Brian admires a nice Bass landed on a dry line and an AirHead fly...I am finally getting the chance to blog after a busy 3 days here at Anglers Inn - Lake El Salto. After completing my hosted trip at Lake Mateos this past weekend, I transferred to Lake El Salto with "mi amigos" Ken Hanley (Pacific Extremes) and Brian O'Keefe (Catch Magazine). Ken and Brian were part of our Lake Mateos trip last week and are working on a photo essay for the next issue of Catch Magazine, which will be released on Jan. 1st. Throughout the trip, I have been fortunate to look over Brian's shoulder and see the incredible photographs that he is capturing at both lakes. So, if you haven't already done so, check out his online magazine and subscribe to it. Subscription is FREE and it has the most amazing photography and video clips about our wonderful sport of fly fishing.
Also, this past weekend my other client group of 14 fly anglers arrived here at El Salto. It is such a joy to have a fun group of passionate fly anglers here at the lake. It is always interesting to hear the fishing reports and what the daily "hot flies" are. This week's trip has been proving some old standby flies and also revealing a few newer flies that are fooling the bass.
Overall, our group has been having some very good fishing on topwater and even better fishing with subsurface techniques. The lake level is slight lower than normal for this time of the season since this region had a lighter than normal rainy season. Although the lake conditions are lower, there is one fact that still holds true about this fishery. It continues to be supercharged by an incredible abundance of baitfish - Tilapia and Shad. It is quite a scene to motor into an arroyo and see the bass busting these baitfish along the shoreline. Tilapia or shad fleeing from marauding bass by trying to launch themselves up onto the shoreline. Today, Bob and Greg told a story of a giant bass that busted a school of tilapia so hard that it splashed water 6 feet up onto a vertical rock face. Yes, this is a brutal reality for baitfish at El Salto...
So far, a few of the highlights on this trip include Paula and Phil's topwater 8 pounders,... an 80 fish day (for ONE BOAT!),... and the many stories of giant bass that have crushed our flies and escaped. One common remark from everyone is how strong these El Salto bass are... even 2 pounders will bend an 8 weight rod into the cork. These fish are in top physical form due to the abundance of forage fish... bass on steroids is often the way we coin these fish at El Salto.
On this trip, we have been utilizing the entire gamut of fly fishing, tackle, techniques and strategies... from topwater to 350 grain fast sink tips. Each part of the lake seems to fish differently and, therefore, adapting to the conditions is the way to stay in the action. The hot flies have been the Floating Clouser (white), Big-Game Gummy Minnow, Bisharat's Airhead, (brown/white or grey/white), Pultz's or Gutterres' Poppers (black, yellow), and Leo's El Salto Special (slider/darter).
Well, I am signing off for now... we have a another "grande" day of bass fishing tomorrow. Hmmm, maybe tomorrow will be 10 pounder day! Fish On!
Also, this past weekend my other client group of 14 fly anglers arrived here at El Salto. It is such a joy to have a fun group of passionate fly anglers here at the lake. It is always interesting to hear the fishing reports and what the daily "hot flies" are. This week's trip has been proving some old standby flies and also revealing a few newer flies that are fooling the bass.
Overall, our group has been having some very good fishing on topwater and even better fishing with subsurface techniques. The lake level is slight lower than normal for this time of the season since this region had a lighter than normal rainy season. Although the lake conditions are lower, there is one fact that still holds true about this fishery. It continues to be supercharged by an incredible abundance of baitfish - Tilapia and Shad. It is quite a scene to motor into an arroyo and see the bass busting these baitfish along the shoreline. Tilapia or shad fleeing from marauding bass by trying to launch themselves up onto the shoreline. Today, Bob and Greg told a story of a giant bass that busted a school of tilapia so hard that it splashed water 6 feet up onto a vertical rock face. Yes, this is a brutal reality for baitfish at El Salto...
So far, a few of the highlights on this trip include Paula and Phil's topwater 8 pounders,... an 80 fish day (for ONE BOAT!),... and the many stories of giant bass that have crushed our flies and escaped. One common remark from everyone is how strong these El Salto bass are... even 2 pounders will bend an 8 weight rod into the cork. These fish are in top physical form due to the abundance of forage fish... bass on steroids is often the way we coin these fish at El Salto.
On this trip, we have been utilizing the entire gamut of fly fishing, tackle, techniques and strategies... from topwater to 350 grain fast sink tips. Each part of the lake seems to fish differently and, therefore, adapting to the conditions is the way to stay in the action. The hot flies have been the Floating Clouser (white), Big-Game Gummy Minnow, Bisharat's Airhead, (brown/white or grey/white), Pultz's or Gutterres' Poppers (black, yellow), and Leo's El Salto Special (slider/darter).
Well, I am signing off for now... we have a another "grande" day of bass fishing tomorrow. Hmmm, maybe tomorrow will be 10 pounder day! Fish On!
Paula and Antonio with a "grande" 8 pound Bass!
Topwater El Salto Bass at dusk...
Brian and Ken giving the welcome cheers!
Seventeen of us fly anglers at El Salto this week...
Tough bass that eat... fishing doesn't get more grande than this!
Bass food... shad.
Topwater 8 pounder... way to go Phil!!!
Brian calling long distance for bass...
Jim goes big again at El Salto... he has landed the most 10+ pounders on a fly at El Salto
Gorgeous Lake El Salto
Sam with a nice topwater bass...
Beer and bass flies... all that is needed to have fun fishing for El Salto bass!
First light at El Salto...
Admiring a green-side... (photo by Brian O'Keefe)
