When the first attempts of fishing operations started in the region, some of Terra Preta dwellers were invited to work as guides. Most of the folks from Xeruini river are really good at fishing, but dealing with tourists is a whole new world. Some, like Neto, Pedro and Doca embraced the opportunity. Others preferred to go back to their village lives. Charlie is a little guy, but he’s strong, brave and knows his stuff. However, he didn’t follow his brother when Doca started guiding. Finally, in 2016, he was called on by Neto. Neto was the manager of the first operations Rob had built on Xeruini. As a great guide and fly fisherman, Neto demands a high level from whoever comes on board. Rob and Neto used to say: “Guiding is not a privilege, it’s a job”. So, when another guide from neighboring Lago Grande village gave up as he felt intimidated by the requirements, Neto went after someone he knew since he was a kid and could trust entirely – Doca’s little brother Charlie.
Charlie admits that he was shaking in his flip flops that first day – he had heard that it was great to work with Rob, rewarded accordingly but the quality of work is far beyond what anyone had done before that. Straight in, one of his anglers caught a 12-pounder on the first afternoon of fishing. Neto gave Charlie fly fishing lessons and a card with English expressions for basic communication with the fishermen. 20-years-old then, Charlie showed himself as a dedicated student with the instinct to be a great. Charlie learned more about being a fly fishing guide in one week then most guides learn in a lifetime. Spending your first week guiding with Neto on your boat as your coach is any Amazon guide’s dream start.