Below is a recent report sent in from one of our clients to Trophy Bass Lodge on Lake Huites. I always hate to post terrible reports, but it can be hard to post one of these as well. What this group experienced can not be classified as common or average, but is an example of what can happen at Trophy Bass Lodge when the timing is right. These guys hit an usual situation where there was a big push of spawners on the full moon in January. Usually the first giant wave is late January or February. And no, there are no dates available for the full moon in February. There are a very few dates available for late February, and some in March. Sit back, read and hold on!
Brett
Report Date 1/14/2009
Dates fished January 8-10 2009
Trophy Bass Lodge, Lake Huites, Mexico
Dwight, Bruce, Brian West and Dennis Johannes
Total fish 950-1000
Largest fish was in excess of 11
Average weight all fish around 5-6 lbs (NO JOKE)
20+ over 8
50+ 7-8
600+ 5-7
Just as all who are reading this, we were very pessimistic of all the hype that you tend to read and hear about and were just hoping for a good time fishing with family that was long over due. Well, get ready for some straight talk from someone who has been there! THIS WILL BE THE TRIP OF A LIFE TIME!!!!
We booked our trip and all preparation, arrangements and planning were handled with the utmost professionalism! And as almost all, I had a lot of stupid questions venturing across the border that were addressed as normal (not stupid).
We were met at the Airport at Los Mochis, Mexico by George the Lodge manager. George speaks relatively good English and is extremely easy to communicate with. Be ware, his sense of humor is fantastic! He is also willing to share any and all knowledge about the area, its history and what to expect fishing and a pretty darn good chauffer!! Unlike America, you can drink a beer in the car if you so please and there are plenty for your ride.
The trip to the Lodge is an experience in its own. They tell you the first is paved road and it is! The unpaved part is as good as any theme park you have ever been too! You will experience about every obstacle you can imagine. You will also be humbled by the 2 or 3 villages along the way including the community well in one that sits in the middle of the road. You will realize just how little you really need to survive. This is also one of the most picturesque places you can imagine as you are traveling to the lodge. I highly recommend traveling this in the day time just for the views you will never forget!
We were greeted at the lodge by several guys who readily had our bags out of the Suburban and in our rooms. Within minutes they were catering to us with Margaritas, beer, soda, water and tea. At the same time, was an excellent meal sitting in front of us as we looked out over the lake on the porch area. One thing you have to envision, you are in the middle of NO WHERE and getting this kind of service. The food the entire trip was nothing but fantastic. Even the shore lunch was put on with outstanding service! If only America still did things this way! The lodge is kept extraordinarily clean and is very comfortable and relaxing.
Now for the part you want to hear about, FISHING!! You will be greeted by your guides first thing in the morning or the evening before. You will be advised what to throw but that is still 100% your call. If you are wrong though, you will hear about it with friendly razzing from your guide. I had the opportunity to have (pronounced) Louie. He speaks excellent English and is a very accomplished fisherman! Dont be surprised if he picks up one of your rods and wacks an 8 pounder out from the same spot you just hit and then looks at you and just smiles. His sense of humor is non stop as well as his work ethics. You will be entertained and probably take back a few jokes you havent heard yet. If you dish it out you better be ready to take it too. My dad had a HUGE fish break his knot that Louie had tied on. Of course out came the Bad Mexican knot stuff flying. With in minutes his American knot did the same thing and the war of words was on. I laughed till I was sick! You are fishing with real professional guides so dont even try to take a fish off , fix your bait or tie one on. It is almost insulting to them. And besides, after lipping 75-100 fish a day you will be thankful, you still have a thumb after it all!
Your guide will also periodically suggest different baits too. PLEASE LISTEN TO THEM!!
The first morning, we went out for numbers he called it. We caught 2-4 lb fish till we were sick of it and topped that morning out well over 130 fish with several in the 5-7 lb range. Main bite early was on stick worms in watermelon with red flake and buzz baits fished on points with brush and deep in pockets with brush. When the sun came up I put on a demonstration with shad colored DT6 rapalas, Spro BBZ1 and even a wiggle o! Late afternoon we went to cliffs and then back to the shallows. The swim bait was not on but the rubber bite was unbelievable as was the crankbait bite. This was uniform through out the 3 days.
DO NOT USE LIGHT TACKLE!!! These fish fight harder than any I have ever experienced including Lake Fork! I had 4 lb fish rip the drag like whales! You have to remember also that you may be 30 feet from bank and sitting in 70 feet of water too and they want to go that deep! I had one fish hit me on a cliff bank fishing a stick worm that never moved when I hit him! After showing himself through acrobatics 4 times he decide that was enough and the fish (9+) went down and there was no stopping it! 14 lb line snapped like 4. This is not a one time happening either. I would say conservatively I was broke off cleanly from overpowering 10-12 time in the 3 days. All 4 of us had the same experience too. We were
Greeted at the beech by the truck and wisked off to the lodge for a quick delicious lunch. After comparing a few notes and resting we were back after it!
That afternoon we went for better quality fish and man did we find them. I never thought it possible to catch back to back, doubles and triples in the 6-7 lb range but I now have witnessed it! That afternoon Louie pitched a jig by a bush, I on the left side and dad in front. 3 fish on at the same time. Largest was 8 smallest was 7! Talk about a fight for the net! OH yeh, Louie had the 8 for the record! I lost count of fish over 6 lbs after 60 that afternoon! The other party registered almost identical #s too.
Amazingly there is a boat and tackle watchman that stays with the boats all night! Boats are cleaned and tackle organized ready for the next day fishing. You are then rushed back up the hill to the lodge where your favorite drink is waiting for you. In about 15 minutes you have a dinner placed in front of you that is a welcome site. The atmosphere of the lodge is very informal and relaxing and you pretty well do as you please and come as you are.
Day 2 was even better if you can imagine that. We pulled in between to cliffs and before my guide had the trolling motor down he was heading for the net! 7.5 first cast! 2nd cast sported a nice 4 lb and the 3rd cast was a 6. Now the motor is down and my partner finally gets to land one around 5lbs. This action is all within 5 minutes fishing in around 40 of water with buzz baits! The biggest fish I had hold of that day was by far the largest fish I have ever seen on a line! It too showed itself 3 times before saying Adios! That fish would have easily been over 12 and made Louie say words not meant for church! Day two the lake must have been on fire with the big fish bite because we caught very few under 4 all day! The numbers were also outstanding like the first day! Bad thing is by this time all 4 us had hands that did not function any more! I work with my hands daily and I could not close them after the second day!
Day 3 started very slow for some reason. The pattern changed and after 30 minutes with very little to show we went for some deeper water points and Texas style worming. There they were and the numbers increased. Our numbers for my boat were around 125-140 that day and had fine quality 5-9 lb fish for the most part. Oh yeh, Louie talked me out of a BBZ 1 that day! Also NOW MY HANDS WILL HARDLY CLOSE!!!
The day was a little off mainly because of our depression of having to leave such a God Sent Place and the reminiscing of the entire trip and having to go back to 5 degree weather!
If you dont think I am telling it straight, give me a call and look at just a few of the 100s of pictures! Ill tell you a little secret, we are all getting ready to book for next year already and may even sneak back in April when the BIG ONES HIT according to Louie.
Thanks Guys for a life time of memories with my Dad, son and cousin and see ya soon,
Bruce West
