COLOMBIA & The PEACOCK BASS
THAT is a Peacock Bass!
At different times, I have expressed to many of you my interest in fishing in Colombia. Over the course of the past 3 years, I have been working on this through Fly Water. We all knew that it was a new and upcoming destination, but other than that there was very little clear information that we could count on for setting up relationships with outfitters. It seemed that everybody had a fishing business, but once researched they all were just referring clients to other people who said they were in the fishing business.
Well, we seem to have quite a bit of that worked out now. We have been working with an outfitter for Peacock Bass over the course of the past 10 months or so, and I just returned from a great trip with them. I also have a trip to the Pacific Coast scheduled as well, in late May. Who knows if that will happen now with Corona raging around the world.
The quick report on our Peacock Bass adventure is that it was just what is advertised to be. The outfitter was organized, and everything went well. No big hiccups. The camp itself is that…..a camp. There are no fancy lodges (yet) in the Colombian Jungle. Colombia Afloat sets up each season with floating cabins that they put together, and then tow to a good beach on the river. Each cabin has two simple beds, and a shower and toilet. No a/c, but a good fan right over the bed. The food was very good…..not incredible but we did not expect it. However, their service with the food and drinks was great, even bringing hot lunches to us on the river which was a great touch.
Out lovely cabins at night, Afloat on the Tomo River
As for the fishing, it was very good as well. Now, this is Peacock Bass fishing. Like anywhere, you cast a lot. Sometimes you go awhile without finding fish, but when you do it is on. Our group landed nearly 800 fish for the week between 10 anglers, so pretty good. There were a good number of fish over 10 pounds, many at the 15 pound mark, and more than you might think that were 17 pounds or so. We did not break the 20 pound barrier, but records showed that 18 fish over 20 pounds had been landed for the season.
I will be going again, and organizing a good number of trips. Please note that this trip is not for everyone. As I mentioned, there is no fancy lodge, and the wine is either red or white. There are bugs, and there is not air-conditioning. But there are Peacock Bass, in a remote new destination, at a reasonable price with people doing a great job of taking care of you.
