Battles Won and Lost

Sometimes Costly Mistakes Can't Be Helped; Sometimes They Can!
By Larry Larsen

Note: The following is a chapter excerpt from Peacock Bass Addiction, Larry Larsen’s third book in the Peacock Bass Series. Larsen is the world’s foremost authority on peacock bass and a member of the Fishing Hall of Fame. The book is available from the Peacock Bass Association at www.peacockbassassociation.com or from www.larsenoutdoors.com.

"The net, the net, the net," I shouted at my Spanish-speaking guide as I pressured the big peacock bass near the boat. Two more short runs peeled line from my heavy casting reel as the drag moaned in discontent, but the battle was almost over. The guide, on his very first day with a client, still had a bewildered look on his face, and, at the time, I didn't know how to say "net" in Portuguese. So, I grabbed the net (or "rede") and handed it to him.

He put the net into the water, and I leaned back on the heavy-action rod to direct the peacock head-first into the net.

"All is well," I thought. "The fish is mine."

But, the guide just froze and didn't lift the net.

"Lift up, lift up," I shouted, realizing he wouldn't understand my English. But I showed him with an upward motion of my forearm, how to accomplish raising the net. He seemed to get the message just before the 12 pound peacock turned and started to swim out of the net.

The fish jerked its head to the side and the lure's trebles popped free just as the guide lifted the net with the peacock inside.

"Whew," I gasped, only to see the big fish wedge its head into a small hole in the net. Then, with a characteristic shake, the peacock expanded the net hole and tore through it landing back in the water. I watched the fish dive for the depths, as the guide stood looking at the gaping hole in the net.

I shrugged disappointed, shaking my head. Then, I smiled. That fish on a small lagoon off a northern Brazil river had earned its escape. I believe it was destined not to be handled by man that morning. My guide from the previous three days had become very sick and my partner and I were dealing with a substitute, with very limited, if any, experience.

All in all, the loss of that fish was no big deal. I have probably caught a hundred larger. But, it reveals that there are many mistakes that can be made throughout the day that will cost you a peacock bass. In South America, it often seems that the ones that do get away are all giants. Big peacock bass certainly have the know-how and the strength to strain the limits of our guides, equipment and our reflexes.

Improper drag setting, for example, is a common fault in the loss of big peacock bass. It is vital to set the drag before the fish strikes, either at home or as conditions change. The drag should be less "giving" in an area of heavy timber and snags than in open water above a sand bar. Some anglers try to adjust the drag while the peacock bass is on. With a giant peacock, even an experienced fisherman can't get away with that.

Catastrophic Cavort
I remember making such a stupid mistake once, and it cost me a 20-pounder. I was fishing a lagoon off a river in the Amazonas Territory of southern Venezuela and had caught four peacocks between 18 and 21 pounds already that week. Two were from the same flooded stand of trees that I was again casting toward. I lofted a cast to the edge of the timber and had a monster boil up on it.

I set the hook and held on as the fish swam parallel to the treeline. My drag was clamped down tight and that prevented the 20-plus pounder from moving into the trees. Over the following five minutes, I carefully worked the big peacock away from the entanglements, as my guide thoughtfully paddled our boat toward the center of the cove.

I was about 75 yards away from the potential hang-ups and the fish appeared tired after jumping several times and struggling against my powerful rod. Not wanting the hooks to tear out of the fish at boatside on a last, desperate attempt to escape, I eased back on the star drag ever so slightly. That, I thought, would give me a little safety buffer in case the peacock saw the boat and tried to make another run. The drag then would absorb the shock.

Well, I was right, but I had miscalculated. The giant did indeed see the boat and took off, but it pulled line like I had just hooked a freight train. It headed back for the timber, taking most of my spool of 40 pound test monofilament and smoking my thumb in the process. I tried to stop the fish with the thumb on the revolving spool and got a burn for it.

The fish swam right into the timber, made a right turn and my line separated, sounding like a gunshot. My guide and I sat there in the boat in awe of the fish that we expected to be whipped and safely away from any entanglements. I felt like crying. But, I had only myself to blame.

Unfortunately, anglers are not always prepared mentally to handle a trophy peacock bass when it strikes. Everyone makes mistakes, even the most experienced of us. Poor mental judgment is not inherent only in beginners, but it usually will show up among them more frequently.

I have seen novices make many critical mistakes when first seeking trophy peacocks, but with these fish, catastrophic mistakes are easy to make. For those anglers that say, "big peacock bass always seem to get away!", I say get prepared and stay that way. Knowing some of the potential problems to which a giant fighter may be exposed should aid in that preparation.

I have fished for peacock with more than one hundred anglers, including "name" tournament black bass pros, outdoor TV show hosts, and total novices who had seldom handled a rod and reel. And, I have seen many big peacock bass escape, even from technically-proficient, peacock-experienced fishermen. Yes, I lose some, too. Some situations can't be helped, but many can.

Equipment Examinations
Getting a big peacock bass halfway to the boat only to have the hook pull out or the line snap is a frustrating experience. The failure mode may or may not be apparent. Hopefully, there is something to blame for the loss and a bit of experience to remember. Too, the best anglers will learn from their mistakes.

Having sound equipment and paying proper attention to tackle details really begins at home prior to the trip. Naturally, sharp hooks are a must on offerings. Big hooks which are sometimes more difficult to pull into the hard mouth of a big peacock bass, may fall out easily when they are dull.

Trophy hunters, like me, often fish with big baits expressly for the giants, and equipment should reflect that goal. Large, heavy-duty hooks are thicker than smaller ones and, thus, require sharper points and a more forceful hook set. All factory-made or installed hooks need additional sharpening. I use a hone or file on each lure in my tackle box to get the sharpest point possible. Each morning on the ride out to the fishing grounds, I "touch up" the points on all the baits I will be using that day.

Light-action, "whippy" rods are still responsible for many lost peacock giants each year. The limber staffs ideal for some North American species are not suitable for peacock. A medium-heavy action rod should be considered the minimal stiffness acceptable to tangle with a big peacock bass. The rod blank must have adequate backbone and/or leverage to properly set the big hooks and fight the fish.

Short rods have to overcome a leverage-deficiency in order to power a peacock away from heavy cover. A 6 1/2- or 7-foot heavy or medium-heavy action rod will surpass most problems in the hands of an experienced angler. I have used the graphite rods in those two lengths and actions for several years and found them to be up to the task.

Rods that have minute fractures in them tend to come apart at the time of maximum stress, like when the giant is powering away one last time. Broken guides also have been known to come loose or nick the line at an inappropriate time. Unless the baggage handlers in the airports are careless (and they often are), those are potential problems that can be eliminated at home by careful inspection.

Reel drags can be a major problem. Equipment that is cheap, old or heavily used may not have the smooth drag that is needed for handling big peacock bass. Overhaul your gear and keep it maintained for best luck. On my last few trips, I've been using high quality, precision made reels that perform great.

Line up for Action
Line is always suspect when a big peacock bass breaks off. Line too light or too old, or use of an inferior knot are often the possible culprits. Going after huge fish with light line is usually foolish. Naturally, the habitat and other water characteristics should dictate the line test to a certain extent.

Heavy cover and the potential for big peacock bass mean you should select the line suited for the job. Lines testing 25 and 30 pounds are advisable for fish up to ten pounds in dense timber cover for example. I've often seen novice North American anglers venture to South America with 15 pound test line and light rods in hopes of doing battle with a real heavyweight. That's not too smart, unless you are after one of my line class world records.

I've used lines testing from 4 pounds (when after one of my world records) to 100 pounds, but to be safe, consider the following. My favorite line for topwater fare is 80-pound Power Pro. Don't believe that this is overkill. You will be very sorry, very soon in many of the waters mentioned in my books.

Line does have an extended shelf life, but many days in the sun or in varying temperature extremes can shorten its effectiveness severely. Repeated breaks with appropriate size line denote either poor knot tying or rotten line. After extensive use, some braids wear themselves down when the fibers cut into each other. Knot tying proficiency, even with braided line, is easily gained, but a rotten line must be replaced. The best knot that I have found for braids (and monofilaments) is the Palomar. It is easy to tie and has a near-100 percent strength.

Naturally, general wear and tear can deteriorate the strength of a monofilament line, too. The abrasion may not be noticeable, but the smart angler will snip off the first six feet or so of his line after each substantial use. Prevention is the best insurance against line failure and the loss of a big peacock bass.

Terminal tackle can very easily fail around even mid-size peacock bass. Split rings, snaps, swivels or line ties on many plugs suitable for largemouth bass just can't cut it when put up against a peacock. The hardware can also become weak or may have a manufacturing defect (other than being too weak) not noticed beforehand. Again the stress on all equipment is maximum when a big peacock bass is hooked. Other equipment problems such as a rotten or broken net, boat seats not able to handle the strain during a battle, etc. are potential problems that you may face in South America.

Physical Shortcomings
A poor hook set is the most common cause of losing a big peacock on the way to the boat. I've watched anglers fail to set the hook into a fish going away with the lure. While many peacock bass hit so hard they set the hook themselves, strength and quick reflexes are often vital to success.

A large topwater lure with one or two big tail props will "resist" a smooth hook set, even with low-stretch braid or other superline. Just the resistance of the water on the plug will slow down the acceleration in a hook set. The angler that feels a light hook set is needed for peacock lures with exposed treble hooks is sadly mistaken. He'll lose some big peacocks.

Failure to exert enough pressure to keep a big peacock bass away from any anchor rope, outboard or trolling motor, or out of dense cover could be the result of a physical shortcoming. That could also be the result of a mental lapse on the part of an angler, as I explained earlier. I've often seen big peacock bass take off in heavy cover and drive so deep into it that the angler never again saw the trophy.

Many guides will dive into the dark depths in pursuit of a brush-tangled peacock, but you normally have to be in control of the fish at all times to eventually land one.

Mental Lapses
The difference between a good fisherman and a bad one is usually not the ability to think. It is the ability to apply knowledge on the water. The good angler will be concentrating on what he is doing and thinking about what he will do if that big peacock bass strikes his lure on each retrieve.

In the heat of battle, a fishing partner will occasionally grab the line to assist in the landing of a trophy. At that time, the peacock bass has a shorter, more firm point to pull away from than a length of line running through the rod tip. It is often then that big peacock bass get away.

Another piece of advice is to never let an inexperienced partner or guide help you land the peacock bass by touching your line. Net help, if effective, is great, but too much can happen on a short, taut line if the fish is still energetic. Grabbing the line to lift the giant into the boat is dangerous indeed and can be costly.

Never try to "horse" a big peacock bass in waters with few obstructions. That's undue strain on the equipment. Conversely, never give the fish slack line. It will usually spit out the hook then or use the extra length to wrap around an obstruction and break the line. Both situations occur to many anglers during the heat of battle.

Catch-and-Release
As noted earlier, when the guide does use the net, he'll hopefully net the peacock bass head first. Trying to net a "green" fish from the tail end is a major cause of lost trophies at boatside.

Since we always release the big peacock bass after the battle, I try to lip-land them with either a Bogagrip or a Fish-On grabber. The Boga-grip can also weigh the fish. The net can cause loss of the protective slime coat and later infection on the fish, so I prefer not to use them. Since the lure in a thrashing fish mouth can easily entangle the net, don't ever use one on a small or mid-size fish.

You can also use a gloved hand, or simply let the guide grab the fish. Peacocks have raspy teeth which can draw angler blood if lipped sans protection. Once landed, it is important to take pictures, measurements and weight quickly and then immediately release the fish.

It is very important to understand the correct way to release a big peacock. Conservation of the peacock bass resource is vital. As opposed to largemouth bass, most peacocks cannot take the stress of being out of water a long time. Be sure to revive in shallow water any fish that doesn't immediately swim off when placed back in the water. That fish may be over-stressed.

Peacocks are a precious commodity. Even a tired fish that swims away is not out of danger. Piranhas, dolphins and other predators may go after the over-stressed peacock. The danger in the deep comes in many forms, as was proven on one of my trips to the Amazonia Region.

My partner Rodolfo Fernandez and I had caught and released three 15-pounders in a small lake off the Jufari River. We had done well and released all in, what we thought, was perfect health. But this story is a sad one. One of the big guys didn't fare well, as we found out later.

While having lunch, I noticed what looked like an animal or big fish on the surface a few hundred yards away. We motored over to a struggling fish and netted it. It was one that we had caught earlier. Every fin, plus several chunks from the meaty part of the tail, had been eaten off by piranhas. The giant peacock had no propulsion or stabilization, so it floundered on its side, at the mercy of the piranhas.

The moral of this is to emphasize the importance of releasing a big fish quickly and while it is strong. If there is any doubt, take it to the shallows for release and recuperation. Piranhas generally don't inhabit super shallow waters.

Knowing many of the potential causes of losing big peacock bass, I doubt if I'll ever lose another. Ha! Want to bet?

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