Greetings Peacock fans and Bem Vindos de novo to the Agua Boa Amazon Lodge Fishing Report. We’re well into the stretch run of the season here at the lodge, and fishing remains very good, despite persistent low water. Our guests last week made the most of the stable clear-water conditions enjoying excellent action throughout the week, with plenty of opportunities for sight fishing, wade fishing, and wildlife and bird watching.
Some highlights of the week included an anteater encountered by Jeff Welch and Kelly Niles during a walk on the airfield, a near miss on a large Pirarucu hooked (briefly) by avid golfer, Denny Shelton, great popper fishing for swarms of homicidal Borboletas, and oh, they saw a Jaguar on Friday, naturally. An amazing week by any standards, but by no means unusual here on the banks of the Agua Boa! Of course the week featured plenty of trophy tucunare encounters all around. Here are a couple of shots of some that were coaxed to the Boga Grip to pose for the camera: Betsy Niles’s gorgeous Acu, and John Hepworth’s 17 pound Beast of the Week.
The fishing here on the Rio Agua Boa continues to impress even as the river has steadily dropped to its lowest level of the year. We’d be praying harder for rain if it wouldn’t mean Carlos would have to fire up the riding lawn mower again! Rain or not, the guides continue to amaze with their effort and willingness to do what it takes to make each day a success. As a case in point, first-time guest (and future lodge regular), Karl Fisher, had an amazing day with guide Caboclo around midweek. To start the day, Caboclo spent over an hour pushing, pulling, paddling, and dragging a boat up into a small secluded laguna that hadn’t been visited in the last 3 months. Not long after poling out into the open water, they were rewarded with the incredible sight and unforgettable sound of huge peacocks crashing the surface chasing schools of large baitfish into airborne terror. Let’s just say it didn’t take Karl long to connect. It was hard to say what was better: the fish, the memory, or Karl’s grin! Enjoy a couple of shots from the day.
Technical Tip: This week, let’s talk leader. Specifically, what kind of leader material is appropriate for the unique demands of our fishery? First off, we don’t use tapered leaders. Rather, a length of single diameter, heavy monofilament is ideal. Whichever brand of leader you choose, the material must withstand myriad toothy creatures and yet always be ready to absorb the shock and awe of a freight-training trophy peacock bass. When choosing a spool to bring, it’s best to look not to the breaking strength of the material, but rather the diameter. Breaking strength-to-diameter ratios can vary greatly between manufacturers and materials. Leader diameter should be .021” at a minimum! And hard monofilament is better than fluorocarbon, owing to its superior abrasion resistance. Finally, when on the water, always check the integrity of your leader after every fish encounter (even those you don’t land!). If in doubt, cut off the shaggy section and retie on the fly.
Thanks as always for checking in with the Agua Boa Amazon Lodge Fishing Report! We look forward to seeing you at the lodge!
