Explosive Strikes, fierce fights acrobatic leaps and brilliant colors make peacock bass some of the most thrilling fish on the planet.
For anglers who cherish violent topwater bites, peacock bass may qualify as the ultimate freshwater targets, and a trip into the jungle to catch these brilliant-colored game fish is a true once-in-a-lifetime 
experience. Smashing surface lures with the explosiveness of fish 10 times their size, peacock bass redefine thrilling fishing.
Because peacock bass love (or maybe hate) BIG surface lures that make a lot of commotion, anglers headed for Brazil need to tote at least a few of Creek Chub's new Super Knuckle-Heads, which are 7 inches long and are full of noisy rattles. A steady cadence of sharp tugs with no real pauses between them will bring peacocks running. Other important topwater baits include Heddon Super Spooks and Wounded Spooks.
Peacocks often will blow up on topwater lures and inexplicably miss them or will kick up big wakes behind baits before they strike. In either case, anglers must learn to keep the bait moving. Baitfish don't naturally stop when peacock bass are chasing them, and a peacocks will turn tail and run when a plug pauses in front of it.
Beyond topwater plugs, Amazon anglers need plenty of super-sized jerkbaits, like Bomber Magnum Long 'A's, heavy-duty jointed Long 'A's and Cotton Cordell C-10 Red Fins. Big sub-surface plugs often will out-produce topwater lures, in terms of sheer numbers, but the big surface plugs typically will draw up the largest fish. Veterans of the jungle keep one of each rigged. They fish mostly with their big surface lures but keep minnow baits ready for follow-up casts after missed strikes and to fish areas after the fish quit taking topwater plugs.
Once hooked, a peacock bass pulls like a train and race car blended together. Most run out of stream fairly fast, seemingly pouring everything into the strike and the initial surge. However, in those first few moments they commonly shatter rods, bust lines and straighten hooks. Big fish always put anglers to the test.
Peacock fishing calls for fairly heavy bass gear with a lot of backbone in the rod, a smooth drag and very strong line. A Pflueger President WLP Baitcast Reel, which has a wide spool, matched with a 7-foot medium-heavy Trion Rod is an ideal combination.
PIRANHAS TOO!
Anglers fishing in the Amazon basin commonly catch several species of exotic fish, including piranhas. Beyond the indisputable novel appeal of actually catching these vicious predators and seeing them up close, piranhas hit baits with gusto and fight very hard. Like giant bluegills, which they resemble in shape, they use every bit of their flat sides to their advantage. Bomber Flair Hair Jigs and Cotton Cordell Super Spots work wonderfully for piranhas, most of which range between 1/2 pound and 3 pounds.
WANT TO GO?
The Amazon season begins in early fall and runs through the end of spring. To learn more about peacock bass fishing in the Amazon River basin, log onto www.wetaline.com