Brazil Peacock Bass Fishing at Rio Marié: 2016
The week began and ended with a breathtaking floatplane ride across the Amazon jungle between Manaus and northwest Brazil. The plane services the Untamed Amazon a state-of-the-art mother ship that functions as a floating lodge, completely isolated from the outside world—except for satellite Wi-Fi. Using this vessel as a base, anglers explore the Rio Marié River by custom-built skiffs, covering vast stretches of remote, untouched water each day. The operation moves daily along the river system, ensuring guests are always fishing fresh water. Our week began in the upper reaches of **Rio Marié**, covering nearly 200 miles downstream over seven days.
Challenging Conditions on the Rio Marié
As with any destination for Brazil peacock bass fishing, weather is always a variable—and ours delivered steady rains and rising water levels. High water tends to push peacock bass deeper into jungle cover, making them harder to reach and less aggressive. In response, our guides accelerated our downstream progress to access smaller tributaries that had seen less rainfall and more stable conditions.
Gearing Up for Peacock Bass Fly Fishing
Preparation was key. Our group brought an array of 8- to 10-weight rods, various fly lines, and streamers designed to fish all levels of the water column. My setup included:
Sage X 890 (floating line)
Clutch Archipelago 909 (floating line)
Sage Salt 990** with Rio Outbound Tropical F/I
Scott Radian 909 (floating line)
Orvis Helios 2 910 with Rio Outbound Tropical I/S6
Thomas & Thomas Exocett 910 with Rio Tarpon QuickShooter (F/I)
Yes, it’s a lot of rods—but peacock bass are brutal on gear, especially fly lines. Having floating, intermediate, and full sinking line options allowed us to adapt quickly as water conditions changed throughout the trip.*
* updated in 2025 as all of the fly rods mentioned here are no longer available. Today, I prefer the St. Croix Evos Salt, Sage Igniter, and G. Loomis NRX+ in both 9 and 10 weights for Rio Marie. An 8 weight in either of these models is also a solid option for lighter poppers and butterfly bass sessions. I recommend the Rio Elite Warmwater Predator fly line in floating and F/H/I as primary lines, with the F/S5/S7 as a backup for high water conditions.
A Memorable Start and Hard Lessons
Day one brought clearing skies and slowly dropping water. Fishing was slow but promising. As the odd man out, I fished solo with a guide, which had pros and cons: every shot at a fish was mine, but so was every cast. The oppressive Amazon humidity—95°F in the shade and 97°F in the sun—made it one of the most physically demanding days I’ve experienced in fly fishing.
Action Heats Up on Day Two
After a slow start on day two, we circled back to a lagoon that had produced nothing earlier. I reluctantly agreed to another pass while my partner stayed optimistic. Then, a massive explosion on his fly revealed an 18-pound peacock bass. Minutes later, I landed a 13-pounder on a Pole Dancer fished with my Sage X 890. I quickly learned to trust our guides completely. That afternoon, we found non-stop action on 4–6 pound fish, and another angler in our group landed a fish just over 20 pounds. We even spotted an anteater swimming across the river—just another surreal moment in the Amazon.
Midweek Slowdown
Rain fell through the night into day three. Fishing slowed, though I managed another solid 13-pounder on aChartreuse Smoke-N-Mirrors fly from Dirty Water Fly Company, paired with the Rio Outbound Tropical sinking line. The Orvis Helios 2 proved ideal for handling heavy flies and lines, thanks to its deep-loading butt section.
Rising Water, Rising Stakes
The remainder of the trip was marked by sporadic action and rising water. Heading into the final day, I was the only angler who hadn’t broken the 15-pound mark. Our boat reached the confluence with a familiar tributary we had fished in 2015. Conditions looked poor—submerged islands, zero clarity—but I clung to hope.
Last-Day Redemption at Rio Marié
Our guide Pablo, the only returning staff member from 2015, took us back into a lagoon where I had landed a 22-pounder the year before. The water was high and muddy. We tried everything—fast sink, slow sink, poppers—but found only a few small fish.
Just as I gave up, a giant peacock bass exploded on my popper. I fought hard, but the fish broke free just feet from cover next to the bank.
Then it happened again. Two large peacocks chased my next cast, but refused to commit. Frustrated, I tossed the fly near the boat—right on top of one—and it inhaled it. After a tense battle, we landed the 22-pound fish within 100 yards of where I had caught my previous one from the yearee before. Lightning had struck twice.
Final Thoughts on Peacock Bass Fly Fishing
Peacock bass fly fishing in Brazil is an experience like no other. If you're looking for a trip with legitimate shots at 20+ pound fish, Rio Marié should top your list.
Additional Peacock Bass Fishing Resources:
Brazil Peacock Bass Fishing Information
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