Peacock Bass Fishing Forum - View topic

Sean Wood · PBA Moderator

I leave for Brazil next Wednesday. I have heard that water levels are very low in the Barcelos area. Is it low enough in your opinion to post pon till a later date? Any one have any recent info?
Sean

Dave Wiseman · Guest

Sean,
I am flying out 2/5 for a RP trip and have been checking daily. My first time and I don't know much but looks like recent fishing has been good. The daily rainfall for Barcelos has been nil since 1st of the year. A little more in Manaus, but I assume that is out of the watershed. I was worried all year about too much water..................Oh well. Would really like to hear from experienced folks on these conditions.

Jim Wright

Sean and Dave,

I am also leaving on wednesday to fish with RP. Look for me at the Hotel bar and I will buy you a drink. My first trip but I hear low water is a lot better than high water!

Jim

Dink Alston

Sean, Dave, Jim.......

The word I'm getting is that the water is still way low. The big boats and yachts are not faring well due to the fact they can barely navigate the Negro and definitely can't get into the tributaries. I've heard a lot of the anglers have been actually getting out and walking the sandbars in the Negro to fish rather than using the boats.

On the other hand, I'm hearing that River Plate is still doing well due to the fact that the barges are all in place and don't have to try and navigate in through the mouth of the rivers that are so shallow and barred up.

When I was in Barcelos back in December, we caught a lot of fish, but not the big ones. We were very limited in where we could go with the big boat. Could barely get the small boats through the mouth of the Cuinini and even then fishing areas were limited. But again, the barges were doing well then also...........

Dink

Larry Larsen · Executive Director

Dink is right on. I've heard mostly the same. I had my trip scheduled for Jan. 20th called off due to low water. It was the yacht operator's call and he should know. As I always tell everyone, listen to the outfitter and if he says the conditions are not right and you should reschedule, THEN DO SO. Yeah it is a pain and big disappointment and costly, but spending 7 days fishing marginal waters for a marginal fish or two is not most peacock bass chasers "cup of tea".

Water levels could inch up with rain and some areas are seeing that I'm told, but others are drying out and getting even lower. I know some of the villages are having problems getting supplies from their supply boats and a few yacht operations and fixed lodges are having problems finding restock goods and fuel sometimes. It will get better ... at some point.

Dave Wiseman · Guest

Thanks for the advice. I plan to call Tues/Wed of this week as I fly Friday. For now, still packing and hoping for the best!!!

Dave Wiseman · Guest

Sean/Jim,

Have you heard anything on the upcoming week? Did you decide to flyout Wednesday? Dave

Jim Wright

Dave,
I am still going. Two years ago RP canceled my trip 48 hours out due to high water. All indications I have is that the water is low but the barges are in good positons. We will know more tomorrow when RP posts their weekly report.

Jim

Sean Wood · PBA Moderator

I called yesterday and they said all was still on. It sounds like river plate is doing very well (although I am not going on a river plate trip). I guess at this point this trip is what it is, since I leave tomorrow.
Good luck
Sean

Jim Wright

Sean,

Good luck on the fishing! We can compare notes when we return.

Jim

Rick Swain · Guest

Hello P-bassers, Dont call that trip off. although we didn't have huge numbers we had 14 @ 20# and above with the biggest at 24.5 #. unfortunatly my biggest was 18# but had several huge fish on and many monsters follow right to the boat. They were a little tentative in shallow water but was still a good trip with many big fish possibilities, we fished off the Amazon Clipper through Ron Speed jr. High or low water they always manage to put us on some nice fish and I've never had to cancel yet due to water levels, seems the water is always fishable somewhere and they manage to get us there. Damn, if I had to cancel a trip after being all fired up I'd need to be put in a straight jacket....or else they'd find me swinging from an overpass, LOL. Thanks Ron for always making it happen

Sean Wood · PBA Moderator

Rick,
What lures worked the best for you guys?
Sean

Rick Swain · Guest

Many big fish were caught on the black and orange woodchopper, my biggest was. My buddy Tony caught 3 20#'s on a peacock colored high roller, well it started that way, almost all the paint was off by day 2 so it was 80 % wood color.......and they loved it !!!!

Bob Daly

Heard tonight that River Plate is cancelling the fishing on Itapara and moving the upcoming clients to the Negro around the Santa Isabel area. Have a friend going this weekend who provided me with the info.
Best of luck to all and be safe. Cool