Rio Juruena Lodge, Isla Estirão - Brazil The Rio Juruena Lodge is located on the Isla Estirão in the Amazon Jungle, in the North of the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The Rio Juruena is 1240kms long and crosses the State of Mato Grosso to its border with the Amazon, where it flows into the Rio Teles Pires in the State of Pará, forming the Rio Tapajôs, which eventually flows into the Amazon River proper. The lodge was constructed in total eco-harmony with the beautiful surrounding scenery and provides every amenity than can be offered in the middle of the Amazon jungle, providing our guest with an unforgettable experience. There are 10 air-conditioned apartments comfortably accommodating 24 anglers in double and triple rooms with en-suite bathrooms. There is a large covered and screened terraced area complete with BBQ, a TV room with DVD, stereo and fans where our guests can relax after a full day of fishing. This totally unspoilt river consists of fast cascades and currents, deep holes and hundreds of islands of jungle trees, rocks and boulders, creating an amazing habitat for literally hundreds of fish species, giving our anglers the chance to try out many different fishing techniques. Our Mission is simple - to offer our anglers and friends a great fishing experience combined with quality accommodation and cuisine to remember for a long time. The Rio Juruena has many different species. Cats include big Jau, Redtails, spotted and striped Surubim, Flat-whiskered Cats ( Giant Piraiba sometime put in an appearance), with hard fighting predators like Payara/Vampire Fish, Matrinchã, Peacock Bass, Trairão/Wolf Fish, Pescada/Corvina, Bicuda, Pacu, Piranha, Tambaqui and many others. Wolf Fish are particularly abundant here and have been caught by anglers to over 50lbs. The local Indians have caught them way bigger with more traditional methods.The guides at the Juruena Lodge are all very experienced and native to the area and can provide our anglers with the best fishing in the region. One of the most amazing parts of the world is undoubtedly the impressive waterfall at Salto Augusto, 600m wide and 19m high. In the drier months, the volume of water is reduced to two channels only 40m wide. It is the largest waterfall in all the Brazilian Amazon. This is undoubtedly an unforgettable trip to make (see separate costs on the transfers, schedules and costs page for a day trip, leaving early in the morning and returning late afternoon).
Seasons of the Juruena The Rio Juruena is well-known for its large diversity of fish species. Throughout the year the river and its characteristics changes considerably. In the high-water season the river rises. At the height of the dry season, the river turns around, the rapids are even more challenging and the water becomes clean and brimming with life. From October through November the rains arrive, usually with heavy bursts in the late afternoon. With the rain, jungle flowers and fruits begin to appear. This is the ideal time for fishing with baits that mimics falling fruits. Matrinx達, Tambaqui and Pacu are among many species that are opportunistic feeders and often make up large schools under trees like Cashews, waiting for fruit to drop into the river. Great sport on light tackle and flies!
In the months of December, January and February, the rains intensify. Heavy downpours can last for hours at a time. The level of the river rises above the banks and overflows into the surrounding forest. Species like the Trair達o/Wolf Fish and Peacock Bass will follow the baitfish into the jungle making them very difficult to catch. In the rainy season, Catfish venture out of their haunts and are more spread around the river.
April and May mark the final months of the rainy season. This is the start of the season for Payara/Vampire Fish, Bicuda, Surubim Tigers and other predators while the bigger Cats like Redtails, Piraiba, Jau, and Jundia/Leopards and also Silver Drum/Pescada are found in the deeper holes. The months of June, July, August and September mark the dry season for the region. During this period the rains stop and the river drops to its lowest levels. In the clear water, anglers can easily see large shoals of fish on the bottom and around the rocks. This is the time when most of the predatory species become more active and abundant, especially Peacock Bass, Payara, Wolf Fish and Bicuda while most of the Cats stay more restricted to deeper points and holes. Peacock Bass and Wolf Fish will hit artificial baits with abandon, especially surface prop baits and spook-type lures. Tambaqui, Matrinchรก and Pacu will now attack lures and flies as the trees will not be producing any forage for them.
Tackle Talk We suggest the following gear for the Rio Juruena: RODS AND REELS 2 x Medium 6’6”-7’6” bait casting or spinning rods with bait casting or spinning reels with capacity of min. 120m of 20-30lb braid. These outfits will handle casting and using medium surface lures like Spooks and small prop baits, subsurface lures like minnow baits and jerk. 1 x Medium/Light 6’6”-7’6” spinning rod matched with a spinning reel with capacity for min. 120m of 10-20lb braid. This much lighter outfit will give your arms and wrists a rest and will allow you to easily use jigs, smaller minnow baits and also fruits and nuts. For fly fishermen, 6-8 wt fly rods should be matched with good, smooth drag system reels and loaded with tropical, fast-sinking 100-200 grain, intermediate and also floating fly lines, all with at least 100m of 30lb backing. 1.5m-2m of 10-20lb straight nylon tied straight to the fly line can be used for leaders. Use a short wire leader for the toothier critters. CATFISH AND WOLF FISH RIGS Simple rigs with a heavy bait casting set-up or a more traditional heavier Cat fish rod and larger capacity bait runner reel, matched with 65-80lb braided line, a 2-6 oz egg sinker, 1 ½ ft of stiff 80-100lbs wire leader (against the Piranhas!) attached to a strong swivel at one end and a 6/0 - 10/0 circle or ‘J’ hook on the other is all that is needed (try to avoid anything silver or flashy as Piranhas will annihilate rigs). The hook is baited with fish cut bait and lobbed out into a deep hole. When using circle hook rigs there is no need to strike as the Cat will hook itself when it runs with the bait, with a 100% hook up rate and always in the corner of the mouth. Just raise the rod slowly and reel down onto the fish, not striking, for a good hook set!
Lures Small prop baits like the 4.25” Caribe Pavon Props, 4.25” K Lures Props and 4” Highroller Riprollers than can be ripped across the surface in a steady cadence, ‘rip, pause, rip, pause’, all the way back to the boat. Great Peacock Bass prospecting lures. Medium-sized Spooks, Rapala Skitter Walks and other small-medium cigar-shaped stick baits are used with a walk-the-dog, side to side, swishing action that ‘sways’ the lure like a snake across the water. This is a more subtle lure used for Peacocks, Wolf Fish and Bicuda. Small-medium Poppers can also work well and if used properly, they catch a good number of big fish and should spit and gurgle and spray water in front, and also ‘bloob’ or ‘pop’. The best poppers we have found are the Skitter Pop and the Chug Bug skimmed along the surface or popped. Small-medium 4-6” Minnow baits and crank baits will always work well in most situations and our choices are shallow running 4-6” Rapala X Raps, X Rap Sub Walk, Rattle Traps and Yozuri Crystal minnows and Tobimarus. Good lures for all predators. Small - medium deeper diving lures always do well for Payara and Bicuda in the faster current. Crank them fast to get down to depth quickly. Bucktail jigs like the 1/2oz Stevie Stinger Peacock Bass Jigs or similar, but with extended tails. Our 10 best producing colours are as per the photo at the bottom right of this page. They are cast and stripped back to the boat (not jigged on the bottom). Great lures for Peacocks, Payara, Bicudas etc.
Flies The clear waters in this part of the Rio Azul are just perfect for driftfishing down the many rock-strewn stretches with beaches, pockets, points and glides. Peacock Bass, Bicuda and Wolf Fish can be caught in the shallow parts while the bigger Payara are in the deeper pools, below rapids and cascades. While targeting Peacock Bass, Payara and Bicuda with long streamers and poppers, smaller ones will also catch Pacu, Jacunda and Matrincha. Often a simple hook with a small fruit or nut can be cast on a fly rod!
Fly patterns for most of these Amazon predators are either tied in 4-6” long-profile streamer flies with lots of flash, with and without weighted eyes or popper-type surface flies that provide plenty of noise and action. Usually a fast strip is used on streamer flies and a series of gentle, constant ‘spits’ for surface flies. Don’t waste too much time on too elaborate fly patterns as Piranhas will eat plenty!! Go simple!
Wildlife With an endless diversity of flora and fauna around every corner, this crystal-clear river is a professional and amateur photographer’s dream. Around every bend of the river there is something new to discover. Most terrestrial dwellers like Jaguars, Tapirs, Peccaries, Capybaras, Wild Boars and Agoutis are nocturnal but are sometimes seen crossing the river.
Monkeys are plentiful in this region and Howler Monkeys are always somewhere in the background high up in the canopies growling and howling like banshees to any animal or human entering their area. Giant Amazonian Otters group together and will fiercely defend their territory. They bark at any intruder in their ‘space’ and are prolific hunters. Birds of every shape, color and size can be seen everywhere throughout these watersheds and many species of Parrots are heard all day long fighting over space and territory. Toucans call to each other from the treetops like yipping puppies and Herons, Egrets, Kingfishers, Terns and Ospreys frequent these river banks in search of fish to catch.
Clothes We recommend clients follow the list of items below to keep it simple. Laundry is done daily, so only one or two changes of clothes are needed at camp. Clothes for the jungle are shorts or long pants, a shirt and a hat!! One change of clothes can be used for travelling. For travelling: 1 x pair lightweight shoes, socks, underwear, light jacket, 1 x light shirt and long cargo pants with pockets for documents, money, passport etc. This outfit can also serve as fishing clothes to save on additional weight.
For fishing: 1 x wide brimmed hat or fishing cap with neck cape, 2 x lightweight tropical shorts or long tropical pants (zip-off’s are a good idea and can also be used as travel pants), 2 x tropical long or short-sleeved shirts with pockets (can also be used as travel shirt), 1 x pair of either CROCS, sandals or similar comfortable boat shoes, 1 x lightweight rain suit/jacket and 2 x pairs of polarised sunglasses (in case you lose one pair) and stripping gloves if fly fishing.
Other Recommended Gear It gets hot out there in the full sun, often over 90ᵒF, so come well protected with good-quality sun-block with at least 50-75 SPF. Lip cream is essential. We fish in some areas that have minor insect activity, so bring a high DEET content insect repellent just in case. Bring any personal medications and allow for headaches, stomach upsets, fevers, infections, allergies etc. And also personal toiletries, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, shaving gear etc. A small amount of talcum powder is a good asset in the jungle for those hidden, sweaty areas! Reading books/magazines/Kindle, pen and paper for notes. Small torch/headlight and spare batteries Lightweight digital camera. Satellite phone can be rented quite cheaply in your home should you wish to keep ‘in touch’ with family or the office while away. Multi-tool Boga Grip or similar fish holding/weighing device. Remember, they’ve all got teeth so keep your hands away from their mouths as much as possible.
Transfers, Schedule and Costs
Day 1: Anglers will fly to Alta Floresta. *Transfer by A/C 4 x 4 vehicle drive to the river and a further 2hr by boat to the lodge or charter flight directly from Alta Floresta to an airstrip and onwards by boat (separate costs below). Days 2-6: 5 full days guided fishing. Day 7: *Transfer back to Alta Floresta and onward flights home.
COST ......................... $3750 per angler (50% off for children under 12)
+ R$2000 (*approx. $900/£550) car transfer for up to 4 people or R$6000 (*approx. $2700/£1650) for private charter flight up to 4 persons. All transfer costs will be divided by amount of anglers, up to 4 anglers per car and plane. Above costs including all food and beverages (except spirits) while at the lodge and while fishing, six nights at the lodge and five days guided fishing. Not included are visas, international and domestic flights, transfer to lodge, laundry (charged for by each piece) meals and drinks while not at the lodge, any tips, hard liquor, fishing licenses, fishing gear, lures, jigs, live bait etc. Terms and conditions of payments: 50% as deposit on reservation, 50% due 90 days before trip commences. *THIS DESTINATION IS IDEAL FOR FAMILIES AND SMALL GROUPS.
www.Amazon-Angler.com steve@amazon-angler.com USA toll free 1 866 920 2814 Europe +44 (0)1832 275995 or +351 917812328