By Max Salzburg
Akuani River Lodge, Colombia
February 15 -24, 2023
Join Fly Water Travel’s Super Host, Jon Covich, for a week of peacock bass and payara fishing at a new remote lodge in Colombia.
Akuani River Lodge is the latest offering from our outfitting friends and partners at Colombia Afloat.
What sets this program apart from their other operations is the opportunity to fish for trophy peacock bass and trophy payara (sometimes referred to as vampire fish) in the same trip. While most of the time will be spent fishing multiple large beats of the Vichada River for peacock bass, guests will also experience a rustic overnight at the Orinoco River’s massive Maipures rapids. Here anglers will cast heavy lines into heavy water from bedrock stations in search of large, ultra-hard striking payara which are widely considered one of the most coveted and hardest-earned jungle species on a fly. In addition to visiting the unique semi-arid jungle of eastern Colombia, guests will also get to interface with the native people that call this wild and seldom-visited region home.
Dates: February 15 – 24, 2023
Group Size: 8 anglers
Itinerary:
- February 15: Arrive El Dorado International Airport, Bogota (BOG)
- February 16: Transfer to the lodge
- February 17 – February 22: Six full days of guided fly fishing. Two days will be an out-camp to fish exclusively for payara.
- February 23: Transfer to Bogota
- February 24: Depart Colombia
Rate: $4,395 per person for a 9 night/8 day package based on double occupancy
Included:
- Meals and accommodations at the lodge
- Transfers to/from lodge and Bogota
- Two nights hotel in Bogota
- Soft drinks and beer
- Guided fishing
Not Included:
- International airfare
- Meals and expenses in Bogota
- Fishing tackle
- Flies and equipment
- Alcohol
- Gratuities
Meet Jon Covich
Jon Covich has spent the last 25 years immersed in the fly fishing industry and has been one of the Pacific Northwest’s most trusted and conscientious travel and tackle resources for the past 20 years. Jon has traveled to many of the world’s best fly fishing destinations, as both an angler and a professional photographer. Photos of his many adventures have appeared in Outside Magazine, Grey’s Sporting Journal, Fly Fisherman, Fly Rod & Reel, and Catch Magazine.
In addition to finding the right water, having the right gear can help make any day that much better. For over 20 years Fly Water Travel has been fly fishing's most trusted and respected source for finding the right water. Now, along with Sage, RIO Products, and Redington, Fly Water Travel is a proud member of the Far Bank Family. As part of this larger team, we are able to access decades worth of manufacturing passion and knowledge enabling us to expand our role to include in-depth advice on the world's best rods, reels, lines, and flies.