FishNerdFishNerd.ai
← Back

Pousada Rancho do Peixe

Chapada dos Guimarães, MT · Lago do Manso

Best months
Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
Water
Freshwater

Fishing conditions now

See the fishing conditions at Pousada Rancho do Peixe

Bite forecast, best hours and alerts — free in the app.

Open in FishNerd

Rancho do Peixe is a sport fishing lodge on the banks of the Manso Reservoir/Lake, in Chapada dos Guimarães (MT), operating under a catch-and-release policy. The property features panoramic chalets, an infinity pool, a restaurant serving dishes based on cerrado fruits, and its own marina for direct boarding onto the lake.

What you can catch

  • Dourado (Salminus brasiliensis) — the main target, most active in the rapids formed by the flood season.
  • Piraputanga (Brycon hilarii) — the same species sometimes listed under the English name 'Slender Brycon'; they are not two different fish.
  • Pacu, also locally called pacu-peva (Piaractus mesopotamicus) — caught mostly with chumming (ceva).
  • Cachara (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum) — mainly in deep spots, at night.
  • Matrinxã is mentioned by some sources for the lake region, but without cross-confirmation — treat it as possible, not guaranteed.

Best season

February to April, with the lake fuller, is the strongest window for dourado and piraputanga. From May to June, as the water level drops, pacu and cachara come into play. July and August (dry season) favor night fishing for cachara and, in rarer spots, jaú. September to November is the second-best phase for dourado. December and January coincide with piracema, the spawning closed season during which sport fishing is prohibited — the original claim of 'Feb-Jun and Sep-Nov' is on the right track, but doesn't mention this ban.

Techniques and baits

  • Dourado: topwater/mid-water lures (propeller baits, poppers) and jigs cast near submerged logs and banks, retrieved with jerks and pauses.
  • Pacu: pre-chumming with a paste mix (feed + corn flour + cornmeal) and natural bait (corn, cerrado fruits) presented on a float near the bottom.
  • Cachara: night bottom fishing, with weight and natural bait (lambari, fish fillet), hooking only after firm and continuous pull.
  • Piraputanga: flies and small spoons in shallow, clear water, in the morning, taking advantage of the lake's visibility.

Facilities and prices

The lodge offers chalets, an infinity pool, a restaurant, and a marina. Reported rates range from R$ 750 to R$ 1,400 per couple/angler in the basic package, including full board, fishing outing, and a boat with a guide; packages with more daily outings or geared toward fly fishing tend to cost more. Distilled beverages, artificial lures, and the fishing license (mandatory in MT) are generally not included in the package.

How to get there

Access is from Cuiabá via MT-351/MT-251 toward Chapada dos Guimarães and the Manso Reservoir, with the final stretch on a dirt road leading to the lodge. Transfer from Cuiabá airport can be arranged directly with the lodge.

What you can catch

Take FishNerd fishing

Log your catches, see what is biting, and find your next trip.

App StoreGoogle Play

Sources