49 minute read
Scotland
from Sportfishing Adventures - Issue 13 | Q1 2021
by Sportfishing Adventures - The world's best fishing destinations
SCOTLAND CHASING SCOTTISH SILVER
Text and photos by Samantha Datta
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A fresh river Tay salmon.
For many anglers that fish for Atlantic Salmon, Scotland is the Holy grail when it comes to salmon fishing destinations. Scotland has an abundance of rivers from which these magnificent fish can be caught. When you combine this with the beautiful, rugged scenery and rich salmon fishing history it’s easy to see why Scotland is such a firm favourite among the salmon fishing fraternity.
Many anglers that come to salmon fish in Scotland have one goal at the forefront of their minds. That is to catch a spring salmon on the fly. Spring salmon fishing in Scotland especially early in the season is not for the fainthearted. The weather can be inhospitable and there is often not an abundance of fish in many of the rivers but the
The start of the salmon fishing season in Scotland varies depending on the individual river.
Downstream view from the cottage on the River Dee.
fish that are there are usually large and extremely powerful. This is what makes catching a spring salmon on the fly the ultimate achievement in our sport.
The start of the salmon fishing season in Scotland varies depending on the individual river. Some rivers like the mighty River Tay, Thurso and Helmsdale open in mid-January. Even though fishing at this time of year is classified as spring fish in reality your fishing in the depths of winter. As we move into February many more salmon rivers open including the Dee, Spey and Tweed amongst others. Traditionally the spring season runs from January or February (depending on the river) through until the end of May. As you enter March as each week goes by, more and more fish enter Scotland’s salmon rivers and usually April and May are the prime spring months on most rivers. So, what are the secrets behind hooking and landing one of these magnificent creatures? Many anglers believe there is a magic formula when it comes to catching Scottish spring salmon. This
A fresh spring salmon (a fish which has been in the river for no longer than 48 hours) is naturally quite aggressive and inquisitive.
Splashing action for this client.
Beautiful closeup shot of a fresh river Tweed salmon.
Peace, tranquillity and relaxation come as standard on a Scottish salmon fishing holiday!
is of course not the case. In fact, spring salmon are actually quite easy to catch. A fresh spring salmon (a fish which has been in the river for no longer than 48 hours) is naturally quite aggressive and inquisitive. This is one of the characteristics, which make them such good takers of the fly. However, because these fish are fewer in number than their summer or autumn counterparts they can be very difficult to find. Usually during the early part of the season water levels can be quite high and so this can make finding the fish even more difficult. Often it is about covering as much water as possible and fishing at the adequate depth. These two factors can be vital when it comes to being successful in the quest of chasing a Scottish spring salmon.
As we have already mentioned locating the fish is more than half the battle. Once the fish is located then there is a good chance it will take a fly, especially if has only just entered the river. Therefore, as anglers, it is so important to try and cover as much ground as possible. Usually, there is no point in fishing one pool for hours. Instead, it is better to fish four or five pools through the course of a day. This ensures that you have covered the water and increases the likelihood of locating a fish. Another important factor is to consider is the depth and speed at which your fly is moving through the water. Usually, during the spring months, water temperatures are low. This is mainly because of the reduced hours of daylight and melting snow.
When the water is cold fish tend to lie close to the riverbed. So, it is imperative that your fly is fishing at an adequate depth and close to the bottom. It is very unlikely when the water is cold that a salmon will come up to the surface to take a fly. Getting your fly to fish at the adequate depth can be achieved by either using a weighted tube fly or using an intermediate or sinking fly line and sometimes a combination of both.
However, it is not only depth which bis important. The speed at which your fly is moving through the water can also be critical. During the early part of the season, salmon are not keen on moving quickly or long distances to chase a fly. So often it is about getting your fly to swing around in the current at a slow steady speed. This not only means that the fish
Spring showing up slowly on the famous river Tweed.
don’t have to travel quickly to intercept the fly but also, they have adequate time to see it. The speed at which your fly swings around in the current can be easily varied by mending the fly line or changing the angle of your cast.
When it comes to salmon flies, each angler has their own favourites. However, it is important not to be too subtle when it comes to fly selection. Usually, during the spring months, water levels are high and water temperatures are low making a weighted tube fly often perfect for the job. The heavier tube fly will sink better and fish closer to the river bed where the fish are most likely to be. Also, when you chose the fly pattern it is important to be bold. So, using colours that show up well in the water can be important. If your fly is highly visible in the water it is more likely to catch the attention of a spring salmon. Another factor that effects fly visibility is of course the fly size. It is always better to be a size too big then a size too small. The larger the fly the more likely the fish are to see it. As we already mentioned the fresh springer is by nature quite aggressive and so will usually not be put off by a slightly larger fly. It is better that the fish see the fly than not see it all.
One last effort and this river Tweed salmon will be in the net!
A beautiful Scottish male about to be released.
Finally, we come to tackle. This of course includes the all-important fly rod and reel. Scottish spring salmon are often very large and have unparalleled power which tests the angler and their tackle in equal measure. If you’re lucky enough to hook a spring salmon you want to make sure that you have every chance of landing the fish. Of course, as we all know there is no exact science to landing salmon and many are lost during a long and hard fight often due to no fault of the angler. However, there are a few things as an angler you can do to ensure that the odds are tilted in your favour.
Firstly you want to make sure that you have a powerful double-handed fly rod. This ensures that once battle ensues you are in control of the fish and not the other way around. Having a strong powerful rod can allow better control of the fish and can stop it from maybe running into the next pool or down some rapids which can often lead to a very unhappy ending.
The fly reel is also very important. As we have already
This is where these amazing creatures get all their power from!
mentioned the Scottish springer can be extremely powerful and once hooked it’s important to be able to be in control of the fish as soon as possible. It is therefore good to have a reel with an adequate and reliable drag system which will help tire the fish during the fight. The backing capacity of the reel is also important. Often early during the fight, salmon can make enormous powerful runs downstream and if your reel does not hold adequate amounts of backing then the result is unthinkable.
When it comes to terminal tackle, it is good to use nylon with a decent breaking strain. At this time of year usually, the water is quite high so there is no need to use lighter nylon. It is good to opt for breaking strain around fifteen to eighteen pounds. This will
not only ensure that there is less chance of losing a fish especially if it gets tangled in debris during the fight but it will also help to cast heavier tube flies. So, as you can see there is no real secret when it comes to catching that elusive Scottish spring salmon. It’s more about doing the simple things well. Locating a fresh spring salmon is more than half the battle as usually they are such good takers and this is done by covering as much water as possible. Once located, if you use a fly which is fishing at an adequate depth and speed and highly visible there is a good chance that your fly line will tighten before all hell breaks loose! If you use tackle that is up to the job when it comes to a powerful rod and a good reliable reel then there is a greater likelihood of landing the fish. Chasing Scottish silver is a truly special experience and, in many ways, the ultimate challenge in our sport. It is like a drug which is why anglers return to Scotland year after year for their hit. If you are successful in your quest it will be a salmon fishing experience that will live with you forever
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Samantha Datta is a very keen salmon fisher, angling writer and also Director of Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland. For more information about salmon fishing in Scotland please visit: www.salmonfishingholidaysscotland.com
CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMEMBER JIM WOOD INTRODUCES AB 817 TO ESTABLISH A 365-DAY STATE FISHING LICENSE AND CREATE A MOBILE APP TO MAKE FISHING EASIER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE February 16th, 2021: California Assemblymember Jim Wood abandon its antiquated fishing license sales system,” Wood said. “Modernizing this to a full 365-day license the state’s population has increased over 60 percent since that time, Wood said. ‘In 2020, California fishing (D-Santa Rosa) has intro- from the date of purchase license sales spiked upward duced legislation that would will encourage more Cali- due to increased participation transition California’s calen- fornians to fish and increase in angling activities brought dar-based fishing license to fishing license revenues that about by the Covid-19 pandeone that’s valid for 365 days fund critical state fishing and mic, but the long-term trend from the date of purchase. conservation programs.” is still downward.” The bill would also include a mobile phone app designed to “Prior to 2020, annual li- In fact, while California has make fishing easier and more cense sales had experienced a population of more than accessible for more people. a decline starting in 1980 to 39.8 million people, one of “It’s time for California to the tune of 55 percent, while the country’s longest coast-
lines, more than 3,000 lakes and thousands of rivers and streams, it has the lowest fishing participation rate per capita in the country. A leading contributor to declining fishing participation rates is costly fishing licenses that are not valid for a full 365 days from the date of purchase. “Past bipartisan support underscores the recognition by members of the State Legislature that California’s outdated sport fishing license system does not properly serve anglers in the Golden State,” said Wayne Kotow, Executive Director of CCA CAL. “Providing anglers access to a fishing license that provides greater value and technology that makes fishing more accessible is long overdue.”
“This bill also complements the current California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) R3 program,” Kotow added. “R3 stands for Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation of California anglers , and what better way to achieve these goals than to boost the value of a license purchased by an angler? It’s kind of a no-brainer.” This is not the first attempt to pass such a bill in California. Just last year, Assembly Bill 1387, also proposed by Wood to establish a 365-day license, was taken off the docket in the fall legislative session due to COVID-19. Similar bills in years past also failed to pass, despite the fact that 14 other states have now transitioned to a 365-day license. According to Rob Southwick and Associates, a national marketing and economics firm which analyses fishing license sales throughout the country, their analysis suggests that states that offer a 365-day license are outperforming revenue of states that only offer a calendar-based license.
The proposed bill would also
require the CDFW to create an app by which anglers can display sport fishing and hunting licenses on mobile devices. Several other states offer mobile phone apps that provide anglers information on fishing locations, regulations, fish stocking schedules, campground reservations and more. The bill would also allow anglers to sign up for automatic license renewals. Under the bill’s language, there will be no increase in the fee charged for the 365day license versus a calendar license, and if passed, the 365-day license would go into effect on January 1, 2022. California’s sport fishing license remains among the costliest in the country, second only to the State of Washington. Since 1986, the price of California’s resident annual fishing license has increased 216 percent, which is 41 percent greater than the rate of inflation. Today, the license costs 110 percent over the national average. California’s 1 million recreational anglers contribute over $4.6 billion annually to California’s economy, a major contributor to outdoor tourism and jobs.
Wood was elected in 2014 and represents Assembly District 2, a Northern California district including 300 miles of coastline and many state parks, lakes, rivers and streams. To learn more about AB 817, visit ccacalifornia.org
MORE ABOUT CCA CAL
The Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL) was created in 2015 when recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts came together to work for the conservation and enhancement of our marine resources and coastal environments.
«Today, we are working to protect not only the health, habitat and sustainability of our marine resources, but also the interests of recreational saltwater anglers. Our goal is to protect your access to the marine resources you cherish and enjoy everyday. CCA CAL consists of 2,300 members spread across 6 local chapters in Southern California.»
SWEDEN MULTI-SPECIES ON THE FLY
Text by Rudy van Duijnhoven, pictures by Rudy van Duijnhoven and Leon Godijk
One of the holiday apartments of Riverwild in Färila.
It takes about a day by car to reach the fishing areas in the middle of Sweden, once you have left the harbour of Göteborg behind you, from the Stockholm airport it is just a few hours driving. Whatever way you choose, be prepared to fish new and exciting waters for trout, grayling, pike and perch every day.
On a Saturday in June some years ago, I took the Ferry Kiel - Göteborg together with Leon Godijk to explore, for the first time, some new waters in Sweden for Cordes Travel, a Dutch fishing travel agency. Our first stop was at Riverwild in Färila that has its apartments and cabins just a short distance from the River Ljusnan. The camp is open from May 15th until October 15th. Riverwild has five cabins of some fifteen square meters, each with four beds, a kitchenette, kitchen equipment, running cold water and drain. Covers
Exclusive lodgings are available in the Sauna cabin located privately on the shore of the Ljusnan river.
Leon Godijk into a fish on the River Leån.
and pillow are included, and bedding can be rented. The Systerbo Cabin is larger, offering a kitchen, living room and a small bedroom, shower and WC. The kitchen has an oven, microwave oven, refrigerator and freezer, plus needed kitchen equipment. The living room has a convertible sofa, TV and wood-fired stove, while the bedroom has a bunk bed.
Exclusive lodgings are available in the Sauna cabin located privately on the shore of the Ljusnan river. This cabin has a kitchen, running hot and cold water, a double bed that can be lowered, an extra bed if needed, shower and, of course, a sauna. There is a separate toilet outside the cabin. Riverwild can also rent out a wilderness hot tub for ten persons located near the river. Finally Riverwild has six sites for caravans with electricity.
Fishing in the area The river in this area holds
The Ängraån runs right beside the Wildlife Sweden Camp.
A nice trout from Gommorstjärnen caught close to the bear observation cabin.
grayling and trout in the faster stretches, while pike and perch are the main species in the slower, deeper parts of the river. Perch and pike can also be found in a lot of the lakes in the area, these waters also hold roach, ide and bream. For more fishing information, visit www.ljusdalsfvo.se and www.farilafiske.se. With guide Micke Hansson we made a visit on the first day to two sections of the River Leån (sounds like Leon), a river of some ten kilometres in length that runs between two lakes. The river was still running higher than normal (summer had only just started there...) which made it hard to reach the fish at several spots. We had a few nice grayling, one brown trout and a large number of small perch came to take our nymphs, emergers and dry flies. It was an overcast day with a bit of rain, but the temperature was comfortable enough. We did need DEET however to keep the midges at a distance…
Wading and boating The next day we fished on the Ljusnan River in front of the Riverwild Campground. Using Teeny Nymph Lines and nymphs we hooked a good number of grayling and perch in some of the dee-
Pike lake near Wildlife Sweden . The main season for fishing for pike is in spring and autumn.
per, not too fast runs. There was some misunderstanding concerning our fishing guide on this day, but at least we had one booked for the next day when we wanted to go after pike on some quiet stretches of the river with a boat.
With fishing guide Roger Pekkala, Leon Godijk and myself tried for pike for some hours the following day. We fished from a rowing boat at a slow flowing and at places deep stretch of the River Ljusnan upstream from Riverwild Fishing & Lodging. The pike did not want to come out and play, it seemed, we had a few fish following our streamers and we landed one small fish but other than that it remained rather quiet. The shallower parts of the stream are full of water-plants, which should be perfect hiding places for the pike. We fished there and in the deeper parts as well, but apparently the pike were just not active. That same afternoon we drove to our next stop during our trip, the Wildlife Sweden Camp of Marco Hassoldt in Kårbole.
Staying at Wildlife Sweden Staying at Camp Ängra is possible on three different
A wide section of the Ljusnan River close to Wildlife Sweden.
The Harmånger River in front of Kustleden holds good-sized grayling, pike and seatrout as well in the season.
You will need a boat to fly-fish for pike on the wide, deep stretches of the Ljusnan River.
ways: the camp has two cosy and modern, apartments. Both apartments have a kitchen, a bathroom, two bedrooms and a living room with fireplace. In the apartment ‘Järven’ there is place for up to seven persons.
There is one bedroom with two single beds which can be put together as a double and one bedroom with one single bed and a two bunks. In apartment ‘Mården’ there is room for up to five people. There is one bedroom with two single beds which can be put together as a double and one bedroom with one single bed and one bunk. In the typical Swedish landhouse of Wildlife Sweden there are two guest rooms. Both guest rooms are available for B&B or full service. In the family room there is one double bed and a bunk. In the other room there are three single beds available.
On the camping-field, which lays direct beside the beautiful river Ängraån, Wildlife Sweden has twenty places where you can put your tent, caravan or camper. On the field there is a fireplace where you can grill your fish or sausage, or just sit around and enjoy. All places have 230 Volt hook-up and there is a sanitary cabin with two showers and two toilets.
Of bears and fishing With Erik Vork and Leon Godijk I fished on lake Gommorstjärnen on the first day of our stay at Wildlife Swe-
den, the lake where the bear observation cabin of Wildlife Sweden is to be found on the water as well. We had a super day fishing mainly dry flies and streamers, the trout were rising freely to the large brown mayflies that were hatching. The lake holds a good population of wild brown trout, some char, roach and rainbow trout; the latter are of course introduced here for the fishermen. We caught a good number of colourful rainbow trout, some small roach and average sized brown trout. Leon caught two big brown trout towards the end, fish of 56 and 60 cm in length... An exceptional catch for sure, all fish were released unharmed and a little wiser.
After a few hours on the river Ljusnan in wind and light rain (the forecast was for dry and sunny weather...) whereby we caught some average sized grayling, Leon, Erik and myself spend the afternoon on Laforssjö in front of Wildlife Sweden. We caught a good number of small but colourful pike, all on streamers fished on floating or intermediate fly-lines.
Gommorstjärnen holds large brown trout as well.
On our way with a proper boat and engine on Lake Vexnan.
There was a good amount of mayflies on the surface again. That evening we had to pack our car as we would leave for Göteborg early in the morning.
Our second year After leaving the Stena Line ferry in Gotenborg in June of the following year, it was again about an eight hour drive for Leon Godijk and myself to Kustleden in Strömsbruk in the middle of Sweden. We were looking forward to try some waters in this area, together with our guide Jessica Dolk and Stefan Barenfeld, in the next few days. Kustleden has among others a number of apartments close to a river. Kustleden’s main building is situated on the same strategic spot as the smithy which operated from the late 1600′s and two centuries onwards. When Ströms Bruk changed directions at the end of the 1800′s the smithy was replaced by a splendid new head office right by the
As always we practise Catch & Release with pike.
Our second day on Lake Vexnan started with a hefty take for Leon.
rushing river. The building was finished in 1912 and added on to ten years later.
The era as a head office ended in the 1960′s and today the rooms offer comfortable accommodation, kitchen, lounge, café and a gallery. There are only four rooms in the main Kustleden building and one of those is a single room. That means that there will be no more than seven guests sharing kitchen and lounge at the same time. The building turned 100 years in 2012, the ceilings are high but the atmosphere is still cosy. There is a small angling shop and a camera museum in the main building too! Although there is no TV, Kustleden does offer free wireless internet (WiFi) and exciting books in the bookshelf.
The Kustleden apartments The Kustleden Söder apartments consist of two rooms, kitchen and WC with shower. Size: approximately 50 m². The seven holiday apartments at Tallbo differ a bit from those at Kustleden Söder. They do all have two rooms and a kitchen and are equipped for four (or three) guests. Tallbo is the original name for these homes built for the mill-workers as early as 1903 and have been modernised throughout the years. In the 40′s – 50′s they
A 90 cm pike for Leon on the fly. Not a bad way to start the fishing day.
Jessica will bring you to some interesting spots, show you how and where to fish and she prepares a nice lunch or dinner as well.
received electric power and water after half a century with outhouses, a well and root cellars. The buildings are log but they have been insulated and modernised. At that moment they could do with a lick of paint on the outside but they are comfortable on the inside with lots of character. On the first floor the apartments have sloping ceilings and large balconies while those on the ground floor have high ceilings and a door from the living room straight out into the greenery.
After a nice tour, on the morning after our arrival, by the owner of Kustleden in Strömsbruk of both the hotel/apartments and the area, Leon and myself tried the river at the site before Jessica Dolk was going to pick us up for some guided fishing. The river in front of Kustleden brought some small grayling plus a 39 cm fish on the nymph, which was nice. There are a lot of small, silvery fish in the river that attacked everything, could they be asp? Jessica brought us to a nice stretch of the river with some deep pools and runs. As there was little surface activity we fished with nymph and streamers for most of the time.
After a nice dinner prepared by Jessica along the river, we tried some more. Now a 38 cm grayling took a floating CDC nymph of mine, other than that we just landed some
The building turned 100 years in 2012, the ceilings are high but the atmosphere is still cosy.
small, wild brown trout.
A good many grayling Before driving to Riverwild Fishing and Lodging once more, Leon and myself spend a few more hours at the Harmånger river that flows alongside Kustleden. We started with small nymphs fished upstream and that brought us six nice grayling between 35 and 39 cm (some more threw the nymph before we could take a good look at them). After lunch the pike rods were put together and after missing some takes by very small pike and some perch that also tried to take the big snack, we landed three strong, healthy pike up to 73 cm from the river.
With Leon I arrived at Riverwild Fishing & Lodging that same afternoon and the following day their guide Mattias Furuskog took us to the River Leån to try for trout and grayling. We started at another section than the one we fished last year and here, in some fast runs, we got some small grayling and a few nice wild brown trout on size 8 black streamers. Lunch
The deeper pools of the Harmånger River hold some strong fighting pike that can be reached with sinking flylines.
Another nice grayling which took some time to subdue for the author.
The author with a nice pike from Lake Vexnan.
was served where the section of the river comes out of a lake and here we had fished the year before as well. After lunch Leon and myself took some roach and perch in the lake on small dry flies and nymphs. After dinner we tried the river Ljusnan in front of Riverwild for some more, it provided us with some grayling in much the same size as the year before.
Big perch From Riverwild it is about half an hour driving to Fjussjön, a gin clear lake with a good head of brown trout, grayling and some big perch (as Leon found out halfway through the day); it is ideal for fishing from a rowing boat or a belly boat. I had a brown trout on my very first cast and a grayling a little while later (both on an American Gold Ribbed Hares Ear Nymph in a size 12), but than the sun came into play and things got more difficult. Some large brown mayflies were hatching and these were often chased by trout and grayling, but getting these fish to take our flies was a bit more difficult. We went to a rather large pike lake (Vexnan) the following day with Mattias Furuskog, we went on the water (some twenty minutes from Riverwild) with a rented aluminium boat and a proper engine behind it. The morning in the bright sun was slow with just some small pike following our streamers, but
after lunch the clouds came and the fishing improved a lot. We were ‘tortured’ by small pike all afternoon, some better fish missed the fly or threw the hook too early. We missed a whole lot of takes too. Our best fish was a 75 cm pike in prime condition.
Bigger pike With Mattias and Leon I started the following fishing day at a deep, slow flowing stream that connects different lakes in the area of Riverwild. We had some small pike here and missed some takes of better fish. In the afternoon Mikael Frisk brought the rental boat to the lake we fished the day before for a few more hours of fly-fishing for pike there. Leon started the afternoon with a 90 cm pike, not a bad way to begin, and after that we landed several more pike, but we missed and lost probably at least twenty each in the reeds and weeds (mostly small pike though).
In the last hour the rain finally came, a sign that our stay in Sweden was coming to an end, sad but true. We would be driving back to the ferry in Göteborg early the next day
TRIP CONTACT
www.fishinginthe middleofsweden.com
www.kustleden.com
www.riverwild.se
www.wildlifesweden.se
Jessica Dolk, Fishing Guide Email: j.dolk@hotmail.com
www.cordestravel.nl
Flyyshing Blog
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COLOMBIA VAMPIRES
OF THE ORINOCO
Text and photos by Matt Harris
The vampire of the Orinoco, a trophy payara caught by the author.
Iwaded gingerly into the heavy current and sent a cast whistling out across the turbulent waters. The fly swung across the face of the big smooth boulder twenty five yards out and suddenly there was a flash of silver and then a savage, wrenching take. A blur of chrome-bright violence jack-knifed abruptly through the surface and twenty pounds and more of wild silver mayhem went rocketing downstream. The reel fizzed out its sweet music and my guide unhitched the boat as backing melted off the big spool. The fish jumped again, but now it was way out in the roiling currents, a hundred yards and more from where we stood. I clambered into the skiff and not a moment too soon. Then we were off into the current in pursuit of the big silver berserker, as it disappeared downriver.
The perfect spot for a payara to ambush its prey: rocks and current! Definitely worth a few casts!
My guide grinned back at me.
His name wasn’t Jock or Jens or Dima, and we weren’t fishing a big brawling salmon river in Scotland or Norway or Russia. My guide was Arnel from Venezuela, just across the river, and that river wasn’t the Tay or the Namsen or the Yokanga but the mighty Orinoco. There wasn’t a waxed jacket or a Willie Gunn in sight. The mercury was hovering at around 90 degrees fahrenheit, and that big silver fish that was cartwheeling off downstream wasn’t a big Atlantic salmon but Hydrolycus armatus; Colombia’s finest; the payara. The one and only Vampire Fish..
Arnel and I went careering after our quarry, my guide expertly weaving our skiff through the powerful rapids and between the towering moonscape boulders that crowd the shoals and banks and islands of the Orinoco. Finally, after what seemed an age, we caught up with our adversary. I wound down hard, and the fish danced up into the blinding white light
“Grande!!” exclaimed Arnel, as he eased the boat into the slack water and I saw him reach gingerly for the boga grip.
Ten or twelve weight fly rods are the best choice for tackling payara.
Stunning colors on this sardinata, the Amazon’s tarpon!
of the jungle. A big, brawny blizzard of pearl and silver and teeth. “Grande!!” exclaimed Arnel, as he eased the boat into the slack water and I saw him reach gingerly for the boga grip. “Grande…” I concurred,catching his eye. “Y dientes grandes” I added with a grin.
“Big teeth?” “Big teeth” doesn’t even start to cover it. As the hefty fish finally rolled over and I drew it into the slack water, Arnel edged out into the river. With exaggerated care, he reached out to grab the fish’s tail. In an instant, he had it, and he let out a yell of triumph. “Grande!! GRANDE!!!” he cried. He swung the big fish round into my eyeline and held its head towards me with a grin.
It was a big fish - a magnificent fish - but all I could see were those fangs - those impossible, monstrous fangs. They were significantly longer than my fingers. It was a simply astonishing sight.
I’m a little ashamed to say that when I first saw images
Their freakish physiology makes them appear like something from the fevered imagination of a B-movie horrorshow director.
The Orinoco’s tributaries offer a great playground for peacock bass fishing, with specimens exceeding 20lb.
of payara, they struck me as more of a curiosity than a genuine sportfishing proposition. Their freakish physiology makes them appear like something from the fevered imagination of a B-movie horrorshow director. However, having experienced what they can do, I would strongly advise that you do not allow this ghoulish appearance to distract you. Be in no doubt: these fish have evolved to be perfect hunters in the heavy currents of what is - by volume - the world’s fourth largest river. Equipped with their enormous fangs and a remarkable turn of speed, payara terrorises the various baitfish that populate the waters of the Orinoco. On occasion, you’ll get to see them burst through the surface and slash their poor victims to pieces with ruthless efficiency, but most of the time, they sit down deep, unseen in the heavy currents of the mighty river.
This ability to negotiate the rapids of this singularly powerful watercourse marks the payara out as an unforgettable fly-rod adversary. Small specimens are more than game, but a big fish of twenty pounds and more that wrestles its way into the powerful main currents of the
Splashy release shot!
Inside view of the lodge.
Orinocco is a real handful. These big trophy payara are capable of stripping a lot of backing off of a big saltwater reel in very short order.
For anyone who loves to swing flies for salmon, steelhead or seatrout, the payara represents a wonderful warm-water alternative. As enthusiasts will tell you, one of the great thrills of swinging flies in heavy current is the initial strike - that moment when the line suddenly comes tight and you feel that electricity of a living thing at the other end of your line. Believe me, the payara do not disappoint - they burst into your consciousness in a split-second of unforgettable violence - a brutal smash and grab that is often followed by a wild somersault and a knuckle-busting charge downriver.
Payara migrate up the Orinoco in its dry season, throughout the months of January through to March and beyond. To do so takes strength and stamina, and this rugged environment has fashioned a formidably powerful hunter. The payara take up station in the rapids and wait in the chocolate-stained waters for the baitfish runs - most notably the herring-like ‘arencas’, and the ‘salton’ or ‘jumper’ fish. If your trip coincides with the arrival of these poor devils, expect some serious mayhem. The fish can be surprisingly selective, so carry a selection of big tubes that mimic these prey species.
Tackling payara involves discipline. On the Orinoco, a heavy sinking line like the RIO leviathan in 400 to 600 grains is often the best way to put your fly in front
Beware of the payara’s mean jaws! The IGFA all tackle world record is a 98cm fish caught in Brazil back in 2016.
Any obstacle can hold predators on the Orinoco.
of the fish in the heavy currents that they call home. A short leader and a big Flashy Profile tied to mimic the various baitfish patterns in sizes from 6-10 inches in length attached to titanium wire is the medicine, and make sure that you are capable of casting this stuff if you want to get the best out of the fishery. A stiff, fast-actioned ten or even twelve weight rod like the Hardy Zephyrus or similar is perfect for throwing this heavy-duty gear.
I like to use tube flies so that hooks could be replaced the moment that they lost their needle-sharp point. I also like to employ a swivel to attach the obligatory wire trace to the stout 40lb mono leader as it allows the fly to track straight, which I believe is absolutely key in enticing the payara to strike your baitfish imitation. A needle-sharp hook which has a straight rather than offset point also helps in making the fly swim without listing onto one side, and I think that this is crucial in inducing the maximum number of strikes.
The moment that you feel
that savage take, use a really aggressive strip-strike to set the hook. Grab the line tight and jab both hands backwards, setting the hook as hard as you can. 40lb nylon should ensure that you don’t break off, but use a bimini twist as a shock absorber, and employ ‘soft’ hands, as these fish will often take off downstream in a hurry. Stay tight and use a fairly heavy drag setting to keep the hook buried in the fish’s bony maw. Be ready to jump into the boat as these fish can run 200 yards and more in a heartbeat once they hit the heavy current, and the shallow, rocky, snag-filled nature of the Orinoco means that you want to keep the distance between you and your quarry to a minimum.
Once you catch up with your prey, play them hard - any slack and you will almost certainly lose your prize. Once you can get your hands on them, handle them gently and support their weight by keeping them in the water for as long as possible - these fish
The silver bar of the Amazon. Wire traces and extra-sharp hooks are obligatory when fishing for payara.
are fragile despite their savage dentistry. Oh, and mind your fingers… There are a growing number of options for tackling payara. I fished with my great friend Beto Mejia who runs the excellent Orinoco Lodge, part of his Fish Colombia operation. Beto’s camp is based on an island in the middle of the river. It’s a perfect base to access numerous rapids and trophy payara of twenty pounds and more are a real possibility from any number of riffles and runs. Fish can be caught from the boat, but I most enjoy targeting them from the bank, prospecting each likely seam and slot, much as you might look for salmon in the broken pocket water of a salmon river.
When the fishing is on, it can be red-hot but like many apex predators, payara are prone to capricious and violent mood-swings.
No matter.
The moment we felt that the fish were going off the take, we would head upstream to fish the waters of the Orinoco’s numerous tributaries, where myriad lagoons offered epic peacock bass
Sunset break on the road. A reliable 4x4 is the only way to go here!
The Colombian jungle is home to a beautiful and merciless fauna.
fishing. Anyone unfamiliar with peacocks is in for a treat. These flamboyant berserkers offer adrenaline filled afternoons, bursting out of their lairs to attack big streamers and pole dancer poppers with malevolent gusto. Colombian peacocks are every bit as aggressive as their Brazilian cousins, and trophy fish of twenty pounds and more are a real possibility. Another great friend Alex Wilkie, a brilliant and relentless fly angler, caught a fabulous 21 pound trophy on our first visit. Other species will also vie for your attention. Off of the main currents of the Orinoco, you may well come across big schools of sardinata - a wonderful quarry that resembles a small, golden tarpon and that take streamers and even poppers willingly from the surface. While sardinata rarely grow much larger than seven or eight pounds, they are a game fighter, often launching into the crackling heat of the jungle to flip spectacular somersaults. There’s also big piranhas and even surubi catfish to tackle with a fly if you get bored of the big payara...but trust me, you won’t.
Colombia has suffered enormously in recent years, and it has become synonymous with drug cartels and lawlessness. However, the country is now emerging from this dark past, and is becoming a safe and fascinating tourist destination. As Beto and I strolled down the main drag of our transport hub, Puerto Carreño, on the way back from our trip, I felt the warmth and vibrancy
of the bustling little town. It was a Saturday evening, and as the market stalls started to shut up shop for the day, the street came alive with young, friendly folk, giggling and flirting and fooling around in the warm evening air. There was an irresistible, intoxicating vibe about the place. Colombia offers stunningly beautiful landscapes, a lively, engaging culture and truly remarkable fly fishing opportunities in both fresh and saltwater that are only just beginning to be explored.
Beto and I climbed the hill and suddenly we crested the brow of the incline and were looking down at the wide waters of the Orinoco. We sat down at a little bar perched above the river, and I took a first long draft of the icy ‘Aguila’ beer that the beautiful waitress had set down before me with a smile. I thought of the poor souls who had declined to come with me, muttering nervously about Colombia’s reputation and now hunkered down in the grip of an icy Northern winter back home. Their loss, I thought smugly, when the big payara of the Orinoco are running the river and waiting to dance into the white light of the Colombian jungle.
I raised my glass to Beto and toasted my pioneering friend. I knew that I would be back here again to join him, drinking cold beer in the January sunshine, smiling at the pretty girls of Puerto Carreño, and mixing it up with the sparkling, freak-fanged Vampires of the Orinoco River
TRIP CONTACT
If you want to mix it up with the bad boys of the Orionoco, contact my friend Beto Mejia via: www.fishcolombia.com
You will not find better flies for the Orinoco than those tied by another great friend of mine, Armando Giraldo – check out:
www.orinocoflies.com
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Grabbing a shot at a magnificent thirty pound Yokanga salmon, along with the chance to experience the northern lights and the stunning colours of autumn on the Kola may cost less than you think.
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