Hook Adventure Travel - WON El Salto Trip

Is there a better place to go bass fishing than Lake El Salto in Mexico? I don't think so, and ten WON readers are invited to see this big bass haven for themselves on a special "Deluxe Fall Special" package being put together by WON, Okuma Fishing Tackle, Hook Adventure Travel and Anglers Inn at Lake El Salto.

The trip is set for Dec. 2-7, a time that might be cool in California, but it should be ideal fishing weather 75 miles north of Mazatlan where the 24,000-acre El Salto is located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains. The weather this time of year is typically about 75 to 85 degrees in the daytime and around 60 at night.

Bass fishermen consistently rank El Salto as one of the best (if not THE best) big bass fisheries in the world. If you are looking for that 10-pound trophy bass, this is the place to catch it. And not just one, but maybe several of that size. I have been there on seven trips and on every one I have landed at least one bass weighing over ten pounds. In fact, on one trip in 2001, on one day, I had 5 bass over 10 pounds and 5 more weighing from 8 to 9.5 pounds! The 10 biggest totaled 105 pounds, while my wife Anne had 85 pounds total with her 10 biggest that day. Her top fish was 13.9 pounds! And we caught over 50 bass apiece that day. It can be that incredible here!

Fall is topwater time at El Salto, and the anglers can look for exceptional surface plugging in addition to bass action that will tantalize you with any preferred method you choose. We have had sizzling action on just about every type imaginable --- plastic worms, crank baits, surface plugs and spinnerbaits --- with almost all of the action coming in waters less than 15 feet deep.

"The trip will feature 4 days of spectacular fishing in a special package which will include a high-end rod and reel bass fishing outfit from Okuma. We also are expected to have other tackle products available, such as line and lures," said Chuck Buhagiar, Director of Sales for Western Outdoors Publications. "Also, Marc Mills of Okuma's marketing department will be along on the trip to host the anglers, present the tackle and offer his fishing tips."

According to Mills, "Each of the anglers on the trip will be presented an Okuma Aveon 200 reel and an Okuma Guide Select 66 medium heavy rod. The combo package is valued at $200 retail. I've been to El Salto many times and this outfit will handle the biggest of the bass."

"We want the WON readers to really enjoy this exciting bass fishing," said Billy Chapman Jr., the owner of the Anglers Inn, "so we're putting in an extra full day of fishing for free. Our regular package is 4 nights/3 days, but this special deal will be 5-night accommodations with 4 days of fishing for the same price. We've had dozens of WON readers down here in the past and want even more to enjoy the fishing and hospitality."

Chapman is not kidding when he says hospitality. The food and accommodations at Anglers Inn are in a class by themselves and the service is unmatched anywhere. I've visited resorts from Alaska to South America, and Anglers Inn is the best. We are definitely looking forward to hosting the WON group, and offering as much fishing information as we can, based on several past trips to this bass fishing bonanza.

The reason the lake produces big bass is that Chapman himself was involved in putting the Florida-strain largemouths into the lake back in the early 1990s. Following such successful programs in the U.S. (California in particular), he decided to try the Floridas in El Salto. Although the lake does not have rainbow trout (a primary food for the biggest bass in California), there is a tremendous population of shad and tilapia to make the El Salto bass grow to lunker proportions. The lake record is already over 18 pounds!

Chapman's guides are experienced and very helpful to the anglers, who are paired two to a boat. The guides know all the hot spots --- all the anglers need to do is cast and catch.

Anglers can bring their own gear, or there is tackle available at the resort. Plan on bringing a tackle box loaded with several hundred plastic worms (a variety of colors, but we prefer the 8-inch Yamamoto grub in black), crank plugs, surface plugs and spinnerbaits. They all work well! We have been there on a 3-day trips several times and used every plastic worm we had in the box!

The price for the WON Deluxe Fall Special package at Anglers Inn is $2,015, which includes everything except for airfare to Mazatlan, Mexico, and any tips for guides and staff. This means all meals, rooms, boats, guides, open bar, beverages in the boats and round-trip ground transportation from Mazatlan airport to Anglers Inn lakeside lodge.

The lodge has excellent accommodations, plus has a pool table, telephones, fax, Internet and free laundry service. You can even get a massage to tire those muscles that might get a real workout hauling in big bass every day.

It should be a spectacular trip and you can book one of 10 ten spots by contacting WON at (949) 366-0030. For detailed information on Anglers Inn, contact Steve Babbidge at www.hookadventuretravel.com and 1-800-583-8133. His website has plenty of photos and information on what to expect on a trip to this fishing destination.

A special thanks to Western Outddor News for providing this article and pictures for use on this site. You can check out more from WON here .

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