I've done a lot traveling. But before this trip I'd never been to the Amazon, never been to Brazil, not even to South America (outside of a one day cruise ship stop in Caracas as a child). This adventure trip to the Kendjam Fishing Lodge, located on the banks of the Iriri River flowing through the Amazonian wilderness, rectified that glaring oversight. I hesitate to call this a "once in a lifetime" adventure, as I've been proven wrong when making that statement in the past. But I won't hesitate to call it a trip of a lifetime. An extraordinary adventure, with fantastic fishing, unique travel experiences, made more meaningful and enjoyable because it was in the company of my brother Harlan and cousins Danny, Larry and Jared.
Eight anglers are hosted at the lodge each week of the fishing / dry season. Five of the eight was our family group. We met Dave, Brian and Dr. Fred at the lodge. Our trip was week seven of the Kendjam fishing season. Our seven days on the river (as well as our explorations in and around Manaus) are journaled in this blog and indexed below. The image at the top of this post is from the Kendjam Lodge summarizing our week at the lodge. The text of the report:
A Line Between GenerationsWeek 07 | July 26 – August 2"Week 07 offered more than just technical fishing. We welcomed a family of five who came with a shared purpose, bringing both lightness and reflection to their days on the Kendjam. Their presence reminded us how the river connects stories across generations and how fly fishing can be both healing and joyful.
The river was in prime shape, and guests responded to its rhythm with both curiosity and control. Dry fly sessions lit up in several stretches, while streamer work yielded consistent results with larger species. As always, the Iriri River, with its more than 800 miles, rewarded focus and finesse, encouraging each fisherman to adapt and evolve.
Peacock bass were the main attraction, showing in size and numbers, but the range of species (matrinxã to payara) kept everyone adjusting, experimenting, and discovering new layers of what this jungle river has to offer. Each day felt unique, shaped by the rhythm of the river and the group's growing bond with it.
ANGLERS: 8 Guests
WATER CONDITIONS
- Water Color: Glistening and pure, with that glass-like clarity
- Water Level: Low and steadily dropping
WEATHER CONDITIONS
- Temperature: Averaging 33°C (91.4°F) during the day and 20°C (68°F) at night
- Skies: Consistently sunny and bright throughout the week with a scattered shower by last day.
WEEKLY STATS
Total Fish Landed: 327
Standout Catches:
- Wolf Fish 88 cm (34.6 in)
- Peacock Bass 65 cm (25.6 in)
- Matrinxã 52 cm (20.5 in)
- Bicuda 87 cm (34.3 in)
- Pacu Rubber 48 cm (18.9 in)
- Pacu Silver 38 cm (15 in)
- Payara 85 cm (33.5 in)
UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT
Fred, Fred, and Fred. At 84 years old, this fly angler brought more than skill — he brought a spirit. With 55 years of casting behind him, Dr. Fred turned every session into a masterclass, not just in technique but in how to embrace each moment on the water. A true legend with a smile to match every cast."
This reference post may periodically be updated with info and links about the journey starting with this chronological index linking all journal entries for each day of our Amazon Adventure:
| Posting Date | Post Title |
| 07/21/25 | Dancing Again... ORD => IAH => BOG => MAO |
| 07/22/25 | Manaus |
| 07/23/25 | Teatras Amazonas and Acclimatizing |
| 07/24/25 | The Meeting of Waters & Meeting of Clans |
| 0725/25 | Preparing for Kendjam (+ Piranha) |
| 07/26/25 | Flying and Floating to the Kendjam Fishing Lodge |
| 07/27/25 | Fishing at Last |
| 07/28/25 | It's called "fishing" not "catching" |
| 07/29/25 | The Kendjam 'Gram |
| 07/30/25 | “A Flyrod Day! A Red Day! A Pacu Day!" |
| 07/31/25 | The Wallach Double |
| 08/01/25 | Last Dance, Last Chance, Last Cast |
| 08/02/25 | Back to Manaus |
| 08/03/25 | Manaus & Teddy Roosevelt Redux |
| 08/04/25 | MAO => GRU => ORD |
| 08/05/25 | Amazon Adventure Index (This Post) |
To be continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment