Peacock bass are not actually bass, but rather, they are cichlids. Related to African cichlids, peacock bass share a family tree with these African species that evolved alongside their ancestors on the super-continent of Gondwanaland before it began to break apart about 150 million years ago. Although they appear similar to North American bass, genetically they are fairly distinct from those species. Enjoy this Fly Fishing for Peacock Bass: A 101 Guide.
The reason peacock bass and North American bass mirror each other in appearance results from the fact that they inhabit similar niches in their respective environments. There exist 16 known subspecies of peacock bass, all of which originally hail from the jungles of South America. While they have been transplanted to Central America, Hawaii, and Florida, the best peacock bass fisheries remain in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. Of the peacock subtypes, the most heavily pursued is the Speckled Peacock Bass, or Cichla temensis. These apex predators grow to well over 20 pounds, aggressively smash a variety of flies, and pound for pound fight harder than almost any other freshwater fish. Peacocks are considered by many to be the very best freshwater species of fish to catch on a fly rod. Smaller species such as Cichla orinocensis, Cichla nigromaculata, and Cichla intermedia will frequently keep rods bent while the angler searches for an encounter with a larger Cichla temensis.
Peacock bass are found in greatest abundance in areas with minimal current, such as lagoons. Most jungle rivers produce lagoons as the main river channel meanders and changes over the decades. These lagoons are adjacent to the main river, and are often connect to the main river via small channels. To enter these lagoons may take some work with a machete, or may even require dragging the boat some distance over dry ground. In the main river, peacocks often patrol beaches, and any shoreline with sand should be an area of focus. Particularly, the transition point between flooded jungle and a beach is an important ambush site where peacocks are on the prowl. Peacock bass often hunt in schools, resulting in feeding frenzies that can produce periods of epic fishing.
Although opinions will differ regarding the perfect peacock bass rod, most would agree that the best options are fast action vs. medium-fast action. I’ve seen 7-12 weight rods used for peacock bass. I believe that the perfect-sized rod is a 9 weight. A 9 weight is large enough to turn over the gaudiest peacock fly, and powerful enough to do battle with a trophy. A larger rod may be of benefit when hooking in to the largest peacocks. But my hand and wrist are already beat after a week of grinding away with the 9 weight, and I can’t imagine what I would feel like after doing the same with a 12 weight.
If there is any place to skimp on a peacock set-up, the reel would be that place. Although it’s always a treat to hook in to a peacock cruising a beach or in the middle of a lagoon, the majority of fish are caught in heavy shoreline structure. If given an inch, the fish will be hopelessly wrapped around submerged tree branches. Therefore, any large fish must be immediately corralled, and I do this by firmly palming the reel after the hook up. This places massive amounts of pressure on the rod and the tests the integrity of the line. Broken rods and broken tippet are part of the game here. But these problems can be mitigated by fighting the fish with the butt of the rod and by using fresh tippet at all times. Therefore, a good peacock reel must be able to stand up to tropical conditions, but doesn’t need an elite drag system. I use the Ross Animas reel and it gives me what I need for peacocks and many other jungle species.
In cost-saving efforts, I’ve brought cold-water lines to the harsh environs of the jungle, and learned the hard way that they just don’t hold up. The running line curls in the jungle heat, the plastic coating on the line delaminates, and just casting these lines in the jungle feels like casting half-cooked spaghetti. A series of good tropical lines is paramount. I like the Rio DirectCore Jungle Series. I bring the full line-up, in floating, intermediate, S3, and S6 varieties. I find myself primarily using the floating line for poppers and the S6 for streamers, although it seems like the S3 is most popular for streamers amongst other anglers. With a 50 lb core strength, even the largest peacock is unlikely to break these lines.
The tippet used for peacock bass is very simple. I use a 3-foot piece of straight 60 lb fluorocarbon. There is some risk to this strategy, as it could put the 50 lb core of the fly line as the theoretical weakest link. However, if the angler keeps the fluorocarbon leader fresh, any sort of line breakage is extremely unlikely. When I traveled to the jungle for the first time, I broke off more large peacocks than I’d like to admit. I quickly learned that I could mostly avoid this problem if I switched out my tippet frequently. Any sort of abrasion or defect to the leader will spell disaster in a battle against a big peacock. I always check my leader after an encounter with a piranha, or if I get stuck in the wood. I liberally replace the tippet if there is any sign of wear or tear.
A variety of large streamers will produce for peacock bass… they are not the pickiest species when it comes to fly selection. Large flies tied for trout, musky, tarpon, and other predatory species will do the job. I tie all my own peacock flies, and they resemble famous patterns such as the Producer and Lefty’s Deceiver. A very strong hook is an important feature of a good peacock bass fly. I tie all my patterns on the Ahrex SA270 hook in sizes from 2/0-6/0. A variety of color schemes is key, although I tend to do best on combos including green/white and black/yellow. Peacock bass are also notorious for crushing topwater flies. Any large popper will work. I like to use the NYAP, as they are easy to make, very durable, and extremely effective when the peacocks are looking up. If you’re not in to tying, check out my buddy’s business at www.payaraflyfishing.com. Here you can find a number of affordable, proven patterns for peacock bass and other jungle species.