The El Salto Experience – Inside the Anglers Inn

Introduction:

When anglers go down the list of “must” fish bass lakes, El Salto usually makes the top ten. What is the allure of this lake? Is the grass really greener on the other side….of the border? Are there really that many double digit fish left in the lake? We received so many emails after our initial beta test at El Salto with Shimano that we realized the mystique of this lake truly transcends country borders. We take a closer look at the El Salto experience, with an inside look at the legendary lake and the Anglers Inn.

A closer look at Lake El Salto:

To separate fact from fiction, Lake El Salto is located just over seventy miles from central Mazatlan, Mexico. It took us just over an hour and a half to reach the lake with the shuttle from the airport. Mazatlan is just a short plane ride from Arizona, and is also a popular destination for cruise ships traveling the region. The Lake is located on the edge of the Sierra Madre Mountains, which provide an attractive scenic backdrop to the lake.

The actual lake is man-made and built on the Rio Elota River. It covers approximately twenty five thousand surface acres, though this varies a great deal during the dry months when water is used for irrigation. The main lake isn’t all that deep, and the deepest point is near the Dam and just over 200 feet when the water level is high.

The lake has many arms and countless points and rocky drop offs, when the water level is low trees stick right out of the middle of the lake. You may have heard about the submerged cemeteries, and this is absolutely true. There are two such ancient cemeteries in the ruins of two towns where you can see crosses and headstones protruding from the water. It’s actually more serene than it is eerie, and the fish do congregate near the unique structure.

There have been varying reports about the water clarity, ranging from crystal clear to murky. When we went to the lake the water level was near its lowest point, and the water was stained, with a visibility of about four to five feet. Even with this clarity the fish would strike topwater lures in the morning and evening hours.

The Anglers Inn:

The Angler’s Inn is owned and founded by Billy Chapman Jr. and during our stay our host was his son, Chappy Chapman. Billy Chapman Jr.’s trademark is the “service,” and the Angler’s Inn caters to anglers and non-anglers, with a combination of fine food, massages, and yes….let’s not forget great fishing too. The facilities were top notch, and I’m convinced that I caught more fish because of the quality of the guides, and the fact that I was ready to fish each and every minute I was on the water. No sleeping in uncomfortable beds, or roughing it without air conditioning, the Angler’s Inn is a first class resort.

Many well known anglers who have visited Anglers Inn including top bass pros like Kevin Van Dam, and tackle industry leaders like Dave Pfeiffer, President of Shimano, and Bruce Holt, the chief executive officer for G.Loomis Rods who caught four bass of more than 10-pounds the very first time he fished El Salto.

The service here was exceptional, and the staff here is outstanding. The minute we arrived we were served nachos and margaritas, and five minutes before we head back to the Mazatlan airport we were served lunch and cervesas. Now that’s what I call service.

The lake was down when we visited, and from the lodge you can see what is normally submerged trees

  
The Fish:

Catching a double digit bass at El Salto is a possibility each and every time you fish on El Salto. The bass population here is healthy and if you get on the pattern it is achievable to boat 50 plus fish per day.   

In terms of quality the smallest fish we caught were a pound in weight, but the average was around 3lbs, and almost everyone at the event caught a few 4 to 7lbrs a day, and few of us even landed double digit fish each day. JIP’s personal best fish was 7.3lbs and Zander’s weighed in at 11.5lbs. There were bigger fish caught during the trip by other members of our group.

The bass grow big and strong thanks to the very healthy Tilapia population in the lake. The Tilapia fishery is actually so strong that they alone can support a commercial fishery. Luckily for anglers the bass population is off limits to commercial fishing. Tilapia provides plenty of nutrition to the local largemouth, and the fish here tend to fight extremely hard. When they commit to your lure there is no mistaking the take. Angler’s Inn actually tried stocking the lake with Peacock Bass in the past, but the fishery never materialized. Anglers Inn has confirmed that they plan another stocking of Peacock Bass in the future, but currently do a lot in terms of fertilizing to ensure that the lake maintains an optimal environment for largemouth bass.

There have been rumors that the El Salto bass fishery is no longer as good as it once was. In past seasons that was true, as a hurricane a few years ago did indeed hurt the fishery. The lake has rebounded nicely however and is now nearing pre-storm quality once again. Over the last couple of years more than half of the anglers who came to Anglers Inn reported catching a double digit fish during their three day stay. 90% have caught a 6lb. fish or larger. Want even bigger than that? The lake record currently stands at 18lbs 5oz, and the best five fish single day limit is a whopping 53lbs and 5oz.

The Lures:

A lot of the usual lures work on El Salto, and I was able to catch fish on both hard and soft baits, though most of my large fish were landed with either oversized deep diving crankbaits or Zoom lizards. It is also a good idea to stock up on a few topwater lures, we found the Rico, Sammy, and buzzbaits all very effective. For plastics go with hook sizes from #3 to #5 with 3/16 oz. to ½ oz. Bullet weights will do the trick for most applications and make use of 17 & 20 pound test mono/hybrid lines or braid. Check out our Shimano El Salto coverage for more information on rods, reels, and lures. Another good place to call before you go is Tackle Warehouse, who are more than happy to lend their expertise when it comes to the right tackle for the lake during the particular season you plan on heading out.

The Season:

So when is the best time to come to the lake? The Lake El Salto fishing season is from mid September through the end of July, and the rainy season actually starts in August and goes through September. Lake El Salto fishing reports shows there is top water action from October 1st through April 30th, with the best being November 1st through February 15th.

The pre spawn on Lake El Salto occurs in December and January with the spawn taking place in February and March. Fishing reports indicate the best time to catch the big post-spawn females is April, May and June. As a rule of thumb December through June is best for large fish while the fall is best for numbers of fish.

How to book your trip?:

Ready to cross El Salto off that “must fish” list? The Angler’s Inn fills up quickly every season and the best way to secure a trip is to use the lodge’s preferred travel agency, Hook Adventure Travel (just ask for Bear at 800-583-8133) or visit their website. Packages vary in price but there are a number of different tailored packages with varying levels of accommodations. We checked out the entire premises and there isn’t a bad room at the lodge, but there are some actually some very nice ones.

An example of a package:

The Deluxe Package at the Anglers Inn is a great opportunity to experience the incredible fishing during the second part of September, 2007. The 1st person pays $2,015.00 for a 4 Night /3 Day fishing package and the 2nd person will only pay $1,007.50. Included: 4 Night/3 Day fishing package, deluxe lakeside lodge (based on double occupancy), all meals at lodge, Tracker boats, 48 hp Yamaha engines, trolling motor and guide, open bar, soft drinks and purified bottled water, laundry service, ground transportation to and from lodge and airport. Not included: Airfare to Mazatlan, gratuities for guides and staff, taxis, meals and drinks during your stay in Mazatlan, fishing tackle and any other items of a personal nature.

There are slightly cheaper options as well, like the Mobile Suite Package for $1,765.00 for the first person and $882.50 for the second person, or the Father and Son package, the best thing to do would be to contact Hook Adventure Travel, outline your dream fishing vacation and have the experts there set you up. They certainly took care of us.

Angler's Inn is frequented by many anglers from overseas, including those from as far away as Japan

Hook Adventure Travel’s Last Minute Checklist:

Hook Adventure Travel’s checklist of what to bring with you when heading to the El Salto.

• Fishing Licenses: Provided at the Resort and included in the package.
• Immigration: You will need a passport or a certified copy of your Birth Certificate and a valid photo I.D., in order to obtain your tourist visa from the Mexican officials or your airline before entering Mexico. If you are traveling with your minor child, you will need a notarized authorization from your spouse in addition to the above.
• Climate: From October through March the mornings are cool (low 60s) requiring a jacket or sweatshirt. By mid-day the temperature rises to the high 70s to low 80s. After March the mid-day temperature will rise to the high 80s through mid 90s. It is still cool on the lake in the mornings and evenings requiring a light jacket.  

Insect Repellent & Sun Screen: Keep it on at all times when outdoors as from time to time we have a little fellow called a "No-See-Um!" We recommend an Avon product called Skin-So-Soft (3 in 1). It has skin moisturizer, #15 sun block, insect repellent and it smells good! Deep Woods Off and others work as well.

Water & Ice: Anyone ever tell you not to drink the tapwater in Mexico? Well no worries here, as purified ice and bottled water is provided in boats and all Resort facilities.

Boats & Equipment:

All anglers will be fishing out of Super 17' V Bottom Tracker Boats with live wells (some boats), 48hp Yamaha's, trolling motors front and rear, Coast Guard approved life jackets and First Aid Kits.

Suggested Tipping Guidelines (Paid at Departure):

Average tip for one guide/one boat (2 days of fishing) = $60
Average tip for one guide/one boat (3 days of fishing) = $90
Average tip for lodge tip for personnel = $15/day/angler

Conclusion:

El Salto may be a great lake, and while it is the most well known there are other lakes that may be worth checking out now or in the near future as well. Lake El Salto is just one of the region’s angling destinations. Angler’s Inn will soon have operations at two more of Mexico’s top bass fishing lakes. They are Lake Mateos and Lake Aguamilpa. Perhaps in time these lakes will also garner the same attention and mystique that surrounds El Salto. We haven’t experienced them yet, but we can attest that the allure of El Salto is well deserved. Why did we have such a good time at El Salto? Sure the fishing was great, but it was the total experience that will forever cement the trip as one of my favorite fishing trips of all time. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I choose Angler’s Inn as my lodge of choice? Definitely. As with tackle, you often get what you pay for, and while the Angler’s Inn may not be the cheapest lodge on the lake it certainly is the nicest of all that we surveyed, and when it comes to a once in a lifetime trip why take any chances?

Need more information? Contact Hook Adventure Travel

(Ask for Bear at 800-583-8133)

We want to thank the guys at TackleTour.com for their permission to reprint this article. TackleTour.com provides excellent and unbiased reviews of products within the fishing industry. You can visit their website at http://www.tackletour.com/