|
AGUA BOA AMAZON HOUSEBOAT REPORT - RICH HOSLEY
Here is a summary highlight of my trip to the Aqua
Boa.
Good group of guys. With the exception of Rex and
Herb, we were all strangers yet the chemistry worked
very well. Egos and personal idiosyncrasies
were subordinated to the greater good of the group
and I think we genuinely enjoyed each other. Pretty
amazing when one thinks that it was six plus days
together on a houseboat.
The houseboat was a great place to headquarter,
about 50 miles upriver from the lodge and isolated.
Both the fishing and the food were excellent.
Lots of fish, 45-60/rod per day.
Jeff and I partnered for the week, fishing together
every day except for one. We did fine as long as I
didn't show up late
in the morning or generally slow him down.
Actually, I matched him cast for cast all week and
was thankful for a 68 y.o. body that allowed me to
participate that fully. Only took Ibuprofen for the
first two days.
Biggest fish for me was 14#. Herb had the biggest
at 18#. I probably had 4 double-digit fish all
week. Maybe two dozen in the 6-9# range. Actually
my biggest catch was a 60" caiman which I purposely
hooked (snagged) at the urging of my guide. A 20
minute struggle ensued with me prevailing.
Next time I would modify my tackle. I fished my 9
wt. with a sinktip 80% of the time and considered it
perfect. Even
the 3# fish put a pretty good bend in it. I broke
off fish on 20# tippet immediately and found myself,
along with most
of the other guys tying on 30# hard mono straight to
my flyline. Even broke off large fish on 30#. Jeff
brought his 10wt. and used it in one of the lagoons
where the big boys frequented.
The term "combat fishing" was coined to characterize
our week. It was "us" against "them." I went
through 3 1/2
dozen flies with most of them being reduced to mere shreds of their
original profiles (see attachment) and actually
was bumming flies the last day. My original 26'
sinktip had been "shortened" to 3' by the last day
due to five piranha attacks. I borrowed a
loop-to-loop sink tip from Jerry and made a loop in
the 3' remnant of my line to enable me to keep
fishing the last day.
It was definitely the "toothiest" piscatorial
environment I have ever been in.
Best regards, Rich Hosley
TRIP REPORT
Fly Fishing Adventures
888-347-4896
flyfish@napanet.net
|
