Reproduced with permission of The Angling Report, the newsletter for anglers who travel, www.anglingreport.com

PEACOCK BASS FISHING REPORT

DATE AND PLACE OF FISHING TRIP
Report ID: 2941 How Trip Was Conducted: Guided
Date of Trip: January 1, 2003 to
Place of Trip: Brazil - 200 miles NW of Manaus, Brazil - Water: Tapera River
OUTFITTER, GUIDE AND BOOKING AGENT DETAILS
Outfitter (or lodge): RiverPlate Outfitters - www.RiverPlateOutfitters.com
Personal Guide (if any): Garrett Veneklasen
Booking Agent (if any): Garrett Veneklasen, Interangler. Angle Fire, NM. Tel. 505-989-9938, 888-347-4329. Fax 505-983-6801
Trip Arrangements
(if self-guided):
Local Fly Shop(s): N/A
N/A
DESCRIPTION OF FISHING
Species Sought/Availability: Peacock Bass
Description of Catch Made: See comments.
Type of Fishing: See comments.
Equipment Used: See comments.
Flies Used: See comments.
Description of Hatches: See comments.
Water/Weather Conditions: See comments.
SERVICE RATINGS (excellent, good, fair or poor)
Condition of Equipment: N/A Knowledge of Water: N/A
Quality of Accommodation: N/A General Fishing Knowledge: N/A
Quality of Food: N/A Ability to Communicate: N/A
Overall Service: N/A Overall Personality: N/A
Name of Airline: N/A Airline Service (1 to 10): N/A
Airline Comments: N/A
SUMMARY REMARKS
Problems on the Trip: See comments
Highlights of the Trip: See comments
Cost of the Trip: See comments
Would You Recommend This Trip to a Friend? Yes
Why? See comments
Are There Non-Fishing Activities? N/A
If So, What Are They?  
SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
Name: John Schneider
Contact Information: E-mail: jschneider@I-55.com
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND/OR OUTFITTER/BOOKING AGENT REBUTTAL

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.

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