Lake El Salto is still producing 100-fish days, but those numbers were being overshadowed by an impressive abundance of trophy-class bass. Last year witnessed a breakthrough season in terms of big bass, a time in which 10-pounders were actually commonplace. Just ask Jay and Paul Lemon of Tulsa, Okla. That father/son team caught and released a 14 pounder, 13 pounder, a pair of 12 pounders and three 10s in three days of fishing. Thad and Phillip Lacinak of Florida had a memorable experience at El Salto as well. They both hooked 10 pounders on the same cast and caught the action on video tape! California tournament pro Mike Folkestad enjoyed the best trophy action of his illustrious career with five bass that totaled 53 pounds, 5 ounces. His 10 best bass broke the 100-pound mark. Mac Kehoe of Texas caught last year's biggest fish a 15½-pound largemouth.

During last season anglers on Lake El Salto averaged catching 80 bass a day. 90% caught at least a 6 lb bass, 75% caught a bass weighing 7 lb, 70% a 8 lb, and 60% a 9 lb and that is not the end of the results.

Over 50% of the anglers who fished Lake El Salto during the 1999/2000 season caught a double-digit bass. 38% of the anglers caught bass over 12 lb.

Paul and Jade Lemon the father/son team from Tulsa, Oklahoma did it again this past season. In four days of fishing they caught 700 bass with one 13.6, one 11.2, two 10.6s, four between 9 and 10 pounds and fifteen between 8 and 9 pounds.

A group of twenty-four sponsored by Shimano visited El Salto for three days the first week in April 2000. The group caught and released over 4000 bass.

One member of the group, Bob Barnhardt, set two lake records during that trip both of which were broken later in the season. In one day Bob had five fish that totaled 51 lbs and ten fish that weighed 92 lbs respectfully. Bob's record was broken several times later in the season.

The final record, was set by Les Melton of Charleston, West Virginia. On May 26, 2000 Les caught five fish that weighed 57.7 lbs and ten that weighed 104.4 lbs. Les estimated that during his five days of fishing he caught between 400 and 500 bass.

A group of twenty-two anglers from Lake Pointe Medical Center went to El Salto in mid May. They estimated their total catch was between 4000 and 4500 bass with twenty over 10 lbs.

Ken Teel caught the largest a 13.8 pounder. Nineteen of the group caught the largest bass they had ever caught in their life. One of the three who did not was Dr. Tim Bray who had caught a 14.4 pounder the year before.

The list of incredible success stories documented during the fishing season goes on and on. In fact there are just too many to list.

There have been many great bass lakes in the past, but none to equal Lake El Salto. When has there ever been a lake that an angler could catch between seventy-five and one hundred bass a day and at the same time have more than a 50% chance at a double-digit bass!

You got my attention...... Send more information...fishing reports, lake information, lodges, etc!!! In other words: Bass Master Magazine B.A.S.S. Senior Writer Tim Tucker certainly thought so. He called El Salto "the absolute best trophy lake in the world."

Now for a few details on the lake.

El Salto is a scenic impoundment located deep in the heart of the rugged Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, 50 miles north of Mazatlan, in Mexico. It was built on the Rio Elota River and spans approximately 27,000 acres.

The lower end of the lake harbors steep, rocky banks with very sharp drops. Maximum depth is around 150 feet and water clarity is excellent.

The fishing? Lake El Salto is full of excellent open-water structure that's prime for early summer fishing. But during fall, spring and winter most anglers choose to bang the banks and other shallow areas with top waters, spinner baits, crank baits and Texas-rig soft plastics.

There is plenty of cover to throw at, too -- lots of lay downs, standing timber, fields of water hyacinth and a prickly aquatic grass that resembles hydrilla.

While El Salto looks promising from one end to the other, the upper half is usually where the best fishing occurs. That's where anglers will find literally hundreds of brush-cluttered points, ridges and humps, not to mention the flooded ruins of two towns, a pair of ancient cemeteries and numerous shallow flats.

We book you into a five-star lodge with first class accomodations. Clients are paired with Mexican fishing guides, all of which are eager to please. The typical fishing day lasts 8-10 hours. During fall, spring and winter you'll eat breakfast at 5:00 a.m., begin fishing at around 6:00 a.m. and break for lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Afternoon sessions usually run from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Early summer prospects are best from 4:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., then again from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. The lodge's close proximity to the lake also makes night fishing a viable option.

While Lake El Salto's trophy bass fishing is the primary item on the menu, I can custom design your November-February trips to include some of the fastest white-wing and mourning dove action to be found anywhere on the continent!

So come on down and visit El Salto. It's where memories are made.

Phone in USA: 800-371-3524

http://www.radersfishandgame.com/