Angling Frontiers
Crystalline purity and a sense of familiarity with the primal world wash over your feet as you step into the wade, eyes fixated on an elephantine shadow holding tight against a boulder that resembles the last remaining evidence of the primordial era from which many of the fish you’re targeting could attribute their origins.
In the trees above you, monkeys and jaguars watch with curiosity, at this bipedal critter they’ve never witnessed before, as it moves with intention to stalk an apparent prey.
Your cast is deliberate and accurate. The ostentatious profile and luminescent coloring of your streamer streaks through the atmosphere just above the glassy surface of the current and impacts the water with a type of force that, in a moment of focus and anticipation, seems equivalent to a brick being dropped from the tree limbs above. The monstrous culmination of feathers and steel leader swing before the unsuspecting, warmwater predator and in a fit of instinct beyond its own control, it explodes from off the boulder it rested near in an exhibition of raw, natural power as it brutally thrashes into your fly and destroys any semblance of the peace that lingered around you in this secluded venue just moments ago.
A fight ensues and in the subsequent desperation to triumph over an opponent you’ve likely never tangled with the might of, you learn more about yourself than you had originally fathomed. The wild theater around you becomes more familiar and you begin to feel the intrinsic connection between the primitive nature of predacious animals and the sanctity of truly wild places. With a sudden awareness of your position in the hierarchy that exists there, an acuteness settles in the forefront of your mind. A renewed stewardship of your own identity.
It happens in those moments, deep in the jungle, secluded from all things you know of modernity and, in sync with the wilderness you were created to hold dominion over.
That is the powerful realization that comes of experiencing Eden. That is the life changing perspective that falls upon the exclusive few who will enter this venue with an intrepid spirit to pursue these carnivorous, river dwelling dreadnoughts of the ancient world. A connection to the deep jungle not only instills a warm memory in sport, but also, it cultivates an acute awareness of the long arduous process of which our ancestors climbed from a middle position in the food chain prior to building the modernity that surrounds us all in our typical daily lives. Eden is not a vacation destination, it is in itself a journey to a moment of authentic and unbridled actualization. It’s a venue to feel real in a world so unfamiliar with reality.
Exclusivity is a part of what makes this place so special. By experiencing Eden, an angler joins a small group of people who have witnessed the true, uninhibited wilderness.
This is not to say that it is without amenities. Spend your days targeting massive warm, water, trophy, species in total seclusion while all the animals of the surrounding wilderness watch on. At the end of the day return to a lavish lodge where all those benefits our ancestors worked for, long after their struggle to dominate the hierarchy of wild things, and appreciate the beauty in how our species has come to hold dominion of the world, and the wisdom instilled by time and experience, to manage and conserve the anthropic principles that facilitate the wild legacy from which we came.
The Experience
“Some places can be good. A few are even great… but every once in a while, we discover something that upends our understanding of wild.” Rhett Cutrell spoke those words in his incredible production titled “Depth” – a film documenting his experience at Amazon Eden in the state of Para, Brazil. As hard as I try, I fail to find words that better describe the venue I fish in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, on the headwaters of the Xingu Basin. By teaming up with Patrick Taendler of Angling Frontiers and the experts in remote theater hospitality at Amazon Eden Lodge, I am able to share an experience that will change the way you perceive the wild world.
Though this experience will take you deep into the jungle, beyond the point of remote wilderness for which most anglers will ever know, it lacks nothing in regard to luxury accommodations. Amazon Eden Lodge is accessed by a 2 hour regional flight from Manaus, which lands on a private airstrip, and is located on an extremely rural portion of the headwaters that eventually feed the Iriri River. The lodge itself is a “treehouse” style complex where comfortable, double-bed rooms with air conditioning and private bathrooms connect to the dining hall and lounge by way of open boardwalks, all situated within the tree canopy; elevated on stilts. Eden’s chefs prepare multi-course meals and the staff there ensures your glass is never empty. The lodge is built, designed and operated in a manner that ensures comfortability and relaxation which an angler might find timely at the end of the day, after hunting the unfathomably powerful warmwater predators that lurk in the vitreous waters just outside the door.
Our program there is one for the lionhearts among my fellow anglers. It’s full of adventure and requires a level of gallantry. Passports, visas, international flights, and rural regional airway travel are only the beginning. The destination is riddled with wildlife and culture. All this is made simple by the support of an incredible staff and reliable team members who assist me in delivering to you, a stress free agenda with logistics and accommodations included, in which I can help you in every step of the process. Our adventure starts by departing Miami on Saturday to land in Manaus. There, members of the Angling Frontiers team will meet us at the airport and transport us to a local hotel to stay the night. On Sunday, the team will pick us up from the hotel and transport us to the regional airport, where we will board a small commercial flight that will take us to the lodge, deep into the jungle, in the state of Para. Once we arrive, the remainder of the day will be spent settling in, checking gear and flies, and the guide staff there will cover tactics and casting techniques. On Monday, the hunt begins. Breakfast is served every morning before heading out by boat or quad-bike on groomed trails. Groups of two will be assigned a guide and will venture off to different areas throughout the watershed. Lunch will be packed for the day prior to leaving; however, the option to cook what we’ve caught is also available. At the end of the day, we’ll return to the lodge for dinner and relaxation. We’ll stick to this routine through Saturday. On Sunday morning, we’ll depart for Manaus and one last hotel stay. On Monday, we’ll return to Miami.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; life is not about collecting materials, it’s about collecting memories. Are you ready to add what perhaps may be the grandeur of your collection? Contact me and let’s chat about your excursion to a truly wild place. I would love to share this experience with you.
Logistics & Equipment
As with the greater majority of international angling destinations, equipment is the responsibility of the angler to provide. This can be somewhat of a culture shock to dudes who have fished our local regions where guides provide everything. It’s something to be aware of but, it’s truly not the daunting undertaking it might seem. I can help you to acquire everything you need and, in regard to flies, I can help you with both tying patterns and purchasing. I tie much of what is needed in the year prior to the trip with certainty that a surplus is available for sale to those who wish to entrust their angling fate to my marginal level of craftsmanship.
The lodge is equipped with Starlink internet access & WiFi so, your ability to communicate with the outside world is intact when not on the water. The Brazilian standard for electrical receptacles is quite different from what we’re used to here in the states so, I recommend you bring along a couple of adapters for chargers and cables.
Travel insurance and a Global Rescue membership is highly recommended and, they shouldn’t be confused as the same thing. One is primarily designed to cover the cost of your trip, should something happen to force a cancellation. The other is to provide coverage in the event of emergencies, crisis or, in other situations where medivac or evacuations services are required. I partner with Global Rescue for all my coverage needs. In my line of work, I can’t recommend them enough however, considering my line of work is also a popular hobby – I’d state that this outfit and the coverages they offer are an essential piece of any travel puzzle.
For those of you who fish with me in Wyoming in the summer months, you can expect my clothing and outward appearance to seem familiar when we hit the jungle waters. I wet wade with a pair of neoprene wading socks and my trusty Orvis Pro wading boots. In my humble opinion, they are the best boots for trekking and fishing on the market. I wear the same quick-dry material clothing there as I do on my home waters, where light pants and a UPF hoodie offer all the protection I need. Of course, you’ll want to pair all of this with a good set of sunglasses (preferably polarized) and whatever your preference of hat might be. All who know me, know I’m typically rockin’ a Whiskey Goats cap. To tie this all together, as always, my trusty Leathermen will be holstered on my belt. Lastly, I’m a firm believer in two accessories; casting gloves with integrated finger/line mitigations and a raincoat. I often say, if you DON’T bring a raincoat, it most definitely will rain.
As far as things to remember in your luggage, be sure not to forget phone charges and required cables for other electronics. You’ll want to bring your own toiletries and any prescriptions required. We’ll be moving around a lot on this trip so Aspirin and Ibuprofen are always in plentiful supply in my bag. Be sure to bring your physical medical insurance card (just in case) and all other personal documents required to make your identification seamless.
Much of what I’ve listed here can be found in this handy travel planner provided by Angling Frontiers. Browse through it and, give me a holler if you have any questions.
Authentically Wild Out West 