MTPanda

Hey guys, Hoping someone can chime in here with experience in this area. Was looking to head out late Feb to early March to do some smallmouth bass fishing primarily. Which of these three areas are the best for bigger smallies around that time?

Trust me I didn't want to leave Friday morning! I wanted to get back out there and fish lol. Thank you sir! One of the best trips ever. What's crazy is that it can get better!! Everyone needs to go and check it out. Haha yea. All in ONE morning. Those were caught starting around 7am till around 10:30am ish. Couldn't believe it. Ya sucks it wasn't a DD but I had chances and lost probably 1 DD the night before and possibly one during that morning. Thank you! You totally should! Go when @A-Jay goes! heh

Thanks A-Jay!! Watching your reports and vids on Baccarac inspired me! And AMEN TO THAT. That day has forever changed bass fishing for me. I don't know how to adjust to fishing locally lol Couldn't believe I caught all of those big ones in one morning session! I just couldn't believe how many big bass hung out together and how HARD these bass fight and pull. I felt like I was fighting albacore. I have a clip where I set the hook on a BIG one. I'm sure it was big because it didn't really budge. After a few cranks, he just got off somehow. I have still have no idea.

Sorry it took me a bit but finally got a highlight video of my final morning at Lake Baccarac! Took me awhile to do this but it was worth it. Hope you like it!

Thank you! I got super hyped after seeing your most recent trip. Wish i had gone in Nov. I am officially spoiled and forever a Baccarac fan!!! They sure do! Got a like and comment from them on my Instagram! Haha. https://www.instagram.com/p/BcdDZyVjhbK/ Definitely made my day. I still want to book a trophy trip with Matt to really learn how to actually catch big bass but he's so busy.

Oh for sure I've got Baccarac Fever! 2nd trip is still up in the air. Would like to get some friends to go next time but no one is addicted to bass fishing as much as I am. lol. I met a seasoned vet, Ed Newell, who was already on his 3rd trip this year. He was there in Oct,Nov and Dec, and caught several 10lbers+ each time, he's a beast! This was considered a slower time too! When @A-Jay went in November, they had more people catch bass up to 12lbs with more people fishing. There were a total of 7 of us and only Ed and Big Al got a few 10lb+ bass. You have to go! When do you plan on going. Some months may be better than others.. It's the best ever!! I wish I had gone earlier! I was excited and slightly bummed that I didn't get my 10 yet but Ed Newell told me his first 3 trips he caught a 9-15 each time before he broke into the 10lb club lol. He's got a interesting theory of when to fish too, seems to help him land big bass. No problem! Amazing trip that everyone on here should try to go. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I wanted to take a fishing vacation to either El Salto or Lake Baccarac. After speaking to a few guys ( @A-Jay )and seeing reports of Lake Baccarac bigguns, I settled on Lake Baccarac from Dec 3 - Dec 8th. Multiple 10lb+ bass were caught in November and so I had to see what this lake was all about. Got there Sunday and fished Mon to Thurs and had an amazing time catching a bunch of 3-5lb bass who fought harder than I could ever imagine! These bass were MEAN and STRONG. They hit my lures like a mack truck and dove so hard I thought I was fighting small tuna lol. Top water got em early in the morning and then mainly big 12" worms, 7" senkos and 1oz jigs with 7" senko trailers were the big hit. There was no love for swim baits but I did manage some 2-3lbers on the 6.8" Keitech paired with the 3/4oz warbaits underspin and my Jackall Gantarel. Also, a bass pro mentioned how he loved Omega Custom Tackle's Raptor Bladed Jig so I bought a few of them and their football and structure jigs to take with me. I threw the Raptor Bladed jig in white/chart and paired them with a pure white Strike King Rage Tail Craw. I dyed the claws with spike it garlic chartreuse and got OBLITERATED at Baccarac. The action of the jig and rage tail craw were amazing and so erratic that my guide was super impressed and said the action was muy loco lol. I slew 30 bass on that setup alone in the morning, up to about 5lbs. It was my last day of fishing where we found the bigguns. I was using my Omega Custom Tackle Pro Structure Jig in Camo Craw with the 7" black senko and CRUSHED IT all in the morning. Landed a 7.81, 7.12, 6.94, 9.81 MY NEW PB!!!! and a 9.12 all from 6am to 10am and mainly in just two spots. I couldn't believe it. 9.81 9.26 7.81 7.12 6.94 I didn't break into the double digit club but I will next time! I'm so hooked on this place, can't wait to head back. I can see why there are a lot of repeat customers. Everyone at the lodge was great. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to experience big bass fishing heaven! I'll have some videos of the catches added later. Here's a link to all of my images:https://lensdump.com/a/JcKQ

When exactly in the summer are you planning on coming? If you can get here in May you can possibly fish Lake Barrett when it reopens. Definitely a fun time with up to 100 bass in a full day.

I don't know much about Miramar except for that the water has been really low so there the private boat launch ramp is closed so not many people have been fishing it that I know of. There are better lakes in the SD area such as El Capitan, which has usually treated me pretty well each time I've been, Lower Otay, and San V but San V is pretty tough. Murray is ok and is a tough little lake to figure out. I've yet to hit up Murray but hear reports from locals here and there. One of these days you gotta come down so we can hit up El Capitan, San V or Otay. Or Barrett next year when it reopens! Yeap that's a me on SDFish.

The Edge First Strike rods are on closeout on TFO's website. https://tforods.com/product/edge-first-strike-bass-rods/

Bamafrogs.com has 25% off their site with code Thanksgiving. Snagged two Curado 200ks for 25% off!!

TheHookUpTackle.com is having their Black Friday Sale already till the end of the month, 20% off. Use code SAVE20. Unfortunately can't get 20% off certain nice items.

Awesome vid A Jay!! I'm so amped up and excited after just watching the first few mins lol. Definitely bringing my gopro and extra batteries!

Amazing trip and report Andy! I'm so excited and have been following this group of anglers who went to Baccarac. A few of these guys are admins on a Facebook Swimbait Universe group that I'm a part of. They posted their bass and numbers here: I'm all booked for my solo trip in December and hope to do somewhat as well as you guys!

Haha that's awesome! Glad you went back and got em. Thanks for the invite and ride on your boat! Was a fun time. Till next time!

I currently have a Tatula CT, CT Type R and Tatula SV. The Tatula SV is a nice reel and you can get one for under $140 on ebay. I can cast light lures pretty easily. Tatula CT would be a good starting reel because you can get them for like $99 on ebay and should do just fine. I'd pair it with a Dobyns Fury 734c as it's a great all around rod for $100 or you could get a Daiwa Tatula casting rod for $109 shipped from here http://www.sportsmansoutfitters.com/daiwa-tatula-freshwater-baitcast-fishing-rods/ I have a Tatula casting rod and a few Dobyns Furys. Both are great but I like my Tatula a bit more.

Ah ok good luck. I heard good things about Ron Speed Adventures too. I emailed them about El Salto and they got back to me pretty quickly.

First striped bass caught Monday! Bonus video of the catch. And a dinky largie earlier that morning

Both reports look great but I think I'm leaning towards Baccarac, especially after talking to A-Jay on the boards here!

I'm thinking of heading to Lake Baccarac soon. I think you have to be prepared to spend around ~$1600 for 4 days/3 nights for most bass lakes in Mexico, not including tipping the guides daily and tipping staff at the lodge. When do you plan on going?

Hey guys can anyone with some experience fishing both lakes weigh in here? Thinking of doing a solo trip to one these lakes in Nov/Dec for 4 days. I emailed Ron Speed Adventures and he has a spot for me at El Salto. I just emailed Baccarac Lodge regarding availability as well. Any other lodge suggestions are welcome!

When your froggin game is so on point... I caught a few off the frog at a new lake I was exploring and was hammered by this guy right when I tossed my frog onto shore. I actually did get a few bass off the frog. heh Here's one off the jig And one off the D Shad

My pb is 5.97lbs caught on a wacky rigged green pumpkin red flake/watermelon Senko but on a drop shot rig. I was fishing about 15ft+ of water where some rocks met some trees at a point. Slowly working the bottom with a few erratic pops and I got nailed hard.

My first setup after coming back from a long hiatus of bass fishing was a Pflueger president reel and a St Croix Premier Medium Light spinning rod. It's an amazing setup and I've caught so many bass and a 5lber drop shotting with it. I got mine on sale from Amazon for $45 shipped and it gets a lil beat up from me being careless and clumsy but it works great!

I always tie a leader on my braid. Running pure fluoro is too expensive and braid lasts awhile. I just tie an FG knot and I'm good to go. I don't like pure mono either because of the line memory as well so its pure braid with fluoro leaders and mono leaders for top water I drop shot and finesse fish a lot so I need whatever help I can get to hide my presentation.