Baccarac, heyday past?

[calikid]

Lake Bacarrac in Mexico had a tough 2021 with seriously low water last summer and fishing really fell off from it's standards of the past several years.   I went in December and managed a 10 lb bass but it was the only 10 that had been caught in a month or so.  At least that is what I was told. Numbers were down also.

Reading current reports it looks like the fishing is still struggling a bit. Very few 10 bass being caught and numbers aren't anything like 2015 -2020.

Anybody here been lately, have a trip planned soon. Or aware of any recent first hand reports?

 

[roadwarrior]

I think AJ might disagree...

 

[Dwight Hottle]

Water levels are extremely high this year. We went Oct 25-31 with the Mike Bucca group. The fishing absolutely sucked. Out of 14 guys there was only one fish caught that broke 7lbs. No bigs caught at all. There were lots & lots of 1-3lb fish caught that were all well fed. Tremendous amounts of bait & talapia were observed. Most big fish were 4 or 5 lbs. I did lose a topwater fish early morning of the last day that was a 8 or 9 lber. She jumped boat side & spit my little popper back at me. The first five weeks of this  season have been very poor compared to normal standards. We had Martine & Manuel for guides & they both said they have never seen it so bad for so long. The bass down there grow so fast at 2-2.5lbs per year it will be back to normal within a a couple of years if not sooner.    

[A-Jay]

Wasn't able to make a trip to Lake Baccarac Lodge in 2022.  

Each of my many between 2013-2021 have been very positive.

A couple were pretty epic in fact.

But as fertile as that lake is, it's still bass fishing.

 I am really hoping to get back there

at the very first opportunity.

A-Jay

 

 

[calikid]

Manuel is a heckuva good guide down there.  What he says carries weight.  When I went last December my guide told me he was worried about the fishing also. By United States lake's standards it is good but we hold Mexico fishing to a high standard.  I love the total experience but poor fishing hurts after spending several grand.

[gim]

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

The first five weeks of this  season have been very poor compared to normal standards. We had Martine & Manuel for guides & they both said they have never seen it so bad for so long. The bass down there grow so fast at 2-2.5lbs per year it will be back to normal within a a couple of years if not sooner. 

Interesting, why do you think the number of quality fish being caught is down?  Do you think they just aren't there or is there too much forage in the lake right now...so they just aren't very hungry?

[Dwight Hottle]

15 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Interesting, why do you think the number of quality fish being caught is down?  Do you think they just aren't there or is there too much forage in the lake right now...so they just aren't very hungry?

I really wish I knew the answer. There has not been any evidence of a fish kill. The water temps were pretty warm for late Oct at 82 to 86 degrees while we were there. We searched for fish deeper than normal down to 50 feet but no luck. We looked for cooler water ever where including the river but it was the same temps as the main lake. And the river was dirty water as well. All fish caught were extremely well fed with fat bellies. Excessive bait in the system might be the reason. High water certainly does not help. Having seen reports from El Salto & a another lake indicates they are not fishing well either. 

[king fisher]

All lakes have cycles.  Baccarac is on a down cycle right now.  In the spring and early summer of 2021 there was a sever draught that may have caused the start of the downward turn.  A larger than normal rainy season in the fall of 2021 brought the lake back up, but the fishing suffered all of last winter.  Even with higher than normal water level to start the winter, higher than normal irrigation, brought the water level down to almost the level of the 2021 drought again in the spring of 2022.  Lots of rain in the fall of 2022 brought the water back up but so far this fall season has been slow, for big fish.  The tilapia nets effectiveness in the low water may have been the cause of the decline, but there isn't a lodge owner in all of Mexico, that even mentions the word nets.

        Baccarac is still a phenomenal lake, and the fact that it has the largest abundance and variety of bait, of any lake in Mexico, and  a healthy population of smaller bass with excellent genetics, It may return to it's number one status of big bass producing waters within a year or two.  You can still have a great day catching large numbers of 2- 5 pound fish, with a possibility of a DD on any cast.  The days of everyone catching a bass 10 pounds or over seem to be gone for awhile.

        El Salto while not as good as Baccarac is on the upswing.  Auguamilpa bass size average while not huge is going up, and the catch rates of 1 to 4 pound fish are still phenomenal.  Auguamilpa for years has struggled with extremely high catch rates, but small sized bass.  If the size of the bass keeps improving, it may be an unbelievable lake when it hits its peak, only time will tell.

        Chapala, a lake I predicted 3 years ago, would be the best trophy lake in Mexico, is actually down from what it was when I was making my prediction.  My poor ability to predict the future is why I don't bet on sports or invest in stocks.

        Presa Calles in Aguascalientes is probably your best shot at catching a 10 pound plus bass in Mexico this winter.  There are no lodges at the lake, but there are many hotels and a few good guides.  Unlike many lakes in Mexico, this lake has an abundance of aquatic vegetation, and bass can be caught all year in grass mats, as well as on deep water structure.  Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to fish this lake myself, but the reports I have gotten are from highly reputable sources, and there are many videos' on the internet with people catching double digit bass. 

      To answer your question, Baccarac trophy fishing is not what it was a couple years ago, but I wouldn't write it off yet.  It is still one of the top bass destinations in the world, and will probably be back on the very top of the list in a couple years.  It is still worth the money, so if you get a chance to fish there, don't pass up the opportunity, just go and have fun.

       

[Jar11591]

It’s been almost six years since I went to Baccarac. I made the trip in February of 2017 and the fishing was incredible. No double digits, but many of 7s, 8s, and high 9s. I have been sort of trying to plan my next trip down there. Sad to hear that it’s not fishing like it used to but if the fish are well fed and there is still lots of bait, seems there is hope that it will recover. Like others noted, lakes can go through cycles. Baccarac having such a high peak on a good year makes the lows seem very dramatic. 

[calikid]

This is the first I have heard of Presa Calles. I will research it. Sounds like an interesting trip.

 

My title heyday past was really in jest and to get replies.  It has risen and fallen several times over the last few decades.  I believe I made my first trip there in the late 90's.

 

Comedero is another one that has had huge swings from great to poor and back to poor again.

 

El Salto I fished once but it is too commercial for me, too many lodges, boats, and fishermen. Picachos is fun for a 3 day trip because of numbers and close proximity to Mazatlan.  Guerrero must be down or considered a little dangerous,  I never hear anything about it anymore. we used to haul our boat down there back in the 90s. But Baccarac is definitely my all time favorite Mexico lake, when it is on it's heaven.  I doubt I will go until I see it is for sure improving.

[Soulfisher]

Has anyone heard of any reports of how the lake is fishing lately? Thinking of taking my first trip there later this year?

Thanks

[king fisher]

The reports I have are the lake is still fishing well, not as many DD as in past years, but still the best lake in Mexico to consistently catch 5- 8 pound bass with a chance at one over 10.  

[Soulfisher]

Thank you for your reply. I believe I will book a trip. Is late October/ November generally a good time to fish it weather wise?

Thanks again

[king fisher]

May is the best time for fishing but it is starting to get hot.  The water is low, and the bass are concentrated.  Weather is perfect Nov. thru April.  October can still be a little hot weather wise, but the fishing can be even better than in May, ask AJ he has crushed them in October. The lodges all close for the rainy season, and the bass don't see any lures until they reopen in October.  The biggest bass are usually pre spawn in January.  Really any time is good.  You can look at old reports on lodge websites, and see what time of year the fishing fits your style.

[Soulfisher]

Yep AJs reports is what has me saving money to go. Thanks so much for the info. I’m going and will report back how it goes. Thanks again 

[Dwight Hottle]

@Soulfisher get a hold of Mike Bucca he is sponsoring a trip this fall in late Oct. You can find him on Swimbait Universe or his bait business. I went with his group the last two years & they are a good group of guys. 

[TnRiver46]

On 6/3/2023 at 4:42 PM, Soulfisher said:

Yep AJs reports is what has me saving money to go. Thanks so much for the info. I’m going and will report back how it goes. Thanks again 

I believe he said it’s about 100 degrees in October 

[Dwight Hottle]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I believe he said it’s about 100 degrees in October 

100 degrees in July and upper 80's to middle 90's in October. 

[gim]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I believe he said it’s about 100 degrees in October 

Lol one time he said it was 115 degrees there in the shade too.  "Too warm for this northern boy."

[TnRiver46]

There’s always water to jump into, the natural AC that we often forget about. I used that method 3 times yesterday 

[gim]

7 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

There’s always water to jump into, the natural AC that we often forget about. I used that method 3 times yesterday 

Warm lake water kinda grosses me out.  I bet that cooler water up near the dam feels much better though.

[TnRiver46]

14 hours ago, gimruis said:

Warm lake water kinda grosses me out.  I bet that cooler water up near the dam feels much better though.

The water is always icy cold about 6 feet down. What I crawl thru from 9-5 would really gross you out if you don’t like lake water 

[gim]

50 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

What I crawl thru from 9-5 would really gross you out if you don’t like lake water 

[Jar11591]

I don’t know if it’s returned to its “heyday”, but Lake Baccarac appears to be fishing pretty phenomenally again according to some recent reports. 

[A-Jay]

After a few years there where we hit it about as right a one could expect

(53 bass over 7 lbs with 6 over 10 lbs all in 6 days) We missed a couple of years,

But have been in very close contact with lodge owner and managers just about weekly.

In fact Big fish Jeff made brief trip in Sept.  Reported that he did very good and believes it's getting better.  I am making tentative plans to do a fall 2024 trp.  A lot needs to go right but if it does, my passport will once again be put to use.  The owner Terry Holland has made a major commitment to the improving the accommodations, food & customers service we get there.

So that's pretty nice.

A-Jay

https://youtu.be/UYTzJHDCdMo?feature=shared