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Choosing the Right Destination
Fishing TV shows, fishing advertising and fishing
product sales techniques are full of hype and hyperbole. This may not be
too far removed from fishermen's own perceptions of the exaggeration jokingly
associated with their sport, so it is often accepted with the proverbial
grain of salt. Its probably OK for selling magazines and promoting
Saturday morning TV shows. A little bit of flimflam is probably harmless
for such casual entertainment decisions, but when it comes to making decisions
about trips costing thousands of dollars, we believe that it's a far more
appropriate service to our clients for us to tell it like it is. So, we
are pleased to provide this condensed, unexaggerated guide to where we
fish for peacock bass, when and why.
The giant peacock bass, Cichla temensis,
is the largest species of the genus Cichla and is the most importance
sportfish in lowlands Amazonia. Its natural range consists primarily of
pulsative lowland rivers with extremely variable seasonal water levels
and often widely spaced fish populations. These giants are found in Brazil,
Venezuela and Columbia from the Rio Negro and Rio Orinoco drainages as
well as blackwater tributaries of the Rio Madeira and Branco along with
a few effluents of the Rio Solimoes and Amazonas. Unlike several other,
smaller species that have been transplanted elsewhere, C. temensis
has proven resistant to human manipulation. Efforts to introduce these
huge predators into other regions have mostly failed, probably because
of a great sensitivity to cold or variable temperatures. As a result, and
in spite of its relatively widespread range, sportfishermen tend to concentrate
their efforts in certain regions and specifically in certain rivers within
those regions. Here's a look at where and when.
Some limitations are quickly evident. A combination
of political and safety issues have currently made both Columbia and Venezuela
less attractive destinations, so anglers focus most heavily on safe and
friendly Brazil. Within the Brazilian Amazon basin, three types of peacock
bass fisheries provide attractive and productive angling opportunities
and each of them has its own characteristics and variables. In every case,
performance is determined by the single most important factor in successful
peacock bass fishing, water level. The variables are complex, but we can
get a good idea of each region's differences by considering the main characteristics
of the fisheries.
Rio Madeira Basin:The
Madeira, like the Solimoes and the Rio Branco carries suspended particulate
matter and is not itself a fruitful peacock fishery, but many of its lower
tributaries, such as the Igapo Acu, Matupiri and Marmelos provide perfect
peacock habitat. These rivers range from relatively clear to lightly stained
blackwater and are equally excellent for fly and conventional anglers.
They typically produce large numbers of peacock bass, with a high concentration
toward the smaller sizes while still offering access to big hulking 20-pounders
that lurk here. This is the place to go if your goal is lots of action
with a variety of fishing styles. Under good conditions, these waters will
produce 15 to 50 fish per angler per day, yet still provide trophies into
the 20 pound class. We usually concentrate on this region in September
and October, when water levels are generally perfect. The Rio Madeira basin
represents a great balance between quantity and size and is a great place
to start a serious peacock bass habit.
Rio Negro Basin: The
most famous of all trophy peacock fisheries and the heart of the species'
territory, this huge basin contains the world's largest peacock bass. With
at least a dozen productive blackwater rivers, such as the Unini, the Urubaxi
and the Caures, we normally fish this area from late October until the
end of February. The deeply tannin-stained waters are unique in their austere
characteristics, containing less biomass but often more biodiversity than
clearer waters. Quantity tends to be lower here, with anglers typically
landing 10 to 20 fish per day, but size is the key. Often several of those
daily fish may be in the teens with fish in the low to mid-20 lb. class
common. If a shot at a world record is your goal, then this is your fishery.
Rio Branco Basin: Fishing
in this region generally begins in late November and can continue right
into March. Like the Madeira, the Rio Branco itself is not a peacock sportfishery.
However, its clear water tributaries, such as the Tapera and Xeriuini produce
greater numbers of peacock bass than anywhere else in the Amazon basin.
Although peacocks over 20 lbs. are not common here, the area is known for
a high proportion of midsize fish and with more than enough fish in the
high teens to satisfy any fisherman. Anglers here can land as many as 20
to 100 fish per day! The pristine waters in these tributaries drain through
the vast biofilter of northern savannah lands. The resultant clear black
waters lend themselves to sight fishing and are highly productive for both
fly and conventional anglers. When you add in the exceptional beauty of
this region, with its small waters, white sand beaches and looming forests,
you have the makings of the most idyllic peacock adventure of all.
The key to successfully fishing these regions is
to be in the right place at the right time. Peacock fishing is simply at
its best in dropping water conditions. Everything we do is geared to enabling
us to effectively access peacock bass waters as they drop. Thankfully,
the Amazon has a reasonably consistent seasonal progression of water levels
that allows us to predict fairly well, where we'll be fishing and when.
But, even though we can make complicated schedules, Nature still has the
power to trump any human plans. So we stay mobile. Why? In the face of
falling and rising waters, bureaucratic unpredictability and the demands
of a mighty, untamed river system, our best strategy will always be to
stay flexible and be prepared to move even faster than the changing waters.
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