Tackle

ROD SELECTION FOR PEACOCK BASS

After more than 20 years of fishing for trophy peacock bass, accumulating some 70 plus trips to Brazil, Venezuela and Peru, we are convinced that the most effective rod length and action for targeting fish in excess of 12-lbs on large topwater plugs is a baitcasting rod that is between 6’2” and 6’6” and be considered of medium/heavy to heavy action. This particular length and action allows you to more efficiently use the wrists and arms to retrieve large topwater plugs across the surface. A stout rod, combined with minimal-stretch braided line (more on that later), will allow better action and response as you aggressively retrieve these large plugs across the surface. Although a rod with a flexible tip may be suitable for a host of lures, do not use a flexible tipped rod when working large propeller baits. Longer rods are also a hindrance in tight casting spaces, as you’ll often face overhanging trees and branches. When casting smaller topwater plugs, such as walking baits and poppers, or medium sized jerkbaits, consider a casting rod 6-1/2 feet in length and of medium heavy action. When casting or trolling long, heavy (1-ounce or more) jerkbaits, medium heavy casting rods of 6-1/2’ in length is the tool of choice.

Some anglers have a preference for spinning gear, but believe that it is not appropriate for peacock bass. This is simply not the case. Numerous anglers have landed some of their largest peacock bass on spinning tackle. Knowing when and where to use this tackle is the key, however. During the course of a fishing day, I will frequently alternate between spinning and casting outfits, as each calls for different casting, reeling and retrieval mechanics and will work different muscle groups of the wrists, arms, shoulders and back, thereby lessening overall fatigue and soreness while fishing. Spinning rods are very appropriate for casting 4-6” jerkbaits, 1/2 to 1 oz topwater lures and when working ¼ to 3/4 oz. bucktail jigs. A quality spinning rod will subdue the toughest peacock bass. A versatile angler should be proficient with both spinning and casting outfits.

If you’re a frequent traveler to South America, consider purchasing three-piece travel rods (see photo at left). High quality, three-piece, break-down casting* or spinning* rods can be easily carried aboard both commercial and charter flights in short rod tubes that will fit in overhead compartments. They also make it easier on small plane charter pilots who often complain about having to try and find space aboard their planes for large and cumbersome 7-foot rod cases. These rods are super high quality and would rival the finest one-piece rods on the market. If you are an avid angler, one that travels to various fishing destinations, these rods can be used for other species in addition to peacock bass. *Contact Dink Alston about these custom fishing rods at 561-261-1904.

REELS FOR PEACOCK BASS

Major factors to consider when selecting a quality baitcast reel for peacock bass are: well machined, durable gears (we recommend novice anglers use a ratio of 7.1:1, especially when using topwater plugs) and an extremely smooth drag system. Although many believe that it is the brute power of the peacock bass that will exploit lesser-built reels, we believe it is the constant casting and retrieving of plugs that are typically much larger than the reels are designed for (in addition to heavy, no-stretch braided line) that can destroy a quality reel. You need to select baitcasting reels that possess a minimum of 100 yard capacity to handle 17 lb mono diameter for large topwater baits. As a rule, braided line offering a break-strength of 65 to 80 lbs. possesses a line diameter that is equivalent of 17 to 25 lb monofilament. By spooling a few layers of monofilament on the reel before adding the braided line, this will lessen problems such as the braided line burying upon itself within the spool and backlashes. It also cuts down on cost, as braided line is approximately three times more expensive than monofilament. Have your reels cleaned or repaired, greased and lubricated before you make your peacock bass trip.

Spinning tackle is very effective for peacock bass. Although you can certainly use your spinning gear for every lure in your peacock tackle arsenal, this gear is most appropriate when working medium sized topwater lures, small to medium sized jerkbaits, spoons and bucktail jigs, but is not as effective when fishing large topwater propeller plugs. Purchase spinning reels with durable, strong gears and an excellent drag system. Consider a light saltwater spinning reel (as they are usually built to handle tough gamefish) or a quality medium to large freshwater spinning reel (around 10-12 ounces). Make sure that the line roller (the part of the spinning reel that the line glides against when your reel is engaged and a fish is taking out drag) is made of stainless steel or titanium and not plastic. A plastic line roller will develop cuts in it from braided line and eventually cause fraying and failure of your line.

SELECTING THE PROPER LINE FOR PEACOCK BASS

One of the major breakthroughs in the tackle industry to help peacock bass anglers entice and catch more fish has been the advent of the braided “superlines.” These lines are much stronger than mono, have minimal stretch and are extremely abrasion resistant. In addition, the braided line will not set on the spool and are limp. These lines yield a high break strength compared to their line diameter. What this all means is quite simple – it will allow you to retrieve lures faster, longer and with increased action than you can with standard monofilament line. This is especially important when fishing with large topwater propeller lures to tempt giant peacock bass. After years of experience, it appears that the best braided line strength for large topwater propeller baits is between 65 and 100 lb break strength, depending on just who the line manufacturer is. One certainly does not require 80 lb braided line to land a trophy peacock. However, to more effectively work the large surface propeller lures, braided lines should be spooled on your reels. When fishing with jigs and lighter jerkbaits, especially on spinning gear, for peacock bass 30 lb braided line is an excellent choice.     These super-lines, however, may pose a problem for first-time users, including: knot slippage, line burying upon itself within the spool, drag failure and rod breakage. Knot slippage can be overcome by learning special knots that have been devised for braided line. Buried line within the spool and drag failure can be lessened by using a small amount of monofilament backing and making sure that you’ve put the braided line on the spool in an even and tight fashion. After casting for several hours, if you notice the line spooling in an uneven manner on the reel, or are experiencing frequent backlashes, remove the lure, and then let line out as the guide makes a low speed run for a minute and then carefully re-spool the line tightly on the reel. Finally, rod breakage, which is a factor of harsh hook-sets, tight drags or trying to horse fish away from cover, can be overcome by backing off on the drag, especially when you are playing a large fish in open water, away from cover. Finally, do not try to use excessive force to yank snagged lures off trees.   If it is a record you are after, you will need to fill the entire spool of the reel with International Game Fish Association (IGFA) rated monofilament line to be legal for a line class or all-tackle record.

TOPWATER TECHNIQUES

The allure of peacock bass fishing can be explained after observing a peacock bass literally explode on a topwater lure. First time anglers are usually so startled by this vicious topwater assault that they will usually miss the first several fish, as they set the hook at the sound of the strike and not when they feel the weight of the fish. Peacock bass will take a topwater lure all day, even in bright sunlight. As a general rule, however, overcast conditions will produce more action than a clear, sunlit sky, but don’t ever believe that the topwater bite will come to an end when the sun shines brightly. There is little doubt that the largest peacock bass will typically come on a large topwater bait (usually with a propeller or walking stick bait). This is not to imply that trophy peacock bass will not strike a small surface lure or subsurface lure. They certainly will! However, if you want to increase your odds of landing a true trophy, you must repeatedly cast a big plug at productive cover and structure. Effective topwater lures for peacock bass can be divided into several categories, including: surface walking stick-baits; large baits with propellers in the tail section that can be ripped across the surface and popping plugs.

Walking Stick-Baits

We believe that walking stick baits are the most underutilized lures in arsenal of the peacock bass angler. These baits require the most technique (this is actually a topwater finesse bait, not a power bait) in terms of creating the optimal action, and anglers, typically novice ones, shy away from using them because of this. These lures are most effective when you impart what is referred to as the “walk the dog” retrieve (see diagram below). The “walk the dog” technique involves a coordinated series of wrist snaps with the reel palming hand - while at the same time retrieving line with the reel retrieving hand - that causes the stick-baits to dart and dash back and forth on the surface and offers a very enticing action. Excellent walking baits to consider are the Hotdog by KLures, Excalibur Super Spook, Bomber Walkie Talkie, Lucky Craft Sammy, Evergreen Inspire Amazon Lure, MirrOlure Top Dog and Rebel Jumpin’ Minnow. The entire key to these lures is that they offer a lot of action, but stay in the strike zone for long periods of time. Consider these lures when peacock bass are not aggressively attacking the propeller baits. They seem to produce better when the water is slick and the wind is light with little chop or ripple on the surface.

When a stick-bait is “walked” properly, it will dart and dance with an enticing side-to-side action as shown in the diagram above. Experiment using various (faster and slower) retrieves to determine which one the peacocks are keying in on. The best action is accomplished with the rod tip pointing towards the water’s surface and only using your wrists to subtly cause the lure to dart from side to side. This is a technique that definitely should be practiced at home, long before you make your first cast in South America.

Propeller Ripping Baits

Peacock bass anglers in the 1980’s and early 90’s had only a handful of topwater propeller baits that would stand up to the onslaught of multiple peacock bass attacks. In recent years, however, several tackle manufacturers began to produce lures that appeal to both the peacock bass and peacock bass angler. Productive propeller lures that you must consider for your Amazon tackle arsenal include: KLures new Peacock Ripper (seen in above photo); Caribe Lures Pavon Prop; High Roller’s RipRoller; Luhr Jensen’s Wood Chopper, Ripper & Peacock Bass Special. These baits are large and noisy. Keep in mind that the all tackle peacock bass world record – a 27-pounder – was taken on a ¾ -ounce Peacock Bass Special by Luhr-Jensen, a lure that is now typically overlooked by many anglers seeking a trophy fish. There are times when giant peacock bass shun larger lures in favor of less intrusive topwater propeller baits, so you may want to consider smaller propeller baits in the ¾- to-1 oz. range. You’ll need to change out hooks and split rings on these smaller lures. The large topwater propeller baits will be peacock ready and no change of hardware is generally necessary. The very large propeller baits that will comprise the bulk of your tackle arsenal are what we refer to as “power baits.” Typically, you will have optimal success when you work them with medium to rapid paced, aggressive wrist snaps. You are attempting to impart an action that emits a definite ripping sound. This is best accomplished by using the wrists (not your arms) in a downward thrusting manner (after first reeling up any slack created by the previous rip). Short, aggressive rips seem to be much more productive than long, gliding rips. The rod should not be held higher than at chest level when starting a rip. The cadence should be more like rip..rip..rip, as opposed to rip……..rip…….rip…….rip.

SUBSURFACE SAVVY

Too many anglers become enamored by the visible and audible thrill they experience when a large peacock bass attempts to annihilate a topwater lure - and rightfully so. One should not, however, neglect a subsurface approach. There will be occasions when peacock bass will not readily strike surface lures. This is especially true in rising water situations, or perhaps in a lagoon that might be a favorite of a particular guide and the fish get too pressured on a weekly basis and become wary of noisy topwater propeller baits. It is our contention that if an angler desires to catch large numbers of fish, not necessarily interested in the quality of the fish, they should work a subsurface bait from dawn to dusk and they will catch loads of fish. You will, also, have a fair share of trophy peacocks in this catch. Finally, subsurface baits allow you a welcome reprieve from casting the heavyweight topwater propeller baits for hours on end.

Jerkbaits

When fishing a jerkbait, make a cast to actively feeding fish, fry pods, points, sandbars or other forms of cover and structure discussed elsewhere in this text. Point your rod tip towards the water and use your wrists in a downward snapping motion to work the bait (see diagram at left). Use the reel to retrieve slack line, but use your wrists and rod to provide action to the bait. Do not simply crank the reel handle to retrieve the lure. Allow the jerkbait to dart and dance from two-to-five feet below the surface. Certainly experiment with different colors, but almost have chrome colored lures to reflect light when you erratically work the lure. Recommended jerkbaits for Brazil and Venezuela include: Bomber Long-A Minnows; and, my three personal favorites, the 1 oz. Yo-Zuri Tobimaru Minnow, 1 oz. Yo-Zuri Sinking Crystal Minnow, Lucky Craft Pointer 128 and Brazilian made Deconto Biruta 90 jerkbait. These lures are very effective follow-up baits one can use after a missed surface strike, or simply as a prospecting bait to hunt for peacocks on an expansive flat. If a fish swirls at the bait, almost twitch it in place to get it to strike again and then continue the erratic retrieve.

Bucktail Jigs

Although a host of peacock bass anglers believe that fishing bucktail jigs for peacock bass has been a relatively recent technique, savvy anglers having been using these baitfish imitating lures for years. Traditional white bucktail jigs (see photo at left) are extremely versatile lures. They can be casted up into the flooded jungle during high water conditions. Or, perhaps make a well placed cast with a jig to fry pods or schooling fish. Many anglers rely on them as a follow-up bait to cast to the remnant of a missed strike on a surface lure. They can also be precisely pitched and casted to eddies, rocks and wood to tempt cover-holding peacocks.

As opposed to the traditional three inch white bucktail jig, innovative anglers are now tying a combination of various colors of bucktail, with a splash of flashabou, in lengths from 6 to 8-inches on ½-ounce jig-heads. Rather than using the traditional bucktail “jigging” techniques (basically an up and down or vertical presentation), we swam the jigs erratically in the same manner as fishing a jerkbait. Sometimes, we would fabricate these jigs with a rattle affixed to the hook shaft for added subtle audible attraction. We refer to the extended tail, flashy jigs as swimming jigs. The swimming jig performs very well on actively schooling fish; as a follow up bait to a missed surface strike; post spawn fish guarding fry or when simply cast to cover and structure. When the topwater bite is slow, this is the perfect prospecting bait when it is fished rapidly using the swimming technique and when covering lots of water. Peacock bass are very aggressive and very territorial. A key to a successful peacock bass trip is to saturate as much good looking water as you can. Fishing the bucktail like a jerkbait allows one to prospect a lot of water until I can locate the fish. And don’t ever believe that this is just a nice lure for catching lots of small peacocks. A good majority of the largest peacocks landed in Brazil and Venezuela have come on the jig. Jigs are also a very effective follow-up bait to use when a peacock bass aggressively misses a topwater lure (and you’ve cast back to it on several occasions without success. First, try the erratic swimming, darting retrieve after you’ve accurately casted the jig to the area where the fish missed the topwater lure. Make a dozen or so casts to the area and use the erratic, swimming retrieve. If the swimming technique fails to generate a strike, cast to the area where the fished missed your surface lure and aggressively jig it up and down using the more traditional approach. Most of the strikes will now come on the fall of the jig.

Banjo Minnow

Yes, we are referring to the soft plastic imitation baitfish lure of infomercial fame. We were introduced to this lure by its designer, Wayne Hockmeyer, a Maine fishing and hunting guide, fishing educator and world traveler. We were not confident of Wayne’s contention that this unpretentious, hapless appearing bait would be appealing to peacock bass. During one morning of a December 2004 trip to Brazil, Wayne landed a 21, 19, 17, 13 and 11 pound peacock bass on the Banjo Minnow during slightly rising water conditions and a tough topwater bite. We were soon convinced that Wayne had a winner in the Banjo Minnow.   “The Banjo Minnow perfectly duplicates the spastic action of a real live injured baitfish, and fools predator fish, triggering a genetic response that makes them bite...it's that realistic," Wayne Hockmeyer points out.

“It took me a few days in Brazil to figure out how the peacocks react to the Banjo. Normally, I’ll fish the Banjo with a very short quick jerk and then I pause, creating slack line and anticipate the strike as the lure haplessly sinks for a few seconds. However, peacock bass are so aggressive; you needed increased twitching and only pausing or stopping the bait on slack line for an instant. They simply do not want to strike a “lifeless-appearing bait,” - they want movement. It took a little time for me to adjust and fish faster while still creating slack line after my jerks, but once I did, the Banjo produced just as effectively as my slower largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing techniques do at home. I simply adjusted my timing on the jerks and pauses. I still imitated a wounded baitfish, just at a faster pace. The ability to create a perfectly realistic life like illusion is totally controlled by the angler and that is what makes it so effective. One of the other keys to the success of the Banjo Minnow is the relatively clear water you will be fishing. This lure, and the technique used to fish it, is so much more effective in clear water fisheries."