HARDWARE
- 9ft 8wt & 9wt fast action fly rods with matching large arbor fly reel. Casting over-sized baitfish patterns and pulling fish out of the jungle foliage is no joke. You need a strong fast action rod and reliable large arbor reel to get the job done. We recommend a minimum of 2 rods setup with different lines and a spare for breakages.
- Jungle/Tropical rated shooting head with floating running line and type 3 to 4 IPS sinking head.Don’t rock up with your standard trout or cold saltwater lines, chewing gum would be more effective. The sink tip lines are your mainstay line of choice for turning over big flies and getting down to the required water column quickly.
- Tropical rated shooting head with intermediate running line and 9IPS head. Fishing Lagunas, confluences and defined cuts for trophy fish requires getting down quick and staying there. These lines cast like a dream and require very little effort.
- Tropical rated floating and/or intermediate weight-forward fly line. Whether fishing high up in the water column, over shallow sandbars or throwing the very effective surface patterns, these lines are indispensable.
- Species bashing outfit. You’re deep in the jungle and there are all sorts of weird and wonderful species to target. Your standard 5 or 6wt outfit rigged with a tropical floating line and a small fly box of streamers, nymphs and dries will do the trick.
TERMINAL
- Leader material. You’ll need a range of abrasive resistant hard mono nylon materials. We would suggest a range of 20lb; 30lb and 40lb hard mono. You can expect fish to take you deep into the structure so you’ll need a leader that can withstand the abuse. Sinking line leader lengths should be kept to around 6ft, stepping up to around 8 to 9ft for floating and intermediate.
- Wire bite trace. Bring either a titanium knottable or good old piano wire in 30lb strength for if you need it. For Peacock Bass there is no need for it but if you’re keen to catch piranha, dog fish and wolf fish, then you’ll need to strap on some cable.
ACCESSORIES
- Fishing each day with 2 anglers to a guide and boat you’ll want to adopt a minimalistic approach. A compact compartmentalised boat bag which has all your gear consolidated and neatly organized is a must. Considering you’re in the rain forest it goes without saying that it needs to be waterproof.
- 5-to-7 inch pliers with sheath to attach to your belt and a cord to secure it so it doesn’t go overboard. You can expect to catch a lot of fish every day. Flattening barbs and removing flies is an ongoing activity!
- Nippers with retractor attached to your pliers sheath for trimming line
- Hook sharpener/hone – keep those hooks sharp at all times
- Permanent marker, scissors and repair kit – this kit can be a lifesaver. Make barring on your flies if necessary, trim and cut material on your pattern and replace loops on the end of your fly line when they do eventually fail.
- Camera – preferably water- and shockproof and ideally easy to use so your skipper can comfortably operate. The jungle is harsh on electronics so something durable and up to the task is very NB.
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An old swimming towel. We wet these and lay them on the deck for multiple reasons. It keeps your line damp ensuring it tangles less and avoids line stick. Its assists in covering up any potential line snags around your feet for the line to hook on. It also allows you to fish barefoot avoiding a hot deck in the middle of the day!
APPAREL
- It’s hot, it’s humid and you can expect blue skies and sunshine one minute and a torrential downpour the next! Having the correct protective clothing goes without saying.
- Long sleeve SPF rated shirts and pants keep you protected from the sun without having to regularly apply sunscreen.
- Hat and breathable buff or neck gaiter to keep the sun off your face.
- Quality pair of polarized sunglasses plus a spare cheaper pair, plus straps. We prefer the brown or amber lens for all-round conditions.
- Clear safety glasses. From long boat runs in low light to your mates poor casting resulting in flies coming straight for you at terminal velocity, covering up the sensitive bits is always a good idea.
- Sunscreen and SPF-rated lip balm.
- Finger guards and tape. Line burns and cuts are par for the course when fishing for Peacocks. The ability to strap up on the go is a lifesaver.
- Footwear is a tricky one in the tropics. We have found the best solution is fishing in a pair of socks. These keep your feet from burning, the bugs from biting your ankles and the line from getting caught up around your feet.
- Rain Jacket. Avoid anything with thermal properties, best is a shell jacket that you can whip on for during a storm and if things cool down when running around in the boats.
SPARES
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Accidents do happen and you want to be as prepared as possible. A spare fly rod, sink tip fly line, sunglasses and general repair kit is always a good idea when going on any fishing trip. Especially when as remote as the Amazon Jungle!