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Revamped Lake Mateos becoming
the hottest bass lake in Mexico
the hottest bass lake in Mexico
TOP: Lucy Salagado shows off a large bass she caught on a lizard
while fishing at Lake Mateos north of Mazatlan, Mexico. BOTTOM:
James Meeks fights a bass while fishing with Corey Brooks on Lake
Mateos north of Mazatlan, Mexico.
while fishing at Lake Mateos north of Mazatlan, Mexico. BOTTOM:
James Meeks fights a bass while fishing with Corey Brooks on Lake
Mateos north of Mazatlan, Mexico.
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. “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 Lake
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.
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. “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 Lake
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.
