Rio São Francisco

Rio São Francisco cuts through Minas Gerais, Brazil and offers classic river fishing. The local patterns are the universal river patterns: fish the heads of pools at first light, the deep slow water in the middle of the day, and the tail-outs as light fades. Light tackle and a careful drift go a long way at Rio São Francisco — heavy splashes spook a whole pool.

Location

-16.1653, -40.6657 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species at This Spot

Redeye piranhaBarred sorubim

Fishing Techniques

• For Redeye piranha

  Use a wire leader to prevent bite-offs from sharp teeth and target areas with structure, like submerged trees or rocky outcrops.

• For Barred sorubim

  Target areas near submerged logs and deep holes, as Barred sorubim are ambush predators.

Recommended Gear

Tackle commonly used to target the species at Rio São Francisco.

Plan Your Trip

Anglers heading to Rio São Francisco should sort licences and confirm seasonal regulations for Minas Gerais before the trip. A quick weather check the morning of helps too — wind direction in particular can make or break a session at a spot like Rio São Francisco.

Nearby Spots in Minas Gerais

See all fishing spots in Minas Gerais →

Other Fishing Regions in Brazil