Lures that Need to Get a Fair Shake at El Salto
I know that I recently wrote that I’m going to go back to basics on our upcoming trip to El Salto, and I meant it, but it wouldn’t be a Pete Robbins production if I didn’t have some other options at least in the on-deck circle. I fully intend to go with proven winners when the conditions favor them, but I’ll have other baits in the boat.
Prior to past trips I’ve listed some new lures purchased specifically with El Salto in mind, and I have no doubt that there will be some freshly-bought items in my tackle bag, but this time around I’m going to outline a series of lures that aren’t quite new. In fact, in each case I’ve experienced (or seen someone else experience) success with them, either at El Salto or elsewhere, but for some reason haven’t given them a fair shake in Mexico. None of the following four lures are new-to-me, but under the right circumstances I’ll have them ready to go.
The first time we went to El Salto in the May/June time frame, back in 2013, a friend at Berkley gave me a few packs of these. I didn’t use them but my friend Duncan Maccubbin caught a 10-pounder flipping this lure on deep hardwoods – and he subsequently had great success with them in Mexico. I love flipping those trees on the channel edge this time of year, but I usually use a heavy jig, a Sweet Beaver, or some sort of craw. I’m not sure why I didn’t let success speak for itself. This 5-inch creature is bigger than most of the competition, but not as bulky as the Double Wide Beaver. It’ll handle a 5/0 or 6/0 hook and a big piece of tungsten.
When Hanna and I, along with our friend Ray Kawabata, were the only three people at El Salto under extreme high water conditions in October of 2015, a Scrounger with a white or chartreuse Zoom Super Fluke on the back was our best numbers bait. We caught better quality fish on a Whopper Plopper, and had some good sessions with a Bubba Shot, but the Scrounger was our bread and butter. I’ve caught some fish on it since then in a variety of circumstances, but I’ve never stuck with it long enough to have another great day. If I suspect the fish are suspended or schooling on shad, I’ll have to get a ½ ounce Scrounger into the mix.
I know that I recently wrote that I was going to pare my topwater choices down to the Rio Rico and the Whopper Plopper, leaving my walking baits as the odd men out, but I’m going back on that plan a little. I haven’t just forgotten about the Gunfish with respect to Mexico – I don’t think I’ve thrown one at all in at least 7 or 8 years. That’s a shame, because it does a lot of things really well: Casts a mile, walks the dog AND spits, and has a bit more of a finesse presentation than a comparable Sammy for when the bite is tough. I’ve always liked the Ghost Minnow, but may have to invest in Ghost Sun Fish, too.
Of all the legit swimbaits out there, this is the one that I have the most confidence in – anywhere. Not only have some of the pros I respect the most demonstrated its value, but I’ve had a fair amount of success with it here in Virginia. It skips forever, looks great in the water, and provokes vicious strikes. The one time I threw it at El Salto I did catch a couple of quality fish, but the conditions called for something different so eventually I replaced it with something else. If it gets right, though, the Magdraft could be the first man off the bench.
I apologize to those of you who wanted to see me go all-in on the back to basics plan. I’m just not capable of doing it, especially since I recognize that it can be self-defeating. There are specific tools for specific jobs. My vow going forward is to throw not what I want to catch them on, but rather to streamline the process of finding that proper solution.
