Peacock bass fishing TESTIMONIALS

DATE AND PLACE OF FISHING TRIP

Report ID: 3493 How Trip Was Conducted: Guided Date of Trip: October 22, 2005 to October 30, 2005 Place of Trip: Brazil - Manaus - Water: Unini River

OUTFITTER, GUIDE AND BOOKING AGENT DETAILS

Outfitter (or lodge): RiverPlate Outfitters - www.riverplateoutfitters.com Personal Guide (if any):   Booking Agent (if any): David Gregory, Rod & Gun Resources. Tel. 830-792- 6800. Web: www.rodgunresources.com Trip Arrangements (if self-guided): Local Fly Shop(s): N/A N/A

DESCRIPTION OF FISHING

Species Sought/Availability: Bass, Peacock / Pavon - Availability: Scarce Description of Catch Made: Four over 20 pounds, one 26.4. The 26.4 was caught at 12:42 pm on a clound color woodchopper in 12 foot water clear green. Made four runs at the boat before landing the fish. Type of Fishing: Bass boat. Equipment Used: Power Prow Rod 7 inch American Travel Bait cast reels. Flies Used:   Description of Hatches:   Water/Weather Conditions: Sunny 93 plus clear water.

SERVICE RATINGS (excellent, good, fair or poor)

Condition of Equipment: Excellent Knowledge of Water: Good Quality of Accommodation: Good General Fishing Knowledge: Excellent Quality of Food: Good Ability to Communicate: Poor Overall Service: Good Overall Personality: Good Name of Airline: LAB Airline Service (1 to 10): 8 Airline Comments: Had a six hour delay.

SUMMARY REMARKS

Problems on the Trip: Normal traveling problems with airline not on time. Highlights of the Trip: Four fish over 20 pound and one over 26.4 pounds. Cost of the Trip: $2,900. Would You Recommend This Trip to a Friend? Yes Why? Good trip over all. Are There Non-Fishing Activities? No If So, What Are They?

SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION

Name: Tom Davis Contact Information: Contact Information: Tel. 713-453-6476 - 13029 Peoria Street, Houston, TX 77015 - Email: tomdav@swbell.net

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Here is what the Angling Report had to say: We told you in the March issue that flooding in the Amazon region of Brazil this season had shut down a lot of the peacock bass fishing (see Article ID 1819). You’ll remember we said an exception could be the Agua Boa River, where Royal Amazon Lodge fishes. Well, several subscribers who fished with Royal Amazon report enjoying rather good fishing despite high water. One of them is subscriber Dan Adams, who fished with Royal Amazon in January, although Jeff Vermillion of Sweetwater Travel (Tel. 888-347-4286; 406-222-0624. Web: www.sweetwatertravel.com) warned him that high water would make sightcasting impossible and the fishing iffy. Adams says sightcasting was indeed limited to occasional moments when the lighting was just right, but there was nonetheless plenty of action. He says that big gaudy flies enticed good strikes, with streamers working best. He says sinking tips were a must, and the best rig he used was an 8 weight rod with a 9 weight line with an intermediate sinking tip. This allowed him to cast 40 to 50 feet under the trees without overworking himself in the high temperatures. Adams says the guides worked hard to explore sloughs and lagoons off the main river in search of fish. He says they were very flexible and accommodating, allowing him to take a siesta break during the hottest part of the day and start or end the day when he wished. Later in February, when Ernst Schmidt fished with Royal Amazon, he says if his party had not been told that the conditions were less than optimal, they would have thought them perfect and the fishing excellent. He says that some days they saw 100 fish per boat, with some peacocks weighing up to 14 pounds. He says his group of four anglers brought their wives, three of whom were non-fishermen. By the end of the trip he says they were all crazed anglers who couldn’t get enough time on the water. There were some days during Schmidt’s trip that saw heavy rains and rising water, making the fish sluggish. But he says the guides would simply pole into lagoons where the water was often quite clear and there were plenty of willing fish. In addition to the fishing, he says the service at the Royal Amazon Lodge was great. Brian Griffith also fished in February with Royal Amazon and agrees with Schmidt’s assessment. He reports catching a minimum of 25 fish a day with at least one of those weighing over 10 pounds. His wife, who is not an avid fisherman, caught fish every time she accompanied him on the water. Griffith says they strictly fly fished, casting clousers and deceivers on floating line with sinking tips. He too was taken to lagoons that produced good numbers of fish, but he says that every cast to a log, tree or alcove in the river bank produced fish willing to chase flies. “If you are interested in strictly fly fishing for peacocks, don’t let high waterreports put you off,” he says. “The guides know their stuff and will put you on fish.”