'Best bass fishing ever!' says Birmingham man
By John N. Felsher
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Hearing news reports of crime in Mexico, Dan Owen feared bringing his 14-year-old son, Daniel, south of the border, but the anticipation of landing a lunker largemouth overcame his apprehension.
As guests of Anglers Inn International, the duo spent three days fishing at Lake El Salto, the premier trophy bass lake in the world. They landed more than 150 bass with at least eight topping 8 pounds and can't wait to return.
"We were hoping for a 10-pounder, but that didn't happen," Dan said. "Our biggest weighed more than 9 pounds. It hit a citrus Fat-Free Shad. We did lose some big fish though. Maybe we'll get them next time. The bass fishing was the best I've ever experienced anywhere."
Lake El Salto sits in the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains about 70 miles northeast of Mazatlan in western Mexico. Created in 1985 for irrigation, the 24,000-acre lake produces uncountable double-digit bass. Anglers Inn International guests often land several 10-pounders each week.
"Lake El Salto is known for its bass," said Billy Chapman, Jr., owner and founder of Anglers Inn International and a 2009 inductee into the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. "The lake produces a lot of 10- to 12-pound fish. Over the years, we've had some in the 14- to 15-pound range. We've found 16-pounders dead with tilapia stuck in their mouths. We can't even keep track of the 5- to 9-pound bass we catch."
About two decades ago, Chapman stocked the lake with pure Florida-strain largemouths. With a tropical environment and long growing season, Lake El Salto could produce a world record bass. The lake record stands at 18.5 pounds, just four pounds shy of the world record, but big enough convince sportsmen to cross the border.
"Before we left for our first trip to Mexico, I was very concerned about safety," Dan admitted. "We read in newspapers and saw on TV how lawless Mexico is. The van picked us up at the airport and the staff met us at the lodge with a margarita. At Anglers Inn, I felt very safe. I didn't even lock my door at night and left money in the room without worrying about it. I was also concerned about getting sick. My uncle, a retired doctor, gave me some antibiotics, but I didn't need them. Nobody in the lodge got sick."
Most of the violence occurs among rival drug gangs near the border and in larger cities, Chapman explained. Anglers Inn El Salto sits about 800 miles south of the border in a picturesque rural area. The staff at Anglers Inn also takes great care to keep cooking and dining areas very clean. Guests drink bottled water or beverages served with purified ice.
"People in the United States are three times more likely to be a victim of a crime than people in Mexico," Chapman said. "According to the FBI, the murder rate in Detroit is 47.3 murders per thousand, with Baltimore at 43.3. In Mexico, it's 13, most of which occurs in urban areas or along the border. Like in the United States, of course, most crime occurs in certain neighborhoods. On either side of the border, people should just not venture into some areas or engage in risky behaviors."
Anglers Inn at Lake El Salto can accommodate up to 55 guests in air-conditioned hotel-style rooms complete with private baths. Repeat customers comprise about 85 percent of the guests. Chefs prepare three full meals each day and offer complimentary refreshments all day. Each morning, staff members wake the anglers and offer them steaming hot cups of coffee or other beverages of their choice.
"The food was terrific and the service was outstanding," Dan said. "When we needed something, the staff ran to get it. It was also fun meeting other fishermen from various parts of the country. Everybody we met had been there before. Repeat business tells me a lot about an organization. People hear so many horror stories about Mexico, but I never worried about our safety at Anglers Inn."
Besides running Anglers Inn at Lake El Salto, Chapman owns another bass lodge at Lake Mateos, probably the top numbers lake in Mexico. Anglers often enjoy 100- to 150-fish days at Lake Mateos, frequently catching bass in the 2- to 8-pound range on topwaters and spinnerbaits. Anglers Inn International can also arrange light-tackle or bluewater saltwater trips out of Mazatlan, duck and dove hunts or peacock bass expeditions to the Amazon. As the exclusive sportsmen's club for the 5-star Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay resort, Anglers Inn International can also arrange family vacations.
For more information or to book a trip, call 800-GOTA-FISH, (468-2347). On line, see www.anglersinn.com or send an e-mail to info@anglersinn.com.