cachoeira dourada lake — cachoeira dourada
A narrow lake on the Paranaíba River between Goiás and Minas Gerais, just below the Itumbiara dam. Beaches, thermal waters and a stop on the Goiás Sport Fishing Circuit.
The Cachoeira Dourada hydroelectric plant, built in the 1950s, flooded the old waterfall of the Paranaíba River and formed a lake about 65 km long between Goiás and Minas Gerais, reaching the Itumbiara dam. The Goiás city grew up as a fishing and farming village on the riverbank, has thermal waters and beaches on the lake, and in 2026 hosted a stop of the Goiás Sport Fishing Circuit, catch and release. The target is peacock bass, at the points, rocks and submerged timber; croaker moves along the channels and trahira in the coves. It is a much smaller lake than its neighbors Itumbiara and São Simão.
best season
March to May and August to October, outside the cold; the 2026 state circuit stop was held in July. During the spawning closure (Nov 1 to Feb 28), only catch and release in the reservoir.
Local rules: Border lake: the Minas Gerais shore follows Minas Gerais rules. In Goiás, a state license is required, and a zero transport limit applies for 4 years from May 28, 2026 (IN Semad 17/2026): native fish may be kept only for eating on site, up to 5 kg per angler and within the size limits; threatened species may not be caught, and chumming with feed or cracked corn is banned. During the spawning closure (Nov 1 to Feb 28), Goiás allows sport fishing only in reservoirs, catch and release with barbless hooks, and the federal rule for the Paraná basin limits fishing in reservoirs to non-native species and bans fishing within 1,500 m of the dam (IN Ibama 25/2009). Check local rules.
- getting there
- About 240 km from Goiânia. Itumbiara and BR-153 are nearby.
- facilities
- Thermal-water clubs, hotels and inns in town and beaches on the lake; more fishing infrastructure in Itumbiara.
- basin
- Paraná
tip
Fish the rocky points and creek mouths with mid-water lures early in the morning; in the heat, drop a jig down the ledges toward the channel.
Loading…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official Goiás Turismo — Justificativa do patrocínio ao Circuito Goiano de Pesca Esportiva 2026 (Processo SEI 202600027000071)Stops from March to October 2026, including Cachoeira Dourada de Goiás, Luziânia and Três Ranchos
- press Mais Goiás — reportagem sobre a pesca esportiva do tucunaré em Itumbiara e nos lagos do ParanaíbaNames Cachoeira Dourada among the region's sport-fishing towns for blue and yellow peacock bass
- official Casa Civil de Goiás — Instrução Normativa Semad nº 17/2026 (defeso e cota zero de transporte)State license, zero transport limit, closed season Nov 1 to Feb 28 and ban on chumming in Goiás
- official Ibama — Defesos continentaisSpawning closure (piracema) in the Paraná basin (IN Ibama 25/2009)