Peacock Bass fishing....Worth it?

[Andy Lippert]

Greetings from Iraq,

I've gotten to thinkin' out here, and since theres not much of anything to spend money on out here (and they pay us alright for being in combat) I was thinking of spending some of my savings on a Peacock bass fishing trip to South America, when I get home in about a year. My only resource here is the internet, and everyone claims that their guide service in the best, I was just wondering if any of you gents have gone on such a trip, or have any knowledge of a good Peacock bassin' resort/lodge down in South America.

Along the same lines, I'm also looking for feedback as to whether or not those of you who have gone on such a trip feel that you got your monies worth, or how you felt about it all. It's been something I've wanted to do for ever, and now I should have a little bit of cash for the experience of a life time, so any information you gentleman could give would be much appreciated. Thank you!

-CPL Lippert, USMC
Al Taqaddum, Iraq

[Ray L.]

it is worth it....

[Mitch]

The key is to be there at the right time. Do some research and check out some of the outfitters and get as much feed back as you can. My son-in law has gone and they hit it at the right time and had a blast, others have missed the timming and still caught fish, but not the best bite going. Also, check out the accomadations.
I've heard stories of "boat tents" to yachts for accomadation. Good luck and have fun...............
One last note>..........Thank you for what you and your fellow troups are doing!!

[Rick G]

It is well worth it. I have been 8 times and everytime is a different adventure. Just think of catching a 20lb smallmouth on topwater, but there twice as fast. My suggestion is to go to www.peacockbassassociation.com and talk to the owner Larry Larsen. He is the Dali Lama of Peacock Bass chasers. Brazil has the biggest fish, but Venesuela is coming on fast. Also look at peacockbasstrips.com and fishquest.com, both are great outfitters. Rick G.

[350V RGR]

Hey CPL Lippert,

You getten any Ficky Ficky from them dam hojis?? LOL!!

It's weired, I hate Iraq, but wish I was back there!! 03-04

I see you want to go Peacock Bass Fishing!! I have just read a article check it out. www.thefishinginstructor.com Go to the site and scroll down until you find the Amazon article.

It has some very good ideas on getting and having your Gear squared away. Not to mention the good time they had!!

Like I always say: "Nothing Say's, Take a nap-more then a double Tap!!"

SGT Mathers, 1498th Combat HET/ Gun Truck
We support our Troops!!!

[Ken C.]

Andy,

Both Cooch and Randy Pringle have made the trip down and I think they both have write-ups on their websites.

I suggest you talk with both of them about their trips.

Stay Safe!

[Fishin' Dave]

I haven't been, but talking with guys who have they would go to Florida instead. There are Peacock Bass in Miami, and you could fish Ochochobie (bad spelling), Toho, and maybe make a side trip to Pickwick and other Southern lakes.

Good luck over there!

[Blue_R70]

I haven't been, but talking with guys who have they would go to Florida instead. There are Peacock Bass in Miami

Florida only has the "butterfly" strain of peacocks, and "good" sized ones there only average about five pounds.

A trip to South America on the other hand, offers an adventure in addition to good fishing. It's the whole experience of getting dropped off into a remote/roadless area by small airplane, the chance for real trophy sized peacocks, seeing the exotic wildlife around you, the incidental species that you'll also be hooking (all with *teeth*) and stuff like that...

[Cooch]

For all the trips and hoopla we hear from guys who go bass fishing in Mexico, I have no understanding why they'd want to do that after I took my first Peacock bass trip in 2000. It was truly the most phenominal fishing experience of my life, period!

And as RickG mentioned, contacting Larry Larsen, the man who introduced and built the Brazilian Peacock experience along with Gary Layden, is my suggested first step. I would also recommend contacting Don Cutter at 1-888-626-2966 or his web pages at http://www.peacockbasstrips.com, the Amazon Voyager is a once in a life tip experience. Cutter flies ya into Manaus and then heads to areas in the Upper Rio Negro, Blanco and Unini River systems. The Unini is now the king of all the rivers there fer giant peacocks. I spent a week fishing with Cutter, Larsen, Layden and a host of other named peacock specialists and US guides. I was one of the guides invited to help them critique their new services down there.

The biggest key is indeed the water levels. High water rainy periods are horrible. To avoid the heaviest of the rain periods, think about booking October through January. There are no garuntees in the rain forrest's of the Amazonus region. Cutter has a nice fleet that can be moved around from one area to another in the event conditions change. You'll need to request those periods and locations going into extreme low water conditions for the most excellent adventure.

Just DO IT BABY! You will not regret it!

PS, Who the heck you talk to Dave? I can assure you, I've done both, and after being to the Amazon, fishing Florida again would be like me heading to Millerton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It aint NEVER gonna happen again! I just think that's bad advice.

[Fishin' Dave]

It was you! HA!

think the point was for the $$ spent. I haven't been, so I'm backing out of this....

[Rod Martin]

I went with Ron Speed. Had a great time, took my wife with me. Best trip I have ever taken. His setup has a new Houseboat [maybe 2 years old now] shallow draft, very nice. Guide boat fllows with all the fishing boats allong be hind. Fish differnt water each day. for two people cost was about $12,000.00 but had wife along so we stayed and flew a little above what I would with the guys.[/img]

[Cooch]

$12K fer two with Speed? I know I've heard of that guy Rod, fer the average Joe, that's really purty steep. My trip on the 75' Amazon Voyager, a yatch basically, in 2000, cost me just under $4K for the week and that included everything not part of the package like air fair to Miami, Manaus, vacinations, passport, Visa and tackle. I was looking at a few of the package prices yesterday since this subject came up and most of them ran from about $2900-3900 for the package, not including all the stuff mentioned above. I only mention this so as to not have some of our readers immediately think a Peackock trip is too expensive at $12k and the norm. Course knowing you, ya prolly treated the wife to an extra weeks Limo ride across country!

[Rod Martin]

That 12,000 was from home [Ripon] and back. And I always go a day early to where ever I meet up with the guide service[lesson learned the hard way]. So as I said with her we stayed a day in Miami at the hotel there in the airport, plus kept a day room untill flight time, upgraded seat on the plane, and all the little things that a bunch of guys would'nt do.
The trip with Ron Speed was $3995 per person and we met their guide at Miami Airport. So Airfare from Miami, Hotel in Manus, flight from Manus to Barcelous, Houseboat ,Fishing, a trip to a small village for my wife . then trip back to Manus, then on to Miami.
What we had to pay for, Trip to Miami & back home from Miami. Hotel in Miami, Tips extra meals, having my wife in Manus with all the gold and jewerly stores in the resort in Manus. [Do'nt ever let women get close to those.] All and all it was the best thing I could have done, my wife had never been outside the USA, So she got to see resort lifestyle, and also the life of villagers on the river in remote Brazil.
For a fisherman it is truly a trip worth doing at lest once in your life!!!!!!

[Rick G]

Cooch is correct, the Unini River is one of the best Big fish rivers in Brazil, and water level is the key. I have been there 5 times and each time is different. The Jungle is an incredable place, and even if you are not catching fish is spectacular. It is also very dangerous, so if you want to wander around take a guide with you. I have slept on the bank in hammocks, stayed at fixed lodges and done the Houseboat trips, and all are worth it. Unini trip will cost you about $3500.00 plus airfare. When you consider El Salto is 2k for 3 1/2 days and in Brazil you get 7 fishing days not a bad deal and an adventure to boot. My group and I leave LA today for Argentina and are going to the Paraguay River to fish for the Golden Dorado at a place called "La Zona". World record fish there, and I think I can catch one on a Triple Trout. Should be a adventure for sure. Rick G.