Super User A-Jay Posted March 25, 2013 Super User Posted March 25, 2013 00 mod (Jeff), Dwight Hottle and I just returned from Mexico and a week of bass fishing that will be very hard to forget. With the Lake Baccarac Lodge as our hosts, we were treated to some great food, comfy accommodations, breath taking scenery and of course unmatched Big Bass fishing. After reviewing previous Lake Baccarac fishing reports and seeing the many photos of truly trophy bass, I was hoping for a trip that included memories and catches of a life time. My personal expectations for the trip could best be described as sky high and wildly optimistic. I’m happy to report that this placed delivered. The travel to this first class lodge is an adventure in itself. Surrounded by picturesque and majestic mountains we were provided with and had as our fishing back drop, post card type views that just added even more to the experience. To call Lake Baccarac a world class fishery might be an understatement. The geographic local, lake management and minimal fishing pressure combine for a bass fishing experience that’s hard to duplicate. But bass are bass regardless of their size or numbers and during our week of fishing we found that the bass were in a transitional stage. With some fish holding deep and some fish moving shallow, we were challenged to establish any one pattern that would hold for more than a day or two. We took bass on top water, jerk baits, plastics and spinner baits to name a few and in every level of the water column. One bait that I had not fished before this week but proved to be very effective, especially on big fish, was The Scrounger. 3/8, ½ and ¾ ounce size with a mag fluke or 7 inch sluggo trailer caught most of our bass between 5 – 9 lbs and is very versatile. I’d encourage you to give it a try in your home waters. Although there were several amazing catches made, this was not a week of suicidal bass fishing were everything and anything produced fish. Each morning and afternoon’s fishing demanded the best efforts of both our guides and us. And speaking of guides, the two we had were the best and we were lucky to have them. Lake Baccarac is a vast fishery, and in an age where gps and high tech navigational/positioning is all the rage to assist the angler in the quest to locate bass, you will find none of that here. Using just the simplest of sonars and their intimate knowledge and experience of the lake, Manuel and “Geno” took us to spot after big bass spot. It was impressive to say the least. And so what did we catch? Well, there were no 100 or 200 fish days. In fact, I don’t think we even had a 100 fish day between the three of us. Like I mentioned the fishing was a bit off. But we did have several of the big bites and bags that this body of water is so famous for. Additionally, it doesn’t take long to get a very tainted view of what a “picture” fish is. Here, a 5 & 6 pound bass although nice in quite common place, this size fish gets a quick eyeball and is then released rather unceremoniously; 7’s & 8’s get honorable mention, a photo and usually get weighted; 8’s & 9’s are said to be the best fighters and you won’t get any argument for us. 10’s and higher are called “Grande” by the guides and are what everyone is looking for. We saw 3 this trip and 1 came from 18 inches of water right on the bank. This makes you really focus and hope you stick every single fish that hits as any single cast – could be the one. So you can see how an angler can quickly adopt a very tainted and distorted view of what an “average” bass is. I may never be the same. So here are the numbers: Best five fish bags, Jeff ~ 42 lbs 7 ounces Dwight ~ 45 lbs 2 ounces A-Jay ~ 45 lbs 10 ounces Best single day 5 fish bag of the trip: Dwight got on a deep bite - 43 lbs This incredible bag included three fish over 9 lbs , one over 8lb and a 7 lb “dink” As for PB’s- as this was Jeff’s second trip to the Lake, his PB was already a lofty 10 lbs and 14 ounces. His best fish this trip came in at 10 lbs 4 ounces, certainly nothing to sneeze at and a real trophy. This is the first time I’ve fished with Jeff; The man is a good stick and I fully expect him to shatter that mark on our very next trip. Dwight’s previous PB was a 9 lb 2 once Florida Trophy. “Mr Smallie” fished long and hard this week and during that awesome day in which Dwight weighed a 43 lb bag – he did thumb his new PB at 9 lbs 8 ounces – and that Hawg Tech handle was tested. My previous PB was a Michigan Bass that went 7lbs 1 ounce. Well that didn’t last long on this particular trip. The very first morning I bested that twice with 7 lb 4 ounce and 7 lb 6 once bass.(My guides were not impressed though I was rather excited) I surpassed it again the next afternoon with a 9 lb 8 ounce Beast that was the single hardest fighting bass I could have ever imagined – just unreal. Now I was a very happy man at this point, but Lake Baccarac’s bounty blessed me one final time with a 10 lb 11 once Bug-eyed Monster that absolutely crushed a 1 ounce spinner bait in 22 feet of water. I’m still smiling over that bass and it might be a while before it subsides. As you can imagine, Dwight and I weren’t at the lodge long before we started talking about and making plans to return to Lake Baccarac and can you blame us? Accordingly, Jeff did give us the “I told you look” and plans to be right there as well. As I have mentioned, the fishing was a little off. After talking to the lodge owner Terry Holland and the guides, and as hard as it might be to comprehend, Lake Baccarac has more to offer. I’d really like to be there for that ! Below is the link to the galley where you’ll find some of our catches. I'm editing the video now and will post it up once it's ready. A-Jay http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/gallery/album/682-lake-baccarac-march-2013/ 11 Quote
gripnrip Posted March 25, 2013 Posted March 25, 2013 Scrounger's are awesome! I gave TrapperJ a tip about a month ago to get some of these and fish them on Grand. Awesome report! Quote
piscicidal Posted March 25, 2013 Posted March 25, 2013 Way to go A-Jay. Sounds like you guys had a great time! Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 25, 2013 Author Super User Posted March 25, 2013 Here's a couple of brief video's of the new PB - Keep in mind - I'm no Glenn. . . . . A-Jay 2 Quote
Super User Goose52 Posted March 25, 2013 Super User Posted March 25, 2013 Yanqui bass raiders score! GREAT trip and congrats on the new PB ! Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted March 25, 2013 Super User Posted March 25, 2013 Where were you finding your fish? I know you mentioned no consistent pattern. Channels? Steep edges? Coves? Wood? Dwight's deep bite -what was down there? Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted March 25, 2013 Super User Posted March 25, 2013 Paul the deep bite was 14' to 22' contour with a sunken rock island. We fished it tied up to a sunken tree.and casted 180 degree spread from the front of the boat (shallow) to the back of the boat (deep). That spot reloaded with fish over 4-5 days & produced A-Jay's pb & mine with lots of other big fish. Same spot I caught five @43lb for one day. We fished lots or steep rock banks with fish holding shallow. Also caught fish in shallow wood & coves from 12' down to 18". Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 25, 2013 Author Super User Posted March 25, 2013 Where were you finding your fish? I know you mentioned no consistent pattern. Channels? Steep edges? Coves? Wood? Dwight's deep bite -what was down there? The predominant structure is rock and the only cover is wood. There are no weeds of any kind. Fish came from several areas that included both steep and more gradually sloping banks, especially early in the trip. As the week progressed, it seems like the shallow fish turned on. Mid way and into the back of coves were producing, especially late in the day. That's where Jeff and Dwight hammered several big fish with top water. I missed out on that one as I was still looking for another Grande out on the deeper drops. A-Jay Quote
Super User Chris at Tech Posted March 25, 2013 Super User Posted March 25, 2013 I hate you guys P.S. - put me on the list for the next trip 4 Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted March 26, 2013 Super User Posted March 26, 2013 Thanks, A-Jay. One more question: What's the main forage there? Are their tilapia there? Quote
Will Wetline Posted March 26, 2013 Posted March 26, 2013 An excellent trip and a well written account. Congrats and thank you, WW 1 Quote
Super User 00 mod Posted March 26, 2013 Super User Posted March 26, 2013 Main forages are tilapia and shad. Jeff Quote
Super User Darren. Posted March 26, 2013 Super User Posted March 26, 2013 What's the old saying...? "like fish in a barrel" I think... Lake Baccarac is the barrel, and I want to go!!! Great stuff, guys! Quote
Super User South FLA Posted March 26, 2013 Super User Posted March 26, 2013 Way to go guys! I know Dwight's fish wasn't the biggest picture, but he sure makes it LOOK the biggest of all, A-Jay on your pics in the gallery, how did you get the bass to fan the dorsal fins so nicely, great pics! I will be joining in on your trip in a year or two, since I have another son on the way during PRIME TIME. 2 Quote
shimmy Posted March 26, 2013 Posted March 26, 2013 That is such an epic trip. A-Jay, Jeff, and Dwight, what a cool memory to share. When i go one of these days, i can't wait to get the details from you all. Great fish. I know the place is known for 10 pounders but i hear of many guys going and not sticking the 10 pound fish. You guys are clearly consistent with catching the bassquatch. Just awesome. 3 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 26, 2013 Author Super User Posted March 26, 2013 What's the old saying...? "like fish in a barrel" I think... Lake Baccarac is the barrel, and I want to go!!! Great stuff, guys! The quote below from my inital post was my attempt to convey that this was not the case. "Although there were several amazing catches made, this was not a week of suicidal bass fishing were everything and anything produced fish. Each morning and afternoon’s fishing demanded the best efforts of both our guides and us." A-Jay Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 26, 2013 Author Super User Posted March 26, 2013 Way to go guys! I know Dwight's fish wasn't the biggest picture, but he sure makes it LOOK the biggest of all, A-Jay on your pics in the gallery, how did you get the bass to fan the dorsal fins so nicely, great pics! I will be joining in on your trip in a year or two, since I have another son on the way during PRIME TIME. She spent quite a bit of time in the live well after the initial capture to give her time to recover. Doesn't always work but it did this time. Plus I think she way really mad . . . . . . . . A-Jay Quote
Super User Darren. Posted March 26, 2013 Super User Posted March 26, 2013 The quote below from my inital post was my attempt to convey that this was not the case. "Although there were several amazing catches made, this was not a week of suicidal bass fishing were everything and anything produced fish. Each morning and afternoon’s fishing demanded the best efforts of both our guides and us." A-Jay Wasn't meaning it in disrespect A dream of mine to land such beasts. Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted March 26, 2013 BassResource.com Administrator Posted March 26, 2013 Looks like a heckuva lotta fun! 2 Quote
Big-O Posted March 26, 2013 Posted March 26, 2013 You guys were in HAWG CITY What a GREAT experience for all of you!!! 2 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted March 26, 2013 Global Moderator Posted March 26, 2013 Mexico is something every serious bass fisherman should experience at least once. Problem is after you experience it once you won't be able to stop thinking about next time you can get back. You guys look like you had an awesome trip. 2 Quote
Super User Tuckahoe Joe Posted March 26, 2013 Super User Posted March 26, 2013 Wow man...I don't think I've ever seen so many monster fish in one thread. Congrats to the 3 of you! 2 Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted March 26, 2013 Super User Posted March 26, 2013 Sound like you guys had a great time! Great report and congrats on your PB's! 00, I'm sure you'll top your PB on the next trip, but a 10-4 is still a thrill for sure! Again, congrats on your trip and welcome back! 2 Quote
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