With a full house the fishing can only keep on getting better as the river continues to drop leaving it all to anglers to land those peacock bass. This week the river dropped a total of 18” and is still dropping providing great fishing for the anglers. Once again the water levels also surprised our returning anglers and some who haven’t seen it this low in the past.
The count for the week was 3105 peacock bass total with 169 being 10 lbs. or better and 8 of those being 20 lbs. or better. This has been one of those special weeks with our couples who come down fishing and enjoy the lodge and making this that vacation full of unforgettable memories.
Our only couple for the week was Gary and Maureen coming down for the first time. They came to do a little of everything and catch a variety of fish along with the peacock bass. Soon Gary started landing big fish, then it was just big fish ending the week with a 19-pounder.
Our father and son groups were made up of the following teams. Jim who landed a 16-pounder and his son Randy landed a 14-pounder. Then there is Cliff who landed a 19-pounder and his son Aaron who landed a monster 22-pounder, Paul landed a 12pounder and his son Clint landed a 10-pounder. Next there were the teams of Doak M and his son Doak C with dad landing a 14-pounder and his son landed a 15-pounder. Now for our returning team of father and son were Vitol and his son Eduardo who landed a 13-pounder.
Next is our team of long time fishing buddies and also those new friends made while chopping woodchoppers out on the Rio Negro! We start with Mike who came by himself but soon made a new fishing buddy, Mike landed two 14-pounders and his partner Jay landed a 12-pounder for the week. Next is our writer, hunter and outdoorsman Roger Card who landed a 15-pounder, his brother Jack landed a 17-pounder, their friend Doug landed a 19-pounder and finally our village hero the Peacock Bass fishing Magician Rod Merchant who also landed a 19-pounder. These guys took one early day off from fishing to go down to a village and perform some magic tricks for the local kids. At the end of the show the kids got a hug from the magician in hope of some magic rubbing of on them too. I’m sure they are all going to try that rope trick of making a rope longer and longer, since rope is not easy to come by around here.
Also we had our fly fishing team made up of Bill Nutt, H.B, Bill Legg and John and take it easy. John landed a 12-pounder and in the group with most fish for one day were Bill Legg and John Turner with 97 peacock in one day on fly rods. According to the guides if these guys would of fished more they certainly would of landed lots more fish but they were here to fish and enjoy the trip.
The team of Bo, Rodney, Scott, Mark, Robert and Clark fished a personal tournament between them. They fished each day with different partners and guides to even out the odds, but where there is peacock everyone has a chance. Mark came in with a 21-pounder, Bo landed a 12-pounder, Rodney landed a 22-pounder, Robert also landed a 20-pounder same day as his partner Scott who landed a 20-pounder and Clark landed also landed a 12-pounder. Now between these guys they landed a whole lot of fish to weigh in.
Two friends from way up north where the wind is colder than it will ever get here in the Amazon is Bill and Ernest who came down from Canada to get away from that cold wind. This time Bill landed an 18-pounder who returned with his friend Ernest who landed three 14-pounders. Now these two weren’t worried about the dangers of the Amazon, they looked for it in adventure, fishing, fun and new friends. Also in the returning group was Bill Hopkins and Tom Higgins who also returned to take advantage of the low water and the opportunity it offers to those who can make it down. “But remember fishing is fishing and peacocking is peacocking, there is a big difference which is peacock make you work for it and all the fish just wait for you.” Bill landed a 17-pounder and his partner Tom landed a 20-pounder.
For our biggest group of the week are our next door neighbors from Venezuela who also come down year after year for fun, great friends and lots of fishing. After a long awaited return from last years high water they got a chance to take advantage of real low water. The group is made up of Felix who landed a 20-pounder, Omar who fished hard and chopped along with the rest ended up with lots of fish, then there is Mariano with a 15-pounder, Miguel landed a 13-pounder, Jose Luis landed a 17-pounder. Caleb ended up with biggest fish for the group who landed a 22-pounder; Martin landed a 15-pounder. Luis who missed out a few years ago due to an illness came to take his trip and landed a 16-pounder, where happy you could make it Luis. The team of Juris and his son Eduardo who I mentioned before and Hernan also landed a 12-pounder.
Finally lets not forget our visiting friend Travis who came down to spend 2 days fishing then only ended up with one day of fishing and had to return back to the office. Travis tried a little of both, fly fishing and bait casting. In one day he landed 35 peacocks on a rush and if he would of spend more time then the results could have been a lot better. For one day, being in a rush and not relaxing like he would of liked to, that is a great day. Travis will be back for more and a longer stay next time.
This is what makes a large group of anglers all together in one wonderful place, after some fighting fish with lots of friends around to tell of that fish that tore of the hooks, broke the rod or line and the ones that just whorled
From my staff and I and the locals you meet, we thank God for this wonderful trip and wish our guest a safe journey home full of memories and the adventure of a lifetime. Thank you for fishing with us on the Rio Negro, we will be waiting here for your return with the great fishing, and lots of friends.
