Fish or Hunt with fishing/hunting guide and outfitter, Wayne Hockmeyer, creator of the Banjo Minnow.

Call in sick, take vacation---whatever it takes, see how fast you can get to the Unini River. Water levels have fallen solidly into the optimal range, and to say it is happening might be one of the great fishing understatements of all times. Just back yesterday, 10/21/2006, and perhaps these results will back up that assertion. We were aboard the Amazon Cutter, and keep in mind that at most there were nine fishermen some days, but usually only seven on the water. How good was it to these fishermen? Try this---the camp total for the week was 848 peacocks, with 9 monsters that went 20 pounds or better (6 – 20’s, and 1 each 21, 22, and 23). While 690 fish were caught up to 10 pounds, fully 158 weighed 11 pounds or more each. Check this breakdown on those: 16–11’s, 38–12’s, 20-13’s, 18-14’s, 9-15’s, 19-16’s, 7-17’s, 15-18’s, 4-19’s, and of course, the aforementioned 9-20’s or better.

My partner, Dan Basore, and I agreed it was the best trip we have ever made, anywhere. We had three of the 20 pounders or better. I had a 20, and Dan had a 21 and the big fish of the week, the 23 pounder. One day alone, we totaled 55 fish with the largest at 17 pounds, but one “teener” right after the other within the total. Our largest 10 fish for the trip averaged 19 pounds! We had a great group onboard the Cutter and everyone caught fish---a lot of fish!

Andy Rockwell, a very experienced peacock bass angler was along on the trip and said it was perhaps the best trip he has ever made. Quite a statement from a super gentleman who keeps meticulous records and has been fishing in South America for peacocks since 1991. In a very short time, Andy has become incredibly proficient with the Banjo Minnow and coached everyone onboard on his remarkably effective technique with that particular bait. Andy “cleaned all of our clocks” on numbers, but he had two of the fish over 20 and a large number of the “teener” fish as well. He was equally proficient with a fly rod, taking several on the last day in that manner with the largest at 18 pounds.

Now that I’ve mentioned it, I might as well stop right here and talk about that dumb Banjo Minnow---the unbelievably effective lure that many of us “pooh-poohed” a year or so ago. No more! Until you use it, you will simply not believe how the peacocks---small, medium, and VERY LARGE will eat it up. I think that Don Cutter describes it best when he says that when they are biting other lures, the Banjo Minnow will catch fish right alongside them, but the thing that sets it apart is when they eat up the Banjo and turn their noses up at most of our past favorites. The guides will gladly show you how to rig and fish them, so unless you want to get it “put on you” by the other guy in the boat who has some, then by all means follow the American Express suggestion of “don’t leave home without it”! On the other hand, Don has plenty in his well-stocked tackle room available for purchase right on the boat. Color? Just focus on all pearl. The guides will show you how to color them with a permanent marker to match almost exactly one of the prominent bait fish that the peacocks love. The only real mistake you can make is not trying this amazing lure on your next trip.

OK, what about other lures? We caught fish on topwater, both Woodchopper and High Roller type prop baits, as well as walking “spook” type baits. Everyone agreed that Clown was the best color, with red/white, and black/orange producing well also. One morning, my home-made topwater “Nosy Molly” in red/white put us solidly onto the best color for the day. Jerkbaits like the Yo-Zuri in blue/pink/white were productive, and in fact, I had back to back 15 and 20 pounders on that lure one afternoon. Jigs? You bet! Best color for me was black and red bucktail with a red Krystal flash tail. One afternoon one “teener” after another up to 17 pounds just crushed that jig, and I was especially impressed that not one of them came unlatched.

Having said all that, just let me repeat that the number one lure was no doubt---the Banjo Minnow. Dan caught tons of big fish including the 21 and 23 on the Banjo during the week, and I think that Andy hardly fished any other lure because it was so productive.

Locations? Many, many of the fish are spawning and on beds. That means that the inside of sand bars and sandy points were especially productive. Sight fishing was evident throughout the week. Some of the largest fish were also taken out from steep banks and walls. Fry balls were seen each day, but they are not yet abundant, and those that were seen were often not productive. Mama and Papa just wouldn’t cooperate and perhaps that’s a good thing.

This was my first trip with TAM and it was a very pleasant experience. Great equipment, friendly and helpful personnel, and on-time arrivals and departures both ways. Security was especially impressive but there were no problems with fishing tackle, including rod cases or reels with line in carry-on bags. That was also true with the domestic carriers, including American and US Air. Perhaps it was just me, but security lines everywhere seemed to be longer than normal, so be sure to allow enough time at your particular airports when making your trip.

Well, that’s about it, but let me add just a few closing thoughts. I would be quite remiss if I didn’t say that Don Cutter’s staff did their usual fine job with all the details---travel, transfers, accommodations, meals, laundry---everything. Additionally, he has assembled one of the finest groups of guides with whom I have ever fished. Simply a productive pleasure to spend the day with any one of them. And finally, just a personal prediction that this is going to be a long, productive season on the Unini. It only rained one afternoon on our trip, the water is dropping slowly, and I believe that this season might very well run through next February, so if you absolutely can’t make it until after the first of the year, don’t hesitate to contact Don for possible openings into early next year. As for me---ha-ha---I’m booked to return the first week of December with my buddy, John Welch. Can’t wait!!!!

Please let me know if any of you have questions, and I’ll be happy to respond.

All the bass,
Gary C

PS Hope this wasn’t too long, but many of you wanted me to post a “detailed” report when I returned and I have tried to do that.