| Bass Fishing Articles |
John N. Felsher's Bass Fishing Adventures
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Articles and photos on this website are for the viewing pleasure of patrons of this site. All articles and photos on this site are protected by the copyright laws of the United States. Any unauthorized usage is strictly prohibited. If you wish to purchase an article or photo, contact John N. Felsher as listed in the contact section. |
| Articles and photos on this website are free for your viewing pleasure, but it takes money to keep this site up and running. If you would care to help keep this site up and running for the use of all outdoors patrons, you can make a cash contribution. If you care to donate, contact John N. Felsher as listed in the contact section. |
| Protected by Copyright |
| How you can help keep this site operating |
Lake El Salto could produce the
next world record largemouth bass
next world record largemouth bass
TOP: Lake El Salto sits
in the Sierra Madre
Mountains of western
Mexico with Anglers Inn
right on the lake.
RIGHT: Choppy
Chapman of Anglers Inn
on Lake El Alto about 70
miles northeast of
Malayan, Mexico, shows
off a large bass he caught
on a Storm wild eye Shad
swimbait.
in the Sierra Madre
Mountains of western
Mexico with Anglers Inn
right on the lake.
RIGHT: Choppy
Chapman of Anglers Inn
on Lake El Alto about 70
miles northeast of
Malayan, Mexico, shows
off a large bass he caught
on a Storm wild eye Shad
swimbait.
Every day, anglers wrote their names and catches on the bragging
board hanging outside Anglers Inn at Lake El Alto in the rugged Sierra
Madre Mountains of Mexico.
In four days, two anglers landed 12-pound bass, one a 12.4-pounder.
At least 11 10- to 11.99-pounders hit the scales. This does not include
when Tony Encinas, head guide for Anglers Inn, caught two 11-pounders, a
10- and a 9-pounder from the same spot with the same swim bait in 20
minutes.
A man and his bride took a break during their honeymoon to fish one
morning. Without ever touching a fishing rod before, the groom caught a
10.5-pound bass. “Is this a good bass?” he asked.
“That’s not bad for your first fish, but maybe you’ll catch a big one next
time,” several of us veteran bass fanatics responded in unison between
dips into the chips and salsa.
“In May 2001, an angler landed and released an 18.5-pounder,” said
Billy Chapman, proprietor of Anglers Inn. “We’ve had a few 16-pounders
and a load of 14- and 15-pounders. We found a dead 16-pounder with a
tilapia stuck in its mouth. We can’t even keep track of the number of 5- to 8-
pound bass we catch.”
Located about 70 miles northeast of Malayan in western Mexico, Lake
El Alto covers about 24,000 acres at pool stage. A dam on the Elota River
created the irrigation lake, inundating part of a wilderness paradise where
jaguars still roam. In places, the water drops to more than 225 feet deep.
In 1985, Chapman stocked pure Florida-strain largemouths and
protein-rich tilapia into the new lake. With deep water, abundant forage,
consistent water coming down from the 8,000-foot mountains ringing the
lake and a long growing season, fish grew rapidly. Now, Lake El Alto ranks
as one of the premier trophy bass lakes in the world and could easily
produce a world record largemouth.
“The lake has 100 percent Florida bass,” Chapman said. “Most other
Mexican lakes have a mixture of Floridas and native bass. Native bass do
not get as big as Floridas, but Floridas are a bit more tricky to catch.”
Opened in 1990, the inn can accommodate up to 46 anglers at a time
in air-conditioned comfort. Hotel-style rooms complete with private baths
await guests. Chefs prepare three full meals a day and offer refreshments
all day. The inn provides laundry service with items picked up and
delivered to guest rooms.
I’ve stayed in many outstanding resorts, but I’ve never seen better
service than at Anglers Inn. Upon arrival, inn staff interview people about
their tastes and preferences. They ask how each guest likes his or her
coffee. When they woke me up to go fishing each morning, a staffer
handed me a steaming hot cup of coffee just the way I liked it. I didn’t even
need to get out of bed to enjoy my first sip.
After an outstanding breakfast, anglers boarded special trailers pulled
by all-terrain vehicles. The trailers stopped at the boats, barely 100 yards
from the inn compound. Anglers Inn offers the only lakefront lodging at El
Alto. We boarded our assigned boats with equipment, snacks and
refreshments already waiting for us.
With a personal record at 6.25 pounds, I longed to join the Double-
Digit Bass Club. After catching a few fish in the 2- to 4-pound range, Tony
and I connected with a few 7- and 8-pounders that hit 5- or 6-inch long
swim baits. Proud of my 7-pound new personal best, we headed back to
the inn for lunch. At the inn, other anglers bragged about the 9- and 10-
pounders they landed. Tony and I headed back to the lake after lunch and
a siesta.
That afternoon, I caught an 8-pounder. The next morning, I caught an
8.5-pounder, then a 9-pounder. Each time I entered a boat, I broke my own
record and lost some monsters. In three days, I landed more than 100
bass between 4 and 9.75 pounds, but double-digits still eluded me.
Regrettably, the time to fly home arrived. That morning, I only had time
to squeeze in two hours of fishing before leaving. John McKay and I fished
several spots without luck before he landed a big bass. With our fishing
time dwindling to minutes, I lost a good bass at the boat on the next cast.
Making one final cast before heading home, I landed a 10.32-pounder that
gulped a swim bait, double digits finally!
For booking trips with Anglers Inn, call (800) GOTA-FISH, (468-2347).
On the Internet, see www.anglersinn.com.
board hanging outside Anglers Inn at Lake El Alto in the rugged Sierra
Madre Mountains of Mexico.
In four days, two anglers landed 12-pound bass, one a 12.4-pounder.
At least 11 10- to 11.99-pounders hit the scales. This does not include
when Tony Encinas, head guide for Anglers Inn, caught two 11-pounders, a
10- and a 9-pounder from the same spot with the same swim bait in 20
minutes.
A man and his bride took a break during their honeymoon to fish one
morning. Without ever touching a fishing rod before, the groom caught a
10.5-pound bass. “Is this a good bass?” he asked.
“That’s not bad for your first fish, but maybe you’ll catch a big one next
time,” several of us veteran bass fanatics responded in unison between
dips into the chips and salsa.
“In May 2001, an angler landed and released an 18.5-pounder,” said
Billy Chapman, proprietor of Anglers Inn. “We’ve had a few 16-pounders
and a load of 14- and 15-pounders. We found a dead 16-pounder with a
tilapia stuck in its mouth. We can’t even keep track of the number of 5- to 8-
pound bass we catch.”
Located about 70 miles northeast of Malayan in western Mexico, Lake
El Alto covers about 24,000 acres at pool stage. A dam on the Elota River
created the irrigation lake, inundating part of a wilderness paradise where
jaguars still roam. In places, the water drops to more than 225 feet deep.
In 1985, Chapman stocked pure Florida-strain largemouths and
protein-rich tilapia into the new lake. With deep water, abundant forage,
consistent water coming down from the 8,000-foot mountains ringing the
lake and a long growing season, fish grew rapidly. Now, Lake El Alto ranks
as one of the premier trophy bass lakes in the world and could easily
produce a world record largemouth.
“The lake has 100 percent Florida bass,” Chapman said. “Most other
Mexican lakes have a mixture of Floridas and native bass. Native bass do
not get as big as Floridas, but Floridas are a bit more tricky to catch.”
Opened in 1990, the inn can accommodate up to 46 anglers at a time
in air-conditioned comfort. Hotel-style rooms complete with private baths
await guests. Chefs prepare three full meals a day and offer refreshments
all day. The inn provides laundry service with items picked up and
delivered to guest rooms.
I’ve stayed in many outstanding resorts, but I’ve never seen better
service than at Anglers Inn. Upon arrival, inn staff interview people about
their tastes and preferences. They ask how each guest likes his or her
coffee. When they woke me up to go fishing each morning, a staffer
handed me a steaming hot cup of coffee just the way I liked it. I didn’t even
need to get out of bed to enjoy my first sip.
After an outstanding breakfast, anglers boarded special trailers pulled
by all-terrain vehicles. The trailers stopped at the boats, barely 100 yards
from the inn compound. Anglers Inn offers the only lakefront lodging at El
Alto. We boarded our assigned boats with equipment, snacks and
refreshments already waiting for us.
With a personal record at 6.25 pounds, I longed to join the Double-
Digit Bass Club. After catching a few fish in the 2- to 4-pound range, Tony
and I connected with a few 7- and 8-pounders that hit 5- or 6-inch long
swim baits. Proud of my 7-pound new personal best, we headed back to
the inn for lunch. At the inn, other anglers bragged about the 9- and 10-
pounders they landed. Tony and I headed back to the lake after lunch and
a siesta.
That afternoon, I caught an 8-pounder. The next morning, I caught an
8.5-pounder, then a 9-pounder. Each time I entered a boat, I broke my own
record and lost some monsters. In three days, I landed more than 100
bass between 4 and 9.75 pounds, but double-digits still eluded me.
Regrettably, the time to fly home arrived. That morning, I only had time
to squeeze in two hours of fishing before leaving. John McKay and I fished
several spots without luck before he landed a big bass. With our fishing
time dwindling to minutes, I lost a good bass at the boat on the next cast.
Making one final cast before heading home, I landed a 10.32-pounder that
gulped a swim bait, double digits finally!
For booking trips with Anglers Inn, call (800) GOTA-FISH, (468-2347).
On the Internet, see www.anglersinn.com.
