Lake Baccarac November 2017 ~ video added 2024
A-Jay reply :
Just returned from another adventure packed trip to famed Lake Baccarac in Mexico. I had the distinct pleasure of sharing it with good friend (and one heck of a stick) Jeff Howell.
One aspect of this trip that was a little different was that we were part of a group of 16 other like-minded Bass fishing fanatics, none of which neither Jeff nor I had ever met. Meeting and getting to know them all for the first time at the lodge was pretty cool as they were coming from all over the United States. All serious enough anglers willing to make the commitment of time, effort & travel required to fish this unique & very special place. Perhaps more importantly all very pleasant, down to earth & super fun people to be around. Everyone had a great time & huge bass were not in short supply.
Fishing together at the Famed Lake Baccarac Lodge, we were all treated to just about all the big bass fishing action we could handle. Situated smack dab in the middle of some ridiculously picturesque mountain terrain, Jeff & I could not help but admire. The stunning mountains & cascading valley views filled every picture & video with a backdrop that looks so good sometimes it’s hard to believe it's real.
As one could expect, the very warm (and sometimes pretty hot) sub-tropical climate required complete sun protection & frequent hydration and we were on it.
As is always the case, the accommodations, food & staff at Lake Baccarac Lodge were fantastic.
Our guide for this trip, as well as several previous adventures, was Manual Salazar. The man is about as good as it gets. Watching him work his big bass locating magic is worth the price of admission and why he has been one of the top guides in all of Mexico for many years.
And then there’s the fishing . . . . . . In reality (which this place doesn’t seem to be part of) there’s no way for me to accurately describe it. Words like outrageous, and magical come to mind, but even they doesn’t come close to scratching the surface of what routinely goes on here. I suppose the simplest & perhaps the best way I could come to offering a glimpse of what it’s like to spend a week at Lake Baccarac – is to say that for any serious Basshead, this place is where Jurassic Park meets Disneyland.
Bite was deep all week with the biggest fish coming from 15 ft down to as deep as 40 ft. A few guys were even fishing deeper. Big jigs, worms, spinnerbaits & swimbaits all took turns being "the Bait" My largest this trip came in at 10lbs 6 oz - she ate a 3/4 oz jig with a Magnum fluke trailer - there were several 9's, quite a few 8's a ridiculous number of 7's and we never count 6's & below. This trip may have featured the largest 'average' for us as there were many more big fish this week.
Crazy place this Lake Baccarac - already planning the next one. It's been said many times, if you ever get an opportunity to go - I'd highly encourage you to seriously consider it. This one just like previous ones, was quite an experience.
A-Jay
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1546112775468580.1073741841.100002096185350&type=1&l=4dbafe711c
Bluebasser86 reply :
One day, one day...
Looks like you guys had yet another awesome trip!
MTPanda reply :
Amazing trip and report Andy! I'm so excited and have been following this group of anglers who went to Baccarac. A few of these guys are admins on a Facebook Swimbait Universe group that I'm a part of. They posted their bass and numbers here:
I'm all booked for my solo trip in December and hope to do somewhat as well as you guys!
A-Jay reply :
On 11/16/2017 at 3:31 PM, MTPanda said:Amazing trip and report Andy! I'm so excited and have been following this group of anglers who went to Baccarac. A few of these guys are admins on a Facebook Swimbait Universe group that I'm a part of. They posted their bass and numbers here:
I'm all booked for my solo trip in December and hope to do somewhat as well as you guys!
Thanks ~
Chad & Big John really torn them up on this trip. While you should totally expect to have a ton of big bass action, what is posted above is one of the single best weeks I've ever seen there - the big fish were stacked up deep and once you found them - it was Lights OUT !
Have fun and be careful - you might get your arm broke . . .
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
Awesome write up and sounds like you had a great trip! Going to buy a piggy bank today, destination Lake Baccarac.
WRB reply :
Great trip.????
May need to consider limiting the depths targeting DD bass, under 35’ the survival rates drop off radically.
Sounds like a jig, big worm and swimbait pre spawn bite, my type of fishing.
J Francho reply :
Incredible. It's all over SBU.
A-Jay reply :
On 11/17/2017 at 12:34 AM, WRB said:Great trip.
May need to consider limiting the depths targeting DD bass, under 35’ the survival rates drop off radically.
Sounds like a jig, big worm and swimbait pre spawn bite
Thanks Tom.
Definitely something to keep in mind.
But do you actually know any Bassheads who, after locating a school of 8-12 lb bass - that may number in the 50-100 range - and after catching 2 or 3, would even consider not dropping down on them again ?
I do not.
A-Jay
On 11/17/2017 at 12:46 AM, J Francho said:Incredible. It's all over SBU.
Yup - It was a magical week and I'm very glad I was there to experience it. I'll admit that even though I've been there a few times, if I had not seen it with my own eyes - there would be some level of skepticism.
It's just hard to believe as there's so few places that an angler can actually go and catch several 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12lb bass Before Noon. Who does that ?
It's not always like that, but it was last week.
A-Jay
WRB reply :
It only takes experiencing 1 dead big bass to understand the harm of fishing too deep.
In Mexico fish are food. I understand the catching is more important then C & R.
A-Jay reply :
On 11/17/2017 at 12:53 AM, WRB said:It only takes experiencing 1 dead big bass to understand the harm of fishing too deep.
In Mexico fish are food. I understand the catching is more important then C & R.
I hear ya ~
While there's no way to know how any fish does after it's release, the deep bass we caught & released swam off with little to know hesitation. Had there been a floater in the bunch, it would have most certainly given us pause.
A-Jay
J Francho reply :
I've caught many fish from water greater than 35', and catch and immediate release causes no harm that I can see.
TnRiver46 reply :
Sweeeeeet! Jealous, party of one!!! I would gladly do battle with one of those fish at whatever depth it wanted!!!
WRB reply :
Great trip, just adding my thoughts on deep DD bass because I do have lots of experience releasing these special bass and limit my max depth during pre spawn to 35-40'. There is no way the vast majority of bass anglers will pass up a shot at big bass in 50' of water after traveling to Mexico to catch them.
Peace.
Tom
PS, do the guides know how to Fizz deep bass?
A-Jay reply :
On 11/17/2017 at 2:16 AM, WRB said:Great trip, just adding my thoughts on deep DD bass because I do have lots of experience releasing these special bass and limit my max depth during pre spawn to 35-40'. There is no way the vast majority of bass anglers will pass up a shot at big bass in 50' of water after traveling to Mexico to catch them.
Peace.
Tom
PS, do the guides know how to Fizz deep bass?
Thank you again Tom.
I for one, always do appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge & experience.
Don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say that if a bass has ever been fizzed there, it was most certainly not by a guide, but I could be wrong. There's often a bit of a communication challenge invlved as most of the guides speak enough English to be safe & effective guides however, my Spanish is pretty weak. Hearing and seeing me trying to describe 'Fizzing' to Manual, would most likely be both comedy relief & an exercise in futility.
A-Jay
WRB reply :
Having fished in Mexico many times over 50 years the locals have no concept of why Americans C & R fish, it’s beyond comprehension, they consider the resource always renews itself therefor should be harvested.
My late fishing partner John used an ice pick to fizz bass and laughed at my surgical needle methods, each to their own devices.
The one thing about Mexican LMB is they are tough hard fighters and lots of fun. Hope I can someday to return, do it while you can!
Tom
TnRiver46 reply :
On 11/17/2017 at 3:24 AM, WRB said:Having fished in Mexico many times over 50 years the locals have no concept of why Americans C & R fish, it’s beyond comprehension, they consider the resource always renews itself therefor should be harvested.
My late fishing partner John used an ice pick to fizz bass and laughed at my surgical needle methods, each to their own devices.
The one thing about Mexican LMB is they are tough hard fighters and lots of fun. Hope I can someday to return, do it while you can!
Tom
Folks around here think if you kill a bass there will never be another one. I wish they would take a trip to Mexico and witness the resource renewing itself. I get tired of being harassed for eating bass. This is the only fishing forum I have ever found where people don't totally frown on keeping bass. i would venture that some of the harvest in Mexico actually contributes to the excellent population dynamics of the largemouth
A-Jay reply :
On 11/17/2017 at 6:15 AM, TnRiver46 said:Folks around here think if you kill a bass there will never be another one. I wish they would take a trip to Mexico and witness the resource renewing itself. I get tired of being harassed for eating bass. This is the only fishing forum I have ever found where people don't totally frown on keeping bass. i would venture that some of the harvest in Mexico actually contributes to the excellent population dynamics of the largemouth
Lake Baccarac is a fairly huge impoundment that receives relatively little fishing pressure. There is exactly two lodges - one on each end of the lake. There is a commercial venture that operates on the lake a few times a year where they net Tilapia - the main forage in the lake. Seems to have zero affect on anything. The guides will take 5-10 2-3 lb bass one or twice a trip - but that's not even a drop in the bucket when you consider the lake is 25 miles long, five miles wide and is 30,000 acres at full pool.
A-Jay
Will Wetline reply :
Fabulous fishing, A-Jay. Glad conditions were that good.
12poundbass reply :
On 11/17/2017 at 2:32 AM, A-Jay said:Hearing and seeing me trying to describe 'Fizzing' to Manual, would most likely be both comedy relief
Speaking Spanish with a Boston accent.... Money well spent in my eyes. ????
Bankbeater reply :
Didn’t count 6 pounds or smaller? I feel faint.
Sounds like a great trip.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 11/17/2017 at 6:46 AM, A-Jay said:Lake Baccarac is a fairly huge impoundment that receives relatively little fishing pressure. There is exactly two ledges - one on each end of the lake. There is a commercial venture that operates on the lake a few times a year where they net Tilapia - the main forage in the lake. Seems to have zero affect on anything. The guides will take 5-10 2-3 lb bass one or twice a trip - but that's not even a drop in the bucket when you consider the lake is 25 miles long, five miles wide and is 30,000 acres at full pool.
A-Jay
I'm guessing y'all tossed some tilapia swimbaits??
slonezp reply :
Very nice
Paul Roberts reply :
Wow. ... Not sure what else to say! Congrats!
A-Jay reply :
On 11/17/2017 at 8:20 AM, TnRiver46 said:I'm guessing y'all tossed some tilapia swimbaits??
Yes - and I can say with a high level of confidence that it was more than at any other point in my entire life.
A-Jay
MIbassyaker reply :
Wowza.
A-Jay reply :
Adding the trip video here ~
Had to cut out a ton of fish catches otherwise it would have been an hour long.
It's over 30 minutes as it is.
I almost didn't bring the GoPro - Now I'm Really glad I did.
You'll see fish plenty of fish catches as well as scale & camera use.
We like that.
Enjoy.
A-Jay
MTPanda reply :
On 11/18/2017 at 7:37 AM, A-Jay said:Adding the trip video here ~
Had to cut out a ton of fish catches otherwise it would have been an hour long.
It's over 30 minutes as it is.
I almost didn't bring the GoPro - Now I'm Really glad I did.
You'll see fish plenty of fish catches as well as scale & camera use.
We like that.
Enjoy.
A-Jay
Awesome vid A Jay!! I'm so amped up and excited after just watching the first few mins lol. Definitely bringing my gopro and extra batteries!
Jar11591 reply :
I had been looking forward to this report. Great fish and pictures! I can’t wait to sit down and watch the video. Baccarac really is unbelievable.
J._Bricker reply :
Epic video A-Jay of your trip! Thanks for sharing what I’d consider to be a trip of a life time cause I’m still shaking my head as I type this.... Wow!
shimmy reply :
Ooooooooh man. Literally got situated on the couch just right before I read my favorite yearly update. So awesome. Those fish are so big. Jeff looks like he is holding some absolute giants as well.
Was that 3/4 oz jig with a fluke skirted for your ten pounder? Video doesn’t look like it has a skirt so it seems it was a 3/4 oz jig head? Jeff that 10.95 was an absolute giant. I just can’t explain how much this video triggers me...
Jeff and A-Jay, my wife gave me the go ahead for next Christmas/first of January (not this Christmas, but the next) for another trip. While I will be recruiting my family to go, I think it is time we all meet up!!! I am sure I will be watching this video many more times. AWESOME video and AMAZING fisherman.
WRB reply :
Enjoyed the video, the flat calm weather and lots of big bass with life long memories.
Tom
A-Jay reply :
On 11/19/2017 at 1:32 AM, shimmy said:Ooooooooh man. Literally got situated on the couch just right before I read my favorite yearly update. So awesome. Those fish are so big. Jeff looks like he is holding some absolute giants as well.
Was that 3/4 oz jig with a fluke skirted for your ten pounder? Video doesn’t look like it has a skirt so it seems it was a 3/4 oz jig head? Jeff that 10.95 was an absolute giant. I just can’t explain how much this video triggers me...
Jeff and A-Jay, my wife gave me the go ahead for next Christmas/first of January (not this Christmas, but the next) for another trip. While I will be recruiting my family to go, I think it is time we all meet up!!! I am sure I will be watching this video many more times. AWESOME video and AMAZING fisherman.
Thanks Shimmy ~ and you're right Jeff KILLED it this trip -
So much so that I'm putting together a separate video just to document his final day catches. Big Fish Jeff had a phenomenal day that included something like 7-7's 4-8's 3-9's and that 10.95 (his new PB) And most of that came in the morning before lunch ! It was super special and I'm glad I was there to share it.
Most all the fish were deep - and I mean Deep - 30 - 40 ft on average & deeper. We were having decent success with swimbaits but they were taking forever to get to the bass. So we started throwing 3/4 jigs with skirts at first. 1 oz might have been better but we didn't have any. Then we took the skirts off to get & keep the baits deep and we were getting big fish on big football jigs with 7" Senko, 10" Bull worms & Magnum Flukes. Did get a few on 10XD and a 1 oz spinnerbait but the big jigs were the winners that weeks for us.
And I'd Love to fish with you my friend. pm me with what you have in mind. Right off the bat, I'm looking at late Oct 2018 as a possible 'next one' - I'll miss out on some killer brown bass here but the moon is right & we both know that place is like nothing else . . . . nothing. Still nothing solid yet for me either.
A-Jay
BassObsessed reply :
Insane fishing results! Haven't watched the video yet but when I do the urge to go there next year ( which is already bad) will be tough to control.
roadwarrior reply :
That's some great video on a trip of a lifetime.
Congrats to both of you!
BassObsessed reply :
Ok, watching it didn't help matters lol. Where else in the states are you going to get those results?
A-Jay reply :
On 11/20/2017 at 6:54 AM, BassObsessed said:Ok, watching it didn't help matters lol. Where else in the states are you going to get those results?
Unless it's private and well managed - not many.
A-Jay
RichF reply :
Wow...just...wow..Congrats on an incredible trip!
NYWayfarer reply :
On 11/16/2017 at 1:28 PM, A-Jay said:I suppose the simplest & perhaps the best way I could come to offering a glimpse of what it’s like to spend a week at Lake Baccarac – is to say that for any serious Basshead, this place is where Jurassic Park meets Disneyland.
Nice video and awesome description.
Bucket list place to visit for sure
dropped shot reply :
Most people never catch that many fish that size in their whole life....
Smokinal reply :
Ima get down there if it's the last thing I do....
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