Uproar on Unini River

How to Catch Giant Peacocks (that may yank anglers out of the boat!)
By Larry Larsen

Note: The following is a chapter excerpt from Amazon Peacock Bass, Larry Larsen’s fourth 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.

I lofted my giant Amazon Ripper toward the laydown just off the near shore of the narrow lagoon. The plug was mid-way toward its landing when a big fish blew up the water's surface some 100 yards away as it chased 3/4 pound baitfish against the opposite shore. The guide instinctively started to swing the stern of the boat with the electric to ready us for the chase after that feeding fish. My surface plug landed about 20 feet off the sharp dropping bank as the boat slowly began to move away.

Popping it twice, I was ready to reel it in quickly and prepare myself for a long cast at the fish that had given its location away just 10 seconds earlier. I didn't have a chance. A giant peacock exploded on my plug and then fired its afterburners and exploded away. If that sounds like a lot of "explosions," well, there is just no other adjective to describe this action!

The fish ripped the rod from my hand and I watched it fly off toward the rear of our boat and slowly start to sink. My guide, my partner and I all quickly grabbed rods to try to snag the sinking rod and reel. I was very lucky. Initially, the fish had bolted 10 feet toward the bank, but then it turned and headed for deep water away from the brush pile. That slowed the acceleration of the rod away from me in the bow of the boat, and my guide, Sabastiao Brito, was able to get one of my backup rods under it.

I jumped to the stern of our aluminum fishing boat and grabbed the rod handle as he flipped it to the surface. I was happy to save my $450 outfit but was elated that the fish was still on. I grabbed the wet rod with two hands as the peacock powered its way down the small lagoon. It reversed course and jumped three feet out of the water. I hung on as it again jetted away, back toward the laydowns.

"That's a good fish," my partner Ruede Wheeler shouted. The experienced angler would know. He had caught a 19 1/2 pounder two days earlier and his largest ever, a 23 1/2 pounder the day before in the same lagoon. I had been "snake bit" the first four days of the trip failing to catch a peacock over about 12 pounds, but I knew this one was over 20.

I leaned back with all I could on my 7-foot rod redirecting the fish away from the obstructions. It jumped twice more before I could work it close to the boat. Sabastiao tried unsuccessfully to scoop it up 3 times, and my heart sank 3 times when the fish powered away from the big net. On the fourth attempt, I kept the bass' head up and into the net it went. The monster was mine.

Rod Overboard Action and Reaction
Sebastiao quickly unhooked the fish and weighed it. The 24-1/2 pounder was my largest ever in some 30 trips to Brazil after the ultimate freshwater fish. We measured it at 24 inches and a 22-inch girth and then, for good measure, confirmed the weight on another set of scales. After a few pictures, we released the giant and watched it swim away in good shape. High 5's were in order, and we all three laughed as we recalled the rod overboard ordeal.

Never before had a fish, even a peacock bass, jerk the rod from my hands. I have caught several hundred big fish in the 20 to 40 pound range on the same tackle without losing my grasp of the rod. Heck, I have caught numerous tarpon between 80 and 120 pounds on the same equipment without such an embarrassment. I felt foolish.

I had heard numerous stories in the Amazon about anglers having their rods jerked from their hands by big peacock, but I discounted the possibility of an avid angler like myself with extensive experience catching giant peacock bass living such an occurrence. I was wrong, and I am humbled. I had never said that it couldn't happen to me, just that it was a slim possibility. The 24 1/2 pound "keg of dynamite" from Brazil's Unini River straightened out my thinking.

Trolling Topwaters for Giants
Ruede and I were fishing a large black-water lagoon just off the river that offered more than a dozen false channels, some of which were 1/2 mile long. Rain showers were a part of our daily experience and the river was rising each day and turning more turbid. While the river turned to a muddy-looking brown color, some lagoons remained relatively undisturbed with the prime black-clear waters.

The day before, after casting about four hours, we were trolling our 7-inch long topwater Woodchoppers along one of the points in the big maze of a lagoon when a giant exploded on Ruede's black and orange version. The 23 1/2 pounder headed straight toward the wooded shoreline, stripping my partner's braided line all the way to the few feet of monofilament backing on the spool. Watching the line disappear, Ruede shouted at Sabastiao to reverse the engine, which the Brazilian guide had already done.

It was the moment of truth with only the arbor knot maintaining the connection with the big fish. Suddenly, the boat gained traction in the reverse mode and the fish swam into a submerged tree trunk where one of the loose treble hooks snagged its root. Ruede was then able to put line back on his spool as the boat headed toward the hung-up fish, visible in about 3 feet of water. Such entanglements are the cause of a lot of lost fish, but my partner was lucky.

As we approached, the fish saw the boat and bolted toward deep water, tearing the plug's hook from the trunk. The giant was still attached to the plug! Ruede then fought the fish with a partially full spool of line in open water and eventually won the battle. It was his largest peacock in five trips with operator River Plate Anglers and the trophy of his very productive big fish week. He also caught three 19 1/2 pounders, and fish of 21, 22 and 22 1/2 pounds. His previous personal best was 21 pounds.

Locating A Monstrous Blackwater “Double”
My big 24 1/2 pounder was my personal best for only one day. On the following day, Ruede and I ventured an hour up river in search of new water with good quality and visibility. After several days of intermittent rain, many of the lagoons with large mouths into the river were turning turbid. The water level of the Unini had risen a couple of feet over the week, and finding the perfect lagoon waters was becoming difficult. We went into 3 brown-water lagoons off the river before Sabastiao snaked our 18 foot-long boat through a short, twisting creek mouth with overgrown foliage.

We ducked under a fallen tree and pushed back brush to work the boat through the shallow channel. Clinging vines whipped us from above and bushes scrapped our fishing equipment and us as we passed. Finally, it opened up into a beautiful crescent shaped lagoon with dark, black-clear water. Fish were moving along both banks and in the middle. We caught 3 or 4 mid-size fish around 10 pounds each, before moving into big fish territory.

Sighting a big fish chasing bait near one shore we moved our boat to the action and lofted our casts toward the disturbed water. On my second cast back to the same spot, a big peacock exploded on my orange and black Big Game Ripper. It powered away pulling off line from a tightened drag. Two minutes into the fight, I had a modicum of control when it shot skyward to fully reveal itself.

"Grande," I said to my partner as I glanced toward Ruede who was not even looking at my fish. He was busy with a fish of his own. A follow-up cast to the area where I had hooked up met with success for him, and he, too, had his hands full.

Both big fish were brought to the net at the same time and Sabastiao netted them. My fish was truly a giant, weighing 25 pounds even. Ruede's peacock was certainly not a baby at 19 1/2 pounds. The pair weighing a total of 44 1/2 pounds was the largest peacock "double" that I have ever heard of. Several years ago, another friend and I had taken two peacocks that weighed 39 pounds even. Ruede, a dentist from LaPorte, Texas, wasn't through.

Fishing Tactics for Bubbles and Mid-Lake Haunts
Within 30 feet of that spot on his third cast, my partner hooked and landed a 22 1/2 pounder. I caught and released a 20 1/2 pounder later in another lagoon to cap off a very great day.

The fishing during the week on the Unini was decent in terms of numbers, but it was excellent for giant 20-plus pound peacocks. While the five active anglers in our fly-in barge camp operation landed over 300 peacock, 10 were over 20 pounds. Paul Engel of Naples, FL and Greg Hochstetter of Jupiter, FL caught a total of 3 fish over that mark during the week.

Most of our fish were taken from a variety of places. Backs of lagoons in shallow flooded timber were productive areas for a couple of days. Sand bars adjacent deep water held big fish a couple of days, and laydowns proved prime spots a few times. Most big peacock were taken 30 or 40 feet off the shoreline, and some mid-lake catches were enticed by casting to visible schools of fry on the surface of a quiet lagoon. The technique of casting to "bubbles" or the "ball" of fry as they swim slowly along and dimple the surface is effective for the two parents, which are usually swimming beneath their brood. They will blast a lure tossed near in an instinctive reflex mode.

Lure Choice and Productive Modification
We also threw our big topwaters at feeding fish that were blowing up the surface while chasing bait. The Luhr-Jensen Big Game, Single Prop Woodchoppers were the most effective lures most of the week. While a few of the big fish were taken on Fire Tiger models, the orange and black color scheme proved to be the top peacock attractor. Magnum Amazon Rippers, also made by Luhr-Jensen, were a distant second in terms of lure productivity. My largest fish of the week came on a modified 6 1/2-inch long Ripper. I had added a third treble hook and removed one of the two tail spinners.

Submerged baits that typically do well, such as the PET spoon, Krocodile spoon, Redfin and Yozuri minnow baits, were not very effective under the existing conditions. It was a "topwater week" for the most part, but not all attractions proved successful. One of the most vivid images from the week was a 12 pounder that come up under the plug and jumped out of the water 3 feet in the air, landing some 10 feet laterally on its tail at reentry. The fish, as in a slow-motion video, remained vertical with mouth agape and lure between its lips for the full 4 seconds or so of its flight. When it crashed back into the water, the peacock simply opened its mouth and released the lure.

Another great memory was a 22 pounder that exploded on Ruede's big Woodchopper and jetted off under a 30-foot wide tree that hung off the nearby bank at about a foot above the surface. There was no way to get the boat under the tree and chase the fish which had bulled on down the bank another 50 feet before becoming temporarily entangled in some brush. So, Sabastiao went around the tree, as my partner let out line while keeping a taunt connection to the fish. The guide then grabbed the braid and hand-lined the tired, giant fish to the net.

On the Move Camping and Scenery
Between hook-ups, there were plenty of distractions. In some areas, freshwater dolphin rolled on the surface of the river or lagoon. Caiman slid off the banks and disappeared into the depths in a few lagoons and the skies overhead were always busy. Macaws and papagaios (green parrots) were almost hourly sightings, and toucans and pato ducks added color and uniqueness to the "aeroscape." During a shoreside lunch break one day, a river otter, locally called "lantra," popped up on a log just 20 feet away from our boat and curiously viewed us in our "feeding" mode.

The River Plate Anglers Safari Camp is a spacious screen house lodge with separate dining and lounge areas. Each 10 foot wide by 15 foot long cabin barge or screened-in bungalow has two beds, a toilet and shower combination, a sink, table reading lamps and air conditioning. Generators provide power for cooking and recharging batteries that handle bungalow lighting, fans and water pumps and electric trolling motors on the fishing boats. Each evening, after a swim in the river, our group of anglers enjoyed cocktails and hot hors d’oeuvres while watching the sunset and recounting daily conquests and failures.

During our week on the Unini, our camp moved upriver on three different days, totaling about 25 miles during the week. The moves keep the numerous lagoon fishing waters ever changing. The camp management and staff would break camp mid-morning, hook up all the barge components, and then tow them to another expansive sandbar. In the afternoon, the individual bungalows are once again spread out along the beach for some privacy.

After dark, we fall asleep listening to croaking frogs and sounds of other nocturnal creatures. We dream of the next giant peacock bass that will dare try to jerk the rod from our hands. That’s scary, but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare!

-end-

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?

-end-

Questions to Ask and Answers to Expect

Note: The following is a chapter excerpt from Peacock Bass & Other Fierce Exotics, Larry Larsen’s second 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.

Traveling to exotic destinations in search of exciting, unique sportfish is relatively common in today's world of fast jets and boats. South America is probably the closest region offering innumerable fishing waters and many great gamefish in sizes and varieties that most North Americans haven't experienced.

Planning a trip to encounter perhaps the angler's most exciting fish ever is a task not to be taken lightly. The preliminary decisions a traveling fisherman will have to make are where to go, when to go, and what species to focus on. There are over 15 exciting sportfish species in South America. Peacock bass and payara are found in Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and a few other countries, and more U.S. visitors fish for those two species than any other freshwater fish in South America.

Where to go may depend a lot on whether you want to experience the far reaches of civilization, where Indians rule the rivers and lakes and where you may stretch across a hammock each evening and drop mosquito netting to keep out the insects, or you want to have some comforts of home while catching your quarry. Other selection criteria will depend on the species pursued, the size available in waters/countries and the time of year available for the trip.

The timing of a successful trip is critical, and the consideration of such should be perhaps the most important parameter in the selection process. Many experiences have taught me that truly great fishing can be had somewhere in South America every single month of the year. It's THE place to be all year long, and the secret to fishing success is simply being in the right place at the right time.

Great locations are prime only during certain times or seasons of the year, so the traveling angler should have a fairly flexible vacation schedule to take advantage of the "seasonal opportunities" in the different regions of South America. Payara fishing is extremely seasonal, but peacock bass have a much longer angling "window." For example, the traveling sportsman can fish peacocks during the prime "dry season" almost year around because of various outfitter locations and their mobility.

Mobility seems to be the key to success. Many operations can move from one watershed to another in order to access the best possible fishing at that time. The ability to adjust to current water and weather conditions makes the difference between a productive or non-productive fishing venture.

The best possible conditions usually occur in the dry seasons, since the water is low and stable. This is when there is less rain, and when most fish are in places where you can catch them. In a river or in a lake, it is important to have stable water levels. These conditions occur at different times throughout the South America region.

For example, in the southernmost regions of Brazil's Amazonas, this dry season is in the months of May through October, generally. In the central part of Brazil's Amazon region, the dry fishing season is around the months of September through mid-December. In Northern Brazil and southern Venezuela, this season occurs from mid-November to mid-April, generally. Fishing seasons in man-made reservoirs located in these regions may vary because of power-pool drawdowns, but the wet season, dry season pattern will be roughly the same.

High water and "new" water are, however, specifically bad news for peacock bass fishermen! Frequently, the best or even the only good fishing in high water situations is at the mouth of a creek or lagoon just out of the current in the river. Late rains during the beginning of the "dry season" or "off-year" rains in the middle of the dry season can cause problems. The fish may either move into the mouth of the lagoon or creek staying close to the river, or scatter into the flooded jungle timber! Peacock bass are very difficult to catch in the latter situation.

In normal dry season conditions, large numbers of peacock bass will be off the river channel in the adjoining lagoons. In low water and minimal current conditions, they may be concentrated around huge rocks or in deep pools right in the river. Peacock bass normally prefer "black water" rivers and "black water" lagoons. If the lagoons have relatively clear, black-stained water and the rivers do not, usually the best peacock fishing will be in the lagoons.

I have caught good numbers of large peacocks in rivers and lagoons that did not have black water, but normally black water areas are best. Large, speckled peacock bass may be holding close to the current, but will not usually be right in it. Butterfly and Royal peacock species tend to be smaller and are often found near the current or around rock piles. Larger peacocks can also be found holding very close to huge rock boulders in the slack water out of the current.

Additional Species, Comparisons and Trade-offs
South American jungles are known as exotic, unknown territory with many types of native species virtually unknown to man. This is also the case with the fish found in this huge continent. Many times I have caught fish that I have never seen before, and that our native guides had never seen caught on an artificial lure. In some way or another, many of the lesser known fish species are living examples of prehistoric times.

Numerous warmwater species in South America's fresh water attract the attention of U.S. sportsmen. In fact, many of the world's most sporting gamefish live in South American waters. Among them are the widespread, exciting peacock bass, the saber-fanged payara, the golden dorado, the lightning-fast sardinata, and several species of very sporting catfish of the family called "Zungaro." The catfish include the Doncella Zungaro and the striped El Tigre Zungaro, also called "Surubim" in Brazil. Toothsome piranha, the prehistoric, armored trieda (or amara), the silvery, snake-like arawana that twists skyward like a rocket and other interesting species add to the variety a typical angler confronts in many of the warm water areas.

Many adventurous anglers travel to fish interesting, remote areas and care less about gourmet food and an exquisite atmosphere. In fact, much of the very best fishing action are in locations that are difficult to access and where great lodges or fixed accommodations are non-existent. Often new areas that are undeveloped commercially open up to great fishing with a spartan camp setup. The demand for such wilderness experiences, even those sporting a hefty price tag, is often tremendous.

Some booking agents offer "exploratories" which mean exactly that. Little is known about the fishing, although the areas do show great promise, and the accommodations can be very minimal or even rough. I've been on a few exploring trips where the fishing was very rewarding and a few where it was terrible. It's always a gamble, but knowing that you're the first sportfisherman to wet a line in a little-known tributary can be exciting.

Who has the best trip? No single trip will meet everyone's needs. Some booking agents have just one or two trips and will try to sell you on such, but it may not be the right one for you. They may not meet your time needs, facility needs or species preference. A good operation will not just try to conform everyone to the same mold.

If it does meet your needs, I would advise you to fish in one of the remote rivers rather than in a reservoir, because your fishing will be consistently better. I would advise you to fish out of a mobile camp or houseboat, rather than a fixed camp or lodge. In your evaluation of the various options, it would be wise to develop a Trip Option Summary chart with the basic information on all opportunities you come across. Study the market so that you can make an informed decision.

Finding the Booking Agents
It is best to book with a specialized fishing travel agency that can best handle the specific details of such a trip. Inquiries from each fishing excursion you come across should result in a wealth of information. Leads can be generated from word of mouth, advertisements in fishing/outdoor magazines, some tackle shops, some travel agencies, sports shows, articles in magazines and newspapers, record keeping agencies (IGFA and Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame), and local outdoor writers. Once you have the literature, brochures, newsletters, etc., study them thoroughly.

In a few cases, you may be able to book directly with a South American fishing tour operator, but I should warn "caveat emptor" or "let the buyer beware." This is not a wise option. What little you save by not going through a U.S. booking agent will not be worth the headaches with which you'll most probably be faced.
Most booking agents prefer clients with groups but will take individual reservations for a trip. Some operators offer "hosted" trips in which a knowledgeable English-speaking representative of the U.S. booking agent will travel with the group. But, will the host be a fishing expert and chaperone or someone along with other motives, such as to go fishing every day all day long? That's a good question to ask.

Other host-type considerations are determining how an operator's "camp manager" fits in. The top booking agents offer trips with English-speaking, fishing experts. For those considering taking along a non-fishing spouse, the host aspects take on an increasing importance. Fishing guides are normally discouraged from fishing so they can devote their energies to taking care of the fishermen, but they are only hosts during the day on the water.

How to Determine Outfitter Reliability
Booking agents in this country can provide areas with the absolute best fishing, the worst, or something in between, depending on a lot of factors. The best booking agents will postpone a trip for good cause rather than send clients on a very questionable and costly experience. No one consciously offers bad trips, but some outfitters let marketing zealousness overrule their abilities to produce every time they book a group. Quite a few agents will book trips without intimate knowledge of the best timing for the particular trip and in some cases without any first-hand experience with the fishery or the camp/boat.

Fortunately, a few agents will not send anyone to an area that they have not personally checked out. That diligent investigation is what separates the good booking agents from the rest. Some travel throughout the year extensively on "check-out" trips to verify camp owner's claims about their facility or operation "offering the very best fishing over the course of many months."

Some have researched the peacock bass exhaustively and can tell you which 22 tributaries of the western Amazon are "white water rivers" with poor fishing and which 45 are the much better "black water" tributaries. The top booking agents can generally tell you where the rainy season has affected a fishery and where it has not, based on their knowledge of runoffs and time of the year. Fishing a tributary just 100 miles north of Manaus, Brazil, may be great in January, but another fishery that was far better just two months earlier may provide lousy fishing at this time.

Most booking agents will present the highlights of their offering, and a few could even be termed "promoters." They will give you the strengths of the particular trip and avoid any mention of weaknesses. You'll have to ask in some cases, but a professional will take the time to explain any concerns. The most reliable booking agent will try to determine your interests and goals and match you with the optimal trip that minimizes the potential problem areas. He certainly doesn't want you to have unrealistic expectations and a reason to complain and not re-book, or worse yet, scare others away with tales of horror.

It has been my experience that the most efficient and reliable outfitters in South America have an American owner-operator who lives in South America and who is involved in the day-to-day operation of his camp or lodge. The most efficient operations have guides who are natives of the areas you will be fishing.
Native guides usually know where to look for fish, but their actually fishing knowledge may be based on catching fish with a handline. At most South American operations, guides will work hard to get you into the fish. Generally speaking, however, most are not able to recommend which type of lure to use until they have guided for a few seasons.

Questions to Ask Before You Send the Deposit
It is wise to obtain thorough answers to all your specific questions prior to booking the trip. Prepare a list of precise questions before you call. You have a lot to do with the success of your trip, and it all starts with good and necessary communications. When it's decision time, the traveling angler has to decide what he wants to do and how much money he is prepared to spend.

1. Where are the best places/camps to fish and who are the best outfitters?
   
2. What are the living facilities at the camp/lodge/houseboat like, and do they have showers, flush toilets, shared or private baths, beds, air-conditioning, overhead fans, provisions for electrical appliances and laundry service?
   
3. Is the food and water safe and included in the pricing?
   
4. Will they have plenty of ice, bottled water and soft drinks for the boat coolers and meals?
   
5. What is the maximum camp capacity and are there other lodges or locals that increase fishing pressure by fishing the same waters?
   
6. How are the fishing boats equipped (swivel seats, trolling motors, outboard size) and are the guides experienced?
   
7. Are the guides, transfer agents and camp managers bilingual and can they provide expert advice?
   
8. When is the best time of year to fish, and are the fishing seasons different from country to country?
   
9. What are the wet/dry seasons; how does weather effect fishing?
   
10. How many fish can I expect to catch, how big and what species?
    
11. What can I expect to see in terms of birds, wildlife, topography, water size?
    
12. What is the policy on keeping trophy fish; is catch and release enforced?
    
13. What are the best gamefish in South America?
    
14. Are there other things to do besides fishing?
    
15. Are the facilities feasible for the handicapped, elderly, women, children or those with special health conditions?
    
16. How much does it cost and what are the cancellation, refund, deposit policies and expected additional costs?
    
17. Is a single-supplement available at an extra cost, and what is the latest that I can book the trip?
    
18. Can a shorter stay be booked or a "combo" fishing trip or other options be added?
    
19. What would you look for in a camp, outfitter, booking agent?
    
20. What is the length and itinerary of the trips and how do you get there; any charter flights?
    
21. What are the dangers/hazards, such as piranha bites, mosquitoes, insects, snakes, and political situations?
    
22. Are safety precautions taken (life vests, fire extinguishers, first aid kit, etc.)?
    
23. Are emergency communications and/or medical care available?
    
24. What is required to travel (passport, visa, tourist card, immunization, special customs and immigrations requirements)?
    
25. What is the best method of fishing (Baitcasting, fly-fishing, spinning, live bait, trolling) and the best tackle to take?
    
26. Can I use American dollars, or should I exchange currency?
    
27. How much should I tip, when and to whom?
    
28. What kind of clothing and luggage should I take and how much?
    
29. Can I check my luggage through; what should I carry aboard?
    
30. Can you provide a list of references of paying guests for me to call?
    

Planning The Trip
Some booking agents book the domestic (U.S) connecting flights as well as those from the U.S. city of international departure. It is often wise to let them do so. More than once, I've seen anglers miss their South American flight out of Miami because they had personally booked their own airline with minimal connecting time at the international airport.

Most agents in the know recommend a layover of at least 3 1/2 hours between the domestic flight arrival and the international departure. Someone on a moderately late flight or a passenger on a canceled domestic flight requiring some re-routing may be able to make the Miami connection with such built-in connection time.
Remember that many flights to the angling areas of South America only happen once or twice a week. If you miss the international flight down, you often cannot re-route in order to catch up with your group. Too, many operations depend on the entire group arriving at the same time for ground transfer, wheel and float plane charter connections and/or riverboat transportation logistics.

Missing customers just cannot be accommodated in the outreaches of South America several hours or days later. Most agents will provide a detailed itinerary along with their Rates & Responsibilities. You'll have this well ahead of your trip so that you also can make any logistics plans on the connecting travel accordingly.
Acts of nature or political turmoil may take a toll on your fishing excursion, regardless of how well you plan the trip. I learned early on that flexibility is a valuable commodity on any trip to South America.
Most reputable agents will provide you with a "Pre-trip Information" handout for the specific trip that you book. This information varies, depending on your destination.

Tackle and Reading Recommendations
Take the right tackle, or your trip will be less than successful. Fishing for many South American species will be "foreign" to many - pun intended. Very little similar North American experiences can prepare you for some of the thrills of the southernmost America. Most good booking agents offer a listing of tackle recommendations for a particular species with precise information on lure/fly name or model, type, size, color, manufacturer, and even suggested quantity.

With such insight, the traveling angler can put together a tackle box containing the most appropriate selection of lures for the trip. The detailed lists will also cover all types rods, reels and other equipment that are best suited for the venture. The most appropriate action or weight and the best suited line in terms of strength, type (monofilament, braid) and even manufacturer will be noted. The professional booking agent will also be able to recommend the best places to obtain the right stuff. He'll have contact phone and address for the ordering sources.

A good booking agent may also offer information on modifications that will make the lure even better for the intended fish. Replacing standard hooks with heavy-duty 3X saltwater hooks is one such move that will enhance the catch rate on some of the more aggressive species. Also, you may need to change out smaller split rings, propellers, or other hardware on some plugs.

Some agents offer written advice on specific strategies for the fish you are after. A discussion of "seasons" and "situations" will aid in your trip planning. Many peacock bass agents even provide a free copy of one of my books on Peacock Bass, which is full of information on the fish. Many operators and retailers have claimed that "no one goes to South America without a copy of one of my books!"

Basic Information/Special Conditions
You can call the Atlanta-based Center for Disease Control at (404) 332-4565 or 332-4559 for a fax report on vaccination recommendations for different countries and appropriate drugs to prevent malaria, etc. Two other sources of information on facilities with similar knowledge are the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) in Atlanta and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Newton, MA. International Travel Health services in most major cities can fix you up with the shots/prescriptions if your family doctor can't.

The Department of State has a pamphlet entitled "A Safe Trip Abroad," and it's available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Also available from the same source is the Department of State publication, "Tips for Travelers to Central and South America."

Notify the booking agent of basic information that he should be aware of such as Name, Home Address, Passport No., Telephone (home and business) and Fax Number. Give him an emergency contact/phone number and the name of your roommate (if accommodations are based on double occupancy). Specify any special dietary requirements, special health considerations or medical condition, mobility problems relative to accessing boats or vehicles, and/or any special travel arrangements to be made in conjunction with the trip.

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