The Perfect Setups
I love fishing the Sage Payload for all my jungle adventures. The Sage Payload is a streamer chucking machine and it is the go-to tool for the job in this setting. The Sage Enforcer and Arbor XL reels both match with it perfectly in this application. I used the Arbor XL for 8-weights and below, and the Enforcer for 9-weights and above. As most anglers that have tangled with peacock bass can attest, a stout drag isn’t necessarily a requirement, as these fish tend not to make long runs and prefer instead to pull extremely hard in the general proximity of the boat. However, these reels withstand the pressures of travel, getting knocked around in boats and the demands of the heat and humidity of the jungle.
RIO’s Elite Warmwater Predator series of fly lines again worked to perfection in this application, as RIO has covered the bases throughout the entire water column with a Floating, Floating/Hover/Intermediate and a Float/Sinking 5/Sinking 7. With these various options, I was covered for any scenario that came up on the trip. I preferred to have three rods set up with three sink rates to give myself the best chance of success.
I typically bring more flies than I care to admit, but I like knowing that I have a fly for any situation that arises. The star players on this trip are the following but will undoubtedly be solid producers in any jungle venue.
RIO’s Brammer Imposter - 4/0 & 6/0: All colorways worked, but I favor the Clown, Tullibee, Yellow Perch, and Redhorse Sucker. This pattern swims well and pushes water to get fish’s attention, even is stained and tannin colored water. The peacock bass never shied away from it on this trip and when we stumbled into a school of payara, even they continued to pounce on it.
RIO’s Soft Chew - #4: This pattern easily proved its value on the trip as arowana, oscars, and butterflies all ate it with reckless abandon. We shuffled a couple of other patterns throughout the trip, however, whenever I tied this on, good things happened. The fish keyed in on it regularly and ate it immediately nearly every time. I employed this fly continuously on the topwater rod for most of the trip.
Meals & Accommodations
The rooms at Agua Boa are air conditioned and very comfortable with two queen-sized beds per room. The bathroom and shower are separated by a door, so it provided plenty of privacy. Rooms include a roomy porch that provides a beautiful view of the river and a great place for an evening cigar.
The main lodge imparts a fun atmosphere with a large sitting area and bar. In the adjacent room you can play ping pong or pool. There’s a large dining area and family style table where everyone at the lodge enjoys their meals together. Dinner is an exciting affair as everyone recounts the successes of their day and strategizes the next morning’s fishing plan while discussing what the day may bring.
Meals are taken buffet style for both breakfast and dinner. They are hearty with plenty of fruits and vegetables and a good mix of carbs and protein. Dinners typically started with soup and I loved all the fresh fish that was served each day as has generally been my experience in Brazil on a whole. Matrinxa, iranha, arapaima, and pacu are my favorites and Agua Boa prepared them brilliantly.
Conclusion
Overall, it was a wonderful trip with great catch rates and a fantastic lodging experience. Agua Boa undoubtedly met or exceeded all my expectations. At one point during the week, at the end of another amazing day, the group converged at the pool and it hit me... I’m in the middle of the Amazon, chasing some truly amazing fish, spending time with great people, drinking a cold caipirinha and lounging in a beautiful swimming pool. It truly doesn’t get much better than this.