I
just returned from
a week on the Tapera
River in Brazil.
This is a small,
clear flowing stream
about 200 miles northwest
of Manaus, Brazil.
The water was low,
and the fish were
on the spawning beds
early this season,
making sight fishing
possible. Most boats
caught 50 to 75 fish
per day, and the
high catch for two
anglers was 122.
The largest went
18 pounds, but everyone
hooked fish over
20 pounds.
Peacock
bass are vicious
strikers and tough
fighters. Everything
you have read
about
fishing for them
in the Amazon Basin
is true. We booked
the trip through
Garrett VeneKlasen
of InterAngler, who
uses
Luis
Brown's River Plate
Anglers floating
camps, constructed
on shallow floating
barges. Every other
day they moved the
camp another 15 to
20 miles up the river,
so the group always
fished new waters.
There were showers
and fans in the sleeping
barges, and it cooled
off at night. During
the day there was
always a breeze,
and if we got hot,
we just jumped in
the river for a refreshing
swim. They had daily
laundry service,
clean sheets and
towels, great food,
and a super friendly
staff. My wife went
with me and had a
wonderful time. The
cost of the trip
is $3,450 per person,
plus another $400
for tips. If you
don't have
peacock
bass fishing equipment,
you can add another
$500 to $1,000 for
everything. We used
fly, cast, and spin
equipment. Eight
and nine weight rods
with both floating
and 300-grain sink
tips will do, and
the new super-braid
lines from 30- to
50-pound test work
best. Big woodchoppers
and 1/4 or 1/2 ounce
jigs worked great,
and long streamers
and poppers (2/0-4/0)
worked for flies.
VeneKlasen is a walking
encyclopedia on the
local flora and fauna.
He and his lovely
wife, Annie, are
fluent in the local
language, which is
super-important.
Travel to Manaus
is from Miami and
economy seating is
around $900. We flew
from Manaus into
Santa Maria on a
twin Piper, and flew
out on a
Cessna
Caravan on floats. Travel
time from Manaus
was around 90 minutes.
Anglers going on
this trip must be
prepared for intense
heat during the day.
Protective clothing
and lots of sun block
are necessary. There
are no bugs except
for a few noseeums,
which can be easily
handled with some
deet. Altogether,
this is a marvelous
experience for anyone
who likes a lot of
action in exotic
places.
