El Salto and the "Mucho Grande Bass"
Brett Ware, Ambush Lures


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John Neporadny of Bassmaster Magazine with a 9.5 lb Bass and the new Pop-a-Long by Ambush Lures

Can you say "Mucho Grande"? After making my first fishing trip down to lake El Salto and the Anglers Inn resort, it was a common sound in our boat to here those exact words coming out of our guide’s mouth. After one of our team members made the trip down to lake El Salto last April with the In-Fisherman crew, he brought back so many fish stories that we planned a trip in early January of 2003 to field test our new topwater "Pop-a-Long" and new "Ambush Pro Series" crankbaits.

From the word go, we were sticking fish on Ambush lures. Some of the bass were still on the beds spawning and others had already spawned out. The early morning and late evening topwater bite was fantastic on the Pop-a-Long. The combination of an erratic walking action with a popping / spitting retrieve was just what the big mamma’s were reacting to. Most of the big fish struck as the Pop-a-Long was motionless with the last water ripples about 2 ft. from the lure. The key was a slow erratic walking retrieve with staggering pops and chugs. These bass were not slapping at the Pop-a-Long, but were rather inhaling it. The best colors that produced the most and largest fish were the "Natural Frog", "Silver Shine’R, and "Clear" Pop-a-Longs. We were fishing with 12 to 20 pound test line and I’d recommend that you have plenty of quality line with you due to the type ofabrasive structure in the water. Primarily two types of areas were producing the bigger bass. The flats that were in the 5 to 8 foot water depth range that held a descent amount of structure on them were holding fish within the structure.Working the "Pop" up along the structure and letting it sit was a definite strategy that was a producer. These bass

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Dick Mathews with an early morning trophy.
were in a post spawn condition. Working it in shallow water above any type of small vegetation or structure was the other stategy that seemed to pattern well. These bass were more than likely protecting the nest in a spawning condition, but it was hard to confirm with the condition of the water clarity. The Pop-a-Long is hooked with Gamakatsu hooks and they definitely proved their worth with the size and power of the Florida strain bass that we caught. Not one hook was reported straightened and the bite of the Gamakatsu round bend treble was impressive with respect to the strike to catch percentage that was recorded.


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Brett Ware - Ambush Lures
If you have not had that opportunity to fish lake El Salto in Mexico, you need to take time out of your busy schedule and do so. I can’t say enough about the accommodations at Angler’s Inn resort and the quality of the guides that made my first trip a truly incredible fishing experience. For information an Angler’s Inn, they can be contacted at the website below.