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.

2012--GREAT MEMORIES OF GREAT FISHING

2012 was a fantastic year, far exceeding my wildest dreams with monster fish and exciting adventures to new destinations.  The season started in April with a return visit to La Zona for monster golden dorado.  This was my 6th year to this magical fishery.  Here, I have made many friends which will last a lifetime.  Our group shattered the lodge records with 4 dorado over 50lbs and numerous more over 40lbs.  This definately is a place to put on your to fish list!

Towards the end of July, I ventured into the remote Gulf Region of Papua New Guinea to battle the Papuan Balck Bass and barramundi.  Modern civilization have not come to PNG.  Headhunting still takes place in the remote villages up in the mountains.  I found the people of PNG to be very friendly and helpful.  The fishing was fantastic, far exceeding my expectations.  I was fortunate to land a 40lbs PNG bass which is the only fish I have battled with which brought me down to me knees during the strike.  Jason Yip broke the all world IGFA tackle PNG bass during my stay.  This is definately a place to visit before modern civilization sets in as most rivers have never seen a lure.

In September, I fished out of Gary LaRose's Pumice Creek Lodge which is on the Alaska Peninsula.  Here is the best silver salmon on earth.  This was my 24th straight year fishing for silvers on the Peninsula.

Later in September, my Dad and I went to Yellow Lake in Webster, WI for our annual walleye trip.  Fishing was good, but no monster walleyes were landed.

Hopefully 2013 is another exciting year with trips already planned.

Wish everyone a successful/ healthy 2013!

Good fishing, Bob Daly

FISHING INDIA

Francois Helias of www.anglingthailand.com recently had a successful few days of fishing in the Karnataka State of India fishing on the Cauvery River.  Francois was fortunate to gain the IGFA all world record for catches of a 5.96kg Deccan Mahseer and a 2.70kg Karnataka Labeo.  Francois says India offers many species possibilities.  As I have written in the past, Francois is the top guide in Thailand for a variety of monster fish!  Francois has single handedly put Thailand on the fishing map!  Make sure to check out Francois's site above or you can email him at fishasia@ksc.th.com for more information on Thailand fishing along with trips in Laos, India, Malaysia, and others.

LAST MINUTE XMAS GIFT FOR THE FISHERPERSON IN YOUR LIFE

Looking for some great, last minute Xmas gifts for the fisherperson in your life?  Well how about getting a few of the top bass and peacock bass lures made by Kermett Adams.  Kermett makes each lure out of eastern red cedar and hand paints each lure individually by hand.  His peacock ripper grandes and peacock ripper chicos are the best on the market bar none!  I have worked with Kermett to design some top of the line golden dorado lures such as the daly diver which have been productive in catching monster dorado at La Zona.  Check out Kermett's site at www.klures.com and give him a shout to get some great Xmas gifts!

ALL-TACKLE RECORD PNG BLACK BASS

The IGFA recently recognized Jason Yip's monster PNG black bass (Papuan Black Snapper) as the all tackle world record.  Jason's monster bass weighed in at 46lbs and was caught during early August while I was in camp.  This bass shatters the existing record landed by Len Bradica of 42 lb 5 oz landed in 1992! Jason has done much to promote the fisheries in the remote jungles of PNG.  Here, Jason says much larger PNG bass swim waiting to get landed.  With roughly 99% of the PNG wild rivers never seeing a lure who knows how large these brutes can grow!  Having had the opportunity to fish the top fisheries throughout the world for freshwater species, the PNG black bass has no seconds when it comes to battling with an angler.  Broken lines,shattered rods, stripped reels, pulled apart split rings, and destroyed lures are the norm when it comes to PNG fishing.  The rivers in the Gulf area have in recent years produced some monster bass and Jason knows exactly where, when, and how to land these monsters.  There is much more to do in PNG than fishing as Jason arranges for visits with local native villages during the trip which is an experience I will never forget.  Check out Jason's site at www.pngsportfishing.net or get in touch with

Steve Yatomi at www.adventuretravelalliance.com to have the opportunity to break Jason's record and put your name in the record books!