Parana where Pira pita are common.
Tie: Create a base layer of thread down the shank. Measure and cut foam shapes out and tie in the foam on the top and bottom of the shank with the top tail longer. Add two segments in the body with the thread before adding a small piece of foam on the top of the segment behind the eye of the hook. Add a small bunch of bucktail on the top and bottom of the fly and add legs on each side. Complete with a whip finish and trim any excess.
Assortment of Pira Pita Dry Flies
Info: This is a variety of effective dryflies that can be used for Pira Pita. Notice the relative size and profile of them all. The most effective dryflies contain either foam and rubber legs, to make the insect imitation more realistic or are built to push water when stripped like the Bomber or Titanica.
How to Fish: This can be fished in a dead drift like fishing for trout, allowing the fly to move naturally with the current, however a small twitch every so often can be very effective. Although stripping the fly can also be productive with very small fast twitches with pauses in between to make it look like it’s a moving insect.
When to Fish: Best to fish when pira pita are more are more active. This is often during the morning and evening.
Where to Fish: This can be fished in the upper Parana River or Alto Parana where Pira pita are common.
Mouse
Info: The mouse pattern has been popular for a number of different species such as big browns and Bass, however has become more popular with Pira Pita fishing in recent years. Small modifications to the pattern include a stronger hook and the a larger size of around 2-3 inches long with the tail.
Materials: Chenille or leather, Bucktail, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread and TMC 811S hook.
How to Fish: This can be fished with a floating or sinking line, however is more effective with a floating line as it creates more disturbance. There are 2 ways to fish this: either with very short and rapid twitches or with a long strip but retrieved slowly.
When to fish: The best time to use this is when the fish become more active. This is often during the morning and evening.
Where to fish: This can be fished in most locations that have rodents such as the upper Parana River and the Ibera Wetlands.
Tie: Begin with a base layer of thread to the end of the shank and tie in the chenille or leather tail around 1-2 inches long. Attach the bucktail by taking a small bunch and remove all the short hairs, then stack fibers. Tie the bucktail by making a few lighter turns, before tightening and moving around the hook. Add 1 or 2 bunches of bucktail depending on the size of the hook. Tie in the ears by creating loops in chenille or create the shape in leather. Add more bucktail in front to create the head and add a few strands on each side to create whiskers. End with a whip finish before trimming the bucktail to shape the head. Add 2 eyes with either a black permanent marker or melt black plastic.
Craft Fur Minnow
Info: This fly is a very effective pattern due to the suppleness of the Craft Fur, which creates a fluid action in the water. Around 2-3 inches it can be tied in a varied of different colours. Dark colours are often most effective.
Materials: Craft Fur, Crystal Flash, Holographic Eyes, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread and TMC 811S hook.
How to Fish: This can be fished with a floating or sinking line. This should be fished with short to medium length strips consistently towards structure and trees. The strips should not be as long as a Golden Dorado streamer strip.
When to fish: This can be fished at all times and is usually more productive then dry flies.
Where to fish: This can be fished in the upper Parana River or Alto Parana where Pira pita are common.
Tie: Begin with a base layer of thread and gather a small bunch of Craft Fur together of each colour. Tie the 2 colours top and bottom, towards the end of the shank and trim off the excess. Continue this process up the shank of the hook making the fibers shorter each time to create a taper. When the eye of the hook is reached add 2-3 strands of crystal flash down each side before completing with a whip finish. Trim the fly down to create a tapered profile. Finish by gluing eyes on each side.
Zonker Minnow
Info: This fly is a very effective pattern due to the suppleness of the Zonker Rabbit Fur, which creates a fluid action in the water. Around 2-3 inches it can be tied in a varied of different colours. Dark colours are often most effective.
Materials: Zonker Strips, Rubber legs, Bead Chain Eyes, 3/0 or 210 Denier Thread and TMC 811S hook.
How to Fish: This can be fished with a floating or sinking line. This should be fished with short to medium length strips consistently towards structure and trees. The strips should not be as long as a Golden Dorado streamer strip.
When to fish: This can be fished at all times and is usually more productive then dry flies.
Where to fish: This can be fished in the upper Parana River or Alto Parana where Pira pita are common.
Tie: Create a base layer of thread down the shank of the hook and tie in the bead chain eyes towards the eye of the hook. With the zonker strip add a section at the end of the shank 1-2 inches long. Wind the thread back up the shank to behind the eyes and add rubber legs on both sides before winding the thread to the eye of the hook. Wrap the rest on the zonker strip up the shank of the hook pulling the fibers back each time. Make sure to leave a little room for the rubber legs and wrap until just past the eyes. Tie the zonker strip off and whip finish to complete. Trim some fibers away from around the eyes to make them more visible.
Zonker Minnow Edition. 2
Info: This fly is a very effective pattern due to the suppleness of the Zonker Rabbit Fur and Craft Fur, which creates a fluid action in the water. Around 2-3 inches it can be tied in a varied of different colours. Dark colours are often most effective.
Materials: Craft Fur, Zonker Strips, Chenille, Bead chain Eyes, 20lb monofilament, 3/0 or 210 Denier and TMC 811S hook.
How to Fish: This can be fished with a floating or sinking line. This should be fished with short to medium length strips consistently towards structure and trees. The strips should not be as long as a Golden Dorado streamer strip.
When to fish: This can theoretically be fished all the time and is usually more productive then dry flies.
Where to fish: This can be fished in the upper Parana River or Alto Parana where Pira pita are common.
Tie: Tie a base layer of thread down the shank before tying in the bead chain eyes near the eye of the hook, leaving enough room to tie down the monofilament. Add in a four-inch piece of monofilament half way round the shank of the hook and wind the thread back up to the end of the shank. Tie in some flashy chenille and make a few wraps with the chenille before tying off it off. Add in 2-3 inch section of Zonker Strip and tie down behind the eyes. Take a clump of Craft Fur and tie it in with the fibers pointing towards the eye of the hook to create a bigger profile on the fly. Bring the thread forward past the eyes and tie down the monofilament making sure it covers the hook. Complete with a whip finish.