Osprey Fishing Tours
Bass-boat fishing on Lake Arenal
Osprey Fishing Tours is a Lake Arenal guide service run by Capt. Bryan Rodríguez, who grew up a stone's throw from the lake. His main boat is an 18-foot ProCraft bass boat with a 140 hp Suzuki for up to 4 anglers, leaving from the El Castillo fishing dock. It suits anglers who want a proper bass-boat day for guapote and machaca, including fly fishing, with the licence and gear included.
At a glance
- Location
- El Castillo, Lake Arenal, Costa Rica
- Captain
- Bryan Rodríguez, 10 years of experience
- Boat
- Osprey, an 18-foot ProCraft bass boat built in 1996 and restored in 2022
- Engine
- a single 140 hp Suzuki, plus a 105 lb wireless trolling motor
- Group size
- up to 4 anglers
- Fishing
- guapote (rainbow bass), jaguar guapote, machaca, tilapia and mojarra
- Trips
- 5-hour half days and 8-hour full days
- Included
- fishing licence, spinning and fly tackle, snacks and drinks
- Leaves from
- the fishing dock in El Castillo
Part of our complete guide: Freshwater fishing in Costa Rica: the complete guide
Who runs it
Capt. Bryan Rodríguez was born and raised about 80 metres from the shore of Lake Arenal and has fished it since he was a boy. He's guided for 10 years, in Costa Rica and abroad, and in September 2026 he put his boats on FishingBooker under the name Osprey Fishing Tours.
It's a new listing, so there isn't much of a track record online yet. The first review, for a full day on October 2, 2026, describes great weather, several fish and a rainbow bass that put up a memorable fight. His own fishing reports log one day of about 27 fish and a jaguar guapote on November 1, 2026. We'll keep an eye on how the reviews build.
The boats
The main boat, Osprey, is an 18-foot ProCraft bass boat, built in 1996 and restored in 2022, with a single 140 hp Suzuki outboard and a 105-pound wireless trolling motor. That's a lot of engine for an 18-footer, so runs across the lake are quick, and the trolling motor lets Bryan creep along the shoreline without spooking fish. On board there's GPS, a fish finder, a live bait well and an ice box, with room for 4.
Two more boats are listed under the Osprey name: La Negrita, a 17-foot bass boat for up to 3, and Calme, a 23-foot boat for up to 8, which suits families or groups who'd rather sit in comfort. Neither page says who captains them, so ask when you book.
What you'll fish for
Bryan targets guapote (rainbow bass), jaguar guapote, machaca, tilapia, crappie and mojarra. Guapote bite all year on Arenal, and many guides like the drier months from about January to May best. The east end, where El Castillo sits under the volcano, is more sheltered than the windy west end, which helps from about November to April. For how the lake fishes through the year, see our guide to guapote on Lake Arenal.
What sets Osprey apart from most Arenal guides is the fly gear. Fly rods come with the trip, along with spinning tackle, and Bryan's techniques run from light tackle and jigging to popping and fly fishing. A 7 or 8-weight with poppers and streamers is the usual setup for guapote. Catch and release is welcome.
Trip types
- Half day. 5 hours, leaving at 6 or 7 a.m., or at 1 p.m. for an afternoon trip.
- Full day. 8 hours, leaving at 6 or 8 a.m.
Every trip includes the fishing licence, rods, reels, lures and fly tackle, sandwiches, water, soft drinks and local beer. Beer in moderation is fine, but no spirits or glass bottles. Families are welcome. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and any snacks you like. A private transfer from your hotel can be arranged for an extra charge.
How to book
Book through the Osprey FishingBooker listing. A 20% deposit is taken when the captain confirms, and the rest is paid to him on the day in cash, by PayPal or by bank transfer. Cancellation is free up to 3 days before the trip. For more lakes and rivers, see our freshwater fishing guide; Arenal Lake Fishing with Salomón also fishes from El Castillo.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Osprey Fishing Tours leave from?
From the fishing dock in El Castillo, on the volcano side of Lake Arenal. Hotel transfers cost extra.
Can I fly-fish?
Yes. Fly tackle is included, and Bryan lists fly fishing among his techniques.
Is the fishing licence included?
Yes, along with rods, reels, lures, snacks and drinks.
How many people can come?
Up to 4 on the 18-foot Osprey, 3 on La Negrita and up to 8 on the 23-foot Calme.
How long are the trips?
5-hour half days and 8-hour full days, with early morning or afternoon starts.
