Anticipation builds as fishing enthusiasts await the upcoming season, eager to engage with salmonids. Adventurous trips to diverse fishing hotspots, including Lake Baccarac in Mexico, offer thrilling experiences. The lake, known for its large population of Florida strain largemouth bass, features a well-equipped lodge and stunning scenery. Anglers enjoy successful outings using various techniques and lures, often reeling in impressive catches. For those seeking their own fishing adventure, additional information is available through Pro Bass Adventures.
Anticipation for the Fishing Season
As the days draw closer to the fishing season, many enthusiasts find themselves tapping their feet in impatience, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to engage with salmonids in open waters. With nearly a month left before the season kicks off, the excitement is palpable.
Adventurous Escapes to Fishing Hotspots
While some choose to escape the winter chill by heading south, others embark on fishing adventures that ignite their passion for the sport. From lounging on sandy beaches to enjoying rounds of golf, many vacationers, including my friend Pascal Marin and I, seek out thrilling fishing experiences that fulfill our dreams.
Beyond the borders of the United States, a plethora of enticing fishing destinations await those in search of diverse species. In March 2024, I shared my experience in an article titled *The Kingdom of the Giant Bass*, detailing our unforgettable trip to Lake El Salto in Mexico, just a 90-minute drive from Mazatlan. We had planned to return from February 4 to 11, but unforeseen circumstances arose.
Just days before our departure, Josh from Pro Bass Adventures informed us that access to the site was restricted due to military interventions aimed at combating cartels. Showing great flexibility, he offered an alternative location: Lake Baccarac. Opting to delay our trip by five weeks, we ultimately decided to explore this new site from March 11 to 18.
Lake Baccarac, a reservoir established in the late 1970s, is located near the Sierra Madre desert and spans approximately 40 km in length and up to 8 km in width. This mountainous lake can reach depths exceeding 90 meters and experiences seasonal water level fluctuations of around 35 meters, constantly reshaping the fishing landscape. With over 300 fishing points spread across its expanse, it provides ample opportunity for anglers.
Stocked with Florida strain largemouth bass since 1978, the population has thrived, bolstered by ideal temperatures that promote year-round growth. These bass enjoy a steady diet of tilapia and other nutrient-dense baitfish, leading to impressive size increases—some reach around 900 grams within their first year.
The lodge, nestled on the mountainside, features 14 rustic rooms complete with air conditioning and private bathrooms. Guests can dine al fresco and soak in the stunning scenery while enjoying local culinary delights.
Anglers often bring their own reels while borrowing premium rods from the lodge’s shop. A diverse range of lures is available, and it’s even possible to rent heavy or light rods, eliminating the need to lug them around. The lodge also offers a fleet of boats equipped for fishing, complete with cutting-edge Livescope Panoptix technology and electric front motors, ensuring a fantastic fishing experience.
To reach our destination, we opted for a direct flight to Mazatlan, followed by a scenic 5-hour and 30-minute drive in a Pro Bass van. After the winter holidays, some flight routes are unavailable, leading to alternative travel options via Phoenix and Culiacan, requiring additional land transport.
Fishing departures typically occur just before sunrise, maximizing the chances of success. “If you don’t rise early, you’ll miss out on a significant portion of the action,” the guides explain, as baitfish gather along the rocky shores, providing ambush opportunities for bass.
Using a 3/4-ounce spinnerbait or a blue Arky-style Chatterbait with a 4-inch sexy alewife Sassy Swimmer, we consistently caught 50-60 bass weighing between 500 grams and 2.5 kg within the first hour each morning. The rest of the day involved targeting submerged trees, various structures, and shallow areas up to 12-13 meters deep. The 5-inch watermelon craw from Comida Mister Twister rigged Texas style proved to be the most effective soft lure, while the slow-retrieved Arky Chatterbait yielded numerous strikes in deeper waters.
For these techniques, a 40 or 50 lb line paired with a 20 lb invisible leader is recommended. Our guide, Luis Campos, a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience, shared his fishing tales, humorously explaining how each catch over ten pounds cost him a bit of his hair. He recounted a memorable day when an enthusiastic American client rewarded him generously for every trophy catch, resulting in an extraordinary haul of 20 fish over that mark.
Lake Baccarac has gained a reputation for producing more largemouth bass over 10 pounds than any other lake globally, and during our visit, we managed to catch two impressive trophies weighing 9 pounds and one at 8 pounds. Throughout our stay, we witnessed at least five bass exceeding 10 pounds caught by other clients.
For those interested in embarking on their own fishing adventure, more information can be found at probassadventures.com or by calling 425 345-8891.