Rio Azul Lodge - Mato Grosso, Brazil
The Rio Azul Lodge is located in the rainforests in the North of the State of Mato Grosso in Brazil. Access to the beautiful Rio Azul Lodge is via the town of Alta Floresta. Trip Linhas Aeréas offers daily flights to Alta Floresta and from there guests are transferred by A/C 4 x 4 vehicles on 120kms of dirt road to the lodge, which takes approx. 3 hrs. Travelling through open areas and dense rainforest, crossing the Rio Teles Pires and the border between the States of Mato Grosso and Pará, anglers will arrive at the Rio Azul and the start of the Serra do Cachimbo mountains. There are plenty of opportunities to see a lot of flora and fauna along the way. *There is an option to fly via aero taxi plane which takes approx. 20 minutes. Price on request. The actual lodge structure has been carefully planned and installed so as to avoid any impact to the surrounding environment. There are no buildings in concrete and the indigenous vegetation has been fully preserved. Each room has been carefully designed and constructed with precast timber from certified and sustainable sources or from the trees that inevitably had to be felled for the construction of the lodge. All rooms have individual septic tanks to avoid the contamination of the river and the groundwater. All solid waste, such as plastic or tin packaging, among others, are transported to the city for recycling or proper disposal. Electricity is connected to the national grid system and is available 24hrs a day. Around the Rio Azul Reserve and the Rio São Benedito are another four large ecological reserves, the CPBV preservation area of the Brazilian Air Force, the Springs of the Serra do Cachimbo Mountains, the Cristalino State Park and the Kayabi Indian Reservation. These run along a corridor which extends across the southern border of the Amazon. From the Rio Tocantins to the State of Rondônia, covering the States of Para, Amazonas and Mato Grosso, this giant tract of land with millions of acres of preserved rainforest prevents any deforestation advancing into the Southern Amazon, thereby ensuring safety of a huge diversity of species that inhabit the region. The lodge has six comfortable, large skiffs/boats, each 6m long and with an extended fishing platform on the front and ample fishing space in the middle, rotating chairs with backrests and padded seats, 25 Hp engines, life vests and are all run by fully-trained guides.
SEASONS:
The Rio Azul is well-known for its large diversity of fish species. Throughout the year the river and its characteristics changes considerably. In the high-water season the river rises dramatically and is tea-colored. At the height of the dry season, the river turns around, the rapids are even more challenging and the water becomes crystal-clear like a giant natural aquarium. From October through November and December the rains begin, usually with heavy bursts in the late afternoon. With the rain, jungle flowers and fruits begin to appear. This is the ideal time for fishing with baits that mimics falling fruits. Matrinx達 and Pacu among other species are opportunistic feeders and they often make up large schools under trees like the Cashew, waiting for fruit to drop into the river. Great sport on light tackle!
In the months of January and February, the rains will intensify. Heavy downpours can last for hours at a time. The level of the river rises above the banks and overflows into the surrounding forest. Species like the Trair達o/Wolf Fish and Peacock Bass will follow the baitfish into the jungle making them very difficult to catch. In the rainy season, Catfish venture out of their haunts and are more spread around the river.
March and April mark the final months of the rainy season. This is the start of the season for Payara/Vampire Fish, Bicuda and other predators while big Cats like Jau, Redtail, Surubim Tigers and Jundia/Leopards are found in the deeper areas. The months of June, July, August and September mark the dry season for the region. During this period the river drops to its lowest level. In the crystal clear water, anglers can see shoals of fish on the sandy bottom and around the rocks. This is the time when most of the predators become more abundant, especially Peacock Bass, Payara and Wolf Fish, while the big catfish stay more restricted to deeper points and holes. The Peacock Bass here are a species only native to this region and known as the Flame or Fire Peacock (Tucanare de Fogo) due to its brilliant scarlet colouring and will hit all lures with abandon. And of course there are loads of the usual resident big Black Piranhas that will take any lure or bait passing their noses!
TACKLE TALK We suggest the following gear for the Rio Azul: RODS AND REELS 2-3 x Medium 6’6”-7’6” bait casting or spinning rods with bait casting or spinning reels with capacity of min. 120m of 20-30lb braid. These outfits will handle casting and using medium surface lures like Spooks and small prop baits, subsurface lures like minnow baits and jerk. 1 x Medium/Light 6’6”-7’6” spinning rod matched with a spinning reel with capacity for min. 120m of 10-20lb braid. This much lighter outfit will give your arms and wrists a rest and will allow you to easily use jigs, smaller minnow baits and also fruits and nuts. For fly fishermen, 6-8 wt fly rods should be matched with good, smooth drag system reels and loaded with tropical, fast-sinking 100-200 grain, intermediate and also floating fly lines, all with at least 100m of 30lb backing. 1.5m-2m of 10-20lb straight nylon tied straight to the fly line can be used for leaders. Use a short wire leader for the toothier critters. CATFISH RIGS Simple rigs with a heavy bait casting set-up or a more traditional heavier Cat Fish rod and large capacity bait runner reel, matched with 65-100lb braided line, a 2-6 oz egg sinker, 1 ½ ft of stiff 80-100lbs brown wire leader (against the Piranhas!) attached to a strong black or brown swivel at one end and a 8/0 - 10/0 circle or ‘J’ hook on the other is all that is needed (try to avoid anything silver or flashy as Piranhas will annihilate rigs). The hook is baited with fish cut bait and lobbed out into a deep hole. When using circle hook rigs there is no need to strike as the Cat will hook itself when it runs with the bait, with a 100% hook up rate and always in the corner of the mouth. Just raise the rod slowly and reel down onto the fish, not striking, for a good hook set!
LURES
5-6 x small prop baits like the 4.25” Caribe Pavon Props, 4.25” K Lures Props and 4” Highroller Riprollers than can be ripped across the surface in a steady cadence, ‘rip, pause, rip, pause’, all the way back to the boat. Great Peacock Bass prospecting lures. 5-6 x medium-sized Spooks, Rapala Skitter Walks and other smallmedium cigar-shaped stick baits are used with a walk-the-dog, side to side, swishing action that ‘sways’ the lure like a snake across the water. This is a more subtle lure used for Peacocks, Wolf Fish and Bicuda. 5-6 x small Poppers can also work well and if used properly, they catch a good number of big fish and should spit and gurgle and spray water in front, and also ‘bloob’ or ‘pop’. The best poppers we have found are the Skitter Pop and the Chug Bug skimmed along the surface or popped. 6-8 x small Minnow baits and crank baits will always work well in most situations and our choices are shallow running 4-6” Rapala X Raps, X Rap Sub Walk, Rattle Traps, Cotton Cordell Redfins and Yozuri Crystal minnows and Tobimarus. Good lures for all predators. 5-6 small - medium deeper diving lures always do well for Payara and Bicuda in the faster current. Crank them fast to get down to depth quickly. 15-20 x Stevie Stinger or similar bucktail jigs with extended tails. Our 5 best producing colours are Red and Yellow, Red and White, Black and White, Fire Tiger, Green and White. They are cast and stripped back to the boat (not jigged on the bottom. Great lures for Peacocks, Payara, Bicudas etc.
FLIES
The clear waters in this part of the Rio Azul are just perfect for driftfishing down the many rock-strewn stretches with beaches, pockets, points and glides. Peacock Bass, Bicuda and Wolf Fish can be caught in the shallow parts while the bigger Payara are in the deeper pools, below rapids and cascades. While targeting Peacock Bass, Payara and Bicuda with long streamers and poppers, smaller ones will also catch Pacu, Jacunda and Matrincha. Often a simple hook with a small fruit or nut can be cast on a fly rod!
Fly patterns for most of these Amazon predators are either tied in 4-6” long-profile streamer flies with lots of flash, with and without weighted eyes or popper-type surface flies that provide plenty of noise and action. Usually a fast strip is used on streamer flies and a series of gentle, constant ‘spits’ for surface flies. Don’t waste too much time on too elaborate fly patterns as Piranhas will eat plenty!! Go simple!
WILDLIFE
With an endless diversity of flora and fauna around every corner, this crystal-clear river is a professional and amateur photographer’s dream. Around every bend of the river there is something new to discover. Most terrestrial dwellers like Jaguars, Tapirs, Peccaries, Capybaras, Wild Boars and Agoutis are nocturnal but are sometimes seen crossing the river.
Monkeys are plentiful in this region and Howler Monkeys are always somewhere in the background high up in the canopies growling and howling like banshees to any animal or human entering their area. Giant Amazonian Otters group together and will fiercely defend their territory. They bark at any intruder in their ‘space’ and are prolific hunters. Birds of every shape, color and size can be seen everywhere throughout these watersheds and many species of Parrots are heard all day long fighting over space and territory. Toucans call to each other from the treetops like yipping puppies and Herons, Egrets, Kingfishers, Terns and Ospreys frequent these river banks in search of fish to catch.
CLOTHES
We recommend clients follow the list of items below to keep it simple. Laundry is done daily, so only one or two changes of clothes are needed at camp. Clothes for the jungle are shorts or long pants, a shirt and a hat!! One change of clothes can be used for travelling. For travelling: 1 x pair lightweight shoes, socks, underwear, light jacket, 1 x light shirt and long cargo pants with pockets for documents, money, passport etc. This outfit can also serve as fishing clothes to save on additional weight.
For fishing: 1 x wide brimmed hat or fishing cap with neck cape, 2 x lightweight tropical shorts or long tropical pants (zip-off’s are a good idea and can also be used as travel pants), 2 x tropical long or short-sleeved shirts with pockets (can also be used as travel shirt), 1 x pair of either CROCS, sandals or similar comfortable boat shoes, 1 x lightweight rain suit/jacket and 2 x pairs of polarised sunglasses (in case you lose one pair) and stripping gloves if fly fishing.
OTHER RECOMMENDED GEAR
It gets hot out there in the full sun, often over 90ᵒF, so come well protected with good-quality sun-block with at least 50-75 SPF. Lip cream is essential. We fish in some areas that have minor insect activity, so bring a high DEET content insect repellent just in case. Bring any personal medications and allow for headaches, stomach upsets, fevers, infections, allergies etc. And also personal toiletries, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, shaving gear etc. A small amount of talcum powder is a good asset in the jungle for those hidden, sweaty areas! Reading books/magazines/Kindle, pen and paper for notes. Small torch/headlight and spare batteries Lightweight digital camera. Satellite phone can be rented quite cheaply in your home should you wish to keep ‘in touch’ with family or the office while away. Multi-tool Boga Grip or similar fish holding/weighing device. Remember, they’ve all got teeth so keep your hands away from their mouths as much as possible.
TRANSFERS, SCHEDULES AND COSTS
Day 1: Anglers will fly to Cuiabá then onwards to Alta Floresta, followed by a 3hr A/C 4 x 4 vehicle drive to the lodge or a flight directly from Alta Floresta to an airstrip near to the lodge (separate costs below). Days 2-6: 5 full days guided fishing. Day 7: Transfer back to Alta Floresta and onward flights home.
COST ................................... $3750 pp Transfer option costs to lodge: + R$880 (*approx. $370) car transfer or
R$ 2800 ($1150) for private charter flight up to 4 persons. All transfer costs will be divided by amount of anglers, up to 4 anglers per car and plane Above costs including all food and beverages (except spirits) while at the lodge and while fishing, six nights at the lodge and five days guided fishing. Not included are visas, international and domestic flights, laundry (charged for by each piece) meals and drinks while not at the lodge, any tips, hard liquor, fishing gear, lures, jigs etc. Terms and conditions of payments: 50% as deposit on reservation, 50% due 90 days before trip commences. *THIS DESTINATION IS IDEAL FOR FAMILIES/ SMALL GROUPS.
www.Amazon-Angler.com steve@amazon-angler.com USA toll free 1 866 920 2814 Europe +44 (0)1832 275995 or +351 917812328