Postcards from the Amazon

Part of the thrill of traveling to Brazil’s Amazon Basin is the variety of fish and wildlife you’ll encounter there, as well as rainforest scenery available no other place on earth. Following are photos by B.A.S.S. Times Editor Dave Precht and friends from their week-long trip with Anglers Inn Amazon in January (see related story). Special thanks go to Helen Thurber of Theodore, Ala., for contributing her photos from a trip with her husband and friends a week later to the same section of the Jufari River.

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<p>The face that launched a thousand trips to the Amazon — a colorful butterfly peacock bass in all its glory.</p>
The face that launched a thousand trips to the Amazon — a colorful butterfly peacock bass in all its glory.
<p>Amazon anglers can expect to catch dozens of medium-size, 4- to 6-pound peacock bass during their trips, but it’s the 12-plus-pounders, like Jimmy Yarbrough’s “paca” that make the trips so memorable. </p>
Amazon anglers can expect to catch dozens of medium-size, 4- to 6-pound peacock bass during their trips, but it’s the 12-plus-pounders, like Jimmy Yarbrough’s “paca” that make the trips so memorable. 
<p>You’d get lost in the maze of jungle rivers without a guide. Jardel, shown giving an assist to Don Logan, is one of the best. </p>
You’d get lost in the maze of jungle rivers without a guide. Jardel, shown giving an assist to Don Logan, is one of the best. 
<p>When a huge peacock bass — like Jim Copeland’s 18-pounder — attack a topwater plug, it’s about all you can do to hold on to your rod.</p>
When a huge peacock bass — like Jim Copeland’s 18-pounder — attack a topwater plug, it’s about all you can do to hold on to your rod.
<p>When finally brought to the boat, peacock bass seem to find a reservoir of strength that enables some of them to bend hooks and break lines. Netting a fish wearing three sets of treble hooks is a safety precaution.</p>
When finally brought to the boat, peacock bass seem to find a reservoir of strength that enables some of them to bend hooks and break lines. Netting a fish wearing three sets of treble hooks is a safety precaution.
<p>Fishermen set out to explore the Jufari River early in their Brazil adventure.</p>
Fishermen set out to explore the Jufari River early in their Brazil adventure.
<p>Jardel shows off a 17-pounder. The guide always seemed to be around big fish, which is why you’ll see a lot of him in these photos.</p>
Jardel shows off a 17-pounder. The guide always seemed to be around big fish, which is why you’ll see a lot of him in these photos.
<p>Helen Thurber, the official photographer of the group that followed us into camp, shows off one of the numerous big peacocks she landed. </p>
Helen Thurber, the official photographer of the group that followed us into camp, shows off one of the numerous big peacocks she landed. 
<p>Behind this curtain of vines and trees lay a 50-acre lagoon loaded with big peacock bass. The honey hole was almost impossible to spot from the main river channel.</p>
Behind this curtain of vines and trees lay a 50-acre lagoon loaded with big peacock bass. The honey hole was almost impossible to spot from the main river channel.
<p>Guide Ney spots spawning beds in a quiet cove ...</p>
Guide Ney spots spawning beds in a quiet cove …
<p>... and directs client Tom Curl to cast toward the broad, light-colored nest ...</p>
… and directs client Tom Curl to cast toward the broad, light-colored nest …
<p>... Curl connects with a good fish, but not the grande he was hoping for.</p>
… Curl connects with a good fish, but not the grande he was hoping for.
<p>The main lure for the biggest fish is a giant Woodchopper prop bait. The right ripping action isn’t easy and doesn’t come naturally. Billy Chapman gives a chopping lesson to Copeland early in the trip ...</p>
The main lure for the biggest fish is a giant Woodchopper prop bait. The right ripping action isn’t easy and doesn’t come naturally. Billy Chapman gives a chopping lesson to Copeland early in the trip …
<p>... The lesson paid off immediately, as Copeland battles a stout fish. </p>
… The lesson paid off immediately, as Copeland battles a stout fish. 
<p>After a couple of days of heavy action in the trenches, Woodchoppers take a beating. Good thing Anglers Inn Amazon provides lures and tackle for its customers. </p>
After a couple of days of heavy action in the trenches, Woodchoppers take a beating. Good thing Anglers Inn Amazon provides lures and tackle for its customers. 
<p>Billy Chapman was one of the early pioneers in outfitting peacock bass trips to the Amazon. His Anglers Inn Amazon operation is filling up with repeat customers.</p>
Billy Chapman was one of the early pioneers in outfitting peacock bass trips to the Amazon. His Anglers Inn Amazon operation is filling up with repeat customers.
<p>Billy Cox, a member of Helen Thurber’s party, caught this 24-pounder on the upper Jufari River. </p>
Billy Cox, a member of Helen Thurber’s party, caught this 24-pounder on the upper Jufari River. 
<p>Big peacock bass like this can be caught on bass lures and tackle, and few fish can match their spectacular fighting abilities — or their gorgeous coloration. </p>
Big peacock bass like this can be caught on bass lures and tackle, and few fish can match their spectacular fighting abilities — or their gorgeous coloration. 
<p>Peacocks share their tannic waters with a variety of other species that add to the fishing fun. Guide Aguinaldo shows off a good-size aruana, better known as a “monkey fish."</p>
Peacocks share their tannic waters with a variety of other species that add to the fishing fun. Guide Aguinaldo shows off a good-size aruana, better known as a “monkey fish.”
<p>One of the more intriguing “by-catch” species of the Amazon is the colorful jacunda. </p>
One of the more intriguing “by-catch” species of the Amazon is the colorful jacunda. 
<p>Black piranha seem to be everywhere in the rivers, and they’ll hit the same lures you’ll offer peacock bass. They have a penchant for stripping jigs of their bucktail dressings.</p>
Black piranha seem to be everywhere in the rivers, and they’ll hit the same lures you’ll offer peacock bass. They have a penchant for stripping jigs of their bucktail dressings.
<p>The young son of a camp staff member caught this piranha on a hand line. The fish contributed to a fine meal that evening. </p>
The young son of a camp staff member caught this piranha on a hand line. The fish contributed to a fine meal that evening. 
<p>This fearsome grin belongs to a small piranha. Locals say you have nothing to fear from them, unless you’re bleeding — or they’re especially hungry. </p>
This fearsome grin belongs to a small piranha. Locals say you have nothing to fear from them, unless you’re bleeding — or they’re especially hungry. 
<p>Joshua Cruz, a former eco-tourism guide in the Amazon, is operations manager for Anglers Inn Amazon. He said picking the right saplings for the impromptu grill for a shore lunch is crucial. Some species have poisonous sap. </p>
Joshua Cruz, a former eco-tourism guide in the Amazon, is operations manager for Anglers Inn Amazon. He said picking the right saplings for the impromptu grill for a shore lunch is crucial. Some species have poisonous sap. 
<p>A mixed grill of peacock bass and piranha proved delicious, especially after a heavy dusting with a Brazilian seasoning mix. </p>
A mixed grill of peacock bass and piranha proved delicious, especially after a heavy dusting with a Brazilian seasoning mix. 
<p>If the fish hadn’t been biting so well at midday, we’d have asked for more shore lunch breaks. This feast was great, but it took too much time away from fishing action. </p>
If the fish hadn’t been biting so well at midday, we’d have asked for more shore lunch breaks. This feast was great, but it took too much time away from fishing action. 
<p>Billy Chapman interviews with Jim Copeland and Jimmy Yarbrough during the midday break. Ever the promoter, he’s careful to stage the interview in front of his sponsor’s banner. </p>
Billy Chapman interviews with Jim Copeland and Jimmy Yarbrough during the midday break. Ever the promoter, he’s careful to stage the interview in front of his sponsor’s banner. 
<p>Guides carried hammocks in each boat. A sandwich and a short snooze in the shade made the afternoon sessions much more enjoyable.</p>
Guides carried hammocks in each boat. A sandwich and a short snooze in the shade made the afternoon sessions much more enjoyable.
<p>After a lunch break, it’s back to fishing. Don Logan’s 14-pounder hit a topwater plug multiple times before hooking up. </p>
After a lunch break, it’s back to fishing. Don Logan’s 14-pounder hit a topwater plug multiple times before hooking up. 
<p>Jimmy Yarbrough had little trouble adapting his black bass skills to peacock fishing. He was high man on the trip in both numbers and size. </p>
Jimmy Yarbrough had little trouble adapting his black bass skills to peacock fishing. He was high man on the trip in both numbers and size. 
<p>Jardel battles a pig peacock behind the boat. His clients had already covered that water, but they hadn’t caught ’em all. </p>
Jardel battles a pig peacock behind the boat. His clients had already covered that water, but they hadn’t caught ’em all. 
<p>Hobson Bryan, a former tournament angler on the B.A.S.S. circuits, shows off one of his numerous 10-plus-pound peacocks. </p>
Hobson Bryan, a former tournament angler on the B.A.S.S. circuits, shows off one of his numerous 10-plus-pound peacocks. 
<p>Bryan’s 21 1/2-pounder was the trophy of the trip. It hit a small Rapala X-Rap SubWalk plug along a tree line. </p>
Bryan’s 21 1/2-pounder was the trophy of the trip. It hit a small Rapala X-Rap SubWalk plug along a tree line. 
<p>Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S., celebrates one of his first trophy peacocks of the trip. </p>
Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S., celebrates one of his first trophy peacocks of the trip. 
<p>Bright bucktail jigs are deadly on peacock bass, but not nearly as much fun to catch fish with as topwaters. </p>
Bright bucktail jigs are deadly on peacock bass, but not nearly as much fun to catch fish with as topwaters. 
<p>Helen Thurber is a frequent fishing partner with her husband, Cooper, and she’s obviously an accomplished angler. </p>
Helen Thurber is a frequent fishing partner with her husband, Cooper, and she’s obviously an accomplished angler. 
<p>While you’re out fishing and exploring during the day, the Anglers Inn staff tows a train of floating suites — your home away from home for a week — to a new stretch of river. The mobility means you’re almost always fishing virgin waters.</p>
While you’re out fishing and exploring during the day, the Anglers Inn staff tows a train of floating suites — your home away from home for a week — to a new stretch of river. The mobility means you’re almost always fishing virgin waters.
<p>By evening, the floating suites are pulled up to a sugar-sand beach and anchored. Air conditioners are turned on in plenty of time to have the rooms chilled when the anglers return. </p>
By evening, the floating suites are pulled up to a sugar-sand beach and anchored. Air conditioners are turned on in plenty of time to have the rooms chilled when the anglers return. 
<p>Jack Odle moves into his home for the week. The floating suites, built on pontoons, are surprisingly comfortable, featuring two beds, a hot shower, air conditioning and a lounging deck at the stern. </p>
Jack Odle moves into his home for the week. The floating suites, built on pontoons, are surprisingly comfortable, featuring two beds, a hot shower, air conditioning and a lounging deck at the stern. 
<p>A highlight at the end of the fishing day was “happy hour” in the cooling waters of the Jufari. You eventually get over the fear of sharing the shallows with piranhas and stingrays. </p>
A highlight at the end of the fishing day was “happy hour” in the cooling waters of the Jufari. You eventually get over the fear of sharing the shallows with piranhas and stingrays. 
<p>Children of the camp staff relax in hammocks. </p>
Children of the camp staff relax in hammocks. 
<p>Kids of the Amazon find the equatorial weather perfect for swimming year-round. </p>
Kids of the Amazon find the equatorial weather perfect for swimming year-round. 
<p>A young native Brazilian stalks his prey with a hand-made bow and arrow ...</p>
A young native Brazilian stalks his prey with a hand-made bow and arrow …
<p>... and scores with a peacock bass for dinner. </p>
… and scores with a peacock bass for dinner. 
<p>Caymans, South American relatives of crocodiles, were abundant along the Jufari River. And they were very interested in whatever fishermen had to offer.</p>
Caymans, South American relatives of crocodiles, were abundant along the Jufari River. And they were very interested in whatever fishermen had to offer.
<p>Not all “follows” are from fish. </p>
Not all “follows” are from fish. 
<p>In between casts, Helen Thurber was faithful about photographing the abundant and diverse wildlife that inhabited the jungle trees ...</p>
In between casts, Helen Thurber was faithful about photographing the abundant and diverse wildlife that inhabited the jungle trees …
<p>... and shoreline.</p>
… and shoreline.
<p>Rain showers can be an everyday occurrence in the Amazon Basin. In the “dry” season, showers provide a brief relief from the heat. </p>
Rain showers can be an everyday occurrence in the Amazon Basin. In the “dry” season, showers provide a brief relief from the heat. 
<p>An unwelcome sight: Even after 6 1/2 days of hard fishing, we weren’t ready for the float plane to pick us up and return us to civilization. </p>
An unwelcome sight: Even after 6 1/2 days of hard fishing, we weren’t ready for the float plane to pick us up and return us to civilization. 
<p>It’s time to say good-bye to one of the most beautiful rivers I’ve ever seen.</p>
It’s time to say good-bye to one of the most beautiful rivers I’ve ever seen.