gpreeves37
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2007
- Messages
- 129
Oct 29, my dad and I arrived at Billy Chappman lodge at el salto lake. The lodge was nice and the hospitality was second to none. We started fishing about 630am with pop r's and spinnerbaits. By 8am we had 18 fish in the boat with a nice 6, 5 and two 4's in the mix. We continued to fish tex worms down steap bluffs and points until 11am with just a few quality fish. After a great lunch and a 30min rest we were back out on the water. The wind usually started blowing about 1pm and that's when the fish started really hitting. We used storm swimbaits and money minnows in 5 inch. We fished them over the tops of submerged trees and ledges. We fished them in 8-24 foot range. My dad had never fished a swimbait and on his second cast he had a nice 3-4 pounder. We caught several 4's, 5's and 6's the first day using the swimbaits with the majority of the fish on the storm 5in in shad color. The end of the first day was some exciting topwater, more 3-5 pounders. 60 qualities the first day
The second day started early with breakfast and 615 start. Again the topwater bite was explosive. Spinnerbaits took more and bigger fish but the explosion of the top water bites were unbelieveable. We had the most luck on a rock bank that was slightly deeper than the rest of the area. We had 10 quality fish off of a 10 yard stretch. A 4, 5, 6 and 7 pounder. My dad had one huge fish pull off and one that he never turned and is now styling a brand new bone colored popr. More worm fishing both tex and c-rig some quality fish but no big ones. Lunch and a rest then back out at 1pm. Swimbaits in the wind was the key. We fished them over 24 fow with trees above and below the surface. We had seven fish in the boat within minutes with a 4 a 7,8 and 9 pounder. My dad caught the 9 pounder at the end of a long cast. He set the hook, the guide told him he was just hung on the trees and then this monster came out of the water and was behind a group of trees. the boat wouldn't start the trolling motor was dead so there was no way to get to the bass to keep him out of the trees. I couldn't believe it when he finally got this fish to the boat, what a battle. At the end of the day we had 62 fish in the boat with the majority being in the 4-7 pound range.
The third day we had to be off the water early because my mom wanted to go back to Mazatlan to shop before heading home. We started aboout 610am and again spinnerbaits and popr's were the key. Nothing big the final morning: multiple 4-6 pounders. the wind never picked up adn it was hot. we ended up with 42 fish the final day with the majority of the fish taken on tex lizards on bluffs and deep points. In this months Bassmasters mag. the guy that caught 12-8 at el salto, this is the same place that we fished and caught most of our fish. Pretty cool.
Tommy Crawford 1-800-985-2957, helped us with all the details and was an excellent host. I would highly recommend calling him if you ever wanted to take a trip to Mexico. We also went deep sea fishing with 10 dorados and a 60 pound sail fish.
The second day started early with breakfast and 615 start. Again the topwater bite was explosive. Spinnerbaits took more and bigger fish but the explosion of the top water bites were unbelieveable. We had the most luck on a rock bank that was slightly deeper than the rest of the area. We had 10 quality fish off of a 10 yard stretch. A 4, 5, 6 and 7 pounder. My dad had one huge fish pull off and one that he never turned and is now styling a brand new bone colored popr. More worm fishing both tex and c-rig some quality fish but no big ones. Lunch and a rest then back out at 1pm. Swimbaits in the wind was the key. We fished them over 24 fow with trees above and below the surface. We had seven fish in the boat within minutes with a 4 a 7,8 and 9 pounder. My dad caught the 9 pounder at the end of a long cast. He set the hook, the guide told him he was just hung on the trees and then this monster came out of the water and was behind a group of trees. the boat wouldn't start the trolling motor was dead so there was no way to get to the bass to keep him out of the trees. I couldn't believe it when he finally got this fish to the boat, what a battle. At the end of the day we had 62 fish in the boat with the majority being in the 4-7 pound range.
The third day we had to be off the water early because my mom wanted to go back to Mazatlan to shop before heading home. We started aboout 610am and again spinnerbaits and popr's were the key. Nothing big the final morning: multiple 4-6 pounders. the wind never picked up adn it was hot. we ended up with 42 fish the final day with the majority of the fish taken on tex lizards on bluffs and deep points. In this months Bassmasters mag. the guy that caught 12-8 at el salto, this is the same place that we fished and caught most of our fish. Pretty cool.
Tommy Crawford 1-800-985-2957, helped us with all the details and was an excellent host. I would highly recommend calling him if you ever wanted to take a trip to Mexico. We also went deep sea fishing with 10 dorados and a 60 pound sail fish.
