Colombia

Payara vs. Peacock

Peacock Bass fishing trip Colombia!

Payara vs. Peacock Fishing Trip!

Your group trip begins with your flight from your home country to Bogotá. Several connections are available, and we’ll be happy to help you book your flights. You’ll usually fly via Amsterdam with KLM or via Madrid with Iberia, although Lufthansa also offers direct flights from Frankfurt. The flight to Bogotá takes around ten hours, with most flights arriving in the late afternoon or evening.

Your airport transfer will be waiting to take you to the hotel, approximately 15 minutes away. After checking into your room, you can round off the evening with a good dinner and a few drinks at the bar.

The following morning, you’ll enjoy a hearty breakfast before the ten-minute transfer to El Dorado Airport. After checking in, you’ll board your flight to Puerto Carreño, which takes around an hour and 45 minutes.

On arrival, your transfer will be waiting to take you to a small harbour, a drive of approximately four hours. From there, it’s another 20 minutes by boat to Orinoco Lodge. You’ll arrive at the lodge in the evening, depending on your flight schedule.

Fishing at the Orinoco

Fishing on the Orinoco is spectacular. Your day begins before sunrise with breakfast in the lodge’s main area. Afterwards, you’ll head to the boats, with two anglers sharing each small aluminium boat. From there, you’ll travel upstream towards the mighty rapids, a journey of just over 30 minutes.

The Orinoco has numerous rapids that offer excellent fishing. Payara activity at each location depends on the baitfish moving through the water below the rapids, so you’ll explore different spots to find the most productive areas.

At the rapids, you’ll mainly fish from the bank. Your boat will drop you off in calmer water, and you’ll walk to the fishing spots with your guide. Sturdy footwear is therefore essential.

Fishing for Payara

When targeting payara, you’ll usually use large soft plastics measuring 16–20 cm, rigged on heavy jig heads weighing 28–48 g. Payara hold in the eddies around the rapids or along the seams between fast-flowing and calmer water.

Cast your lure into the main current, then let it drift into the back eddy with the bail arm closed. Once there, work it slowly along the bottom. Strikes often come as the lure enters the eddy or during the slow retrieve along the riverbed.

Hard lures also work well in the current and are easier to fish than soft plastics. The approach is the same: focus on the seams where the different currents meet.

Fishing for Peacock Bass in Colombia

After two full days of fishing on the Orinoco, you’ll leave the lodge early on the third morning and head to one of its tributaries, fishing your way upstream to Peacock Camp. Here, the focus is on peacock bass. This small jungle river has deep outer bends, sandbanks and fast-flowing sections – ideal habitat for these powerful fish!

At the end of the fishing day, you’ll arrive at Peacock Bass Camp and settle into your tent. A good dinner and a cold beer will round off the day and set the tone for the peacock bass fishing ahead.

Peacock bass can be caught using a variety of techniques, but surface fishing offers the most exciting action. Poppers, walk-the-dog lures and prop baits all work very well. With so many different stretches and features along the river, you’ll need to adapt your approach to each spot.

Peacock jigs, walk-the-dog lures and spinnerbaits are particularly effective around the sandbanks, where they have produced excellent results in the past.

Hunting Monster Peacock Bass in Colombia

If you want to target really big peacock bass, the countless lagoons are the places to fish. Here, you’ll use large jerkbaits and swimbaits to tempt the biggest specimens. Lures at least 18 cm long with a pronounced side-to-side action are the preferred choice.

Fly fishing for peacock bass is also highly effective. Using 8- or 10-weight fly rods and large streamers, you’ll work the banks and fallen trees along the shoreline.

You’ll fish from Peacock Camp for three days before fishing your way back to Orinoco Lodge on the final day. Please note that the transfer days are full fishing days – you’ll be fishing throughout the day.

The departure

On your departure day, you’ll leave Orinoco Lodge early in the morning. As on the outward journey, you’ll travel by boat and 4×4 back to Puerto Carreño before catching a domestic flight to Bogotá. Depending on your flight connection, you’ll arrive in the afternoon or evening.

You’ll check into the hotel for one more night before flying home the following day.

Accommodations Colombia Fishing Trip

The Accommodation

Orinoco River!

Orinoco Lodge

Orinoco Lodge sits on an island in the middle of the Orinoco, offering spectacular views over the mighty river.

The simple rooms have two single beds, a private bathroom with a shower and toilet, mosquito nets, a portable air-conditioning unit and a fan.

The lodge’s main area is a welcoming place to relax, with several seating areas and a large communal table for meals and preparing tackle together.

The lodge also has a swimming pool, and internet access is available in the main area.

Catering

Meals: Full Board

Beverages: Non-alcoholic drinks and beer are included. Wine, spirits, and cocktails can be purchased on-site based on consumption.

Peacock Bass Fishing!

Peacock Camp

Peacock Camp is a tented camp set in the rainforest, right on the river, with private twin accommodation.

The simple rooms have two single beds with mosquito nets, fans and a private bathroom with a shower and toilet.

A main tent provides space for communal meals and preparing your tackle. There is also a dedicated area for storing fishing rods.

Good food, cold soft drinks and beer are included. Meals draw on the flavours of the local cuisine.

Catering

Meals: Full Board

Beverages: Non-alcoholic drinks and beer are included. Wine, spirits, and cocktails can be purchased on-site based on consumption.

Bogota!

Courtyard by Marriot Hotel

For your stay in Bogotá, we’ve booked you into the Courtyard by Marriott, conveniently located near the airport.

Each room has two single beds and a private bathroom with a shower and toilet. Two guests will share a room during your trip.

The hotel has a good restaurant and bar serving a selection of dishes and cold drinks. Breakfast is included in your package.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the rooms and lobby.

Catering

Meals: Breakfast included

Beverages: Drinks can be paid for on site according to consumption

Your fishing boats in Colombia

The Boats

In Colombia, a variety of aluminium boats is available, each with room for two anglers.

Boat fishing on Payara & Peacock

2 anglers per boat

Aluminium boats are available for targeting payara and, in particular, peacock bass. Each boat has ample engine power and room for two anglers.

The local guides know the area like the back of their hand and will take you to the best fishing spots. Each boat also has a cool box stocked with cold drinks.

Orinoco Waterfalls!

Payara fishing Orinoco

On the Orinoco you fish the rapids mainly from the shore. You should therefore bring good shoes. Some of the fishing spots are in the rapids. You are therefore directly on the fish.

There are several places that can be reached by boat or on foot. Your guides will accompany you while fishing and help you land the fish!

You need this fishing tackle in Colombia for Payara & Peacock!

Tackle Talk

For fishing in Colombia, you’ll need two types of rod. For payara, bring a heavy spinning rod at least 2.7 metres long, with a casting weight of at least 120 g.

For peacock bass, short, powerful spinning or jerkbait rods are best. We recommend a maximum length of 2.4 metres.

For fishing with large jerkbaits, swimbaits and glidebaits, use shorter rods measuring 1.8–2 metres, with a casting weight of at least 150 g.

You need these spinning lures for Payara!

Spin fishing for Payara

A variety of lures work well when targeting payara in Colombia. Large soft plastics rigged on heavy jig heads are particularly effective. Choose models measuring 16–25 cm, such as the Zeck Fishing Butcher and Rippler. The 7-inch and 8-inch Lunker City Shakers are also good options.

Both shallow-running and deep-diving plugs work well. The Rapala Super Shad Rap and similar plugs measuring at least 15 cm are suitable choices.

The Halco Laser Pro 190 also performs well in strong currents. Bring plugs with diving depths of 2–6 metres.

You need these spinning lures for Peacock Bass!

Spin fishing for peacock bass

A wide variety of lures can be used for peacock bass, with your choice depending on the stretch of river and the type of water you’re fishing.

Walk-the-dog surface lures are generally very effective. They work over sandbanks, in lagoons and along the river itself. Surface lures are also well suited to areas with plenty of submerged timber.

Hair jigs and spinnerbaits have proved particularly effective over sandbanks. Work hair jigs across the sandy bottom with short, sharp movements. Spinnerbaits need to be especially robust – the Westin Monster Vibe has produced excellent results.

Twitchbaits measuring 11 cm or more also work well for peacock bass. The Illex Arnaud and similar slim, shallow-running plugs are ideal.

If you’re targeting the biggest peacock bass, focus on large glidebaits and swimbaits measuring at least 15 cm. Look for lures with a broad side-to-side action. Jerkbaits with a wide action have also proved highly effective, including models from Hybrida, Zeck Fishing, Westin and Salmo.

One insider tip is the River2Sea Wide Glide. This hard-to-find, 20 cm lure has accounted for some monster peacock bass in the past!

You need these spinning lures for Sardinata!

Spin fishing for Sardinata

Fishing for sardinata below the rapids offers excellent surface action. These relatives of the tarpon can be caught on light spinning tackle and surface lures.

Bring small poppers and walk-the-dog lures no longer than 10 cm. The Illex Riser Bait is another excellent choice and has proved particularly reliable for sardinata in recent years!

The best lines and leaders for Payara & Peacock!

Leader & Main Line

For lure fishing for payara, use steel or titanium leaders rated at 40–80 lb. Choose only high-quality materials. Zeck offers a good 7×7 steel leader, while Kinky Knot 2 is our recommendation for titanium leaders.

For peacock bass, use monofilament leaders rated at least 40 lb, matching the leader strength to your lures.

Your main line should be a high-performance PE braid. For payara, use at least PE5 (50 lb). For peacock bass, we recommend a minimum of PE4 (40 lb). Good options include Momoi Lure Soul #3, Deka 8-Braid #3 and other high-performance braids.

Terminal Tackle

Hooks & Terminal Tackle

We recommend replacing all hooks and split rings on your artificial lures. BKK hooks and Owner ST-66 trebles are good choices, in sizes suited to your lures. Owner Hyper Wire Xtra Strong split rings are also recommended.

For payara fishing, you’ll need treble hooks in sizes 1/0–2/0. We recommend Zeck Screw-in Jig Heads weighing 28–45 g. You’ll also need suitable crimp sleeves for your steel and titanium leaders.

Helpful tools for your fishing trip

Other fishing equipment

We recommend bringing a good pair of split-ring pliers. The hPa Game Plier is a reliable choice, allowing you to open even heavy-duty split rings with ease.

A waterproof boat bag is also worth bringing. Zeck Fishing offers some excellent options, including the Tackle Container Pro and Tackle Container Pro Catfish.

As you’ll often be casting for several hours at a time, we recommend packing a good pair of gloves.

Colombia can get very hot, so bring UV-protective shirts, a sun hat and SPF 50 sunscreen. Our Expeditions UV shirts are available to order directly from us.

Good polarised sunglasses are essential for fishing. We recommend gloryfy unbreakable sunglasses, which combine polarised lenses with exceptionally durable frames.

Take a closer look at the gloryfy unbreakable range of polarised fishing sunglasses here: Polarized Sunglasses for Anglers!