Few anglers have fished as many wild corners of the planet as Jeff Currier, and on this Guided episode he talks about the two species he craves most: peacock bass in the Amazon and tigerfish in Africa. Here is what he teaches about fishing them, plus how to set yourself up for a jungle trip that actually goes well.
Why peacock bass hook people
Jeff points out that a big male peacock bass, with its bold colors and the hump on its head, is the kind of fish you see in a magazine and decide you have to catch someday. Add the setting, which means flooded jungle, birds, and the feeling of being as far from other people as you can get, and it is easy to see why it lands on so many bucket lists.
The two-person boat system
Peacock bass trips usually put two anglers in the boat, and Jeff has a simple division of labor. The angler in the bow throws a popper. That works because topwater catches fish on its own, and the commotion also wakes up bigger bass sitting deeper. The angler in the stern fishes a streamer, which gets down to those fish. Flies are large, and a 4/0 streamer is not unusual. Jeff likes bright colors, especially yellows and oranges.
Swap roles through the day so everyone gets time on both rods. Keep your casts accurate and tight to cover, because these fish will bury you in structure if you let them.
Tigerfish and getting your leader right
Jeff also loves tigerfish in Africa, where trips are often run by experienced local outfitters. Toothy fish mean you cannot be casual about your terminal rigging. For giant trevally he describes a short, heavy leader tied to the fly with a strong loop knot, and the same principle applies to any aggressive predator: a connection you have tested, built from material rated well above what you expect to meet.
His advice for first-timers is to have someone with real experience check your leader before you fish. Guides who do this often will sit down with clients on the first night and go through the setup, and that evening is worth more than a new rod.
Choose your host carefully
Jeff's final tip for anyone planning a peacock bass trip is to join a hosted trip, and to make sure the host has plenty of experience with the destination. Some hosts organize a trip mainly because they want to go too. A seasoned host knows the water, the flies, and the logistics, which matters when you have spent a lot of money to get there.
Follow the adventures
Jeff writes about every day of fishing on his own website, with a blog that goes back to 2009. If you want trip-planning inspiration, it is a deep resource.
Gear
Jungle sun and glare are relentless, so a good cap helps; our Five Panel Cap is a simple place to start. For heavy-leader and knot basics before you travel, the Tips and Tricks for Fly Fishing eBook covers rigging that holds up. For big-fly rods and lines, your local fly shop will know what works for your destination.
