Baitcaster or Spinner? - Yeah, I know that baitcasting rigs and
spinning tackle were both invented to catch species of fish other than
peacocks. As little as fifteen years ago, almost no one had even
heard of the peacock bass. Even so, it seems to me that the peacock
bass was invented to tax the limits of conventional tackle. One of
the first questions I am asked by beginner peacock anglers is, "Which is
better for peacocks, spinners or baitcasters?" The answer is both.
Each type can perform satisfactorily alone, but a mix is even better.
The key is each angler's personal comfort and skill level with a specific
type of tackle. Casting accuracy becomes quite important for successfully
catching peacocks in the tight cover they often frequent.
Of course, if you are only comfortable with a spinner,
you don't need to worry about suddenly learning to use a baitcaster, stick
with what you know best. If you've been a caster all your life, there
probably isn't anything you can't do well with your favorite tackle.
But if you're comfortable and, most importantly, skillful with both, you
can truly tailor your tackle to your pattern and presentation.
Peacock bass fishing is tough on tackle. In
spite of all the unbelievably extreme sounding superlatives and adjectives
used to describe their vaunted strength and power, no one is exaggerating.
They are truly, uncannily strong and they commonly break rods and ruin
reels and straighten hooks. No angler should travel thousands of
miles without bringing at least a backup rig or two. I like to take
along a mix of tackle types, allowing me to take advantage of the best
aspects of each.
So, if you're comfortable with both types of gear,
bring both. If you are able to bring four rigs, take a light and
a heavy spinner and a light and a heavy baitcaster. If you bring
only two, take a heavy rig of one type and a lighter rig of the other.
Mix them up. This will let you select the right rig for the specific
lure you're using and the circumstances you're fishing in. It's hard
to argue with the fact that a baitcaster will enable you to cast accurately,
with a lower trajectory than that of a spinner. It's just as hard
to argue that a spinner won't make easier work of a pattern requiring repeated
casts with rapid retrieves. Don't argue. Use them both to optimize
your fishing comfort and effectiveness.
All of the tackle, techniques and tactics described
here are focused on catching Cichla temensis, the largest of the
peacock species. These fish average 5 or 6 pounds and commonly exceed
20 pounds in weight. They are recognized "tackle busters" and even
a medium sized fish can make short work of conventional hooks, lines, rods
and reels.
Rods and Reels - My selections for a well rounded arsenal, with
the flexibility to effectively fish any type of peacock water are as follows;
(All of this tackle is available in pack rod configurations from both G.
Loomis and St. Croix, so that you can transport your rods in your bags
and not have to worry about traveling by air with long rod tubes.)
 Medium
Baitcasting Rig - I like a stiff, seven foot rod with a very supple,
fast action tip. A line rating of 8-17 pounds and a lure capacity
of 1/4-5/8 ounce is fine. Mount a lightweight (under 10 oz.), reasonably
fast retrieve (5.0:1 or better) casting reel with a line capacity rating
of 120 yards of 12-14 pound test. String it all with 20 or 30 pound
test braided line (I know, we're exceeding the rod and reel
rating, but you're setting your drag carefully). This gives you a
light but tough rig, perfect for fishing smaller surface lures and slower
moving subsurface lures, but with enough power to lead big fish away from
cover.
 medium
- Light Spinning Outfit - Choose a six to seven foot fast action rod
with a line rating of 6-12 pound test and a lure capacity of 1/8-1/2 ounce.
Select a lightweight (under 10 oz.), fast retrieve (6.0:1 or better) spinning
reel with a line capacity of 120 yards of 8 pound test. Load this
outfit with 20 or 30 pound test braided line (mono just won't work
well on this rig - leave it home) and you can cast 1/2 oz. jigs and spoons
a mile and reel them in all day long.
 Medium
- Heavy Baitcasting Rig - This outfit is designed to let you sling
huge surface baits with ease and accuracy. Use a 7 foot (or shorter)
moderate/fast action rod with a line rating of 10 to 30 pounds and a lure
capacity of 1/2-2 1/2 ounce. A quality casting reel (10 to 13 oz.)
with the fastest possible retrieve (6.3:1 or better) and decent line capacity
will match up nicely. Load this rig with 30 to 50 pound test braided
line and you're ready to probe tight cover, sticks and logs with big woodchoppers
or rapalas.
 Heavy
Spinning Outfit - This combination will also handle the heavy baits
and is very useful for long distance casting to feeding fish. A 7
foot moderate/fast action rod with a line rating of 10 to 30 pounds and
a lure capacity of 3/8-2 1/4 ounce, coupled with a beefy spinning reel
(11 to 13 oz.) with a line capacity of 165 yards of 12 pound test, makes
a balanced package. 30 to 50 pound test braided line (sometimes used
with a stiff mono or wire leader to prevent line from wrapping the lure
when casting) gives a fast, long distance delivery system for woodchoppers
and other big baits. The fast retrieves necessary for peacocks are
not quite as tiring with this rig.
Practice and Test your Gear - If this tackle is new for you and
you haven't had experience casting some of the huge baits used for peacock
bass, then it's very important that you take some time to make sure that
your gear is well balanced and feels right for you. Take the hooks
off a few lures and get used to handling big, 2-1/2 oz. baits. (A
word of caution here for spin fishermen; Spinning tackle can tumble lures
and tangle line in the hooks of big baits. If you haven't the experience
or skill with this gear necessary to overcome this characteristic, stick
with the baitcaster for big lures.) Practice in your back yard or
a local pond with the rods, reels, line and lures you plan to use for peacocks.
Developing accuracy and a sense of range with your gear while you're still
at home, improves your ability to quickly become effective in the rivers
and lagoons of Amazonia. Make sure everything is working properly
before you leave. There are no tackle shops in the jungle.
Braided or Mono? - Fishermen love a spirited tussle with each
other almost as much as they enjoy fighting fish. The latest bone
of contention seems to be over the relative benefits of braided line versus
monofilament. Once again, each side has its advantages. Mono
has enough stretch to make it very forgiving and able to absorb sudden
shocks. It can be easily tied into an entire repertoire of knots.
It doesn't tangle or backlash as easily and it costs a fraction as much
as braided. It won't part as readily when touched against rocks or
structure.
Braided lines are much thinner, limber and more
flexible for their relative strength. They don't get stale or take
spool sets. The lack of stretch gives you a "no doubt about it" hookset.
If you can tie a "palomar", you can get almost 100% knot strength.
The thinner line lets you get a lot more onto a spool and it lets you cast
significantly further without more effort.
Although it took me a while to get used to it, I've
come to prefer braided lines (and the various hybrids of braided and mono,
such as Fireline) for peacock bass fishing. It holds up well to the
rigors of jungle river fishing and gives me improved casting ease and greater
overall sensitivity. Although both mono or braided will catch fish
equally well, mono is just not suited to the conditions and characteristics
of these fish. Leave it home for other styles of fishing. For
most purposes, the line type argument is a just another case of an unresolvable
fisherman's debate over an unresolvable issue. Have fun arguing with
your fishing buddies but use braid in the Amazon.
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