Guri Lake Fall reports

[Marlinhunter2]

04 Oct - Greetings Fisherpersons (being pc these days)

I just spent five of the most enjoyable days fishing with Lance Cornell and Charlie Mercer, who were down here from Mt Vernon, Texas. Throughout there trip, the water level fell steadily at a rate of 4 inches a day. Falling water cause the big fish to pull back into the deep channels for protection, so topwater action in the shallows was spotty at best. In their five days here, the two of them only landed six fish over ten pounds fishing topwater baits, but don't go feeling sorry for them, because what they did using deeper baits will make you jealous.

After having boated only two big fish their first day at the camp, we sat down over cocktails that evening and came up with a different strategy. That strategy was to fish down 8-12 ft in the river and creek channels, and this was the beginning of a great fishing trip.

Using Spinnerbaits and deep diving minnow type baits the two of them started landing big fish after big fish. Just to show you how they did, here is a summary of their catch.

one 15 lbs
five 13 lbs
seven 12 lbs
six 11 lbs
ten 10 lbs
thirteen 8-9 lbs

When they got tired of fighting big peacock bass, they would troll certain prime areas for payara, which produced ten payara from 10-16 lbs. Be pretty hard to tell these fellas they had a bad trip.

As I said earlier, the water is continuing to fall steadily, and it looks like we are in for an extended dry season this year. That in itself is not bad news, because each time in the past this has happened, we catch lots of trophy fish close to the camp, because the falling water upriver forces the peacock bass and payara population downriver to us.

We have lots of openings throughout the coming months, so this is the time to get with your friends and plan a fishing trip of a lifetime with us at HFC. It doesn't matter if you are a novice or a professional, because at HFC everyone catches fish.

Everyone have a GREAT week!!!!

Regards,

Steve Shoulders
Headwaters Fishing Club,

[Marlinhunter2]

28 October 2009

Greetings Anglers,

Now that everyone is finished with family vacations it is time to come fishing. First, because you now need some "ME" time. Secondly, because the fish are schooled up and feeding in the shallows, which means big fish on topwater baits. Thirdly, because if you don't come fishing, I won't be here any longer.

The current water level in Lake Guri is 12 feet low and falling 4 inches a day. When the level reaches 20 feet low, the daily fall of water will increase dramatically with strong current in the rivers. This sounds bad, but it actually means some great fishing for our customers. The shallow flats near the river channels will be packed with bait fish looking for protection, and the big peacock bass will likewise be there in large schools gorging themselves on the abundance of food.

Veteran HFC anglers will recall fishing "The Glory Hole" area near our camp, and in January this year that area will be fishable once again. In the years 2000, 2001, and 2002, HFC clients boated in excess of 1500 peacock bass over 10 lbs from this special place. This in itself sounds great, but it becomes even more impressive when you consider the Glory Hole area is only 50 yds wide and 200 yds long. It was in this area in 2002 that while fishing with a silly old fart named Raymond Thompson that I had my most productive half day of fishing on Lake Guri when I boated 22 peacock bass from 10-15 lbs in the morning session only. Even more impressive was the fact I was only fishing with my now famous Thruster Tail bait, which is a knockoff of a Little George. During that morning session, my boat pulled over to talk with Randy Barnard and his son, Michael, and I told Randy he was wasting his time casting out with his Woodchopper bait, because the fish were right under his boat. To prove my point I proceeded to hook and land a 10 lb and 11 lb fish on consecutive flips from right under their boat (Randy just loves it when I tell this story). The "Glory Hole" is just one of many fantastic fishing spots that are going to be fishable very soon, and all are within ten minutes from the camp.

Just so you know that it is not necessary to wait for the glory hole to materialize before you can have good fishing, just listen to what two men that just left HFC did in waters near the camp with topwater baits. Dr. Aldo Stamm from Sao Paulo, Brazil and Miguel Emmanuelli from Caracas, Venezuela spent two days having a great time wrestling big peacock bass they found feeding in two feet of water less than ten minutes from the camp. Using Chug bugs, woodchoppers, and Super Spooks, these men got to experience that special thrill of having huge peacock bass blast into their baits. Some of these battles had happy endings, while others caused severe depression.

Aldo told me he wished to file a complaint against his partner, Miguel, because everytime he raised a big fish, Miguel would immediately cast to the spot and hook the big rascal. Aldo told me that this didn't happen just once, but five times. When questioned on this subject, Miguel merely said that if Aldo wanted the fish, he should have hooked it the first time it hit. I foresee a grudge match looming on the horizon with these two. In two days of fishing, the two of them landed a 14 lb, 13 lb, a 11 lb, six 10 lbs, and eleven 8-9 lbs. They both had the unfortunate bad luck of hooking up with monster size fish, only to have the fish escape before reaching the net. Aldo had two of these monsters in one morning session.

While watching Aldo and Miguel fish their last morning session, I was amazed to see giant peacock bass blasting bait fish in less than six inches of water in the back of the cove. What makes seeing things like this tough on my clients is the fact that even with the guide out of the boat and pushing them toward the fish, the boat could not reach the area. Friends, I'm talking about fish that were 'HUGE'. When Aldo and Miguel left to try another area, I had Santos, my guide that day, get us as close as possible to these fish so that I could launch several long casts. Even throwing as far as I could, which is quite far, I was still ten yards short of the feeding monsters. FRUSTRATING!!!

Since we only accept a maximum of eight anglers at a time at HFC, we fill up quickly during the months of November through March. Right now I still have prime dates available, but don't wait too long to get yours confirmed. Call Al Schaefer at South Fishing in Miami with your dates. With the fishing forecast looking excellent for this season, you won't want to miss your chance.

Everyone have a GREAT week!!!

Regards,

Steve Shoulders
Headwaters Fishing Club,
Lake Guri, Venezuela