The Rio Negro, in the state of Amazonas, drains lands in Columbia and west-central Venezuela where rainfall has been above normal. As a result, November water levels on the upper Rio Negro have remained higher than expected, but are beginning to recede. By contrast, the tributaries in the Rio Branco Watershed in the state of Roraima are reaching optimum water levels for productive Peacock Bass fishing 6 – 7 weeks earlier than normal. The Rio Branco drains lands of eastern Venezuela and Guyana which have been experiencing lower than average rainfall this fall.

Dry Zone #3 NW
Upper Rio Negro between Moura and San Gabriel
Including the Barcelos and Ste. Isabel areas in the State of Amazonas.
Water levels in the upper Rio Negro Watershed fell nicely thru the 3rd week of September hinting at good levels for Peacock Bass fishing this fall. Unfortunately, rainfall the last week of September and the first two weeks of October caused the water levels to rise once again - hampering the Peacock Bass fishing. Since the 3rd week of October water levels have been falling slowly, only just reaching the abnormally high levels recorded in November 2016. It will be interesting to see what water levels do in mid-December when the upper Rio Negro transitions into the historic rains of late-December commonly called the Christmas rains. Operators this fall have reported slow fishing for Peacock Bass in Dry Zone #3 NW with may reports of tributaries out of their banks and limited sandbars showing in the main river channels.

Dry Zone #4 NE
Rio Branco Watershed including Omero Lakes, Xeriuni, Itapara, Kabori & Jufari Rivers between Cracarai the Rio Negro in the state of Roraimi.
PEACOCK BASS FISHERMEN HAVE BEEN ENJOYING CATCHES OF 20 – 60 PEACOCKS PER DAY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS!
Water levels began dropping unusually early during October in the Rio Branco Watershed north of the village of Moura - just downriver from the Rio Branco’s confluence with the Rio Negro. The Rio Branco Watershed, northwest of Manaus, historically sees ideal water levels in January and February. Lower than expected rainfall has produced better than normal fishing conditions this fall. One group of 4 fly fishermen boated 1,700 Peacock Bass in 6 ½ days of fishing the 3rd week of November.
Many of the best black water tributaries in the Rio Branco Watershed are protected by private Indian lands – accessible only by operators leasing these remote lands. Unlike the heavily fished public waters of the upper Rio Negro, the lease programs allow the exclusive operators to manage the fishing pressure greatly enhancing the angler’s Peacock Bass fishing experience. They also directly benefit the indigenous peoples living on these lands and help preserve the rainforest and its inhabitants. These remote, Fly-In fishing operations are rapidly becoming the premium Peacock Bass fishing experience in Brazil’s Amazon much as they did in Alaska over 20 years ago.

Dry Zone #2 SW & #1 SE
Rio Madeira Watershed south of Manaus
Dry Zones #1 & #2 in the Rio Madeira Watershed experience their optimal water levels from mid-July to mid-October, and have now concluded their season.
FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST

Fished last week in Brazil's Amazon on the Jufaris River northwest of Manaus. We flew directly into one of River Plate's Single-Occupancy Safari Camps on private Indian lands and had a great time. Water levels were a little higher than ideal, but considerably lower than the main River Negro. The Peacocks were spawning with fish transitioning from the non-spawning Paca coloration to their 3 Bar spawning colors.

Kermit Adams, founder of K Lures out of Fresno, CA sent me some of his BIG K-lures in several different conformations to try on my next trip to Brazil's Amazon for Peacock Bass. I have used Kermit's lures in the past, catching some pretty good Peacocks on them.

Several things I will say about Kermit's Lures, they are big (Magnum size!) and tough! Kermit's lures are equipped with 5/0 & 6/0 4x strong VMU premium hooks and heavy split rings as well as extra long screws and tuned propellers. You don't have to worry about modifying these lures before using them! These monsters, weighing upwards of 2 ozs, remind me of Phil Jensen's big original Wood Choppers of the 1990's.