Post-Spawn Bass Stitting Things Up at El Salto!

By Billy Chapman Jr.

Fishing the past two weeks has been off the hook! Anglers visiting recently have caught incredible numbers of big bass, most of which are now on a post-spawn pattern and holding around points, cliffs and tree tops. The most productive lure has been Bomber’s Fat Free Shad in the citrus shad color, which is ideal for cranking down to post-spawn lunkers suspended around these types of cover and structure.

In early morning and late afternoon, the bite has been mostly on soft-plastic jerkbaits such as Senkos, Dingers and Pepper Sticks. The best colors have been watermelon/red flake and black with blue flakes. Some anglers like to rig them Texas style; others prefer wacky style. Both are proven bass-catchers, but the success of one or the other often depends on the area you’re fishing. Ask your guide which is best where you’re fishing, or switch from one to the other until you determine which is producing the most fish.

Lake El Salto is still the king of big bass catches

By BILL RICE
WON Staff Writer

MAZATLAN, MEX. — I’ve had 7 trips to Lake El Salto over the past 9 years, and every year I am convinced again that this lake still has the best opportunity for someone to catch more big bass than they’ve ever caught in a single day, and 7 to 10+ pounders are likely to be caught by most anglers, regardless of their skill level.

Our latest trip to the fabulous Anglers Inn at El Salto again proved that “numbers” were high daily and although the early December trip didn’t produce a 10-plus for most of the anglers on the WON-hosted trip, great numbers of 6, 7 and 8 pounders were caught by most of the 21 anglers on this trip. And that isn’t bad, with many of the anglers catching their biggest bass ever.

Is Mateos the next El Salto? We talk to Chappy Chapman to find out more about Mexico’s “forgotten lake”

Introduction: When you think of the top Mexican Bass lakes there are a few bodies of water that truly make the short list when it comes to south of the border largemouth paradises. Of course on top of that list is famed Lake El Salto, followed by Baccarac, Aqua Milpa, Huites, Cuchillo, Comedero and Guerrero. While all of these lakes have cycled up and down El Salto has produced more double-digit bass than any other lake in the world. But watch out there is a new lake called Mateos, which is actually a very old lake that has rebounded and is now rising up in the ranks to challenge all the other famous Mexican lakes, including El Salto itself.