15-1/2-Pound Bass Highlights Two Weeks of Red-Hot Fishing!

By Billy Chapman Jr.

It’s not the first time Les Melton has caught a bass weighing 15 pounds in El Salto. In fact, during one week fishing here in 2005, this experienced angler’s top five fish alone weighed an incredible 71.5 pounds, a lake record. (That’s an average of 14.3 pounds each in case you were wondering.) During past trips to El Salto, Melton has caught at least two bass that weighed 15 pounds even. But recently, Melton outdid even his previous best, landing a gigantic largemouth that tipped the scales at 15.5 pounds. That’s bigger than the state-record largemouth bass in 36 U.S. states! We don’t want to steal his thunder, however, so let’s allow him to tell you about it in his own words.

“This was my 36th trip to El Salto, and like many of the others, it was fantastic,” says Melton. “I have had wonderful outcomes in the past, but this trip ranks at the very top. I caught the biggest fish of my life this trip—a bass that weighed an amazing 15-1/2 pounds, and the very next day I caught one weighing 14.4. In all I caught 510 bass, including 10 over 10 pounds (15.8, 14.4, 12.14, 12.12, 11, 11, 10.12, 10.8, 10.2 and 10), sixteen 8-pounders and three 9-pounders. I can’t even estimate the number of 6s and 7s. Unbelievable.

“I have fished Lake El Salto from the beginning, and it just keeps getting better,” Melton continues. “My next goal is to catch one 16 pounds or better, and I firmly believe that I can do that. The biggest fish were caught on 1-ounce jigs (black and blue) with a black or blue pork chunk. The technique was vertical jigging or flipping outside edge trees. It required a very stiff rod and 50-pound braid line, plus a great deal of patience. When they hit, there was no doubt; there was nothing subtle about the strike.

“I also caught numerous fish on 10-inch, black/blue, red shad and junebug Power Worms. There also was a very good deep crankbait bite, and I caught many fish on golden mullet and chartreuse/white, 4-inch and 5-inch swimbaits.”

Melton says his late-May trip once again demonstrated the staying power of El Salto and how well it is being managed. “The service, as usual, was excellent, and the staff could not do enough for me. And that was the same for every guest. The staff and guides are simply superb. Nobody could ask for more. Anglers Inn has taken service to a level that they alone occupy.

“I will be returning to El Salto later in the year,” he says, “and I excitedly look forward to that trip. Every trip to the lake brings something new and exciting. You never know what will bring the next big fish. As an added bonus for myself, I will also be spending some time at Lake Mateos . Everything I said about El Salto can be repeated for Mateos. This will be my second trip to Mateos, and if it is anything like the first, I will be returning there many times. Mateos is a topwater paradise, and big fish are being caught. I could go on and on, but, suffice it to say, simply UNBELIEVABLE!! Everyone at Anglers Inn has my deepest thanks.”

George and Pam Hawley during their recent Anglers Inn visit enjoyed memorable fishing as well. George says, “The reason we keep coming back is because the people are friendly and respond to our needs and wants, plus the fishing is the greatest in the world. Pam caught the biggest bass of her life on this trip. I ended up with three bass over 8 pounds, including a 9.3. I had at least two bass over 7 pounds every day and lost count of the bass in the 5- to 6-pound range. The most productive lures were Bass Trix and watermelon red flake lizards. While fishing the Bass Trix, I was using a 1/2-ounce jighead and working the bait in the trees.”

Kirby and Cindy Davenport had to cancel a goose hunt in Argentina because of the Chaiten volcano eruption in nearby Chile, but a last-minute phone call to Anglers Inn had them hooked up for a five-day El Salto bassing trip in no time. “Fishing was like I remember it being five years ago,” says Kirby. “Cindy and I averaged 100 bass per day. I caught three over 10 pounds (including two on back-to-back casts) and another over 11. One morning, I had a 9-something blast a Zara Spook and then caught several 6- to 7-pounders as fast as I could land them. The day I caught the two 10-pounders, I landed 25 bass in a row on a plastic worm. And one afternoon we landed 40 bass on a swimbait, including one over 8 pounds Cindy caught. The crankbait fishing was so good one day, I told the guide, please, no more! I actually was tired of reeling them in!

“Cindy had an absolute blast, and the service was impeccable,” Davenport continued. I am so glad you introduced us to Anglers Inn. It is absolutely exceptional.”

Alan Girod was just down for his sixth trip to Anglers Inn and says he’s planning another visit already. During the 5-1/2 days he fished El Salto, he caught 168 bass, including numerous 2- to 3-pounders, 20 between 4 and 6 pounds, three between 6 and 7, a 7-pound 10-ounce hawg, and his best bass ever, an 11-pound, 3-ounce monster any bass angler would be proud of.

“The topwater bite was hot and cold in the morning,” he reported.†“A low of two bass and a high of 14 were taken on Pop Rs in black back and baby bass patterns. Most of my fish were caught on 8-inch, watermelon-seed Zoom lizards, and dipping the lures’ tails in chartreuse dye seemed more productive than fishing them without the dye. I also caught a few fish on 10-inch, black-with-blue tail Power Worms and 3/4-ounce blue-back Rat-L-Traps. Most of the fish over 6 pounds were caught on Fat Free Shad deep-diving crankbaits, including†my 11-pounder, which fell to a chartreuse/blue back†pattern. Citrus shad, chartreuse citrus shad and blue holographic shad patterns also took good fish.

“This was a great fishing trip, and my guide was topnotch and a real pleasure to fish with,” Girod concludes. “The hospitality at Anglers Inn is second to none. If you can't have a great time here, you can’t†have a great time anywhere.†The entire staff is first rate.”

Joe Bullock caught lots of really exceptional fish during his recent stay as well. “El Salto lived up to its reputation again†by kicking out many big fish during our stay,” he says.†“I caught hundreds†in the 4- to 7-pound range, with 16 to 18 fish tipping the scales†over 8 pounds and one over 9 pounds. The water had stabilized, and the fish were starting†to stack up on points and structure. The fishing is only going to get better as the weeks go on. The baits that worked best for me were large crankbaits in citrus colors and swimbaits, which I†love to modify and throw all day long. That is my go-to bait for big fish.

“El Salto is still the best lake in the world for big bass and lots of them,” Bullock says. “Just ask Les Melton, who just caught a 15.8. The fishing just keeps getting better and better.”

Our friend George Tabone never seems to grow tired of visiting our south-of-the-border honeyhole. He’s made 11 trips so far, and this month, he says, “Anglers Inn and Lake El Salto once again exceeded my expectations. I decided to come just two days prior to my arrival, but Maggie and the office staff arranged all the details without a hitch. Jose and the lodge staff were at their usual best, meeting all our needs with service that the finest resorts in the world could take a lesson from. The meals seem to get better every trip, and it’s amazing how the bar never goes dry.”

And the fishing, George? “It was spectacular,” he says. “In 3-1/2 days, I caught over 200 bass that including a 10-13, 9-0 and 8-8. Even more amazing is the fact that I caught 50 fish that weighed between 5 and 7 pounds. The fight from these fish left me satisfied and tired. Most were caught on deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits and watermelon-red lizards. The fishing is definitely alive and very well at El Salto. I’ll be back and look forward to another memorable experience.”

Gary Jacob and his friend Sam Bransma did something more and more of our guests are doing these days. They made a combo trip to El Salto and Lake Mateos. The first leg of their visit was at our lodge on Mateos, and according to Jacob, “The lake was big and beautiful, the boats were great, and the accommodations were outstanding! The crew of Ramon, Joel, Julio and Ziggy were great, and the fresh fish Ziggy cooked for us one night was the best I ever had. We caught fish on topwaters, crankbaits and lizards, and we plan to come back later in the year when Mateos is at full pool so we can get in on some of the great topwater action.”

On their third day, Jacob and Bransma left Mateos to fish at El Salto, arriving just in time for the morning session. “Chichi was in the boat waiting, and Ziggy delivered us right to the boat,” Jacob says. “As we expected, El Salto is never a disappointment. When we arrived, I still had blisters on my thumb and index finger from my previous visit just three weeks earlier! Sam had heard me talk of Anglers Inn and soon discovered I hadn’t exaggerated in my description of the fabulous fishing, food and accommodations. In one afternoon, we caught 37 bass over 5 pounds, a real treat for Sam who had never landed that many big bass.”

Jacob actually sold two beautiful bass boats because he got tired of fighting the crowds on lakes near home and paying the ever-increasing costs of gasoline for his boats and truck. “When I discovered Anglers Inn, the whole idea of fishing became a different world to me,” he says. “It is worth it for me to make several trips a year. I catch so many fish it keeps me satisfied for months. So, I sold the boats with no remorse. Now, Anglers Inn at El Salto and Mateos is like my home away from home. I tell everyone I go there for the meals, relaxation and the friends. Fishing is just a bonus! I applaud Billy Chapman, Jr. for his accomplishments.”

As spring ends and summer begins, you can see that the already incredible fishing here at El Salto continues to improve with every passing week. Everyone who visits goes home with great memories of the big ones that didn’t get away. And the size of some of the bass being caught and released is just unbelievable. Every time you cast, there’s a good chance you could catch a bass that weighs 10 to 15 pounds, maybe more. And like our friend Gary Jacob says, that’s just the gravy! We promise ever time you stay at Anglers Inn you’ll enjoy the best service, the most delicious food and the finest accommodations available on any bass lake in the world. Call us soon and plan a visit. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Air Temp: 65°-79°F (early morning); 85°-94°F (lunch time) 82°-86°F (late afternoon).
Water Temp: 73°-77°F.
Average number of bass per boat per day: 60-80
Largest bass caught: 15.8 pounds along with plenty of bass in the 8-12 pound range!!!!

Popular lures used this week:

Lures are listed in order of productivity

1. Crankbaits: Bomber Fat Free Shad, Norman DD22s and Rapala DT16 deep divers in citrus shad, Tennessee shad, hot mustard and white.

2. Lizards: 8-inch Zoom or 7-inch Yum Zellmanders in watermelon, watermelon red flake, black with blue tail, and junebug.

3. Yum Money Minnow and Berkley Hollow Belly Swimbaits in shad, white, blue heron and white/chartreuse.

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

5. Yamamoto Senkos, Yum Dingers, El Grande Lures Pepper Sticks 5- and 6-inch: watermelon, watermelon red flake, black with blue flake, tilapia and baby bass.

6. Berkley Power Worms: 10-inch, black with blue tail, red shad and junebug

7. Rat-L-Traps: 1/2- and 3/4-ounce in silver with blue back and gold.

8. Heddon Zara Spook, Lucky Craft Sammy and Reaction Innovations Vixen: clear, chrome with black top and white.

9. Lobina Lures Rio Rico and Yellow Magic poppers: white, white with sparkles and bleeding shad.

10. Spinnerbaits: 1/2- and 3/4-ounce in white, white/chartreuse with gold willow blades.

11. Jigs: 3/8-, 1/2- and 3/4–ounce in black/blue with rattle.