ECOLODGE DA BARRA *Amazon-angler.com’s *1 choice for fly and lure fishing.
The ECOLODGE DA BARRA was founded by a group of hardcore anglers who joined forces to provide adventure-seeking anglers with the best infrastructure for fishing in South America. Apart from being the only mobile floating Lodge in Brazil, it also provides the most modern and up-to-date comfortable, intillegent and ecologicallyminded approach to sportfishing. The ECOLODGE DA BARRA is located where the Rio Tapajós is formed, at the confluence of the Rio Teles Pires and Juruena, presenting an enormous area to fish for over 20 species of sportfish. * This fantastic floating Hotel/Lodge gets our #1 thumbs up for the angler who wants complete comfort and pampering while able to catch a bundle of big fish. In Amazon-Angler.com’s honest opinion, we would classify this amazing floating hotel and fishing trip as our top 5* destination.
THE FISHING SEASON: for fly and lure fishing, we recommend end May – November. In this particularly productive and varied watershed, there is a huge diversity of species to be caught.
In this particularly productive and varied watershed, there is a huge diversity of species to be caught. With over 150 lakes and lagoons, three main rivers and many other tributaries, this is a huge fishing area. Lure fishing - great top water and subsurface action with big C. pinima Peacock Bass, Arowana, Bicuda and other species using Prop baits, poppers and stick baits/Spooks in the many lagoons and lakes, against the submerged trees, off points and sand bars, along the banks and all over the river system and tributaries. Excellent subsurface action can also be had for big Cichla pinima Peacock Bass, Payara/Vampire fish, Arowana, Bicuda and other species
Fly fishing – fly fishing at this destination is the very best that we have ever experienced at any lodge and anglers can target huge Peacock Bass, Payara, Arowana, Bicuda and may other species in the lakes, river, rapids and tributaries. A particularly favourite method is sight casting from the many beaches and sand bars. Faster species found in or near rapids and fast water, like Bicuda and Payara, (there are even Peacock Bass behind the rocks in the fast water) will rip line off your reel at a blistering pace and stripping gloves should be worn to avoid cuts and burns.
CATFISH: SEASON: for Cats, we recommend April – July and October - December There are many hard-fighting and beautifully-marked species of Cats to target and to keep our anglers occupied all day long! Some of the toughest include two species of Surubim/Shovelnosed Cats which will readily take lures and flies as well as cutbaits,
big run-away train Redtails, Flat-whiskered Barbado or Barba Chata that fight twice their weight,
Jundia/Leopards that are the tastiest Cats in the world, chunky Golden Dourada Cats, big tough Jau, Piranambu, the Leviathan Freshwater Shark/Piraiba and much more.
WILDLIFE With an endless diversity of flora and fauna around every corner, the Amazon Rainforest is a professional and amateur photographer’s dream. Around every corner there is something new to discover. Most terrestrial dwellers like Jaguars, Peccaries, Wild Boars, Agoutis are nocturnal but are sometimes seen crossing the river, specially Tapirs. Pink ‘Boto’ Dolphins can be seen chasing bait or waiting around your boat for any fish action!
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. Giant Amazonian Otters or Arriranhas group together in large families and will fiercely protect their territory.
Birds of every shape, color and size can be seen everywhere throughout these watersheds and many species of Parrots are heard all day long. 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.
TACKLE TALK * The Hotel has gear to lend to all our anglers on a ‘you break or lose, you pay’ basis and there is also a shop for any tackle, garments and more items if needing to buy. We suggest our anglers bring the following gear for our trips: RODS AND REELS 2 x Medium-Heavy and 1 x Heavy 6’6”-7’6” bait casting or spinning rods with bait casting or spinning reels with capacity of min. 120m of 50-65lb braid. These outfits will handle casting and using Rippers, Spooks and subsurface lures like minnow baits and jerk baits and the bigger prop baits respectively. 1 x Medium or Medium/Light 6’6”-7’6” spinning rod matched spinning reel with capacity for min.120m of 30lb braid. This much lighter outfit will give your arms and wrists a rest and will allow you to easily use jigs and smaller minnow baits. For fly fishermen, 7-9 wt fly rods should be matched with good, smooth drag system reels and loaded with a tropical 200 grain sinking, a tropical intermediate and a tropical floating fly lines, all with at least 100m of 30lb backing. 2-2.5m 50lb fluorocarbon and 50cms 30lb fluoro tippet tied directly to the fly line can be used for leaders. We advise a good pair of stripping gloves unless you want another lifeline burnt into your palm!! *Always bring spare line and a multi-tool.
CATFISH RIGS Simple rigs with a heavier bait casting set-up or a more traditional heavier Cat Fish rod and 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 8/0 - 10/0 circle or J hook on the other is all that is needed. The hook is baited with fish cut bait and lobbed out into a deep hole.
LURES All manner of lures will catch many species of predators as well as some of the mighty Cats as well! We suggest the following list to bring: 5-6 x mixed prop baits like the 4” and 5” Hell Cat Propbaits than can be ripped across the surface in a steady cadence, ‘rip, pause, rip, pause’, all the way back to the boat. 5-6 x small, medium and the larger saltwater Hell Walkers and other smallmedium cigar-shaped stick baits like Rapala X Walks are used with a walkthe-dog, side to side, swishing action that ‘sways’ the lure like a snake across the water. This is a more subtle, quieter lure used when predators are being less aggressive. 2-3 x small and medium Poppers can also work well and if used properly, they catch a good number of big fish. They should spit and gurgle and spray water in front, rather than ‘bloop’ or ‘pop’ and the best we have found is the Skitter Pop or the Saltwater Chug Bug skimmed along the surface or quickly popped. Peacocks, Matrinxã, Bicudas etc. slam these.
5-6 x small minnow, crank and jerk baits will always work well in most situations and our choices are shallow running 4-5” Hell Jerks, Rapala X Raps, Rattle Traps, Cotton Cordell Redfins and Yozuri Crystal minnows and Tobimarus. 10-20 x Stevie Stinger or similar bucktail jigs with extended tails. They are cast and fast-stripped back to the boat (not jigged on the bottom). Jigs are the most productive weapons in any tackle box for Peacock Bass and other predators and Amazon-Angler.com’s #1 go-to lure. 2-3 deep diving lures to get into shoals of marauding Payaras and Corvinas and other deeper predators.
FLIES There are many species that can be caught with flies, including big Peacock Bass, Payara/Vampire Fish, Bicuda, and more. Fly patterns for most of these Amazonian predators, in general are either tied in 4-6” long-profile streamer flies with lots of flash, with or 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 over-elaborate fly patterns as Piranhas will eat plenty!! Go simple!
CLOTHES There is a strict weight limit of 15kgs (33lbs) per angler for all charters 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 long tropical pants (zip-offs are a good idea and can also be used as travel pants), 2 x tropical long-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 jacket and 2 x pairs of polarised sunglasses (in case you lose a pair). There is daily laundry so don’t overpack.
OTHER RECOMMENDED GEAR It gets hot out there in the full sun, often over 90áľ’F, so come well protected with good-quality sun-block with at least 50-75 SPF. Lip cream is essential. We fish in areas that have some insect activity, so bring a high DEET content insect repellent just in case (in the high season there are piums or no-see-ums). We suggest bringing our own home-brew recipe of 50% Baby Oil, 50% Dettol with a few drops of Citronella! 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. Lightweight digital camera. Computer or iPad/Notepad (Free WiFi is provided at the Hotel for full internet service) Multi-tool Boga Grip or similar fish holding/weighing device.
TRANSFERS, SCHEDULES AND COSTS
Friday: arrival in Manaus, Brazil. Transfer Eduardo Gomes International Airport to Hotel and overnight stay in Manaus. Saturday: 7.00 am transfer from Hotel to Flores Local Airport. 8.30 am Private plane Cessna 208 Grand Caravan to Ecolodge, with an expected arrival at 10.30. After lunch, anglers will have free time to get unpacked, get their gear ready for next day’s fishing, relax and have a few drinks. Sunday - Friday: 6 full day of fishing (6.00am to 6.00pm). Saturday: check out at 10.00 am. Air taxi boarding at 11.00 am to Manaus with an expected arrival at 1.00 pm. Transfer from Flores Local Airport to Eduardo Gomes International Airport for flight home.
COST ………………………… £3970 (prices can vary with exchange rate at time of booking) based on double occupancy (additional 50% for single supplement with own apartment, guide and own boat) Included: 1 night in Manaus, 6 full days of fishing; 7 nights at the Lodge, based on double occupancy; all meals while at Hotel; open bar; return flights MAO/Ecolodge/MAO; daily laundry; fishing licenses, guided fishing (2 anglers/ boat); overnight at Hotel in city 1st night on arrival; airport assistance and transfers. Not included: International and National air transportation to and from cities to Manaus in Brazil, unless specified above; tipping; passports; visas (US residents need to apply for Visas for entry into Brazil while EU residents do NOT need a visa to enter); meals in the city or elsewhere other than at the Hotel; costs associated with medical advice and medications for your trip; other hotel stays (if necessary) elsewhere. A 50% deposit is required to reserve places when booking. The remaining payment is due 90 days before actual trip starts. **A 15kg weight allowance on loaded is the limit allowed on each trip on the internal flight. There is no need to over-pack as laundry is done daily.
www.Amazon-Angler.com steve@amazon-angler.com USA toll free (9am – 5pm) ET 1 866 920 2814 Europe +351 917812328