My Trip to the jungle in Bolivia to write “In Search of the River Gods” (July 2009 issue of Field & Stream) was the wildest—and ultimately most rewarding—fishing expedition of my life.  Going in, I knew I’d be way out of my element...camping in the virgin Amazonian rainforest where encounters with snakes, bugs, and jaguars were distinct possibilities, many air miles from the nearest pavement, living among the Indians in an unrelenting, harsh environment that has literally chewed up and spat out some of the most intrepid explorers for hundreds of years.

I knew I had no margin for error, and I definitely wasn’t playing “Man vs. Wild” or “Survivorman.”  I was there to get a story.  Get in, get it done (catch some fish), get it on camera and in the notebook, and get out...hopefully in one piece.

Preparation is always the key to making the best of any serious outdoors adventure. Here’s an overview of the gear that keyed a successful expedition to one of the wildest rivers on the planet: