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.

I'm often asked which fly patterns are best for catching trophy Peacock Bass.  In truth, a fly that is the right size and has lifelike movement in the water will get eaten by a few fish.  Most of us, however, aren’t content to settle for ‘a few fish’ – especially when we’ve spent good money and traveled a considerable distance to pursue them; we want to show up with the fly patterns that give us the best chance at catching the fish of a lifetime.  The guidelines below will help you put together a selection of flies that will greatly increase your fishing success.

CHOOSE FLIES THAT ACT LIFELIKE IN THE WATER -  AND WILL NOT FOUL EASILY

Like many predators, Peacock Bass love flies that look and act natural in the water.  Flies that breathe and have a realistic silhouette will attract the most attention.  Larger profile flies are great for big Peacock Bass, but can foul easily.  A fouled fly will not swim properly and will be refused by larger fish.  Nothing is more frustrating than making the perfect cast to a fish only to discover that the fly’s tail is wrapped around the hook.   Consider tying or selecting flies with mono guards or materials that shield the hook to prevent them from fouling.

FLIES MUST TRACK STRAIGHT – ESPECIALLY AT SPEED

Although Peacock Bass will ambush a fly swimming through thick cover, they love to chase flies darting rapidly away from them.  They use their wide, powerful tails for explosive bursts of speed to overtake their prey.  Often, a single hand retrieve is just not fast enough to get the fish’s attention.  Many experienced anglers rely on a two-handed retrieve to generate the speed necessary to elicit a strike from a big peacock. 

USE FLIES MADE FROM DURABLE MATERIALS

The Amazon River is a savage and unforgiving environment filled with a myriad of predators – many of whom have razor-sharp teeth.  Piranha, Bicuda, Traira, and Payara are attracted to the same flies as Peacock Bass and will cut your 6-inch fly in half with a single bite!  While natural materials like feathers and bucktail look great in the water, they just don’t hold up to toothy predators.  Patterns that incorporate synthetic material like DNA, Flashabou and Steve Farrar’s Flash Blend impart plenty of action while providing increased durability.  Heads finished with epoxy or UV cure adhesives will also increase the life of your fly.

EYES ARE A NECESSITY

Make sure your fly patterns have large, visible eyes.  Peacock Bass and other predators key in on the eyes of their prey to subdue them more quickly.    As a result of this behavior, many prey species in the Amazon have developed ocelli or ‘eye spots’ on their tails to confuse predators and direct attention toward less vital parts of their anatomy.
 
Whether you tie your own flies or pick them up at your local fly shop, following these guidelines will enable you to select the fly patterns which will offer you the best chance at making your next Peacock Bass trip a great success.

Rio Madeira Watershed

Dry Zone #2 SW Matupiri River
Water levels have gone down slower than usual in September on the Matupiri River, River Plate’s exclusive fishery in the Mahura Indian Reservation south of Manaus.  Anglers have still experienced good catches of Peacock Bass averaging 35-50 Peacocks per angler boated the last three to four weeks.  With the water just now approaching ideal water levels the bigger Peacocks, upwards of 19 lbs, are beginning to be caught.  This fishery should produce good catches through late October.

Dry Zone #1 SE Marmelos River
The Marmelos River, River Plate’s exclusive Peacock Bass fishery in the Tenherin Indian Reservation south of Manaus, produced great Peacock Bass fishing from mid-July through mid-August this year with anglers averaging 40 – 45 Peacocks per day weighing upwards of 20 lbs.  We did some exploratory trips as much as 70 miles above where we normally stage our Safari Camps to ascertain the multi-species fishing this area might offer.  We were pleasantly surprised with the variety of fish including Peacock Bass, Jacunda, Sorbium Catfish, Piranha, Bicuda, Wolf Fish and other varieties that were caught on this trip.  The headwaters offered rapids and waterfalls with crystal clear water ideal for sight casting.  Next season we will be offering special trips for small groups to experience this untouched multi-species sight fishing.

Rio Negro Watershed
 
Dry Zone #3 NW   Urubaxi River, Jufaris River & the main Rio Negro
Water levels are dropping quickly in the upper Rio Negro Watershed from Sao Gabriel down thru Santa Isabel & Barcelos to Mora, located 200 kilometers upriver from Manaus.  It looks like water conditions will make for good Peacock Bass fishing in October this year, as much as 2 or 3 weeks earlier than historic norms.  With no La Nina or El Nino weather conditions apparent in the Pacific Ocean this fall and winter we are expecting excellent water levels throughout the 2017-2018 fishing season.

Rio Branco Watershed
 
Dry Zone #4 NE    Xeriuni, Itapara and Omero Lakes
Water levels are receding at normal historic rates in the upper Rio Branco Watershed which usually reaches ideal water levels in early January providing good Peacock Bass fishing into early March when water levels are rising to unfishable levels on the Rio Negro.  If the water continues to drop normally, it is possible the tributaries to the Rio Banco could become fishable in December.

FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST!
There are many different operations offering Peacock Bass fishing trips in Brazil’s Amazon with the majority of them, consisting of over 50 river boats and yachts operations handling up to 30 guest per week, on the heavily fished waters of the Rio Negro operating out of Barcelos.  Much like Alaska evolved into many years ago, the operators offering Fly-In trips to remote locations on private Indian lands and government have become the primo operations for trophy Peacock Bass fishing in Brazil’s Amazon.  We offer upscale floating Safari Camps for small groups of 6 – 12 anglers on over 8 million acres of remote Indian lands where our anglers experience exclusive fishing rights in both single and double occupancy air-conditioned cabin Safari Camps.  Check out our remote Fly-In Safari Camps and experience the great Peacock Bass fishing opportunities that were available in the 1990’s in Brazil’s Amazon.
www.peacock-bass-fishing.com
Fishing the Amazon Since 1992

Always wanted to fish for Trophy Peacock Bass in the Amazon?  Join us on a Peacock Bass Safari and experience the very best in Peacock Bass fishing. 

Fly into one of our remote camps on exclusive unpressured backwaters deep in the Amazon Rainforest. Fish for Trophy Peacock Bass while enjoying our new luxury safari camp featuring air conditioned, single-occupancy cabins with queen beds and private restrooms and showers.  After a hard day of fishing, unwind with a massage or sip a Brazilian Caipirinha on a sugar-white sand beach.  The upscale food, wine and hospitality offered by our onsite chef and staff truly make this a trip of a lifetime. 

Always wanted to land a Trophy Peacock Bass on a fly but aren't sure how to get started?  Join Emu Outfitting and Temple Fork Outfitters on January 27 - February 3rd, 2018 and cross that item off your bucket list!

From fly casting to fly design to fishing techniques for predatory fish - learn the intricacies of fishing for trophy peacock bass from one of the fly fishing industry's most talented celebrities, Blane Chocklett.  Contact us for more information.

BREAKING WATER AT THE JUFARIS PRIVATE FISHERY
Fly-in Floating Suites at the Matupiri river are moving towards the productive headwaters of the river. Last week´s group landed 1.336 peacock bass with 36 fish over 10lbs. with a couple over 18lbs. Anglers arriving last Saturday are enjoying great fishing. Yozuri, perversa and jigs are the best working lures this week.
The Jufaris private fishery in the N.West dry-zone has been opened for the season with two floating-suites operations with two parties. Water levels are dropping at a good rate. Anglers arriving last Saturday had some rain episodes to endure but managed to land an average of over 70 peacock bass per boat, as well as bicudas, jacundas and piranhas.
Dry -zone S.East is closed for the season and Dry-zone N.East is not yet open. One Floating -Suites operation has arrived at the Jurubaxis private fishery which will open shortly.

Dry-zone S.West
RIVERS: MATUPIRI, IGAPO ACU (see map at the top).
Water levels on the Madeira River, the drainage of Matupiri and Igapo Acu, are stable (see graphic water level below). This fact, along with the weather forecast, imply that peacock bass fishing conditions will continue to be excellent which is a good fall back in case the Northern fisheries are a little late in reaching lower levels.

The above diagram depicts the rainfall probability for the next three months. The light green zone in the North forecasts a probability of about 35% that the rainfall will be above the historical mean. Therefore, the dry water cycle is expected to develop almost normal in the coming months in the North of Manaus (Dry-Zones N.West and N.East).

Dry-zone N.West RIVERS: XERUINI, JUFARIS, JURUBAXIS (see map at the top)
Water levels on the Negro River, the drainage of rivers Jurubaxi, Jufaris and Xeruini, are descending at a good pace, and are moving towards their low historic level (see graphic water level below). This fact, together with the weather forecast for the rest of the week, indicates that peacock bass fishing conditions at the Jufaris should continue to improve for arriving anglers . See weather forecast for Moura below. The Jurubaxi is still a bit high due to recent rainfall at the headwaters.

Water level chart for the Negro River where the blue line represents actual levels, the yellow line represents last year´s extremely low levels, and the red line historical extreme low water levels.

Early September is the time of the season when Peacock Bass fishermen scheduled to fish on the upper Rio Negro River and its tributaries between Mora, located approx. 225 Kilometers up the Rio Negro from Manaus to Sao Gabriel, located approx. 700 Kilometers upriver from Manaus, need to begin to look at water conditions.  Water levels are beginning to drop in earnest this time of year from their highs during the wet season, usually peaking in July.  A successful Peacock Bass fishing trip is predicated on advantageous water levels, as if the rivers are out of their banks, the fish spread out into the flooded rainforest and are not accessible to the fisherman.  Therefore, it is important to fish in different areas at different times during the dry season, which on the upper Rio Negro usually runs from mid-September thru maybe late February, depending where on the upper Rio Negro Watershed you are fishing.  Normally, the farther you get upriver the earlier the water levels are fishable.  During the 2015-2016 fishing season the upper Rio Negro watershed experienced some of the lowest water levels in recorded history and during the 2016-2017 fishing season it experienced some of the highest water levels in recorded history, hampering fishing success.  With neither El Nino or La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean this season we are anticipating good water conditions for the first time in 3 years!

The majority of Brazil’s Peacock Bass fishing river boat and lodge operations in the Rio Negro watershed operate within this 600 Kilometer (around 350 – 400 miles) stretch of the main Rio Negro River and its tributaries between Mora and Sao Gabriel.  Well of 50 river boat and yacht operators use Barcelos, located around 300 kilometers upriver from Manaus, as the origination point for their trips, as this is the only city centrally located on the upper Rio Negro that is large enough to resupply these operators with provisions and fuel.  There are a couple of outfitters operating out of Santa Isabel (“Tapuruquara” on the Amazon maps) and one or two operating out of Sao Gabriel on the extreme upper end of the Rio Negro.  Therefore, the most commonly fished areas in the upper Rio Negro watershed will be within a 150-kilometer radius of Barcelos & thus most fishermen will be concerned with water conditions between Mora and Santa Isabel.

​As you can see by the water levels graph for Barcelos, the wet season did not bring water levels up as high as it normally does and the highest water levels did not reach the levels of 2016, which were lower that the historic averages for June and July.  The graph also shows the water beginning to drop around 2 weeks earlier than it did last year which would be indicative of good water levels earlier in the fall than we experienced last season.  The problem during the 2016-2017 fishing season was that due to the La Nina conditions in the Pacific it began to rain in November and continued to rain thru February which is historically the dry season, flooding most all the Rio Negro and its tributaries. Thus, by the first of January, most the black water rivers in the upper Rio Negro watershed were unfishable.  What we are ideally looking for on the water level map of Barcelos is water levels between say 425 cm and 350 cm for good fishing conditions.  It is still very early to predict water levels for mid-October when water levels can begin to present decent conditions for fishing, but it looks at this point that the prospects are good.

Santa Isabel, located nearly 200 kilometers upriver from Manaus, does not offer the number of lakes and backwater oxbows nor does it have the extensive sandbars that the Barcelos area downriver does, but it does offer several black water tributaries that offer excellent Peacock Bass fishing.  Water levels stabilize at fishable levels earlier in the Santa Isabel area as it is further upriver than Barcelos and can produce good fishing in late September.  As you can see from the graph, water levels are falling quickly and have reached the same levels as 2016, two weeks earlier which is very encouraging. 

​San Gabriel is the western most area fished by Brazil’s Peacock Bass fishermen and experiences the least fishing pressure as it is nearly a 4-hour Caravan flight from Manaus.  Water levels in the San Gabriel area are usually fishable in mid-September and can be fishable into December.  Water levels are decending to fishable levels around 10 days earlier than last year.  Don’t be fooled by the elevation levels on the left side of the graph as San Gabriel is at higher elevation than the Barcleos and Santa Isabel areas are.

I have left Mora and Manaus last as they are not as indicative of water conditions in the prime Peacock Bass fishing waters of the upper Rio Negro as San Gabriel, Santa Isabel and Barcelos are since Mora and Manaus are downriver from the confluence of the Rio Negro and its major tributary, the Rio Branco.  The Rio Branco flows from the north out of Venezuela where the wet season lasts later into the year than in Columbia, which feeds the Rio Negro & thus water levels in Mora and Manaus will show much higher water levels than the areas upriver from the Rio Branco.  As you can see from the graphs for Mora and Manaus they are both reaching lower levels 7 to 10 day earlier than they did last year.  Many people look at water levels in Manaus when they are trying to ascertain water conditions for their Peacock Bass fishing trip and the water levels and trends in water levels in Manaus in no way reflect the water levels in the upper Rio Negro where the majority of Brazil’s Peacock Bass fishing takes place!

Without the effect of El Nino or La Nina on water temperature predicted for the Pacific Ocean this fall and winter we are anticipating normal historic water conditions in the upper Rio Negro watershed during the 2017-2018 Peacock Bass fishing season in Brazil’s Amazon.  This means water levels should be in good shape in mid to late September in the San Gabriel and Santa Isabel areas and in the Barcelos area by mid-October.  Historically water levels continue to fall until mid-December when the Amazon receives what is called the “Christmas Rains” for 2 or 3 weeks bringing up water levels which is advantageous and then water levels remain fairly stable or begin to slowly fall thru mid to late February when they begin to rise again.  Historically, the rainy season begins in earnest in March when water levels signal the end to the fishing.  Water conditions in Brazil’s southern fishery in the Rio Madeira watershed in July and August of this year have been at normal historic levels and Peacock Bass fishing has been outstanding as reported by River Plate Anglers fishing their exclusive Marmelos River fishery.  We are anticipating an excellent fishing season on the upper Rio Negro and Rio Branco watersheds as well this year after two years of disappointing water conditions across Brazil’s Amazon due to El Nino and La Nina.  THE 2017-2018 PEACOCK BASS FISHING SEASON HAS ALL THE MAKINGS OF A BANNER YEAR, COME JOIN US IN BRAZIL’S AMAZON!

​www.peacock-bass-fishing.com
Fly-In Peacock Bass Fishing at its Best!
FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST

Marmelos River   Dry Zone #1 SE
Rio Madershed, Brazil
16 August 2017​

​Water levels remain ideal on the Marmelos River, River Plate Angler’s exclusive Peacock Bass fishery located in the Tenhiram Indian Reservation south of Manaus in the Rio Madeira watershed, producing the huge numbers of Peacock Bass these fisheries are known for.  Last week anglers fishing at River Plate’s mobile Safari Camp AVERAGED 45 Peacock Bass per day/person up to nearly 21 lbs for the 6 ½ days of fishing they enjoyed with 50+ of these fish weighing 10 lbs or better!  The Marmelos River in our southern fishery continues to produce large numbers of Peacock Bass as well as Trairas, Piranhas, Jacunda, Surubim Catfish & Bicudas. 

The group of anglers fishing this week, August 12 – 19, have landed an average of 90 Peacocks per person during their first 2 ½ days of fishing.  Weather reports are calling for little rain this week and water levels should remain ideal for the foreseeable future.  Jumping Minnows have remained the most productive top water lure, with Perversa’s, Repala’s and jigs being the preferred subsurface baits.  Fly fishermen & women have done very well the last month, some experiencing catches of over 100 Peacocks per day!  Many fly fishermen have elevated a quest for Peacock Bass in Brazil’s Amazon to the top of their bucket list as word has spread about the Peacocks willingness to strike flies and their monster fighting ability when hooked.  8 & 9 wt fly rods with sinking tip fly lines and 30 – 40 lb tippets are the ideal size fly fishing equipment for the fly fisherman going after Brazil’s trophy sized Peacock Bass.
​

The 2017-2018 Peacock Bass fishing season in Brazil’s Amazon is looking to be one of the better ones in the last several as water levels seem to be returning to historic levels after last two years that experienced both historic lows during the 2015-2016 and historic highs during the 2016-2017 fishing seasons.  We still have a few open spots remaining for the 2017-2018 fishing season that are going fast on the private Indian lands and government reserves in all 4 Dry Zones we enjoy exclusive sport fishing rights on.  Let us know if we can hook you up with the true remote “fly-in” Peacock Bass fishing trip you have always dreamed of.
​

​FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST
Fishing Brazil’s Amazon Since 1992
www-peacock-bass-fishing.com

​The 2017-2018 Peacock Bass fishing season in Brazil’s Amazon begun with big numbers of Peacock Bass being boated on River Plate’s exclusive fishery on the Marmelos River in the Tenharim Indian Reservation in the Rio Madeira watershed located about 400 miles south of Manaus.  The first week of the 2017 Peacock Bass fishing season 3 anglers caught 1,035 Peacock Bass, the largest weighing 16 lbs. 
 
This past week, July 22 – 29, 4 anglers boated a total of 871 Peacock Bass, the largest being a 17 lb’er, with 102 of those 871 Peacocks Bass weighed between 8 & 16 lbs!  Water levels are reaching their optimum and after historically high water levels in July and August of 2016, catches on the Marmelos are back to their historic high numbers with a good number of big fish being landed.  Chopp minnow were the most effective bait for the conventional fishermen and brightly colored streamers were effective for the fly fishermen.
 
The first 2 ½ days of fishing for the group of anglers this week, July 29 – August 5, have produced 24 Peacock Bass over 10 lbs with the largest weighing a little over 18 lbs.  Water conditions are ideal and weather forecasts indicate water levels should remain steady for the week.  This Peacock Bass fishing season in Brazil’s Amazon is starting off with good water levels and has all the makings for a great year!

We still have a few openings on select dates for the 2017 – 2018 Peacock Bass fishing season in both our southern fisheries in Dry Zones #1 & 2 from August thru early October and in the northern fisheries in Dry Zones # 3 & 4 in the Rio Negro and Rio Branco watershed. Here is a link where you can watch a short video that outlines the availability of fishing in 4 distinct Dry Zones in Brazil’s Amazon, and why we fish each during a particular time of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CW0WOvf3Wo&list=PL64Yq5BwddVFmBAVNwrw4mUc5pwwRMQ91&index=4
​

FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST!
Fishing Brazil’s Amazon Since 1992
www-peacock-bass-fishing.com

​The Peacock Bass fishing has been stellar at the beginning or the season in the Southeast Dry Zone #1 in Brazil’s Amazon.  The first week of the season, July 15 – 22, there were 2 fishermen using conventional tackle and one fly fisherman at our Safari Camp on the Marmelos River, boating 1,035 Peacock Bass with the largest weighing 16 lbs!  This comes to an average of 53 Peacocks caught per day per angler!  During the 8 years I managed the American offices for two of the largest mother boat operations on the upper Rio Negro, a catch of 1,000 Peacocks for a group of 12 – 16 anglers in a week’s fishing was considered a good week!  Water levels are descending in our exclusive southern fishery on the Marmelos River south of Manaus, as is normal for this time of year and the fishing is outstanding. 
 
In the first 2 ½ days of fishing this week, July 22 – 29, our current clients have averaged 72 Peacocks landed per angler with the largest being a 17 lb’er.  Jumping Minnows have been the most productive top lure with the Yellow and Red Mickey Finn pattern being the most productive fly used.  After two years of abnormal water levels everything is pointing to the 2017-2018 fishing season as being one of historically normal years.  River Plate Anglers exclusive fisheries in both our southern and northern fisheries allow us to manage the number of anglers on the water at any given time and the length we fish a given area, greatly enhancing the daily catches for our anglers.  This is what makes River Plate Anglers stand alone among the Peacock Bass outfitters in Brazil’s Amazon. We cater to small groups of 6 to 12 anglers/week at our Fly-In, mobile safari camps fishing on over 8 million acres of private Indian lands and government preserves with over 1,000 miles of black water tributaries flowing thru them where we enjoy exclusive fishing rights.

FISH WITH THE BEST AWAY FROM THE REST
Fishing the Amazon Since 1992
www.peacock-bass-fishing.com