Lake Picachos

[Travel4sushi]

Spent four days at Picachos May 9-13 with Ron Speed Jr's Adventures.  

 

This was our first trip to Mexico to bass fish.  We have been to Canada fishing many times and travel to Cozumel several times a year to scuba dive.

 

Overall:  Great trip.  We would go back and if not for the virus I wanted to go back in April. It will be much easier to pack next time.  Take about 2x the number of plastics that you think you will need.  Easy to go through two packs a day.  The coop has a small store that has most of the plastics that you will need.  I did take my own rods, and I'm glad I did (absolutely no problems with AA, lots of rod tubes were checked).  The rods available at the camp were Lew's rods (I use a lot of those but not those models).  Some of them looked well used.

 

Price:  Listed on the website.  Took advantage of the two for one special.

 

Fishing:  Great but not Awesome.  Biggest was just shy of 5 lbs.  Many, many small fish.  Most caught on watermelon (red flake, chartreuse) senkos and lizards (5 and 7"), citrus deep diving crankbaits (largest fish on these), topwater (a few fish), silver and blue rattletraps, jigs.  You really can catch as many 1-2lb fish as you want.  Throw bigger baits to weed the small ones out but they still bit the 7 inch senkos and lizards. Two days were slow only around 50 fish, the other days were close to 100 each day (fish by myself in the afternoons, wife took the afternoon off).

 

Guides:  Good, spoke very little English.  Great with service (unhooking snags, putting new baits on, taking fish  off, even getting out backlash (not that I needed it, LOL).  They were a little attached to using the senkos and lizards and wanted you to use those.  They also seemed to be too attached to certain spots and were a bit reluctant to move.  No problems, though, and they will do anything that you ask.  A few of them will go through your tackle bag and pick out what you should use (I liked the ones that did this). Other fisherman worked out "deals" with certain guides, giving more money or gifts if they caught X number of fish or so many over x lbs.  Wish I would have know this was okay to begin with.  Certain guides did seem to consistently catch more fish that others.

 

Food and Service:  EXCELLENT, can't say enough.  Food was good and plentiful, service, well, you won't want or wait for anything.  They will do special drinks at the bar and second, and thirds are available. Jorge and the other staff couldn't have been better and more helpful (the van drivers also).

Accommodations:  Quaint and very fishing lodge type.  AC worked great.  Plumbing was interesting but functional (hot water).  We did have a bat visit us in the cabin one evening but he quickly left.  Neat!  

 

Boats:  Express aluminum boats 17' 18' with 60 and 70 hp engines, graphs, trolling motors.  Guides do all the work.  Had a few fuel problems (had to pump a few times).  Everything else worked good on the boats.  Plenty of room for two fisherman, guides, and gear.  Boats include a cooler full of whatever drinks you want)

 

Hotel on the night before the flight home:  El Cid Castilla, the recommended hotel.  STAY ELSEWHERE.  It is in the middle of a construction zone, not near the airport, full of children, didn't seem too sanitary.

 

Tips:  no need to take pesos if only staying at the lodge, fill out the online immigration form to save time,  if flying AA don't go to the gate (don't clear security until right before the plane boards), use the Priority Pass lounge instead.

 

We did a pre-fishing trip stay in Mazatlan and stayed at a local hotel in the historic district called Casa Lucila.  Awesome place, great restaurants around there.

 

 

[Stuart3092]

Glad the trip was a good one.  I have been down 7 times and fished Salto and Picachos.  Both are great and I have know Jorge since my first trip to Salto when he was Asst. Mgr.  I have found that if you want to get worn out landing fish go to Picachos.  If you want good numbers but are looking for better fish also go to Salto.  Looking for big fish go t Comederos .  I was at Picachos Feb 1 through the 8th and my best day (fishing alone) was 90 bass.  362 bass in 7 days.  Last time I will do 7 days in a row.  I am too d**n old for the wear and tear. LOL  Lupe, the manager at Salto taught Jorge all the ropes and he runs his ship the same as Jorge does, Never ever need to request something twice.  I was fortunate this last trip to share a cabin with Ron Speed and He is just like Jorge and the others running the show.  Friendly, informative and entertaining.  I am going again next Feb. and am already chomping at the bit.  Salto this time...…..and I might think about 7 days again.lol   

[Travel4sushi]

I think we will probably go back again next year.  That 2 for 1 special with my wife makes it extremely cheap.  Although, I think we might try Salto or Commodero if I go by myself.  The service and food were both fabulous.  I also agree 4 days is plenty, I was tired.