Conventional Gear
Rods: Medium-heavy to heavy baitcasting or spinning rods (6’6” to 7’6”) with fast action, rated for 20-80 lb line.
Reels: High-quality baitcasting or spinning reels with a strong drag system (preferably 7:1 or higher gear ratio).
Line: 50-65 lb braided line for strength and abrasion resistance; consider fluorocarbon leaders (60-80 lb) for clear water conditions.
Hooks: Extra-strong, sharp treble hooks (4X or 5X strength) and heavy-duty single hooks for replacements.
Tools: Long-nose pliers, hook removers, line cutters, and a hook sharpening tool.
Lures
Topwater:
Large prop baits (HighRoller RipRoller, Woodchoppers)
Walk-the-dog lures (Zara Spook, Heddon Super Spook)
Poppers (Chug Bug, Yo-Zuri Hydro Popper)
Subsurface:
Jerkbaits (Rapala X-Rap, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow)
Swimbaits (Sebile Magic Swimmer, Savage Gear Pulse)
Crankbaits (Bomber Deep Diver, Rapala DT Series)
Jigs:
Bucktail jigs (1/2 to 1 oz)
Spinnerbaits
Fly Fishing Gear
Rods: 8 to 10-weight fast-action fly rods, 9 feet in length, capable of handling large flies and strong fish.
Reels: High-quality saltwater reels with a strong, smooth drag system and at least 150-200 yards of backing.
Lines:
Floating lines with a tropical core to handle Amazon heat.
Intermediate sinking lines for deeper water presentations.
50-80 lb shock tippets to prevent break-offs from sharp gill plates.
Leaders: Heavy-duty leaders (5-7 feet) with 40-80 lb fluorocarbon tippets.
Recommended Flies
Topwater Flies: Poppers (Rainy's Bubble Head, Umpqua Saltwater) Divers (Dahlberg Diver, Gartside Gurgler) Large foam flies with bright colors for aggressive strikes. Streamers: Baitfish patterns (Deceiver, Clouser Minnow) in bright colors like chartreuse, red/white, and blue/white. EP Baitfish flies in various sizes to mimic local forage. Hollow Fleyes for a wide, pulsating profile. Large Bucktail Flies: Andino Deceiver for aggressive presentations. Peacock Bass Special in vibrant colors such as yellow, orange, and black. Big Game Brush Flies for a realistic baitfish profile. Subsurface Flies: Weighted flies like Lefty’s Deceiver for deeper water. Zonkers and Rabbit Strip Flies for lifelike movement. Streamers with dumbbell eyes for sinking action.