![]() ![]() ![]() A few adventurous fly fishers had been to Uraima Falls before us and started to crack the code, but information was scarce. Not the most fly friendly of destinations, this species is admittedly much better suited for conventional anglers. (Jim Klug photo)įly fishers have been pushing the limits of their tackle for years, and this location is no exception. Stuck on a midriver rock and connected to a payara in fast water, Will Flack baptized himself in the Venezuela jungle and came up smiling. They do not handle air exposure well quick photos with minimal handling are critical for healthy releases. Their tiny silver scales come off like dust in your hands, and their muscular-looking bodies feel soft and troutlike, but you can still feel the power when you grab them by the wrist of their tails. Menacing and fierce in the water, payara are surprisingly fragile when you hold them. They feed in the fastest currents, slashing at any prey that passes in front of them, striking broadside with their formidable mouths and then swallowing their prey headfirst. Their heads and hinged mouths are disproportionate to their body size. Payara look like they belong in the ocean, or maybe an alternate galaxy. These unwieldy teeth recede into cavities in the upper jaw, and on particularly large fish, the teeth protrude through the top of the head. Every English translation focuses on those two prominent lower fangs that can range from 4 to 6 inches in large specimens. Payara ( Hydrolycus scomberoides) are elegantly fanged creatures sometimes called vampire fish or sabretooth barracuda. Part tarpon, part salmon, part horror movie, they are fierce-looking creatures, but more importantly, they crush flies and get airborne like Michael Jordan. Five hundred and fifty miles southeast of Caracas on the Paragua River, Uraima Falls is home to the biggest payara on the planet. ![]() Uraima Falls on the other hand is little known, rarely visited, and hasn't percolated into the consciousness of most fly fishers. Venezuela fly fishing makes most people think of tailing bonefish on white pancake flats, or marlin and sailfish off La Guaira Bank. ![]()
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