Post-Spawn Lunkers Smacking Lures At El Salto Lake

The big post-spawn bass are being caught mostly off points, humps, islands and up on the flats. Some bass are suspending.  That’s why Pradco’s Fat Free Shad is starting to catch some really nice fish, especially in the afternoon when the wind picks up.  Other great afternoon wind baits recently have been ¾ to 1 ½-ounce spinnerbaits.

The biggest bass of the current report is a 12-pounder caught on a white spinnerbait off a flat. Rhonda Katz, from Wisconsin, caught that dandy along with other beauties of 11-pounds and 10 ½-pounds.  Rhonda’s husband, Tom, also landed an 11-pound giant along with some other quality bass.

Here is what some of our guests who fished over the past two weeks had to say about their fishing.

Tony Mandile of Glendale, AZ, had this to say: “Chappy Chapman and his staff provided the ultimate in Mexican fishing experiences when my partner and I visited Angler's Inn.  We fished March 10 to March 14.  As usual, the food and accommodations were excellent.  Jose, Roman, Armando, Joel, Sammy and the kitchen staff supplied us with topnotch service and attention.

With Martin as our guide, we hooked and released dozens of bass.  For the first time in 40 years of fishing I passed the magic double digit mark with a lunker of more than 10-pounds.  It was legitimately weighed on a Boga Grip scales.  The big bass ate a 4.5-inch watermelon YUM Craw Papi.  That YUM plastic bait also enticed 9, 8 and two 7-pounders, plus a slew of fish in the 5 to 7-pound range.  Booyah spinnerbaits and watermelon colored 10-inch Berkley Power Worms also accounted for several mid-range fish. The total weight of my five best fish for each day would have been over 120-pounds. “

Another early March angler from Arizona was Bruce Fritz, of Mesa.  Bruce says:

“I wanted to thank you for the most memorable bass fishing trip of my life.  As I told you when Tony and I arrived,  my best fish to that point was about 5-pounds. You said you'd guarantee me better than that.  Well, that was no boast.  Over the four days I fished, I boated well over 20 fish per day, the three biggest of which went 9.8, 9 and 8 ¼-pounds.  I took the first on a 10-inch watermelon Power Worm, the second on a chartreuse & white spinnerbait and the third on a 10-inch YUM worm, again in a watermelon color.  To spice up the time between big fish, I took plenty of smaller ones, many of which exceeded my old record with ease.  In terms of numbers and quality of fish, El Salto was unlike anything I have ever experienced and I look forward to the opportunity to return.

“This was my first trip to Mexico and the hospitality and warmth shown by you and your staff, from Martin our guide, to Jose, Ramon and the rest of the lodge crew, made the time off the water almost as enjoyable as that spent fishing.  The food and service was excellent.  I will be telling anyone who'll listen that if they want the best bass trip of their lives---visit Anglers Inn.  My only regret is that we did not get to do a little motorcycle riding with Steel Thunder Outfitters.  That was my fault.  I couldn't tear myself away from those big bass.  If I'm fortunate enough to repeat this trip, I'll take you up on the ride offer. Congratulations on running such a fine operation”

John and Mark Faylor also found great March action. “Mark and I had a great time! We kept totals every day both in numbers and size.  Of course there is no way to measure the outstanding service that your crew provides each time I come back. In five days, we caught more than 265 bass.  We had an 11 ½-pounder and four of more than 10-pounds.  We also had a pair of 9 ½-pounders and eight of more than 8-pounds.  We had at least 50 bass between 5 and 7-pounds.  Our biggest fish came on a jerk bait. We also caught big fish by slow rolling shad colored ¾-ounce spinnerbaits.  Other big fish hit 10-inch lizards and Bill Dance Fat Free Shad crankbaits in a citrus color. Swimbaits also produced some big bass. The food was outstanding and we can’t wait to come again. Thank you for the 5th best vacation of my life.” Gander Mountain’s television show "We Live Outdoors" will air on the Outdoor Life Network on March 20th at 12:30 p.m., March 22nd at 11 a.m., March 24th at 12 p.m.12 p.m. and March 25th at 1 p.m.  Don’t miss it!  You’ll see anglers catch some beautiful El Salto Lake lunkers!

Air Temp:  54°-59°F (Early Morning and late evenings) 82°-87°F (Siesta time)

Water Temp: 70°-76°F

Average number of bass per boat per day: 40-60

Largest bass caught:  12-pounds

Popular lures used this week:

1. Eight inch Zoom or Yum Lizards and 10-inch Berkley Powerworms in watermelon, watermelon red flake, junebug, black with blue tail, blue flake.

2. Gene Lerew “Whodaddy” & Zoom “Brush hog” 6” – Watermelon, Black with Blue, Red Shad, June bug.

3. Yamamoto Senkos, Yum Dingers or Bass Pro Shops 5, 6 & 7-inch Stinkos in        watermelon, watermelon red flake, black with blue flake, red shad and white & chartreuse.

4. Storm WildEye  4 and 5-inch Swim Shads in mullet, golden mullet, bunker and shad.

5. Bomber Fat Free Shad & Rapala DT16 Crankbaits. Deep divers in citrus shad, fire tiger, white and red shad.

6. Rat-L-Traps in ½ & ¾-ounce in silver with blue back and silver with black back.

7. Rapala X-Rap or 4 to  5-inch jerkbaits in white, clown, perch and shad.

8. Spinnerbaits in ½ to 1-ounce in white, white & chartreuse, chartreuse and shad.

9. Zara Spook, Cultiva Tango Dancer and Reaction Innovations Vixen in chrome,     chrome with black top, white and motor oil color.

10. RicoPop in white, white with sparkles and silver & black.