Another great trip in the books. We had a couple of trucks to break down and one boat motor trim not to work. Mexico is a great place to get things fixed and they come to you to do the work. One of our guys also got very sick and lost two days of fishing. Even with the lost time on the water to make repairs we still boated over 1,000 bass adverageing about 60 per boat each day. Welcher's boat had 108 one day. There were 3 boats and 6 fisherman.
The 10 day trip included 6 days of fishing and the cost per team was about $3,000 even with higher gas prices. Email me to get on next years trip: fishnteacher@gmail.com

Conditions:
- Sunny - 80 degrees by noon - Water Temp. 67 - Light wind each day - 3 days before the Full Moon - Lake was 30 ft. low - Each boat used my Lake Chip to fish and avoid hazards.

Fishing:
- Deep water coves produced up the river - Slow rolling Short C-Rigs across points - Some quality fish on bushes in the back with T-Rigs - Lizards and Brush Hogs best producers - Two 8's caught - Four 7's - Dozen 6's - 4's and 5's were around 400 - Hundreds of quality 3's - Lots of mean Mex. Bass - The Florida Genes have mixed now with many Mex. Bass - Only a few Pure Floridas caught.

Pictures starting with David Welcher's truck broke down at the lake.


David:


Bob


Pete


Richard II


Richard III

Donald

I was really shocked it only cost 9,400 pesos to get fixed and they did both front breaks. About $450 total

Curious how you are able to tell a pure Florida from a FX?

They could very well be FX. Bad choice of words; but in Mexico where the majority of the bass have the smaller mouth, broad shoulder and tents of orange; there is no question when you catch one with the Flordia genes.

Looks like another good trip in the books Mr. Harper. One day when I can knock off for 10 days I'd like to make the trip.

Man, talk about a trip of memories. And for $450 to fix that truck, I'd say that's a bargain right there.

I am done driving on these trips. I am looking for young guns to let me ride and do the guiding. I am a good guide. HA.. There is a fish on every bush and rock pile. Just send me an Email to get on the mailing list.
Email: fishnteacher@gmail.com

Nice post and fish. Good times despite the illness and truck problems.

Glad you got some guys together and made another trip Don!

So how does this work? Did you just drive your trucks and boats through Mexico all the way down there or do people fly in and use your boats?

We drive and pull the boats. Two days to get there, 6 days of fishing and two days to get home. Flying into Obregon requires two plain changes.
- Hwyt. 15 is 4 lains all the way. Like a narrow interstate.
- We eat in the restaurant each night except Mon. night. We grill stakes that night. Room and meals per person for 7 nights was $485.
- Lots of locals come out to eat on Sat. and Sunday nights.
- We take all our breakfast food, cook each morning and all boat snacks.
- Cabins sleep 4 in two bedrooms and have full kitchens.
- Good air and showers.
- We leave the rods out on the deck and throw the tarp over the boat during the night. Nothing has ever been taken at Oviachic.
- There is a night and day watchman with several dogs to keep the cows out of the compound area.
- We get our papers at the Mex. Consulate in Dallas before we leave for truck, trailer, boat and motor. Just have to stop 20 miles into Mex. to get a Travel Visa.

Most all the other guests there are from Phoenix. They hate it when us Texans come cause it takes up spots from them. I talked to two separate guests on this trip who both go at least 4 trips a year. One guy was 58 years old and he has been going since his brother took him for the first time in 1976 when he was only 12 years old and he has never missed a year going down there. He also pulls his boat to El Salto which is another 4 hours in, at least once a year. This was my 5th trip out of the last 6 years, I pulled out last year because of the Covid scare of being self quarantine they were talking about last year. I just couldn't take that chance. I've never had an issue, other than this front end deal on this trip, and they got me fixed up.

I met another guy this year from San Antonio, was very wealthy, he had a place on Falcon and Amistad, and said he hates fishing those lakes. The guy had one of those 522 deep v Rangers, and had a captains chair in the back. He hires a guide who he flys up from mazaltan, picks him up at Obregon airport, then pull boat to lodge and stays two weeks each trip. We saw them a few times running up and down the lake and the old man sits up on the captains seat smoking Cuban cigars. He smokes a cigar from the time he comes outside in the morning till he goes to bed. I changed a flat for him when he first pulled in cause I already had my jack out cause of my front end fiasco, he wanted to buy my lunch, but I had to get back on the water. Wished I would have gotten his number, he was a gem!

No worries. I have folks tell me they can tell a difference. However, I don't beleive you can tell with any certainity. Too many variables.

Here’s a picture of the native Oviachic Mexican bass, I’ve never caught one over 7lbs but a 3 to 5 lb fights harder than any bass I have ever caught. They are mean. Notice the orange/yellowish tint on their fins. It’s from the amount of crawfish in their diet.