Super User J Francho Posted January 17 Super User Posted January 17 My friend Burnie stuck a 9.72 on El Salto last week, and had huge numbers most days. 1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said: Funny thing is El Salto is fishing better than Baccarac according to some sources that have a presence on both lakes. I'm talking about DD's caught. 1 Quote
Super User TOXIC Posted January 17 Super User Posted January 17 Couple of us are planning to take a buddy to Mexico as a retirement gift and we had a buddy just return from Lake Picachos. Excuse the spelling errors. Evidently there’s 2 lodges right next to each other. Ron Speeds and Anglers Inn. As for the other lakes, my buddy went with a fishing industry executive and they were told about increased cartel activity on one of the lakes and the nearby town where anglers were bused out and brought to the lake they were on. One American industry executive had a vacation house in one of the towns and it was taken over by cartel members. We are wading through all the possible lakes and still have a couple years to make decisions. Ron Speeds lodge was closed for the season when they went about a month ago but they share a kitchen with the other lodge so they stayed in the Speed camp as the only guests and ate their meals at the other lodge. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 17 Author Super User Posted January 17 Absolutely ! ! ! Totally forget about Lake Baccarac. That place is a dink fest. EVERYONE should always go to either El Salto or Lake Picachos. Seriously. A-Jay 15 minutes ago, TOXIC said: Couple of us are planning to take a buddy to Mexico as a retirement gift and we had a buddy just return from Lake Picachos. Excuse the spelling errors. Evidently there’s 2 lodges right next to each other. Ron Speeds and Anglers Inn. As for the other lakes, my buddy went with a fishing industry executive and they were told about increased cartel activity on one of the lakes and the nearby town where anglers were bused out and brought to the lake they were on. One American industry executive had a vacation house in one of the towns and it was taken over by cartel members. We are wading through all the possible lakes and still have a couple years to make decisions. Ron Speeds lodge was closed for the season when they went about a month ago but they share a kitchen with the other lodge so they stayed in the Speed camp as the only guests and ate their meals at the other lodge. Because there's No Crime or Gangs at all in this country. Good Luck. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User TOXIC Posted January 17 Super User Posted January 17 40 minutes ago, A-Jay said: Because there's No Crime or Gangs at all in this country. While I don’t disagree working in downtown DC for a big portion of my career, I’m not planning on taking any vacations to East Garfield Park in Chicago or South Central in LA. I’m not willing to risk life and limb for a fish. I know it gets blown out of proportion sometimes but the guys that told me are credible. It would be irresponsible not to pay attention to cartel activity around the lakes. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 17 Author Super User Posted January 17 18 minutes ago, TOXIC said: While I don’t disagree working in downtown DC for a big portion of my career, I’m not planning on taking any vacations to East Garfield Park in Chicago or South Central in LA. I’m not willing to risk life and limb for a fish. I know it gets blown out of proportion sometimes but the guys that told me are credible. It would be irresponsible not to pay attention to cartel activity around the lakes. I get that ~ Vacation spots all over the world attract at least some criminal element. Been that way for a long time. I'd never ignore that either. Still, making reasonably safe plans and until I see something first hand, I can't live in fear of other's experiences. Good Luck with your friends retirement gift. A-Jay 2 Quote
Super User gim Posted January 17 Super User Posted January 17 Isn't the remote location of Baccarrac partially why it tends to be safer? I thought you just basically took a chartered flight right to it and the only "life" around the lake was the lodges. I'm not that familiar with the topography, demographics, or proximity of El Salto or Pistachios but it sounds like that may play a role in those locations. Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 17 Global Moderator Posted January 17 Seems like a guy from this area went to picachos and it was a numbers game, no monsters over 5-6 lbs but 100+ fish everyday. He did report hearing auto gunfire but I hear that at home haha Quote
Super User Chris at Tech Posted January 18 Super User Posted January 18 20 hours ago, A-Jay said: Absolutely ! ! ! Totally forget about Lake Baccarac. That place is a dink fest. EVERYONE should always go to either El Salto or Lake Picachos. Seriously. El Menderchucko 4 Quote
Super User king fisher Posted January 18 Super User Posted January 18 On 1/17/2025 at 12:56 PM, A-Jay said: I get that ~ Vacation spots all over the world attract at least some criminal element. Been that way for a long time. I'd never ignore that either. Still, making reasonably safe plans and until I see something first hand, I can't live in fear of other's experiences. Good Luck with your friends retirement gift. A-Jay Cartel violence in the state of Sinaloa has increased significantly in the past few months. Would I go fishing there? Absolutely. Cartels, like most gang bangers, anywhere do not bass fish. They like fancy sports cars, wild night life, casinos, strip clubs, and of course drugs. They don't hang out at bass fishing lakes picking fights with anglers. They will kill you if you interfere with their business, or insult one of them at a strip club. but even as impressive as A_ Jay's tackle horde is, they are not interested in the largest most organized collection of Megabass baits in North America. Is it a possibility the buss taking a group of anglers from the airport to the lodge gets stopped and people are asked to hand over cell phones while some crooked cop or other cartel member looks through the call list to see if you are calling an enemy gang. Yes that is a remote possibility, and while it would be scary, all would be well, you would get your phone back and sent on your way to double digit paradise. Most likely the cop would recognize the lodge van and wouldn't even bother stopping the driver to ask questions. If you fly in to the private airstrip near Lake Baccarac your only worry is if you forgot to put new line on your reels. As far as a relative of a friend of a friend's house getting taken over, I wouldn't be surprised. People with multi million dollar homes can be a target for the Cartel, but the the gang members don't have a clue that A-Jay's tackle box is worth more than a dozen of those homes. All of the wealthy Americans that I know of that have had trouble with drug gangs in Mexico, have some how been involved in the game. They might not be involved first hand, but they are having parties at their homes, or hanging out at places game member frequent. They may have friends that they associate, with or do legitimate business with cartel members that they may not even know are involved in the trade. Bass anglers as well as the fishing lodges are completely off the cartels radar. A few years ago, I guy got shot at Starbucks in the middle of a fancy resort area where I work in PV. I even new the guy. He was a member of the yacht club where I occasionally went for dinner and drinks. Everyone was in shock that such a nice guy from Canada could get assassinated while having coffee at Starbucks on a peaceful morning in Paradise. It ended up he actually was the head of a drug gang in Vancouver BC and the hit was carried out by a rival gang from Canada. Of course all any one read about in the paper was Canadian tourist murdered in Mexican tourist town. No one else was hurt, and I think his wife still lives in the condo they had here. My point is Mexico can be a very dangerous place, and you can find trouble very quickly if you go looking for it, but bass fishing is as safe here as it is any other place in the world. The bass fishing lodges have been fully booked and operating the whole time during this latest increase in gang violence, and not one fisherman has been harmed. A rich executive buys a multi million dollar home, throws big parties, and flaunts his wealth he may loose his house, but if he gets killed their may be more to his fortune than is commonly known. All the years working in the coast guard saving lives and keeping US citizens safe was, dangerous work and I thank you for your service. The only danger at Baccarac is watching your PB swim off with your favorite Pop Max. why you wonder why you didn't retie your knot after landing 50 bass. For those that don't think I know what I'm talking about. Please tell all of you friends not to bass fish Mexico. that will leave more bass for A-Jay and I. All that said, I would recommend you keep in contact with the lodge, and any guests you know that fish there, to see if conditions change. The violence is not out of control now, but there is a possibility of it getting so bad that airports and even lodges are not safe. I have a friend that's extended family is wealthy and they have a house and boat at Picachos. He was going to invite me to fish there with him, but had to cancel because his family doesn't think it is safe to stay at the house and use the boat. This sounds bad, but again, I don't have any idea how his cousins and Uncles make their living or who they know. He promised we would go some other time when his family say's it is ok to go. The lodges at Picachos are up and running with no harm to any guests. As with many things in life, that can be dangerous. If you are careful, and don't do stupid things, bass fishing in Mexico can be safe, but whatever you do, do not bring the Bait Monkey with you. Bass fishing here may be safe, but catching multiple DD bass can be hazardous to your sense of financial responsibility. 5 Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 18 Super User Posted January 18 If you fly to your destination and the lodge transports you to the lake that is safe. If you tow a boat into Mexico that is extremely dangerous! Tom 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 18 Author Super User Posted January 18 Sinaloa is one of the 32 states in Mexico and is equal to West Virginia in size. FYI ~ Lake El Salto & Lake Picachos are both in the State of Sinaloa a driving time of 60 - 90 minutes outside of Mazatlán Airport. Lake Baccarac lodge is 5 1/2 hours north of them both on the top of a mountain. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User gim Posted January 19 Super User Posted January 19 21 hours ago, A-Jay said: FYI ~ Lake El Salto & Lake Picachos are both in the State of Sinaloa a driving time of 60 - 90 minutes outside of Mazatlán Airport. Lake Baccarac lodge is 5 1/2 hours north of them both on the top of a mountain. Thanks. That's the point I was trying to make earlier. I imagine the remote location of Baccarac compared to those other two plays a role in these situations. 1 Quote
Super User Swamp Girl Posted January 20 Super User Posted January 20 @king fisher, I learned a lot from you post. Thank you. 1 Quote
MediumMouthBass Posted January 20 Posted January 20 I understand why there was a post about it potentially being dangerous. As Sinaloa is known for you know, the cartel. And various parts of Mexico have been and are active warzones between the Federales/military and the cartels. But like its been said, ever hear the cartel going camping in the mountains? Or fishing at the lakes? On 1/18/2025 at 11:38 AM, WRB said: If you fly to your destination and the lodge transports you to the lake that is safe. If you tow a boat into Mexico that is extremely dangerous! Tom I completely agree, any legitimate business/lodge transport should be safe. On 1/17/2025 at 9:56 AM, A-Jay said: Because there's No Crime or Gangs at all in this country. Crime is everywhere, even in the nicest and safest cities. Its just not as noticed. The thing @TOXIC was talking about is a concern though, however the same thing happens here too. The issue is, that in the current times theres alot of groups across the world that have a hatred for us. Just turn on the news. Making us a big target for certain people, money or not. And once we leave our border to go anywhere, our lifeline is severed. Something goes down in a foreign country who is going to help? The embassy that will take a few weeks to get paperwork filed just to get to your ticket in the queue sure wont be much use, if you are even able to reach out to them.... And like @king fisher said the cops over there go either way with their loyalty and allegiance's. Mexico can be a very safe, beautiful, and great place, or it can be hell on earth. All it takes is upsetting the wrong person. Theres a reason the State Dep. says stay at your resort or lodge, and dont travel off the path. If you stay at your resort/lodge youll be fine. If you go into town and start drinking and get into a fight or something like that, then anything can happen. Heck, going to a lodge in Mexico is safer than walking down a street in NYC, LA, Portland, Seattle, Detroit, Chicago, Philly, etc these days. For instance i caught my 10lb bass in a state full of drug dealers, and gangs. Atleast in Mexico i probably couldve got more than 1, and ate some good food while doing it! Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 20 Author Super User Posted January 20 288 Days and a Wake Up ~ A-Jay 4 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 27 Author Super User Posted January 27 281 Days and a Wake up ~ A-Jay 4 Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 27 Super User Posted January 27 According to Mike Bucca the lake is loaded with 8-9lb fish this year, should make the upcoming year great for catching DDs. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 27 Author Super User Posted January 27 10 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said: According to Mike Bucca the lake is loaded with 8-9lb fish this year, should make the upcoming year great for catching DDs. Hope I get to find out. I was there when Mike made his first trip there - He was Big Eyed the Whole time. As I remember the lake was on fire that week and we all had a time. Jurassic park meets Disneyland. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User AlabamaSpothunter Posted January 27 Super User Posted January 27 Yeah my Facebook timeline has been flooded with El Salto and Baccarac posts since I googled Mexico Bass fishing after seeing this thread bumped weeks ago 😁 Mike organizes his trip for $2100 IIrc. Can't wait to see another Mexico video from you, I really enjoyed your last one. Gave a great perspective on fishing down there. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 27 Author Super User Posted January 27 11 minutes ago, Rockhopper said: I need to do this. You have no idea ! A-Jay 2 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted February 2 Author Super User Posted February 2 Mexican bait monkey was hounding me bit this week. So I picked up a few magnum underspins & swimbait trailers just to get him off my back. While hammering 4-6 lbers around some trees with a Fluke/scrounger combo, the DD pictured joined the party. I have a good supply of this bait combo at the lodge. 275 Days and a Wake Up ~ A-Jay 2 Quote
Super User gim Posted February 2 Super User Posted February 2 On 1/27/2025 at 4:39 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said: Mike organizes his trip for $2100 IIrc. That's actually not as expensive as I would expect. How many days is it? 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted February 2 Author Super User Posted February 2 1 hour ago, gim said: That's actually not as expensive as I would expect. How many days is it? https://www.lakebaccaraclodge.com/our-lodge-rates/ When considering cost, commercial air fare to and from your location and either Los Moches or Culliacan Mexico must be added. The ride to and from the lodge / airport is included. There's plenty more info on that site. A-Jay 2 Quote
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