03-31-2009, 03:37 PM
March 30, 2009
Greetings Fisherfolk,
I spend my time taking folks fishing for peacock bass on massive Lake Guri in southeastern Venezuela. Last week I was thrilled to have two old friends, Charles Hammontree, owner of Caribe Lures, which makes the now famous Pavon Prop surface bait for peacock bass, Steve Townson, international fisherman and host of "The Fish Finder" TV series, which is aired throughout Europe, along with Angel Gonzalez and Juan Carlos Fridegotta, both from Valencia, Venezuela and on the governing body of the two largest fishing clubs in this country respectively.
The first day of fishing I teamed up with Charles, and along with Angel and Juan Carlos in their boat, we headed up the La Paragua River to a new area we discovered a few weeks ago. Steve ventured off on his own to scout around, but I bet he wished he wouldn't have. Charles and I, using Pavon Prop 7" baits, small Rapala X-Raps, and my favorite, Strike King Thruster Tails (Little George type bait on steroids), boated 43 peacock bass up to 15 lbs that first morning. Angel and Juan Carlos added another 25 fish to the pool up to 13 lbs.
Having bombed out at the first spots he, not the guide, had chosen, Steve joined us around mid-morning and proceeded to boat a good number of fish up to 15 lbs. Although Steve and Charles both are known for their jig fishing skills in Brasil, where they won the International Peacock Bass Tournament two years in a row, I soon had them and the rest of the gang fishing with various models of Little Georges or similar type baits. The number began to grow almost immediately with big fish mixed into the deal. Fish of 8-10 lbs were common with larger ones hitting throughout the day. I personally had 80 lb Power Pro braided line snapped like sewing thread by a large fish plowing for the green trees dotting the area.
Using Super Spooks in another upriver area, Steve landed a 17 lb beauty, and the rest of us caught quality fish on the same bait. When we fished the coves on the lake side of the Headwaters Fishing Club area later in the trip, the Super Spook was definitely the big winner. Angel and Juan Carlos, while fishing for only two hours their last morning at the camp, had over thirty fish hit their Super Spooks.
Charles, Angel, and Juan Carlos had to leave a day earlier than Steve, so the last day Steve went out with another client fishing, and I told my wife, Zulay, who is at best a beginner fisherperson, and her girlfriend, Misterdan, who is even more of a novice, that they could go with HFC guide, Ramon and fish that morning. They went to exactly the same area where Charles and I had slaughtered the peacock bass the first day, while Steve decided to contradict his guide's opinion and ordered him to go somewhere else. Well folks, when the water quit frothing, Zulay and Misteran had caught 43 fish up to Zulay's 12 lb beauty, which by far was her biggest ever, and Steve had to return to the camp that evening and tell me he had only managed four fish, although one was a respectable 13 lbs. For this to happen in front of me was great for this report, but definitely not good for Steve, who took some serious ribbing from me. It is a recognized fact that Steve is a good fisherman, but sometimes even the mighty shall fall.
Next we had the pleasure of entertaining a group lead by none other than my very good friend, Martin Tovar, who just turned a spry 80 years of age last weekend. Joining Martin was his son, Martin Jr., Jacobo Reyes, Miguel Puig of the Puig Cookie Company, who left me a box of fine snacks that I definitely didn't need to be eating but loved anyway, Octavio Greci, Gustavo Rivas, and two brothers, Juan and Luis. A frontal passage slowed things down on Friday afternoon, but Saturday morning saw some good fish being boated. Jacobo's 13 lb brute led the pack, but there were several other 10 lb fish along with many 8-9 lb fish boated. Yo-zuri’s and Super Spooks led the charge. As has been the case many times this past few months, fish of gigantic size were hooked by two of the fishermen, but luck was not on their side, as the monsters ripped off line and escaped into the heavy cover.
Folks, the spawn is now officially behind us, and the fish are beginning to feed heavily in the shallows throughout our area. This translates into great topwater action for big fish. You do not want to miss your chance to land one of these monsters, so just drop me an email stating your preferred dates to come, and I will do my very best to help you plan the fishing trip of a lifetime.
Regards,
Steve Shoulders Headwaters Fishing Club
Lake Guri, Venezuela
Greetings Fisherfolk,
I spend my time taking folks fishing for peacock bass on massive Lake Guri in southeastern Venezuela. Last week I was thrilled to have two old friends, Charles Hammontree, owner of Caribe Lures, which makes the now famous Pavon Prop surface bait for peacock bass, Steve Townson, international fisherman and host of "The Fish Finder" TV series, which is aired throughout Europe, along with Angel Gonzalez and Juan Carlos Fridegotta, both from Valencia, Venezuela and on the governing body of the two largest fishing clubs in this country respectively.
The first day of fishing I teamed up with Charles, and along with Angel and Juan Carlos in their boat, we headed up the La Paragua River to a new area we discovered a few weeks ago. Steve ventured off on his own to scout around, but I bet he wished he wouldn't have. Charles and I, using Pavon Prop 7" baits, small Rapala X-Raps, and my favorite, Strike King Thruster Tails (Little George type bait on steroids), boated 43 peacock bass up to 15 lbs that first morning. Angel and Juan Carlos added another 25 fish to the pool up to 13 lbs.
Having bombed out at the first spots he, not the guide, had chosen, Steve joined us around mid-morning and proceeded to boat a good number of fish up to 15 lbs. Although Steve and Charles both are known for their jig fishing skills in Brasil, where they won the International Peacock Bass Tournament two years in a row, I soon had them and the rest of the gang fishing with various models of Little Georges or similar type baits. The number began to grow almost immediately with big fish mixed into the deal. Fish of 8-10 lbs were common with larger ones hitting throughout the day. I personally had 80 lb Power Pro braided line snapped like sewing thread by a large fish plowing for the green trees dotting the area.
Using Super Spooks in another upriver area, Steve landed a 17 lb beauty, and the rest of us caught quality fish on the same bait. When we fished the coves on the lake side of the Headwaters Fishing Club area later in the trip, the Super Spook was definitely the big winner. Angel and Juan Carlos, while fishing for only two hours their last morning at the camp, had over thirty fish hit their Super Spooks.
Charles, Angel, and Juan Carlos had to leave a day earlier than Steve, so the last day Steve went out with another client fishing, and I told my wife, Zulay, who is at best a beginner fisherperson, and her girlfriend, Misterdan, who is even more of a novice, that they could go with HFC guide, Ramon and fish that morning. They went to exactly the same area where Charles and I had slaughtered the peacock bass the first day, while Steve decided to contradict his guide's opinion and ordered him to go somewhere else. Well folks, when the water quit frothing, Zulay and Misteran had caught 43 fish up to Zulay's 12 lb beauty, which by far was her biggest ever, and Steve had to return to the camp that evening and tell me he had only managed four fish, although one was a respectable 13 lbs. For this to happen in front of me was great for this report, but definitely not good for Steve, who took some serious ribbing from me. It is a recognized fact that Steve is a good fisherman, but sometimes even the mighty shall fall.
Next we had the pleasure of entertaining a group lead by none other than my very good friend, Martin Tovar, who just turned a spry 80 years of age last weekend. Joining Martin was his son, Martin Jr., Jacobo Reyes, Miguel Puig of the Puig Cookie Company, who left me a box of fine snacks that I definitely didn't need to be eating but loved anyway, Octavio Greci, Gustavo Rivas, and two brothers, Juan and Luis. A frontal passage slowed things down on Friday afternoon, but Saturday morning saw some good fish being boated. Jacobo's 13 lb brute led the pack, but there were several other 10 lb fish along with many 8-9 lb fish boated. Yo-zuri’s and Super Spooks led the charge. As has been the case many times this past few months, fish of gigantic size were hooked by two of the fishermen, but luck was not on their side, as the monsters ripped off line and escaped into the heavy cover.
Folks, the spawn is now officially behind us, and the fish are beginning to feed heavily in the shallows throughout our area. This translates into great topwater action for big fish. You do not want to miss your chance to land one of these monsters, so just drop me an email stating your preferred dates to come, and I will do my very best to help you plan the fishing trip of a lifetime.
Regards,
Steve Shoulders Headwaters Fishing Club
Lake Guri, Venezuela