Situated in the craggy mountains of western Mexico, Lake Mateos occupies
55,000 acres of wilderness where jaguars still roam and bobcats hunting
along canyon walls pay scant attention to the few fishermen they see.
However, anglers don’t come to admire the rugged beauty of this
isolated lake that sees very little fishing pressure. They come to
experience incredibly fast bass action, often catching more than 120
bass a day with many hitting spinnerbaits or topwaters. The lake produces
quite a few bass in the 4- to 8-pound range with some breaking into
double digits. The lake record exceeds 14 pounds.
“We went to Lake Mateos for the first time (in 2010) and I can only say
WOW, what a place! On the first day, my friend and I caught 68 bass with the
largest ones in the 5- to 7- pound range, which turned out to be the lowest
count of our trip,” said Mike Marrone, a guest of Anglers Inn Mateos. “The
final half day was nothing less than epic. It was the hottest topwater action
I’ve ever experienced in my life! In just over four hours, we boated
more than 80 bass on poppers. At least 20 went over 5 pounds with several in
the 7-pound range and one 8.5-pounder.”
Officially
dubbed Presa Adolfo Lopez Mateos Reservoir after a former president
of Mexico, the ninth largest lake in that country runs 50 miles through
the scenic Sierra Madre Mountains in the state of Sinaloa about 55
miles northeast of Culiacan, or 650 miles south of Nogales, Ariz.
The government dammed the Humaya and Tamazula rivers in the 1960s
to provide hydroelectric power and create a water source so area farmers
could irrigate their fields.
The
government also stocked largemouth bass and fast-growing, protein-rich
tilapia into Lake Mateos, igniting a fishing boom that lasted nearly
three decades. In the 1990s, though, water levels dropped severely
and fishing declined. Brush grew thick on the fertile exposed bottom.
When the lake refilled to full pool in 2005, the rising water inundated
an incredible amount of fresh cover, creating almost a “new lake
situation.” Fish populations exploded. During the past five years,
the average size increased as more fish spawned in the renewed lake
continue to grow.
“This is the best place that we’ve ever gone to entertain our customers,” said
Gregg Wollner, Rapala executive vice president after a visit to Anglers Inn
Mateos in January 2010. “We’ve been here four years in a row and
the average size increased each time. During the last three years, we’d
catch two or three bass over 6 pounds. This year, we had a bunch of 6-pounders,
several in the 7- to 8-pound range and one 10-pounder.”
“We had a fantastic trip,” echoed Zack Swanson, Rapala vice president
of sales. “Lake Mateos is the best fishing lake in North America. We
usually have the entire 55,000-acre lake to ourselves. Most of our fish came
on white Terminator spinnerbaits. We caught fish all day on those.”
Swanson worked his spinnerbaits down rocky points and along steep canyon
drops. Surrounded by forested canyons devoid of human habitation, the
lake drops to more than 230 feet deep in places. Besides rock piles
and points, anglers can fish flats full of submerged trees, numerous
islands, humps and creek channels.
Early
in the morning, most anglers start throwing topwater lures, especially
poppers or walking baits. After the sun hits the water, switch to white
or chartreuse spinnerbaits or run shad-colored crankbaits along contour
drops. Anglers can also use senko-type soft plastics, jigs or worms.
Mateos
bass typically spawn during the full moon of February with secondary
spawns occurring in January and March. During these months, anglers
often find big bass in very shallow water. Also drop heavy Texas- or
Carolina-rigged watermelon lizards at the bottom of canyons in 15 to
30 feet of water. Work jigs sweetened with craws down rocky slopes.
Since the lake holds huge bass hiding in thick entangling cover, use
at least 17-pound test monofilament or 30-pound braid.
Most Mateos fishermen stay at Anglers Inn, just on the riverside of
the dam less than a five-minute drive from the lake. Overlooking the
Humaya River canyon, Anglers Inn can accommodate up to 18 guests in
six private, air-conditioned chalet-style cottages -- each decorated
in a traditional Mexican motif complete with stone showers, but equipped
with modern conveniences.
For
booking trips, call 800-GOTA-FISH, (468-2347). or send an e-mail
to info@anglersinn.com. On
the Internet, see www.anglersinn.com.
John
N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer and photographer with
more than 1,400 articles in more than 100 magazines to his credit.
He’s also the National Fishing Writer for Examiner.com
(www.examiner.com/x-16491-Fishing-Examiner)
and arranges trophy bass fishing to Lake El Salto, Lake Mateos in Mexico,
saltwater fishing and bird hunting out of Mazatlan, Mexico. Contact
him through his website at www.JohnNFelsher.com.
