What They Bitin’? – El Salto May/June 2023
Our most recent trip to Lake El Salto spanned May and June 2023, and the lake was on fire, with ridiculous numbers of 4- to 6-pound fish. There was a session or two that the group “struggled,” but in this case “struggle” means they didn’t catch anything over 5 pounds and no more than 20 bass per person.
I was in the boat when our friend Paul Fisler landed his personal best 10.44-pound scale-weighed bass. Pardon my French, but the only words that I could seem to get out of my mouth were, “Holy Shit!”
Despite all of that, our lure choices were very simple. You couldn’t throw any lure in any color and expect to get bit. There was a narrow selection that seemed to work consistently. We tried other lures, just to see, but when they didn’t work, we kept them tied on, just in case, and moved to what really worked.
The list of worked and didn’t work for me and Pete are below (with best colors, too). Others in our group may have had additional successful tools, but generally everyone was in the same ballpark:
YOU BETCHA
Soft Plastics
10” Berkley Power Worm, Texas and Carolina Rigged (Black/blue and blue fleck)
5” and 6” Yamamoto Senko, Texas Rigged (green pumpkin and watermelon and “colors to be released at ICAST)
Yamamoto 3.5” Yamatanuki Stick Bait (Mimizu and Green Pumpkin Black Flake
8” Zoom Lizards (Carolina and Texas Rigged – Green Pumpkin)
Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper (White Trash)
Strike King Rage Swimmer 3.75 and 4.75 (Green Gizzard Shad and KVD Magic)
Crankbaits
Strike King 10XD (Tennessee Shad, Pearl/Black Splatter w/Chartreuse, Barfish, Chartreuse Perch)
Strike King 8XD (Clearwater Minnow, Citrus Shad, Chartreuse Perch)
Strike King 6XD (Citrus Shad, Barfish, Chartreuse Perch)
Berkley Dredger 20.5 and 25.5 Crankbaits (Big Money, Blue Chartreuse, Chameleon Pearl, Homer)
Rapala DT20 Series Crankbait (Chartreuse Lime)
Jerkbaits
Lucky Craft Slender Pointer MR 112 Jerkbait (Ghost Minnow)
Berkley Stunna 112 (Hankie Pankie, MF Tennessee Shad, Table Rock)
Megabass Ito Vision 110 Jerkbait (Elegy Bone, GP Sexy Shad, HT Kossori Shad)
Other Bait Categories
Strike King Football Jig with Rage Craw Trailer dipped in Chartreuse Spike-It
Bacca Burrito Swimbait 5” & 6” (Threadfin Shad & Tactical Shad)
Storm Wildeye Swimbait 4” and 5” (Chartreuse Silver, Pearl, Shad)
LURES THAT WORKED FOR A HANDFUL OF FISH (OR LESS)
JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN – THIS TIME – BUT WE’LL NEVER GO BACK WITHOUT THEM
NOTES ON EL SALTO SUMMER 2023
As I stated above, the majority of the group used the same baits and colors. It was obvious what was working once we had a few sessions in the boat and the guides are usually very much on top of things. Above is what worked and didn’t work in OUR boat. Someone said they got bit on a fluke while the rest of us threw jerkbaits.
Remember, this was one particular week, the weather we had, the tackle we brought, what the guide was comfortable with and what the fish were biting. This may be different the same time next year so we will again bring as much of the contents of the garage that will fit in two 50-pound suitcases (which still need to include a few shirts, shorts, underwear and deodorant).
Our group’s lunker for the week fell to a Strike King Pro Model 6XD Crankbait in Powder Blue Back Chartreuse.
Pete almost shed tears each morning and night when the damn fish wouldn’t annihilate his SPRO Rat or River2Sea Whopper Plopper. The fish just didn’t like a topwater this week – but the Rico was the only one that got bit (and only once). With high hopes, Pete never cut them off his rods, just in case.
We used 10XDs, 8XDs and 6XDs depending on the depth. At certain points during the day fast reeling was the key and then when the bite seemed to slow, we slowed it down some and got wacked.
I’m always happy to talk tackle as it relates to El Salto and Picachos and promise to give you no-BS answers If you have any questions or want to talk about booking a trip, now, near future or down the line, please contact me at ladyangler@anglersinn.com or fishmore@halfpastfirstcast.com.
