Overview: Rio Mariè Equals Monster Peacock Bass!
If you were to design the perfect river system to purse trophy speckled peacock bass on the fly, then the Rio Marie and its associated lakes, oxbows, and tributaries would be the finished product! More 15-pound+ plus peacock bass are landed on a weekly basis at Rio Marie than any other established fishing program/lodge that we are aware of in South America. That’s a shocking statistic considering that there are numerous great peacock destinations in the Amazon Basin. Additionally, many of these brutes will approach and go over 20-lbs, and when you enter their arena to do battle, you better be prepared for the fury that they are capable of inflicting on both angler and equipment. They will cause line burns to unprotected fingers, explode stout tippets, bend out or break hooks, snap fly lines, and destroy rods. Holding a true trophy in your hands after a hard-won battle, one quickly realizes why this river has been aptly named the Rio De Gigantes (aka River of Giants). In our opinion, there is no better destination in the world to experience the thrill of tangling with a monster trophy peacock bass on fly!
The Rio Marie is a tributary of the Upper Rio Negro River in the northwest corner of the Amazonas State of Brazil, which is the largest basin of “black water” in the world. The Marie’s confluence with the Rio Negro is approximately 50-miles east-southeast of the small town of Sao Gabriel. This is a good reference point to locate this river on your favorite mapping software because there is not much else except water and unspoiled rainforest! It is a remote destination that offers exclusive access to over 400 miles of private water that winds and twists its way through 2 million+ hectares of virgin jungle that is entirely located inside indigenous Indian territory. Along its course, the Marie provides suitable habitat for the speckled peacock bass to grow to trophy portions in the 60+ lakes/oxbows, 160 known jungle creek mouths, and three major tributaries that provide outstanding fishing in their own rights. You will not see another operation fishing on this river; it is not allowed!
A luxurious houseboat, the Untamed Amazon, provide first-class accommodations and mobility to take advantage of all the water and fishing beats that the Marie and its tributaries have to offer. Guests depart via Manaus via a float plane and land on the river for quick access to the Untamed Amazon. The flight generally takes three hours, and as you glance out the window in route you will not see much else except jungle and the numerous waterways that call the Amazon Basin home. Please note that there is a strict baggage weight policy of 15-kilograms per quest (i.e. 33-lbs) that is imposed by the float plane charter company. This weight restriction includes all baggage; rods/reels/fishing gear, backpack, duffle bag, etc. Most of the baggage is stored in float tube compartments of the plane so please do not bring bags that have hard bottoms; they will not fit! Fly rod tubes and other rod/reel carry cases offered by various companies in the fishing industry are acceptable. This is not a destination where you need a lot of clothes and extra items so packing within the weight restriction is not a problem. Upon booking your trip, we will work with you to ensure that you have all the essential gear, flies, clothing, etc. for trip comfort and success! This is a destination that we have spent a lot of time at, and we know what works and what is not needed!
The Fishing: Trophy Speckled Peacock Bass in Private Water
The Rio Marie exists for one reason; to realistically target trophy peacock bass on the fly in a river system that receives very little pressure! The only outfitter licensed to operated on this river system is Untamed Angling, and you will not see any other sport or commercial fishing operations . The Marie fishing agreement is based on preserving the environment/fishery while supplying economic benefits to the indigenous Indians that call the Marie home. Several biological studies conducted on this river document that it contains double the population of trophy fish when compared to other popular and prolific peacock destinations in the Amazon Basin. The average size speckled peacock is 10-lbs+, and the number of speckled peacocks recorded at and above 15 pounds is unmatched in the Amazon Basin. If that’s not good enough, the population and number of 20-lb+ fish is higher than anywhere else in the world! With that said, this is a trophy fishery and in a normal week of fishing an angler can expect 1 to 2 chances per day at fish up to and going well over 15-lbs. Yes, the fishing can be faster, but overall this is a quality instead of a quantity fishery.
The Marie also contains a healthy population of butterfly peacock bass that average 3-6-lbs. Pound for pound these are one of the strongest freshwater gamefish in the world, and on a normal week, anglers can expect to tangle with good numbers of butterflies. In our opinion, these fish are a fringe benefit as they are often found in some of the same places (i.e. jungle creek mouths and main river sand bars) that you target the giant speckled peacock bass on the fly. Please note that the true giants of the Marie are often found in the lakes that typically offer less opportunities for the smaller butterflies. There are also other species at the Marie that include the jacunda (a bright colored cichlid), pacu, the acrobatic arowana, various catfish, and toothy critters such as the dogfish and wolfish. However, these species are not around in great enough numbers to specifically target on the fly and many anglers will spend their week without an incidental encounter with one of more of these species.
Fishing is largely done from well designed skiffs that are equipped with 90-hp outboard motors, and each boat contains a large casting platform on the bow and stern. Each day, up to two anglers will head out per boat to fish the numerous beats that are present on the Marie. Both anglers will fish at the same time, and in our experience, there is no noticeable advantage of where you fish on the boat. The name of the game is to keep your fly wet as your target the likely holding areas that your professional English-speaking guide and indigenous boat operator will point out. The productive areas are quietly covered via the use of an 80-lb thrust, electric trolling motor that is expertly guided via I-pilot technology. In addition to searching the productive holding areas, the Marie also offers sight fishing opportunities to fish that are cruising the shallow sand bars, and pairs of male/female fish that are guarding their young. The babies look like small pockets of “rain” on the water surface, and if you present your fly near them it will be met with a vicious defensive response. This scenario is similar to flats fishing because you will typically only get one shot, and an errant cast will quickly be met by disappearing fish.Each fishing beat will contain numerous creek mouths, lakes, and main river sand bars, which are the areas to target for your trophy of a life-time. Don’t worry about the size of the beat because each one will contain more water than you can cover in a fishing day. The guides know where to find the fish and how each specific situation needs to be approached. Your job is to present the fly as close as possible to the bank or discernible drop offs that are present along the sandbars. Casting accuracy with large flies is important because the banks along the lakes and creek mouths are lined with trees and vegetative/woody bushes. The fish often lie in the submerged portions of these structures waiting to ambush prey and presenting your fly as close as possible is important for them to notice it. The best flies are large baitfish patterns in combinations of yellow/orange/chartreuse and white with accents of the previously mentioned colors. In some situations, it also pays to use a fly with a rattle because noise is a known attractant for peacock bass. Large surface poppers are also effective in low water conditions and should be designed to make a lot of noise! Regardless of the pattern choice, aggressive strips are the norm. This is not the place to use a dainty wooly bugger strip as aggressive strips are needed to part the appropriate action to your fly! We have spent countless hours tying, testing, and fishing numerous patterns at the Marie.
We know what works and how the fly needs to be dressed to reasonably cast them accurately all day long. Upon booking a trip with us, we will work closely with you to ensure that you have the correct types and number of patterns. In our experience, there are very few commercial patterns available that will work, and the ones that do are usually overdressed or tied on hooks that are too small or weak to withstand the brute force of a giant peacock!This is a good place to mention the equipment that you will need to enhance your chances of landing the fish of a lifetime. We won’t mention specific name brands but think 9 and 10-wt rods that have an appropriate action to cast large wind resistant flies all day long and a strong enough butt section to put the pressure on a large peacock that is surging for structure. Bring a dainty rod and it will go home with you in more sections than it arrived with! These fish have not read the latest and greatest marketing ads! Reels also need to have a strong and robust drag system because we have seen the drags on lower quality reels fried by these powerful fish. This is also the place to leave your light tippet at home. There is a reason why high-quality, 60-pound test fluorocarbon is the preferred choice for targeting these fish. Leaders are not complicated, consisting of one section of 60-lb fluorocarbon. More spools/test strength are only needed for those pursing an IGFA record. The correct fly lines are paramount for success at Marie and is another area that we often see arriving anglers falling short on. The line of choice is an aggressive tapered intermediate line that is rated for tropical use. You will also want a sink tip line (i.e. 24-30-ft head) rated for tropical use and with a head weighing between 300-400-grains. The last line in your arsenal will be an aggressive tapered floating line that is designed for tropical use and capable of carrying large wind resistant poppers. We strongly recommend bringing back up fly lines because it is not uncommon for a surging fish to break your line or destroy the coating if it becomes entangled in one of the many submerged woody structures. We have used all types of equipment and tactics at the Marie, and anglers booking with us will be advised on exactly what you need to successfully cast for, battle, and land the brutes of the Marie.A closing note on the fishing is that each day will involve a lot of casting with large flies in a tropical environment that can be very hot. Once you depart the Untamed Amazon in the morning you will not return until the light begins to fade on the Marie. You will recharge with a hearty lunch that is eaten on the river and more than enough water and other beverages will be kept cold on the boat to ensure you stay hydrated. You can take as many breaks as you like but persistence and keeping your fly wet are the keys to success at Marie. In preparation of this trip, we strongly recommend that anglers practice their casting; especially if your normal fishing involves lighter weight equipment that is typical for freshwater trout. Casting long is not absolutely necessary for success because the guides are experts at adjusting the boat position to your optimal casting range. However, the longer and more accurately you cast increases the amount of water you cover, which is important in our opinion when fishing for peacock bass.
The Lodge: A Mobile Luxurious Yacht in the Middle of the Jungle!
Your home for the week will be the State-of-the-Art Untamed Amazon, which is a mobile vessel designed to access/fish the entire Marie watershed while providing luxurious and safe accommodations to the visiting angler. It is truly a remarkable engineering marvel with no amenity or luxury left out on this self-sustaining and environmentally friendly boat! The vessel is three stories tall, 92 feet long, 26 feet wide, weighs 130 tons and drafts only 4 feet of water. This design allows the Untamed Amazon to move great distances within the river system to guarantee that anglers fish new water each day, which reduces fishing pressure to a bare minimum. However; the Untamed Amazon is much more than a functional base to fish the Rio Marié. We often refer to it as a yacht because it equipped with sophisticated amenities not found at other fishing destinations, which is remarkable when you consider this is the heart of the Amazon!
The Untamed Amazon is the very first vessel in the Amazon Basin with 100% Solar Power Generation for all electricity use. No noisy or noxious electrical generators here! The system has 96 state German solar panels that comprise the roof of the vessel and three tons of Hitachi Solar Batteries, which are the most advanced battery system in the world for solar power generation. Throw in a state-of-the art water purification/treatment system and a self-sustaining wastewater treatment plant, and you are looking at a vessel that was designed to operate with a minimal environmental footprint.
The top floor consists of vessel’s control/command center, kitchen, spacious living and dining rooms and a screened outdoor lounge and open air deck. Want to cool off even more at the end of a long fishing day? No problem the outdoor lounge has two large jacuzzies that can be filled upon request. The dining/living room is the place to be at the end of the day where you can capitalize on many cold beverages, including Brazilian beer, or mix up a drink with the many spirits that are available at the open bar. All beverages are complimentary, and the staff are skilled at mixing your favorite drink upon request. We highly recommend the Caipirinha, which is the Brazilian national cocktail that consists of cachaca, sugar, and lime!
Appetizers consisting of various meats, olives, and cheeses are on the table at the end of each fishing day. They are delicious but don’t snack too much as a dinner is not to be missed. The internationally trained chef and his staff serve cuisine that is worthy of any fine dining experience, which consists of filet mignon, elaborate pasta dishes, pork tenderloin that is expertly garnished, and various local fish dishes such as arapaima. Your last evening at the Marie features a Brazilian-style barbecue where various meats will be grilled to perfection! Throw in vegetable/rice dishes and fresh baked bread, and its easy to see why the clients rave about the food! If that is not enough for you, then desert is on its way and includes such treats as key lime pie, puddings crafted from local fruit, and various fresh cakes. Andy yes, each dinner is expertly paired with a high-end red or white wine! You will not go hungry or thirsty at the Marie!
Breakfast starts at 7AM in the morning; however, freshly brewed Brazilian coffee is available starting at 6:30 AM. Various cereals, granola, fruits, toast, pancakes, and fresh squeezed juices are on the table, and eggs to order along with a bacon or sausage round out the breakfast menu. Lunch will either be packed for you or various lunch meats, pasta dishes, and salad will be placed out in the morning for you to prepare your own lunch. One day during the week, you and your angling partner will harvest a couple of butterflies that will be grilled over open flame on one of the many shaded, white sand beaches of the Marie. This will provide a glimpse into how the indigenous Indians prepare their meals on a regular basis!The middle floor of the Untamed Amazon contains eight double occupancy suites. Each suite contains two comfortable beds, plenty of closet and storage space for your belongings, a private bathroom and shower, and a floor to ceiling glass panoramic view of the outside surroundings. As with the main living room and dining area, each suite is air-conditioned to ensure your comfort after long days on the water!A crew of 14 operates the Untamed Amazon, including the Captain, chef, host, 5 support staff, and 6 professional fishing guides. The staff quarters are located on the lower floor, along with twin propulsion engines, water filtration and water treatment systems, and laundry facility. The yacht is also equipped with current safety and navigation equipment that includes broad band radio, AIS transponder, Garmin radar, sonar and GPS, satellite phone, and wireless internet.
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2022 and 2023 Rate: Give us a call. Best price guaranteed!
Package included: All charter flights and boat transfers, all necessary ground transfers in Brazil, 6 ½ days guided fishing, 7 nights lodging, meals and beverages (including wine, beer and spirits), one overnight at the Intercity Manaus Hotel on arrival, fishing licenses, daily laundry and maid service at fishing destination.
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All images courtesy of Untamed Angling
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PHONE: 540-557-7497