The Pull: Rumble in the Jungle

Azul peacock

What a wonderful view!

Morning couldn't come soon enough! Met my blearly eyed partners in the lobby, and soon enough, we were in the air. Since the planes only seat 6, our group of ten (our eight, and two other guys) were split in to two planes.

You don't realize just how vast the Amazon jungle is, until you are in a low flying plane, and flying over nothing but thousands of square miles of dense vegatation for a couple hours. Then we saw the familiar sandbars of the Agua Boa, (not pictured) and we were on the the runway, rolling up to the lodge.

We were met with a host offering us each a flute of champagne, and then we went to main lodge, where we ate breakfast, got the orientation, and were given a choice. Jump in the boats now, or take a nap, and fish in the afternoon. If I ever choose the second option, you can be sure I've been bodysnatched. The program at the Agua Boa Lodge is that you fish with a different guide every day, except your first day and last day are the same. We happened to draw Samuel, who is now a Facebook friend. The one downside of this draw, was that Samuels beat is 1.5 hours down the river. Because it's so far, and it's a shortened day, Sam had to stay closer to home, and also fish areas that were not his really his water, so the fishing was a bit slower, that being a relative term.

Although I've caught five species of peacocks on the Agua Boa, the main three varieties you can expect are the Azul, the speckeled or paca, and the butterfly. The Azul are the large, golden, three barred peacocks, the biggest fish on the river. The speckeled are more gray in tone, with white speckles, and they are the strongest fish in the river. All peacock are brutes, but the speckled ones will dish out extra punishment. The most common peacock to catch is the butterfly, the smallest of the peacocks, typically running one to three pounds, but the most beautful, and they can still pull. Butterflies will often attack your fly in swarms.

Fishing on day one was a bit slow by Agua Boa standards. We probably landed about 40 fish, and my biggest was probably 5-6 pounds. Terri got the best one, a nice 8lb speckled peacock.

Speckled peacock

Before we were ready, it was time to head back. Back at the lodge, we were met at the dock by lodge manager Carlos, who waits at the dock for each boat to come in. A staff person met us with a cool refreshing drink and a plate of appetizers. Most of the guys hit the pool, or went to shower up before dinner. But in the evening, as the sun falls, something happens that is irresistable to me. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of pacus begin to rise in front of the dock, and although they are difficult, they can be coaxed with a small terrestial pattern. Out came the five weight, and picked up a pacu on my second cast, the only one of the night.

Day one is in the books, tomorrow is going to be one of the most amazing, action packed days of my fishing life. I just don't know it yet!