Amazon Adventure Day 8 - The Kendjam 'Gram

My Catch of the Day - Photo Credit JV

Our third day on the River and the halfway point for Kendjam Lodge fishing experience on the Iriri.  It's Danny's turn to get inked before heading out.

Fishing Day 3

Guide: Joao (JV)
Native Guides: Foguinho, Pebcue
Fishing Beat: 2
QOD (Quotes of the Day): "Tep Kokoi!" and "Tep Ken!" - Native Guides 

Today and tomorrow we'll have Joao as our guide and I'm delighted we have him for two days. To be clear, all the guides are great. They love fishing, know what they are doing,  go about their business in an efficient and professional manner, make sure each angler's gear is properly configured for success, and are always quick to take action - whether its wrestling the boat, netting a fish, replacing flies, leaders, lures or freeing a snagged cast. Can't say enough about how impressed and appreciative I am of their work with us. 

That said, Joao has a unique skill. He's broken the code on composing and taking pictures and videos of anglers with their catch. It seems that most of the best shots on the Kendjam website and social media are his handiwork. Yesterday's image of Larry's catch was a JV composition. My goal of the day is to have a JV photo worthy catch. 

First, I should explain the native guide QODs. When we're fishing from the boat, we're often drifting downstream in briskly moving water, casting to rocks or water near the shore under overhanging bushes and tree branches. Harlan fly fishes from the front of the boat and I'm spin casting from the middle back. Inevitably we cut a cast too close and snag a tree branch or rock. Which precipitates a call of...

"Tep Kokoi!" 

"Tep Kokoi!"  translates to "Monkey Fish!" - The native guides are amused that we are casting into trees - apparently trying to catch a monkey. Similarly "Tep Ken!" translates to "Rock Fish!" as we apparently attempt to hook rocks out of the bottom of the River. You get the idea. 

But we did actually hook into some "Tep Tep" (Fish Fish) this day. Harlan let JV know that we would prefer to do more wet wading than casting from a moving boat and JV obliged.  JV found a spot where a feeder stream fed into the main river. The native guides wrestled the boat around some rapids while Harlan and JV waded upstream. The Kedjam guides are all accomplished fly fisherman and I think they prefer to guide with fly fisherman than us lowly spin casters. Elitists. Anyway, this led to one of my prouder catches. With the Harlan and JV around the bend, and the native guides downstream with the boat, I hooked a nice bicuda. 

 

Don't worry about me, I got this...

Not only did I hook him, but I landed him without a net, as there was no one with a net in sight. I needed to document the catch, so I balanced the phone on a rock, turned on the timer delay, got the shot, and released the fish. 

Meanwhile, around the bend, I was glad to see Harlan getting some guidance, quality net and photo work from JV while landing this Peacock Bass. 

It was a great day fishing for both of us. I got 5 Peacocks, 1 Jakunda, 1 Matrinxa and 3 or more piranhas. Harlan had at least that many. Most importantly, I got my JV Original Peacock Pose Pic and Vid. He posted it as an Instagram story which goes away in 24 hours (Which I really don't understand - What's the point?).  But he also sent me the source pics and, with Jared's help (I don't use the 'Gram much), I posted it it on my Instagram account  and on my Facebook account. 

Another of my favorite bass pics by JV

Some more pics of my catches this day: 

My first Matrinxa

The native guides were impressed with the Matrinxa and Piranha catch

New species for me - a cute Jakunda

Harlan also had a great day...

Harlan's best bicuda, best matrinxa, & best peacock bass.

Cousin Danny was whining about the lack of cousin pics in this blog. Which is primarily due to the fact that they were in another boat and I don't have their pics. However, I try to accommodate and, going forward, will include a Token Heller Fish Pic of the Day in my posts. 

Danny's big bicuda

Back at the lodge - more fish stories, more drinks, more good food, and more good cheer.

Snacks accompanied fish stories at the end of the day.

Dinner - Roughing it in the Jungle

My "Go To" drink at the lodge - The Jovani Gin and Tonic

Oh Yeah. We also played cards. Back to Euchre. Harlan opted out, so I teamed with Jared against Larry and Danny.  We took two out of three. And I remain undefeated.