Gear and Equipment
FLY FISHING RECOMMENDATIONS
In order for you to have the best experience here is some advice on the right equipment for this fishing experience.
RODS
Number 8 to number 10 rods, 8” to 9” feet long with fast actions or progressive fast actions with a strong back bone and lifting power are a must, Peacocks are very strong and generally you will have to tug or fight them before they reach snags or any other structure where they can hide. Turning their heads to force them into open waters is the way to go.
REELS
Today’s large arbor reels offer great line speed retrieval and nice drags. Best drags are those with a progressive start, you don’t need the reel to stop a train in 1 second you need the reel’s drag to start smoothly whenever a fish makes a strong run and line reaches the reel.
Big peacocks can make long powerful runs, especially in lagoons so be prepared. 150 yards of backing are more than enough. Balance your reels to the rods you will use.
FLY LINES
Specialty lines are available from a lot of brands; they have to be tropical and feature wide short tappers. Saltwater lines for tropical weathers will also work in this situation.
FLOATING LINE
Perfect for poppers along shore lines and structure and also perfect to fish the flats in the afternoon either with a popper or a large streamer.
SINKING TIP LINES
Surface action is not always present, a sinking tip line between 250 gr and 350 gr is the searching engine you need almost all day long. Difference between higher grains will be how fast the tip descends and how easy it would be to avoid snagging the fly to the bottom or any other structure.
INTERMEDIATE TIP LINES
This may be a fly line you can use if you don’t want to have a large selection. Won’t be good with poppers but certainly will help with large streamers along shorelines and flats. Descending speed varies depending on brands, but they are all slow sinkers.
LEADERS
Leaders are basically short, 2” feet long for floating lines and 1.5” to 2” for the sinking tip lines. You can buy them or make them yourself. Shock tippets will also help as peacock bass mouths feature small teeth that are like sandpaper and are very abrasive. A 40 to 60 - pound monofilament or fluoro carbon. Wire shocks are not necessary.
If you are after an IGFA record then class tippet can’t exceed 20 pounds, distance between knots have to be reglementary and all tied in accordance to IGFA rules.
FLIES
A very important part of the equipment! Flies for peacock bass may be short or huge in size, this is a strong predator that has to be searched for in different parts of the water column. Flies may be weighted or not, but they have to be well tied, be light in weight and materials can’t hold on to water. As you blind cast most of the time a well-designed fly with the characteristics described above is a must. Just imagine, casting all day long with those temperatures for a whole week, with a heavy water absorbing fly... not good.
Please don’t doubt on asking us for our fly selections tied by our experienced Fly fishing partners.
TIPS
Avoid too much false casting to reach the spots, it may be exhausting.
Work on your loops, tight loops will deliver the fly into difficult places.
Work on your long casts.
Overload your rod with the next fly line number.
Use a stripping finger or glove.
Strip fast.
Bring back up rods and fly lines.
Bring light weight equipment, there are several species in this river that will also be fun to fish on smaller flies.
Prepare to have an awesome time in the jungle
Flies
Muddler Black/Red - This pattern has 4 very popular colors among jungle predators. Fire tiger, Purple/pink, Black, 6? long tied on 5/0 hooks.
Muddlers Fire Tiger - This pattern has 4 very popular colors among jungle predators. Fire tiger, Purple/pink, Black, 6? long tied on 5/0 hooks.
Muddlers Purple Pink - This pattern has 4 very popular colors among jungle predators. Fire tiger, Purple/pink, Black, 6? long tied on 5/0 hooks.
Jungle Minnows Any Minnows - This patterns push water and have great movement, are easy to cast and don’t forget several trophy P. Bass and Golden Dorados have fall for this flies. A must in jungle fishing. 6?” long tied on 5/0 hooks.
Jungle Minnows Chartreuse - This patterns push water and have great movement, are easy to cast and don’t forget several trophy P. Bass and Golden Dorados have fall for this flies. A must in jungle fishing. 6?” long tied on 5/0 hooks.
Jungle Minnows Small Peacock - This patterns push water and have great movement, are easy to cast and don’t forget several trophy P. Bass and Golden Dorados have fall for this flies. A must in jungle fishing. 6?” long tied on 5/0 hooks.
Red Tail Flies Red Head - This fly pattern is a must for Peacock bass fishing, they will inhabit the same waters and you will see them in the entrance of lagoons, along shore lines or creeks. It is a “match the hatch” kind of fly. Available in 3 producing colors, Olive, Red head and Tan. 6? long tied on 5/0 hooks.
Red Tail Flies Olive - This fly pattern is a must for Peacock bass fishing, they will inhabit the same waters and you will see them in the entrance of lagoons, along shore lines or creeks. It is a “match the hatch” kind of fly. Availlable in 3 producing colors, Olive, Red head and Tan. 6? long tied on 5/0 hooks.
Red Tail Flies Tan Red - This fly pattern is a must for Peacock bass fishing, they will inhabit the same waters and you will see them in the entrance of lagoons, along shore lines or creeks. It is a “match the hatch” kind of fly. Available in 3 producing colors, Olive, Red head and Tan. 6? long tied on 5/0 hooks.
Hydra poppers - Poppers with a unique design that allow them to slide and pop. Tied on tubes so you can change hooks anytime. Fish love the action and sound on these poppers.
Hydra poppers - Poppers with a unique design that allow them to slide and pop. Tied on tubes so you can change hooks anytime. Fish love the action and sound on these poppers.
