Just returned from a 4 day fishing trip to Picachos with Anglers Inn. Went into this trip knowing Picachos is a numbers lake, but, being an experienced bass angler, I thought I could throw larger baits and target larger fish. First, this is an awesome looking lake full of trees and lay downs. Everything screams FISH! The first half day I threw mag flukes, grande lizards (8") and big cranks. Results...3 bites and one 3 lb fish. That afternoon I down sized to small zoom 6" lizards and caught 25 fish in an hour, all 12 to 14". Went back to my larger baits and finally caught 4 or 5 fish with biggest 4.5 lbs. That evening switched to chatter baits and 3/4 oz. spinnerbaits and hammered them, another 25 + fish but all in the 2 lb. range.

That evening at dinner I spoke with some other fishermen staying at the resort (there were only 3 other fisherman there?) and they said they were slaughtering the bass catching 100 to 150 fish a day. In further conversation I found out they were throwing 4" senko's and the biggest fish they had caught in 3 days was a 5 lber. That explained that!!! I certainly did not come down there to throw small senkos and target 2 lb Bass!!! Now I am sure there are plenty of 5 to 7 lb bass in this lake I am sure they school together and are in specific areas. Unfortunately my guide spoke and understood NO english and he had no idea where to fish other than the back of flooded coves. With a knowledgable guide, a boat with a depth finder, and a little time I think the bigger fish could be located.

After tossing and turning all night I made the decision to switch the rest of my trip to El Salto. Anglers choice was very good in letting me make the change all though I thought the $250.00 transportation charge was a little steep! (It's only a 2 1/2 hour drive between lakes)

Anyway, thank god for El Salto. Was able to fish that afternoon and caught a 9 lb bass, a couple sevens and numerous 6 lbers. Lost one fish next to the boat that probably was in the 11 to 12 lb. range. Over the next two days I was able to catch 10 to 15 fish in the morning and an equal amount after siesta. Most of the fish went 4 to 6 lbs with a few 7's mixed in. Never did get to land my DD but certainly had a couple on as I could not even turn them!

The pattern for El Salto is very specific for big bites, pitching mag flukes/weightless and wacky rigged senkos right NEXT to the hyacinth that is pushed up next to the rocky shorelines. The secret is a VERY quite entry!!! No splash and next to the vegetation. The best thing is to land on the hyacinth and gently slide it off the leaves into the water and hang on!!. The bigger fish will just hold onto the bait and you will feel no "tick". You will just feel a little weight on your line. The ones that tick your line are ones under 5 lbs.

Interesting note: I got twice as many bites throwing 20 lb. Sunline fluro than when I threw braid. also, for those of you who throw swim baits and cranks at El Salto it is almost impossible due to the heavy commercial fisherman nets. Use the Hyacinth to your advantage as that is where the BAIT IS.

Bottom line, if you want to see beautiful lake and catch 100 plus 2 to 3 lb fish go to Picachos. If you want a wall hanger, go to El Salto. If you have never stayed at the Anglers Lodge at El Salto you are in for a treat!!! The lodge at Picachos is more like staying in a motel.

This is my first post so sorry I rambled on for so long but I know a lot of you Texans (I'm in Colorado) are interested in the Mexico lakes so these are my observations and I hope they are of help.

Great report and congrats on what sounds like an awesome trip!
I see El Salto in my future...

I'd wait a few years for Picachos. You can go to a good pond and catch crazy numbers, only a few places in this world to go catch moby dick. Did you have any fear of safety issues traveling down there?

This is my 5th trip to Mazatlan/El Salto area and have never had any safety concerns. You are picked up in a modern van and driven directly to the lodge at El Salto. It is about a 2 hour trip, most of it on a modern toll road. Having fished Falcon a number of times I am always on more of an alert at Falcon than El Salto

I'm going back to Guerrero in 2 weeks, been going for last 3 yrs and no problems. They been catching them like crazy this yr. the water was as high as I ever saw it last year

Nice report... I'd love to eventually make a trip down there.

I moved to Denver a year ago, there are some decent fishing opportunities here. Where do you fish in CO?

I live in SW Colorado (Durango). Lot's of fly fishing opportunities but not much for bass. Go to lake Powell in the summer (200 miles). In the winter I keep a RV at Lake Havasu City, AZ. Great smallmouth bass plus good largemouths in the spring. Smallmouths will go up to 6 lbs, LM to 10 lbs.

All the packages I see online are 5 days. Is this enough? Too much? Where can I find other package options to salto?

Anglers Inn offers a 4 night, 3 1/2 day fishing report for both El Salto and Picachos. I flew out of Dallas in the a.m. and was in Mazatlan by 11:00 a.m. and fishing by 2:00 that afternoon.

good evening..


pro bass adventures has a 4 night, 3 day pkg....call doug at...480 861 5021....he is great and will help a bunch....food is fantastic and they have glass boats....www.probassadventures.com...

no issues for me ...twice so far....

booked 5 months in advance...AA out of DWF...434 rd. trip...

get your bass downthere....!!!!!!!!!!

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

What kind of size have you been catching down there? Driving in or flying to the lake?

We will drive, I live in Alexandria La. Its about 15 hrs to house on south end of lake, do most of our fishing around the pump station depending on wind. We have had a lot of DDs but mostly 4 to 5 lbs, last yr water was as high as I have ever saw.

I love fishing that lake but have not been since the 90's! I live in Lake Charles now and we used to drive into the lake pulling our boats years ago. I hear it is dangerous to do that now. Ciudad Victoria is a a dangerous area from everything I have read.

We used to go to Campo la Isla on the Corona River (not sure if it is open anymore?). I caught my first swimbait fish in Guerrero in about 1993. Would love to go back if the fishing is good.