 Air Temp: 51°/60°F early morning & late evening. Siesta Time 81°/89°F
Water Temp: 72°/ 75°F
Average number of bass per boat per day: 50-70
Largest bass caught: 12.12 pounds
Popular lures past two weeks:
Topwater Baits:
Lobina Lures Rio Rico poppers or Yellow Magics: white, white with sparkles and bleeding shad.
Heddon Zara Spook and Lucky Craft Sammy: shad, chrome with black top and white.
Swimbaits:
Storm WildEye 4- and 5 -inch Swim Shads: shad, white with chartreuse top and pearl.
Yum Money Minnows or Basstrix: 5-inch in bluegill, hologram shad and herring with 5/0 or 6/0 weighted hook.
Spinnerbaits:
Booyah double willow blade: ½-ounce in white/chartreuse.
Plastics:
Eight-inch Zoom Lizards: watermelon red flake, watermelon and black with blue tail.
Berkley Power Worms: 10-inch, black with blue tail and green pumpkin.
Yamamoto Senkos, Yum Dingers or Bass Pro Shops 5-, 6- and 7-inch Stinkos:
watermelon red flake, watermelon and black with blue flake.
A small bullet weight goes very well with these baits in 1/8 and 1/16-ounce.
Zoom Super Flukes: pearl white.
Damiki Hot Dog: watermelon black and watermelon red.
Crankbaits:
Rapala X-Rap or 4- to 5-inch jerkbaits: white and shad.
Rat-L-Traps: ½ & ¾-ounce in silver with blue back and silver with black back.
Bomber Fat Free Shad & Rapala DT16 crankbaits: medium & deep divers in citrus shad.
Lake El Salto
El Salto’s bass are exhibiting pre-spawn behavior now. During the past weeks, there have been numerous lunkers caught on just about all types of baits. In early morning, Zara Spooks are producing some real hawgs. These Heddon lures are considered big bass baits down here South of the Border, but a Rico Pop or Yellow Magic will catch heavyweight largemouths on top as well. Another popular bait for big bass has been a large Senko or Yum Dinger in the 7-inch size. Most anglers are rigging these baits wacky style and letting the lure sink all the way to the bottom. John McCarthy landed the first 12- pounder of the report on this pattern.
Then father and daughter team Don and Lauren Gossett came to town.
“I knew my daughter was feeling the pressures of professional school,” Don said. “I figured it would be good for her to get away for several days and forget about her school activities. When I mentioned fishing for a few days at Lake El Salto she jumped at the chance to go. She knew that roughing it at the lodge meant being met at the van with drinks and food, morning manicures, pedicures and massages at night. The opportunity at a bass of a lifetime was also available during the days of fishing.
“Lauren is not an avid bass angler due to time constraints,” Don continued, “but when she is fishing, she is all business. The day started with casting and ended with casting. She caught several fish in the 7-, 8- and 9-pound range to warm up. Then the big one came! Lauren was Carolina rigging on a deep drop. The bait got to the drop, and it just suspended and didn't act right. A sweep of the rod secured the hook and the fight was on! The fish jumped once and really didn't look that big, but once it was in the boat, the guide and I both knew it was a large, beautiful fish. It tipped the scales at 12 pounds, 12 ounces! I knew Lauren would be tough to live with now. Just another great trip to El Salto, Great service, guides, food and fishing! Thanks for making dreams come true for a dad and a daughter. Happy New Year.”
Are you one of those anglers who still does not believe in El Salto like Adam Hall?
“I had the awesome opportunity to come to Lake El Salto, but I have to admit I had a hard time believing that all these reports about 50-60 fish a day were true,” Adam said. “It was also hard to believe all these folks were catching so many fish over 8 pounds. Well, let me tell you, I am a believer now. We arrived late Monday afternoon, hooked up with our outstanding guide Louis and headed out to fish for a couple of hours. In about 30 minutes, I set the hook on a 7.5-pound fish that inhaled my Pop-R. The next morning, my buddy Rob who was fishing with me caught a 10-pounder on a Pop-R. I was hooked on the Pop-R at this point, and we continued to fish it early and late each day. The two of us caught at least 250 fish. I personally caught three over 8 pounds, another four or five over 7 pounds and a ton over 4 pounds. Texas- and Carolina-rigged plastics produced during the middle of the day, particularly 8-inch lizards in watermelon and black/blue.
“The food and service were also second to none,” Adam continued. “The staff makes the best margarita I have ever had, and I am hooked on Pacifico. Great accommodations, great guides, great fishing, great service, and great food and drink. I plan to return in the future. What a trip!”
|
