CASIQUIARE RIVER, VENEZUELA FOR MONSTER PEACOCK BASS

The Casiquiare River is located at the extreme southern tip of Venezuelas near the bordres of Brazil and Columbia. It connects the huge Orinoco River to Brazil's massive Amazon River by way of the Rio Negro. Here, monster peacock bass swim and have virtually been unfished for over a decade. Back in the early 1990s, the Casiquiare and its tributaries, the Pasiba and Pasimoni were known for monster peacocks in the mid 20 pound range. This watershed is located in the land of the legendary Yanomami Indians, supposingly the fiercest, most primitive tribe in the South American jungles. Back in the 90s only a remote "basic creature comfort" campsite exsisted which had a thatched roof shelter, propane-fired stove, and mosquito netting cots. To wash you had to bathe in the river hoping the fearsome candiru does not enter the orifice and it has been known to be attracted by urine. However, peacock bass fishing was addictive and fishermen would take life threatening changes at a shot for a monster fish!

A few years into the 90s, the dictator government in Venezuela placed this watershed off limits for Americans making it accessible only to residents of Venezulela and protecte the watershed in a National Park. With a possible change of government upcoming in Venezuela it will be interesting if the Casiquiare Watershed will once again be opened to fishermen of the North Americas? I know I will definately be on the list to get in!!!

For lots of great infomation on the history of how peacock bass fishing evolved over the years, Larry Larsen of www.peacockbassassociation.com has a complete line of peacock bass books which begin in the Casiquiare and Lake Guri of Venezuela to the current hot spots of the Brazilian Amazon ! I have all of the books and have read them over and over, learn something new each time!

If your interested in booking a peacock bass trip or talking about the possibility of the Casiquiare opening or the possiblity of the Brazilian Rio Unini opening again, contact Steve Yatomi at

www.adventuretravelalliance.com as Steve runs trips into the Brazilian Amazon each year and has numerous contacts in these areas for updates!

TAIMEN

Every year, I get together with fishing friends to discuss possible new speices we can fish.  We discussed future opportunities to go after the little know Taimen.  The Taimen is the world's largest salmonid often reaching weights of 200 pounds.  According to the IGFA, a reported 231 pound taimen was netted in 1943, but the largest on record is 123 pounds which is slightly less than the largest commercially caught 126 pound King salmon.  The current all tackle IGFA record is 92 lb 8 oz landed in 1993 on the Keta River in Siberia.  The taimen inhibits the Ural-Siberian-Amur drainages of Mongolia and other parts of the former USSR.  Taimen feed on prarie dogs, lemmings, ducks, or whatever they can find.  They often jump out of the water grabbing prey or lures on their way down thus resulting on jolting strikes.
After discussing option with Larry Dahlberg of "Hunt for Big Fish" there are currently not many outifitters offering trips into the remote Mongolia rivers.  Hopefully will we see possiblities open soon and it will be a dream to visit the unexplored vastness of Mongolia!

WINTER FISHING SPORTSHOWS

Have cabin fever like me?  Well, the winter season is the opportunity to visit various sport/fishing shows which come near your town.  Here various outfitters worldwide can talk to you about your dream fishing trips.  They can provide valuable information such as best time to come, best lures, etc..  Also various tackle manufacters will show you their new line of hot products to land your trophy dream fish.  Often some of the larger shows will have top pros give seminars on various topics.  Here you will have to opportunity to ask the pros and learn from the best.  For example at the Chicago Musky Show, Larry Dahlberg of Hunt For Big Fish, provided me valuble information on Papua New Guinea which lead to a ver successful trip.

So, go on-line, look in your local newspapers to get a show schedule near your town and get rid of cabin fever for at least a day.