Join Blackfly for a Hosted Trip to the Marié River, Amazon. The Top Peacock Bass Fishery in the World! Sept 28 - Oct 6, 2016 Matti Majorin, with a 19 lb Peacock on the Marié River, September 2015 Blackfly Outfitter has teamed up with Untamed Angling and our travel partners to offer you a hosted trip on the Marié River in the Amazon for the ultimate peacock bass fly fishing experience. Matti Majorin, our Travel Ambassador, was on the Marié in 2015 for the inaugural week of the new luxurious floating lodge, The Untamed Amazon, and what a week it was! More than 360 fish were caught that week with 21 between 15-20 pounds, 8 over the magical mark of 20 pounds and one whopper of 26 pounds! Matti caught a 20 pounder, but remembers best the two fish he lost, two giants way over the 20 pound mark which destroyed his 50lb leaders.
The fishing proved to be so good that he planned a return to the Marié. Join Matti on this trip and let him put his experience to work for you for an even more successful journey. Untamed Angling, the team that brought you famed locations such as Tsimane in Bolivia, Kooi Noon in Argentina, and now the new Kendjam and Pirarucu in Brazil, has created the ultimate floating platform to fish the exclusive Marié reserve, the 92 foot vessel Untamed Amazon. From this luxurious floating lodge, the fishing will be organized to cover as much of the Marié river as possible. Moving up and down the river while anglers are away fishing, the Untamed Amazon will be moored and anchored each night near new fishing grounds. Each group of anglers will have exclusive access to more than 800 kilometers of the river and a rare opportunity to fish water seen for only a few days of each year, if ever. The waters of the Rio Marié and its tributaries are scientifically proven to be the home of the largest peacock bass in the entire Amazon basin and also harbors a higher percentage of trophy sized peacock bass than any other known river in Brazil. The IGFA has recognized the Marié as the best trophy peacock bass river on the planet, period! This area, thanks to an agreement entered between Untamed Angling and a coalition of native
groups and villages, together with the government of Brazil, is now the largest in the world dedicated to fly fishing for trophy peacock bass. For anglers, the predominance of trophy sized fish, translates into very real opportunities to consistently hook and release much larger-than-average peacocks on the fly. A 20.5 lb Peacock. This fish went deep into the backing, swimming away to the main river channel. What a battle it was! The numbers for the first season were incredible. In the first 8 weeks of the season, anglers landed 47 fish over 20 pounds, and 96 between 15 and 20 pounds! Additionally, four pending Women s IGFA line class world records were submitted from just one week. The record fish was a monster of 26 pounds. And while trophy fish are certainly the prime draw to the Marié, anglers also kept busy with smaller and hard-fighting butterfly peacocks from 2-6 pounds. A total of 3,421 butterfly peacocks were landed! This season will see opportunities to cover stretches of the river that have never seen a fly, or even a lure of any kind for that matter. These untouched and wild areas hold, without a doubt, record breaking peacock specimens and new world records. The Marié is the place to go for the angler who wants a shot at the fish of a lifetime.
The Fishing: Anglers are ferried in pairs to their daily fishing beats in new 21 foot skiffs powered by 90 hp outboards and electric trolling motors. These crafts are equipped with two casting platforms and allow for both anglers to fish simultaneously and very comfortably. Guests are guided by a team made up of a local guide and an English-speaking, fly-savvy fishing expert. The guiding teams are excellent and will do just about anything to guarantee safe and successful angling days. The custom designed 92-foot, vessel Untamed Amazon. The most comfortable way to fish the Amazon! The peacocks are targeted by casting to shorelines in lagoons, bays, inlets and pockets lining the main river channel. Sight fishing is also done while drifting and moving along shallow white sand flats. The tackle used is made of 7 to 10 weight rods rigged with floating, intermediate and fast sinking lines. Most days a floating line is just what is required rigged on a 9 or 10 weight. Flies are made of 4-8 inches long patterns. Large poppers have proven very successful and offer the chance at some of the most heart-stopping strikes in the entire angling world.
Sample Itinerary: Arrival at Manaus Brazil: Recommended arrival is at least one day prior to departure to the floating lodge. An additional day in Manaus is also recommended to allow for any delays, missing luggage or just to visit the Amazonian Capital. The living room aboard the Untamed Amazon offers a somewhat unreal level of luxury right in the middle of the Amazonian Jungle. Thursday: Flight by floatplane to Untamed Amazon. Arrival by midday. Half a day of fishing. Friday to Wednesday: Teams of two anglers fish their respective beats. Thursday midday: Departure from Rio Marié back to Manaus. Most anglers will be departing on late-night flights to their respective destinations.
Cost and Expenses: $7,325 Per angler, (Based on shared room/guide). Single rate/private room: $12,350 Native Community fee : $ 670.00 for a total of $ 7,995. Rates include: - All charter flights, boat transfers, and all necessary ground transfers. - One overnight at Hotel Tropical in Manaus upon arrival. The very comfortable state rooms with bay windows over the river. Air-conditioned with bathrooms and shower stalls. - Guide operated 21-foot skiffs per two anglers. - Fishing licenses. - All lodging and meals onboard Untamed Amazon, including wine, beer and spirits. Daily laundry and housekeeping services aboard the lodge.
Rates do not include: - International air fare and Brazilian visa. - Tips and gratuities for camp staff and guides. - Food and beverages in Manaus and any private city tours. Massive popper caught Peacock of 24lbs. The most explosive strikes imaginable! - Airport departure tax. - Satellite phone calls ($5/minute). - Extra hotel overnights if needed. - Fishing gear and flies. Check the Untamed Angling Online Brochure at: www.marieriver.com/en/ Please email Matti for any questions or for a more detailed info package. blackfly.matti@gmail.com
Why travel with Blackfly? - Our services are free and we can assist you every step of the way for a customized package. - Because our host has been there and we are in close contact with the outfitters on the ground in Brazil, we can provide you with the best and very latest information on gear and tackle requirements. - Matti will also prepare and tie some flies for custom fly kits based on his successful patterns used last season. These will be made available for purchase at our Jacksonville store. - Your host will be available in the store for special meet and greets, and will help with any additional preparation for the trip. If you are able to visit our store in Jacksonville, casting lessons and gear inspection, if needed, will all be part of our pre-trip package. Gear for the trip: Rods: The giant peacock bass of the Marié river are called Tucunare, or of the logs by the indigenous fishermen. These fish live near sheltering logs and sunken trees and when hooked will head back for cover. Rods used for these fish should have plenty of backbone and lifting power. We recommend fastaction rods with a strong butt section such as the latest Sage rods. Salt or Method, or even their Peacock, Pike or Musky models. Bring at least three fly rods rigged with an assortment of fly lines to be able to cover all situations, from surface to deeper waters. Matti used three Salt rods, one 9 weight and two 10 s rigged to cover all types of waters. His go-to rod and line was a 10 weight Salt with a RIO floating/ intermediate Tropical Outbound Short line. Reels: These Peacocks are as close to saltwater brutes as you can find! Do not skimp on the quality of your reels as they will be tested. Tibor, Nautilus, and Hatch reels were favored amongst guests. Matti used his trusted Tibor Riptide and it handled the task superbly. Backing should be no less than 30# test of a quality brand.
Fly Lines: The fly lines should be selected carefully as they have become so important for all day accuracy, speed and comfort. The RIO Tropical Outbound Short family of lines has proven itself in the Amazonian tropical heat and comes in different densities to cover most situations. Rio Tropical Outbound Short Floating: Perfect for casting large streamers near the surface for flats fishing near the banks and for throwing large poppers. Rio Tropical Outbound Short -F/I: Is a weight forward floating line with a 30 foot intermediate head. Sink rate is 1.5 ips. Rio Tropical Outbound Short - I/S6 : Is a weight forward intermediate line with 30 ft of S6 sinking line. Sink Rate is 1.5 to 6 ips. For Fast sinking lines in case of high water or for reaching deeper channels, the Rio Leviathan 26ft sinking lines have been very useful especially in 250-400gr line weights.
Tippet: Yes, these fish will destroy your best tied leaders so do not build intricate knotted leaders. A 6-8 foot section of straight 40-50 pound test fluorocarbon is all that is needed. When fishing poppers, a 40 pound test mono line is recommended. These fish need to be coached out of their habitat by sheer strength. Clamping down and holding the line tight is often necessary to move them out into friendlier territory. If they run in the open, fight them with a tight drag. They are powerful fish and should not be given an inch at the onset. Flies: Flies should be brightly colored and designed to push water. Flies in chartreuse, orange, yellow and red, sometimes all four colors, with a hint of green will work wonders. Flies with black vertical bands, rattles, and flash are also successful. Hooks should be strong. Tiemco 600 SP, Gamakatsu SL 12s, and Owner Aki are all great hooks. Poppers should be big and noisy. Large Pole dancers in sizes 6/0 worked very well last year. Blackfly will carry a selection of the required gear and flies. An extended gear list will be provided well ahead of your travel time. Call us or email Matti for more details. blackfly.matti@gmail.com