PATTERNS

SAND BAR SAVVY

Sand bars are constantly changing, created and shaped by flowing rivers and are revealed during falling or low water conditions. Trophy-size peacock bass will herd baitfish onto the sandbars from deeper water. Sandbars are not neatly formed beaches with uniform depths. Closer inspection reveals irregular features such as drop-offs, finger points and deeper holes, often the lair of giant peacock bass. Some of the largest fish you will catch during your trip may come on large prop baits on the sandbars, both on top of the finger points of the sandbars and the depressions between the finger points. Do not hesitate to use subsurface lures as well. The most productive sand bars, although they may be shallow themselves, have relatively close access to deep water.

 

TIMBER TECHNIQUES

Flooded bushes, timber stands and fallen trees provide a prime haven for baitfish as well as peacock bass. Peacock bass often seek the sanctuary of shade provided by trees and bushes and may use these as ambush areas to attack baitfish. When fishing timber stands, make accurate casts within the barely open lanes between the trees for optimal success. The deeper you get your lure or fly within the gaps between trees, the more success you will typically experience. Try to almost glance the trees with your lure or fly and make sure you work them all the way back the boat as, in many instances, you will entice a fish to follow the bait from the trees out towards deeper water where your boat is positioned.

 

PEACOCKS ON THE POINTS

Points consist of both visible (above the water) or submerged (shallow or deepwater) extensions of land, rocks, sand or gravel. The best points are situated with deep water relatively close to them. Peacock bass tend to hold on the deep-water drop-offs of points. From these edges of deeper water, they can either move shallow (up onto the point) to attack schools of baitfish, or they may migrate to deeper water in the presence of changing weather condition or danger. They may also be laying up on top of the point and ready to pounce on any lure, or baitfish, that comes their way. Points with cover (rocks, brush, stumps, etc. and /or standing timber), as depicted in the photo above, will usually out-produce those that are baron or featureless in nature.

 

BAMBINOS AND BIG FISH 

Peacock bass guard their fry until they are mature enough to fend for themselves. During the course of your peacock bass trip with us, your guide will point to an area of rippling on the surface of a quiet lagoon. He may refer to this rippling as “bubbles” or “bambinos.” The rippling is actually a pod of peacock bass fry with the protective parents below ready to pounce on anything that threatens them. The size of the fry ball is generally a good indicator of the size of the parents below.  Cast a propeller lure, jerkbait or jig approximately five feet beyond the fry dimples and then work the bait right through them. A violent strike will occur in many instances. The other partner in the boat should immediately follow the first strike up with a topwater bait, jerk bait or swimming jig.

 

THINK LAGOONS FOR LUNKER PEACOCKS 

Lagoons can be found in all sizes, depth and topography. They are typically formed during the rainy season, when swollen creeks inundate surrounding land with deeper topography, thus creating lakes and pools. As the rains cease and the dry season progresses, the waters of the lagoon recede back into the main river or simply dry up. The deeper terrain, however, will trap pools of water and these are referred to as lagoons and they exist year-round. In some instances, these lagoons will trap hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of fish, as their access to the main river or large creek has been cut off. During the dry season, the waters of the lagoons fall fairly rapidly. Once fish sense that the lagoon water level is falling, it is not unusual for the school to migrate back to the river before they become trapped in a totally landlocked lagoon. If a lagoon is completely landlocked, the fish will have to remain there until the waters rise during the next rainy season. Some of the very best lagoons require that your guide slowly and carefully snake the boat through narrow, windy creeks to enter them, a machete becoming a necessity to hack his way through foliage and fallen trees that may lie toppled across the creek that enters the lagoon. In some instances, the guide will actually drag the fishing boats across shallow bars or humps so that you can access the lagoon. Yet other lagoons are very obvious and located just off the main river channel. Still others, are totally landlocked, and may only be reached by hiking into the jungle and fishing from shore or from a boat that has been planted in the lagoon.