We just returned from what was likely the toughest bite in our nearly 20 trips to Lake El Salto. “Tough” is a relative thing. Just like pizza and sex, even when it’s “bad,” El Salto is still “good.” Five of the 14 members of our party caught their personal bests and just about every day some legit, scale-weighed, 8- and 9-pounders showed up. Here is our remarkably short list of baits that produced bites.

Historically, the SPRO BBZ Rat has been an inexpensive option for rat fishing El Salto. Unfortunately, the SPROs have become tough to find at a reasonable price. I have a few still in the package that I plan to put to good use. However, if we’re fortunate enough to get on a good rat bite at El Salto this month I’d like to gain confidence in some other options.

Zoom makes some of the most popular soft plastics for bass on the planet. What if you were limited to five, each in a single color, for your next dream fishing trip to Mexico? Here are a quintet of starting points that we’ve utilized successfully.

Isn't catching a 10-pounder every bass angler’s dream? I’ve come close again and again and again, but can never quite legitimately hit that mark on the scale. My best is 9-12. Still, I’m convinced that it’ll happen sooner rather than later, so as long as I’m planning, I’m also allowing myself to daydream about how I’ll catch my trophy.

Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits makes a wide variety of soft plastics in tons of effective colors, but if we’re forced to get down to five it requires a little bit of effort. Here’s what we chose. What would you bring to El Salto or Picachos?

With two trips to El Salto on the calendar for 2022, I’m already starting to think about techniques I’d like to try and new lures to bring. I check the “New Items” tab on Tackle Warehouse just about every day, and here are some of the newish lures that have attracted my attention. Some may already be in my go-bag, while others are in my online cart ready for purchase.

When do you find out that your waterproof rain jacket isn’t waterproof any longer? Unfortunately, it takes a good soaking rain to make that realization. When it recently came time to replace my green Marmot rain jacket that has been around the world, I went with a surprising model from Gill.

It makes sense to buy gifts that are not only practical but also protective. Fishing and boating gear, as well as outdoor-oriented clothing, has become much more refined in recent years. Whether you’re trying to protect your skin, your valuables or your boat, there’s something good on the market, often for a surprisingly reasonable cost.

On our recent trip to Panama, Captain Juan Diego opened this mini-Pelican case took his morning video, put the phone back in the foam slot and snapped the case back together before getting on the boat and throwing the case on the console. Guess what came in the mail this weekend? That’s right, two Pelican Go G40 cases.

Believe it or not it’s the holidays again and if you are like most you haven’t purchased all your gifts yet. Let me help you with some great ideas for any fishing fanatic, frequent traveler, or any Joe Bag of Donuts, including yourself. Here are some travel-tested recommendations that you might not have considered.

There’s something particularly gratifying in learning about a lure from a trusted friend or confidante. Much of what we’ve lost in the decline of club-oriented fishing is the role of mentorship, so I value it greatly when someone I know tells me “You really need to buy some of these as soon as possible.”

Each time we go to Anglers Inn I try to take new lures, either baits we don’t get to use on our home waters or baits where I need to improve the presentation so I can catch more fish. We’re headed back to Lake El Salto in January. Come with my on my pegboard shopping spree.

Daiwa’s JDM travel rod options include a neon green rod that’ll knock your socks off — plus a handful of other big bait options that globetrotting anglers should check out. Supplies may be limited.

People often ask about the best swimbaits to bring to Lake El Salto and Lake Picachos. I’m not a true big bait expert, so I can’t give you the most exciting answers, but I CAN tell you the ones that have produced for me, both deep and shallow, throughout the year.

I always thought that painted blades on spinnerbaits were for two extreme situations – either super-clear water or super-dirty water — but through a happy accident I found out that they work extremely well at Lake El Salto and Lake Picachos. Here are some of our proven winners.

The ICAST show always has a deep bench of products that might not win awards but nevertheless demonstrate staying power. Here are four more from the 2021 show in Orlando that I believe will benefit the traveling angler.

One of my favorite parts of heading to Mexico in May and June is the opportunity to load the boat with big, deep-diving crankbaits. When fish gang up on offshore structure at El Salto and Picachos, there’s no better way to fire up the school and keep them biting than a big diving plug. By “ultra-deep,” I mean something that’ll consistently get down past 20 feet.

We’re returning to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge seven months after our inaugural visit. I have some new gear to wear and otherwise test out, and I’m looking to get better at both the inshore and offshore popping bite.

As you get older your feet may start to betray you. Despite the popular notion that fishing is a lazy person’s activity, standing on one leg to run a trolling motor is tough on the body. So is fighting a big tuna in bucking waves. On a wet deck, if you don’t have adequate traction you can end up cracking your head open or in the drink. Don’t forget to consider your “wheels” when you plan a fishing trip.

Rust is the enemy of fishing tackle, and unfortunately if you’re not vigilant about preventing or combatting it you will sacrifice a lot of expensive gear. In this case, an ounce or prevention is truly worth a pound of cure—especially for the traveling angler.