News and Notes

LADEN LANDS NEW PEACOCK BASS WORLD RECORD

Gary Laden, co-founder of Peacock Bass Adventures, was awarded the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame 4-lb line class world records for his 15 lb speckled peacock bass he caught while fishing on the Unini River. 

Gary was fishing with a Dink Alston Custom build three-piece spinning rod (contact Dink at dink13@aol.com for more information), 4 lb IGFA rated Ande line, Shimano Stradic spinning reel and a custom jig made by his wife Susan.

Gary hooked the fish under a fry pod in the middle of a lagoon. Guide JoJo Teixera was very adept at using the trolling motor to gently keep the fish in the middle of the lagoon while Gary fought the fish for four minutes before it was snared with a certified Boga Grip.

NEW PRO SHAD JERKBAIT PROVING MOST APPEALING
TO TOPWATER WARY PEACOCKS

The Intruder Baits Suspending Pro Shad, an exciting new jerkbait offering from Net-Pro Lures, is slowly finding its way into the tackle arsenal of savvy peacock bass anglers.  After months of tank testing to insure an excellent sink rate, balance and enticing darting action, the Suspending Pro Shad is now on the market and available to the peacock bass angler.  Until October of 2007, only a handful or prototype lures were selectively placed in the hands of highly skilled veterans of numerous trips to the Amazon watershed for peacock bass. And, in just a few short weeks of the fall 2007 peacock bass season, our angling researchers are demanding more samples for future trips.   

The Suspending Pro Shad is a 5-1/8 inch, 1 ounce jerkbait is an extremely durable plastic lure. It possesses lifelike 3-D eyes, unique molded gills and hand painted bodies in an array of flashy colors, some holographic.

When fishing a jerkbait like the Suspending Pro Shad, make a cast to actively feeding fish, fry pods, points, sandbars or other forms of cover and structure. 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 turn the reel handle to retrieve the lure. Allow the jerkbait to dart and dance from two-to-five feet below the surface (see illustration below which depicts an erratic, darting retrieve, one that works especially well when using a chrome colored lure during times of bright skies yielding maximum reflection).

The Intruder Baits Suspending Pro Shad (viewed at left), is a superb peacock bass attracting bait. The way these baits reflect light during the retrieve generates many reflex strikes from peacock bass. The key to making these baits flash is to work them erratically (see illustration at the top of the page). With these particular lures, one can use either spinning gear (6’6” MH action rod with a reel that is approximately 10-12 ounces), spooled with 30 - 65 lb Power Pro line or baitcasting gear (6’6” MH action) and 30 to 65 lb Power Pro line. Some anglers prefer a size 6, 120-lb Double-Lok snap affixed to the nose of the bait and remove any nose split rings. Cast the Suspending Pro Shad jerkbaits towards points, sandbars and to fry pods. The Suspending Pro Shad is one of the most 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. After you cast these plugs, use the wrists to dart them erratically below the surface. Do not allow them to return to the surface. If a fish swirls at the bait, almost twitch it in place to get it to strike again and then continue the erratic retrieve.

For more information on the Intruder Baits Suspending Pro Shad by Net-Pro Lures, contact Dusty Moulton at:

Net-Pro Lures
135 Hillview Lane
Loudon, TN 37774
Telephone: 865-408-9779
E-mail: info@netprolures.com

DON CUTTER EXPECTS HOT FISHING ON THE UNINI RIVER

Don Cutter, owner/operator of the Unini River, expects the 2007-08 season to be a banner year for peacock bass, both in terms of numbers and size. Don sends us the following report:

I have been getting reports from our camps on water levels and fishing conditions’ on the Unini River. Our first group was stunned at the number of large fish that were caught during the week. The water levels are just now reaching the upper limits of what I consider good water conditions. As the water recedes, the big fish seem to leave the jungle first with the smaller fish to follow.  This migration pattern modes well for early season monsters. Later, as the season progresses, the small fish join the larger fish to offer a variety of fishing opportunities

The water continues to recede slowly and I am predicting one of our best years ever on this river The reason, in my opinion, are two-fold. First, lf high water in January and February of the two seasons prior to the last offered an undisturbed period for the spawn. Second, the limited about of fishing and the resting of lagoons by the two operators on the river enhanced the opportunity for substantial growth of these fish. Compare this to the areas of the Rio Negro that get pounded every day with no chance of rest and recovery - and where the fishermen and operators continue to complain about deteriorating conditions for the peacock bass.

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