Happy Veterans Day and a salute to all veterans past and present and to their families who also serve in their own way.
Once pushing winds in excess of 160 miles per hour, Hurricane Rick weakened to a tropical storm by the time it made landfall just north of Mazatlan, Mexico, on Oct. 21, 2009. The storm caused no damage to the Anglers Inn lodge at Lake El Salto, the premier bass trophy bass lake in the world.
"The storm was just what the doctor ordered," said Billy Chapman, founder and owner of Anglers Inn International. "By the time the storm reached Lake El Salto, it brought moderate rain. This caused the lake level to rise about 5.5 feet. That's good because the lake level was too low, but now it's right at normal for this time of year."
Situated in the picturesque Sierra Madre Mountains about 70 miles from Mazatlan, the 24,000-acre Lake El Salto could produce a world record bass. The lake record tops 18 pounds. One angler set a 5-bass stringer record of 71.5 pounds for an astonishing 14.3-pound average!
During the 2008-09 season, anglers said they experienced the best fishing ever for quality and quantity by catching untold numbers of 7- to 9-pound bass with a good many in the 10- to 12-pound range. Opened in 1989, Anglers Inn El Salto provides plush western-style accommodations in air-conditioned hotel-style rooms complete with private baths at the only lodge on the water.
In mid- to late November, bass at Lake El Salto hold in the deep channels. The hottest baits recently included 8-inch Zoom or 10-inch Berkley Power Worms rigged Texas-style and Carolina-rigged lizards dragged over the bottom. These lures produced quite a few good fish with several topping 10 pounds in recent days. Hot colors for soft plastics include watermelon and red flake, black and blue or red shad.
Scott Townley of Gilbert, Ariz., reported catching a 10.5-pound bass on a watermelon lizard dragged through a deep channel. Michael Stanford and his party also enticed a 10.5-pounder with a lizard. Rodney Cross of Aurora, Ore., caught a 10.25-pounder on a black and blue worm. John McCord and his party caught more than 100 bass with one 10-pounder eating a lizard.
Rogues and topwaters, such as a Heddon Zara Spook or a Lucky Craft Sammy in clear or chrome with a black top and white body, work early in the morning or in late afternoon. A Bomber Fat-Free Shad in clown, citrus shad, hot mustard or firetiger might also attract attention. As try Lobina Rio Rico poppers or Yellow Magics in white, white with sparkles or bleeding shad. Watch for schooling fish and keep a chrome and blue or bleeding shad Rat-L-Trap handy just in case something rises to the surface.
Around the weeds, fish 5- to 6-inch super flukes, senkos, Yumdingers or Bass Pro Shops Stik-O soft plastic jerkbaits in white, watermelon, red flake or black with blue flakes. Fish these temptations Texas-rigged with no weight. Light and lifelike, such floating plastic temptations pass easily over or through weeds and look like natural prey. Try a stop-sink-go retrieve. Hold the rod tip high and crank a reel slowly to skitter it over the surface vegetation in an alluring continuous motion. As it passes over a hole in the vegetation, let it sink a foot or two before pulling it back.
As always, big swimbaits might attract bucketmouth giants. Fish 4- to 6-inch Storm WildEye Shads in shad, white with chartreuse or pearl or a 5-inch Yum Money Minnows in hologram shad or herring colors for the giants.
Besides at Lake El Salto, Chapman operates lodges at Lake Mateos, a 55,000-acre lake on the secluded Humaya River a little more than two hours from Lake El Salto. Rapidly gaining a reputation as the best topwater lake in Mexico, Lake Mateos consistently delivers 100- to 150-fish days with many bass in the 2- to 9-pound range. The lake also produced bass exceeding 14 pounds.
Anglers Inn Mateos incorporates all of the special personal touches and attention to detail that world-traveling anglers come to expect from a Billy Chapman, Jr. operation. Guests stay in private, chalet-style cottages -- each decorated in a traditional Mexican motif.
Out of Mazatlan, Chapman also organizes light-tackle and bluewater saltwater excursions into the Sea of Cortez and bird hunting trips for duck and dove hunters. Many anglers booking trips with Chapman stay at one of the Pueblo Bonito properties, a company that operates a chain of 5-star resorts in western Mexico. Pueblo Bonito gives guests booking with Chapman a considerable discount. Guests may select the "cast and blast" option to combine hunting and fishing on their next adventure.
"Anglers Inn International serves as the exclusive Sportsman's Club for the Pueblo Bonito family of resorts," Chapman explained. "The Pacific Coast of Mexico is a sportsman's paradise. The Anglers Inn staff can coordinate a variety of packages to meet every sportsman's needs and make your family vacation dreams come true. Anglers Inn International offers something for the entire family."
Chapman also organizes trips to the Amazon to pursue peacock bass and other species. For booking trips or more information on any Anglers Inn International operation, call 800-GOTA-FISH, (468-2347). On the Internet, see www.anglersinn.com.