Payara & Peacocks - Colombia's Hidden Gem - Akuani Lodge

Anglers in-the-know are dialing in trips to Colombia more than ever and reaping the rewards in the form of monster peacock bass, thrilling near-shore encounters and wild predatory fish eager to pounce on a fly. Colombia’s geography and location make the country incredibly diverse. It’s located at the very northwest corner of South America, where the isthmus connects it with Panama and the rest of Central America. To the west of that land connection, lies the Pacific Ocean. To the east is the Caribbean and the famous cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla, while dividing Colombia from Venezuela is the mighty Orinoco River.

Adding to the diversity of coastlines and waterways, this small country is home to the northernmost mountains of the Andes range. In Colombia, the Andes divide and take three separate routes. The result of this is to divide the country into very different regions, each with their own unique climates, flora, fauna, languages and food. Although fairly small by comparison to other South American countries, Columbia offers the second highest rate of biodiversity found on the planet.

For traveling anglers there are two distinct fisheries with unique sets of angling opportunities in Colombia. The Pacific coast remains largely undiscovered and lacks excessive fishing pressure. Anglers must have open minds in this zone and fish whatever method is best for the moment. This may be fly casting or spin fishing from a boat or possibly even trolling, but the opportunities are immense, ranging from vast schools of yellowfin tuna, sailfish and marlin to rooster fish, cubera snapper, tarpon and snook.

The other important fishery borders Venezuela to the east, and encompasses the Orinico River itself, as well as all the tributaries that dump into it from the Colombian jungle. These tributaries are most famous for their abundance of peacock bass, with some systems offering fish exceeding twenty pounds. The Orinoco offers amazing opportunities for species like pacu and sardinata, however, the payara is the fish that gets most fly anglers drooling in this zone. Payara love inhabiting the fastest flowing water in the river, and prefer to live amongst massive boulder strewn structures. Being true ambush predators, payara will readily attack a fly and then use the fast current to peel line off a reel faster than most any fish on the planet.

Akuani River Lodge provides anglers access to both of these outstanding fisheries, splitting time between the Vichada River and the Orinoco. The experience at Akuani Lodge hits that sweet spot between pure luxury and dirt-bag-do-it-yourself beautifully, where you feel like you are on a true adventure yet know that all your needs will be meant and allow you to fish your best.

Please consider joining me on my next excursion to Akuani Lodge (details below), where I’ll again be hosting a group of anglers to this fascinating location.