Water levels essentials for peacock bass fishing

It took me some time to learn, and I even had some failed fishing trips to the Amazon basin early on as I tried to understand the concept. Why? Simply because I failed to understand that nature, in its purest form, has its own dynamics and logic. It doesn't always align with your needs or expectations and doesn't adapt to them. It's the other way around.
To have a successful fishing trip in the Amazon basin, the most important thing is to have fun and catch as many peacock bass as possible. The key to achieving this is to ensure that the water levels are adequate. If the water levels are too high, the peacock bass will be dispersed in the jungle and difficult to catch. On the other hand, if the water levels are too low, the peacock bass will be inactive and difficult to find. Therefore, the ideal water levels are crucial for a successful fishing trip. 

Proof of how high the water levels reach off-season is the fact that ants don't build their nests at ground level; they build them on the tree branches.

Upon arrival in the jungle for the first time, you feel an overwhelming sense of humility and insignificance in the vastness of this raw landscape teaming with wildlife. The basin is enormous, and considering Manaus as the center, water levels will be optimal downriver at the beginning of the season in August - for example, the Marmelos River - and impossibly high upriver - for example, Itapará River, which reaches its optimum level in January/February. Each month in the season has a specific area with optimal water levels in a pattern that repeats itself season after season, with some variations that may be caused by known climatic influences such as the La Niña current.

All things considered,It is important to note that when fishing in the Amazon basin, it is crucial to find areas with sufficient water levels. Most reputable outfitters prefer to fish in third-level tributaries of the Amazon, some in public areas and others in privately leased rivers. They make an effort to avoid overfished and depleted areas, which unfortunately are becoming more common. These rivers typically have sufficient water levels for fishing purposes for only 8 to 12 weeks during the peacock bass season, which runs from late July to early March, totaling about 32 weeks. it is essential that wherever you go in the Amazon basin to fish, it presents adequate water levels. Most serious outfitters fish on third-level tributaries of the Amazon, some in public places and some in privately leased rivers. All try to avoid overfished and depredated areas, which unfortunately are more and more common each day. Each of these rivers enjoys adequate water levels for our purposes only for 8 to 12 weeks per season (Peacock bass season runs from late July to early March – about. 32 weeks).

The Amazon River Basin experiences seasonal flooding, resulting in large areas of rainforest being inundated to depths of up to 40 feet. The lowest flood stage occurs in August and September, while the highest stage occurs in April and May. Tributaries draining the Guyana Shield flood in June, while those draining the Brazilian Shield flood in March or April. Due to the peak rainy seasons being out of phase, the peak discharges of the left and right bank rivers are somewhat offset, moderating high and low water levels on the mainstream. However, tributaries can have extreme variations. Rain and snow from the Andes and other highland areas reach the Amazon through its tributaries, leading to the high-water season. Deforestation in the foothills and upper basin may have caused a shift in rain levels during certain times of the year, resulting in irregular high and low river levels. Flooding serves important functions for the surrounding forests, such as eradicating pests, enriching soils with nutrients from whitewater rivers (especially varzea forests), and dispersing seeds.

LOW WATER
The Amazon Basin experiences extreme differences between low and high-water seasons. During the low water season, vast islands and sand bars are exposed, and river banks are well above water level. Smaller tributaries may become so shallow that travel by dugout canoe is barely possible, and creeks and streams may even dry up completely. This time is challenging for most Amazonian fish but beneficial for predators such as arapaima, large catfish, dolphins, and jaguars. The decrease in water area traps fish in small lakes and river shallows, making them easy targets for predators. Floodplain lakes, which are continuously filled with water during the high-water season, become reduced in size. These lakes are packed with fish and predators, and oxygen levels drop sharply. During a few weeks each year, massive die-offs occur in these pools due to cold Antarctic air cooling surface waters, causing them to sink to the bottom. As a result, methane and hydrogen sulfide push toward the surface, leading to significant die-offs. Vultures gather in large numbers to feed on the carcasses. Many fish have adapted to the lack of oxygen by developing structures that enable them to take atmospheric oxygen from the air. The most famous predator in floodplain lakes is the arapaima or piracucu, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. Conservation efforts are focused on restoring this magnificent species, as large individuals are now extremely rare due to overfishing. The anaconda is also an apex predator in floodplain lakes.

HIGH WATER

During the high-water season in the Amazon, water levels rise 30 to 40 feet, flooding the surrounding forest and floodplains and joining river branches into one massive body of water. This flooding allows boats to access the lower canopy. Many tree species depend on the floods for seed dispersal, either through animals or by floating downriver. This time of abundance benefits herbivorous fish, which feed on fallen fruit and seeds. The Amazon is home to many fish species that rely on fruits and seeds, including the tambaqui, a large fish that crushes fallen seeds with its strong jaws. Humans take advantage of this by mimicking falling seeds to attract and harpoon the fish. The high-water season is a difficult time for fish predators, as the increased water area gives their potential prey a larger range, forcing predators to rely on fat stores accumulated during the dry season. Many omnivorous species eat mostly seeds and fruit during this period. However, high water poses difficulties for ground-dwelling plant and animal species. Many ground dwellers migrate to higher areas, while some species move up into the trees. Understory plants and shrubs may spend 6-10 months underwater, during which they are believed to continue some form of photosynthesis.

Research published in 2005 suggests that flooding in the Amazon causes a significant portion of South America to sink several inches due to the extra weight and then rise again as the waters recede. According to scientists, this annual rise and fall of the Earth's crust is the largest ever detected and may one day enable researchers to calculate the total amount of water on Earth.