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Netting issue aside, Mexico luring anglers
Bob Whitaker, Special for The Arizona Republic
Oct. 24, 2002
Lunker bass are being caught left and right at El Salto.
November brings the annual frenzy of bass fishermen to lakes south of the border.
Bob Whitaker, Special for The Arizona Republic
It began in 1966 following the first national magazine article on the phenomenal bass riches in reservoir lakes along the west coast of the Mexican states of Sonora and Sinaloa.
Today the parade of anglers continues to roll down Mexico Highway 15, with new reservoirs adding to the luster. A few reservoirs, such as Angostura and Novillo, were constructed for hydroelectric power, but the purpose of most of the dams is to supply irrigation water for coastal farmlands.
Unfortunately, the conflict between sport fishing and commercial netting has never been satisfactorily resolved. Consequently, several lakes that once boasted fantastic fishing for largemouth and Florida bass now offer little for the bassing crowd.
Lake Mocuzari, near Alamos, and Buelna, on the outskirts of Guamuchil, are examples of how quickly uncontrolled netting can devastate bass populations.
On the bright side, the government and fishing camp operators keep moving brood bass, including imported Florida-strain bigmouths into newly built reservoirs to make up the void.
A rundown on the current crop of Mexican lakes and what anglers can expect during the fall and winter months ahead:
• Lake Huites: According to Ron Speed, who operates several camps below the border, scenic Lake Huites, on the El Fuerte River, midway between Culiacan and Mazatlan, ranks at the top for numbers of fish that are easy to catch. A camp with rental boats is available.
• El Salto: This lake gets heavy fishing pressure but is bouncing back after four years of poor fishing. Lots of Florida bass in the 10-pound class. A lakeside camp and rental boats available.
• Lake Comedero: Nestled in the mountains above El Salto. May be the finest trophy bass lake in Mexico. Lots of 10-12 pounders being taken, with a 19-pound fish as the lake record. Anglers can stay in hotels in nearby historic Cosala and commute 20 miles to the lake.
• Lake Baccarat: Another beautiful lake upstream west of Guasave on the Rio Sinaloa. Once renowned for quantity and quality of bass taken, the lake was overloaded with copper sulfate a few years ago to reduce weed growth, resulting in a massive fish kill. The lake is coming back but still suffers from the loss of big bass. Not much pressure because of bad roads.
• Lake Hidalgo: Downstream from Huites on the Rio Fuerte River. Paved all the way from Los Mochis, 50 miles. Action for medium-size bass has picked up since many bass have been flushed down from Huites.
• Lake Dominguez: A few miles from Hidalgo. A fabulous fishery until netters arrived. The lake is shallow and full of trees, so bass grow big if they can avoid the nets. Easy to reach but no camp or rental boats.
• Lake Lopez Mateos: A short distance on paved road from Culiacan. A deep lake that can survive netting. Good numbers of bass and big mojarra pan fish. Hatchery on the lake keeps populations up. Easy to reach but no facilities.
• Lake Sanalona: Another lake near Culiacan. Lots of huge bass but so choked with hyacinths that fishing and boat launching is difficult.
• Lake Novillo: A twin-armed reservoir on the Yaqui River, 80 miles due east of Hermosillo. Paved all the way to San Pedro de la Cueva or launch at dam. Good, reliable fishing. Camp and boat rentals. The lake's west arm provides the best top-water action.
• Lake Angostura: Oldest of the lakes. Built during World War II. Paved from Agua Prieta south 60 miles to Nacozari, then a rough road east to the lake. A solid bass producer with little pressure.
• Lake Oviachic: Some 15 miles northeast of Obregon. Paved all the way. Can be excellent but depends on water level and flow down the Rio Yaqui. Good launching. A float trip from Lake Novillo to Oviachic, 90 miles down the Yaqui River makes an exciting bass fishing adventure.
All standard bass lures work in Mexico. Bass limits vary from lake to lake, as well as license fees.
For more information, call Outdoors Unlimited at 1-800-678-3929.
Bob Whitaker, Special for The Arizona Republic
Oct. 24, 2002
Lunker bass are being caught left and right at El Salto.
November brings the annual frenzy of bass fishermen to lakes south of the border.
Bob Whitaker, Special for The Arizona Republic
It began in 1966 following the first national magazine article on the phenomenal bass riches in reservoir lakes along the west coast of the Mexican states of Sonora and Sinaloa.
Today the parade of anglers continues to roll down Mexico Highway 15, with new reservoirs adding to the luster. A few reservoirs, such as Angostura and Novillo, were constructed for hydroelectric power, but the purpose of most of the dams is to supply irrigation water for coastal farmlands.
Unfortunately, the conflict between sport fishing and commercial netting has never been satisfactorily resolved. Consequently, several lakes that once boasted fantastic fishing for largemouth and Florida bass now offer little for the bassing crowd.
Lake Mocuzari, near Alamos, and Buelna, on the outskirts of Guamuchil, are examples of how quickly uncontrolled netting can devastate bass populations.
On the bright side, the government and fishing camp operators keep moving brood bass, including imported Florida-strain bigmouths into newly built reservoirs to make up the void.
A rundown on the current crop of Mexican lakes and what anglers can expect during the fall and winter months ahead:
• Lake Huites: According to Ron Speed, who operates several camps below the border, scenic Lake Huites, on the El Fuerte River, midway between Culiacan and Mazatlan, ranks at the top for numbers of fish that are easy to catch. A camp with rental boats is available.
• El Salto: This lake gets heavy fishing pressure but is bouncing back after four years of poor fishing. Lots of Florida bass in the 10-pound class. A lakeside camp and rental boats available.
• Lake Comedero: Nestled in the mountains above El Salto. May be the finest trophy bass lake in Mexico. Lots of 10-12 pounders being taken, with a 19-pound fish as the lake record. Anglers can stay in hotels in nearby historic Cosala and commute 20 miles to the lake.
• Lake Baccarat: Another beautiful lake upstream west of Guasave on the Rio Sinaloa. Once renowned for quantity and quality of bass taken, the lake was overloaded with copper sulfate a few years ago to reduce weed growth, resulting in a massive fish kill. The lake is coming back but still suffers from the loss of big bass. Not much pressure because of bad roads.
• Lake Hidalgo: Downstream from Huites on the Rio Fuerte River. Paved all the way from Los Mochis, 50 miles. Action for medium-size bass has picked up since many bass have been flushed down from Huites.
• Lake Dominguez: A few miles from Hidalgo. A fabulous fishery until netters arrived. The lake is shallow and full of trees, so bass grow big if they can avoid the nets. Easy to reach but no camp or rental boats.
• Lake Lopez Mateos: A short distance on paved road from Culiacan. A deep lake that can survive netting. Good numbers of bass and big mojarra pan fish. Hatchery on the lake keeps populations up. Easy to reach but no facilities.
• Lake Sanalona: Another lake near Culiacan. Lots of huge bass but so choked with hyacinths that fishing and boat launching is difficult.
• Lake Novillo: A twin-armed reservoir on the Yaqui River, 80 miles due east of Hermosillo. Paved all the way to San Pedro de la Cueva or launch at dam. Good, reliable fishing. Camp and boat rentals. The lake's west arm provides the best top-water action.
• Lake Angostura: Oldest of the lakes. Built during World War II. Paved from Agua Prieta south 60 miles to Nacozari, then a rough road east to the lake. A solid bass producer with little pressure.
• Lake Oviachic: Some 15 miles northeast of Obregon. Paved all the way. Can be excellent but depends on water level and flow down the Rio Yaqui. Good launching. A float trip from Lake Novillo to Oviachic, 90 miles down the Yaqui River makes an exciting bass fishing adventure.
All standard bass lures work in Mexico. Bass limits vary from lake to lake, as well as license fees.
For more information, call Outdoors Unlimited at 1-800-678-3929.
