emborcação lake — três ranchos
Reservoir on the Paranaíba River between Goiás and Minas Gerais, with clear water and peacock bass in the paliteiros (submerged dead trees). Três Ranchos hosts stops of the Goiás Sport Fishing Circuit.
The Emborcação hydroelectric plant dammed the Paranaíba River on the border between Goiás and Minas Gerais and formed a deep, clear-water lake of about 450 km², which Três Ranchos calls Lago Azul. The lake comes close to town, which hosts stops of the Goiás Sport Fishing Circuit and the women's Tucuna Queen tournament, both catch and release. The target is peacock bass, in the paliteiros (submerged dead trees) of the flooded cerrado, at the points and at the drop-offs into the channel. Croaker on the bottom, trahira along the vegetated shores and tilapia everywhere complete the fishing. Tournament crowds come mainly from Goiás, Minas Gerais and the Federal District.
best season
March to May and August to October, with warmer water; the state sport-fishing circuit runs from March to October. 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, with its own license. 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 290 km from Goiânia. The town is near Catalão and is served by the BR-050 and GO-330 highways.
- facilities
- Urban small beach with kiosks and restrooms, inns, country houses and rental cabins, boat ramps and boat rentals. More hotels in Catalão.
- basin
- Paraná
tip
In the paliteiros, work a jig or silicone lure with an offset hook tight to the wood in the early hours; in the afternoon, look for the points that drop toward the channel. Clear water calls for light line and fluorocarbon leader.
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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 — Pesquisa de perfil do público do Circuito Goiano de Pesca Esportiva 2024, 1ª etapa (Três Ranchos)Stop held March 2, 2024, with 95 teams; half of the crowd came from Goiás and 42.5% from Minas Gerais
- market iscabox — Guia de pesca no Lago de Três Ranchos (GO)Species, spots and techniques; check with local guides
- 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)