Bass Fishing in Mazatlan, Mexico

If there's such a thing as a perfect bass lake, it probably looks a lot like Lake El Salto. Fertile waters, abundant forage and a warm climate have conspired to make this 27,000-acre reservoir one of the best bass lakes in Mexico, or anywhere for that matter. About 90 minutes from the city of Mazatlan, El Salto is home to bass so large and so abundant that even a relative novice has a solid chance to hook up with a 10-pounder.

  1. A Little History

    • Largemouth bass are native to a few lakes in Mexico, but what sets Lake El Salto Apart is that it harbors pure Florida-strain bass -- a larger and faster-growing subspecies from the southeastern United States -- that have never had a chance to interbreed with the smaller native bass. Florida largemouths were stocked in the lake during the 1980s by professional anglers Bill Chapman Sr. and Billy Chapman Jr., and some of the bass reached 10 pounds within five years. Today, the Chapmans operate the Anglers Inn and provide fishing guide services on Lake El Salto, and the lake has gained a reputation as Mexico's premier bass fishery.

    Timing Your Visit

    • The year-round warm temperature is one of the features that allow big bass to thrive in Lake El Salto, and this feature also means that you can catch fish at just about any time of year. The fishing season reaches a low point in August and September, when intense rains and wildly fluctuating water levels make fishing difficult, but the bass start biting aggressively in shallow water in October and persist well into spring. October to January are the best months to visit if you want to catch lots of fish, but if you want a trophy, the spring spawning season from February to March is when the biggest fish are available. The lake is drawn down in May and June, which forces bass into deeper water, but doesn't stop them from biting.

    Fishing Tips and Tactics

    • A wide range of lures can draw strikes at Lake El Salto, but diving crankbaits and big-bladed spinnerbaits are two of the most consistently effective baits for big bass. Soft plastic lures like 10-inch worms and stickbaits can also be productive, and topwater lures can be great when bass are feeding on the surface. Lake El Salto has a lot of bass-attracting cover like brush piles, submerged timber, weed beds and steep dropoffs -- casting to these areas often yields a hefty catch. A medium-heavy rod and reel spooled with 17- to 20-pound line is the tackle of choice on the lake.

    Know Before You Go

    • Several fishing lodges and inns provide accommodations around the shore of Lake El Salto, and charter services are available from several local guides. A current Mexico fishing license is required to fish the lake. Licenses and current fishing regulations are available through the Mexico National Aquaculture and Fishing Commission website. A valid U.S. passport is also required for American anglers to visit the lake. Traveling in Mexico carries a few inherent risks, but Mazatlan and lake El Salto are several hundred miles from the more dangerous border areas. At the time of publication, the U.S. Department of State recommends traveling only on main toll roads throughout Mazatlan and the surrounding state of Sinaloa.