king fisher

Way to much, but not enough.

I was happy with my reel arsenal and checked out this thread simply out of curiosity. Now the Bait Monkey is screaming at me to buy a new Zillion. Once the Monkey gets this excited the only one that can calm him down is my wife. Please someone post something about a Tatula CT being all the reel anyone could possibly want. It might help shut the Monkey up.

Look at the ratings on the rod. Every manufacturer has a different idea of what ML is. If the lures you are planning on fishing with fall in the middle of the recommended weight range, and the line you plan on using is in the middle of the line guidelines, then you are good to go. If one or both are at the far end of the guidelines than you may or may not be happy, depends on you. Remember to add the weight of the soft plastic with the weight of the sinker or jig head to come up with a total weight of your lure. You can always use lighter lures, smaller line, and smaller hooks. All you need to do is buy the lighter tackle. That is the best way to end up with both more rods and more tackle. Win win.

I'm also not taking anything away from fishing in any state. I hope to fish in many states, including Florida, and Texas some day. I plan on retiring in WA State for the variety of fishing available there. I only wanted to inform readers, that Mexico is an option they might not have considered when looking for a place to go bass fishing. I only wan readers to know, that Mexico is far easier, cheaper, and safer, than many may have thought. You don't have to save up your whole life for a week at a lodge in Mexico. It is very easy to fish on your own. Cross the boarder early on Friday morning, and you could be throwing a lure to a bass in famous Lake Baccarac on Sunday evening, Monday if you don't want to drive at night, or fish other lakes most people have never heard of. I only wanted to point out the possibility, I'm not saying it is the best or only place to go to catch DD bass.

Did your wife tell you about the gun violence in the Sates a couple weeks ago? In Mexico, drug gangs shoot each other, not tourists or school children. My wife reads the news, and thinks it is not safe to go to the states. Just like in the states, mind you own business, stay away from drugs, and the late night parties, and you are good to go. I haven't ever heard of a mass shooting of bass fisherman in the US and I also haven't ever heard of a fisherman getting shot in Mexico. I have heard of a couple people on boats along the coast getting killed. Come to find out they were either buying, and or selling drugs, sleeping with a cops wife, or ranchers under aged daughter, or in one case was actually a gang member of a gang in British Columbia and they sent someone down from Canada to shoot him. The news headline said Canadian tourist shot in resort town in Mexico. It didn't say Canadian drug lord hiding out in Mexico killed by British Columbia hit squad. There is absolutely no instances of piracy. I personally know many retired cruisers, who travel and live on their boats, all along the coast of Mexico, who have never been robbed, or hurt even while leaving their boats at anchor in remote bays along the coast while they travel inland. It is bad for Mexican Cartel business to hurt US tourists. Absolutely no need for a drug gang to shoot someone from the US driving down the road with a bass boat. It would be the same as getting shot by a member of the Bloods gang in LA while you are launching your boat at a popular fishing lake in CA. Is their gang violence in Southern CA? Yes. Is your average bass fisherman in danger? I don't think so. I know a guy who recently towed his $350,000 center console boat CA to PV. He had no problems, and He is an idiot who stopped at every bar and strip club on the way.

For 25 years I guided fisherman every day May through Sept. in Alaska. What would I do in the evenings after work? Fish. Was I happy? Very happy. Now I have the chance to pursue bass, my first fishing addiction. I hope to fish every day when I retire, but I'm sure age and responsibilities will keep me off the water much of the time. I'm glad I did the fish bum thing when I was young. Having a place by a lake where I can make a few casts every day when I'm old would be ideal. I have always tried to avoid the only go fishing when everything is right syndrome. Like People that live by ski resorts only going on fresh powder days, so some winters they only ski a few days a season. Surfers who only go when the waves are perfect. Trout fisherman who live bey a Western Stream, but only go when the Salmon fly hatch is happening. I still like to fish a bobber and worm for what ever bites, almost as much as I like fishing for DD bass. I have found once I get a line in the water I am happy no matter what my chances of catching are that day. Right now I'm on line talking fishing every day, but fishing very little. It would be nice to someday be able to claim the exact opposite. Until then, if all I can do is talk fishing, then that is what I will do.

A little off subject, but I had a similar problem. I have some pants that were new and stored in a closet at my cabin for 10 years. When I flew there I didn't bother to bring any pants, because I new I had plenty there. When I got to the cabin I was surprised to find that for some strange reason all of my pants had shrunk. The length was OK but the waist line had diminished significantly. After 10 years your waders leak, and my clothes shrink. I think this might be some kind of similar conspiracy.

Only a fisherman will take all this and still think they are somehow being a minimalist.

If I had a rig like that I would definitely fish every lake in Mexico. The only target on your back would be from all the big bass. I know many people with expensive vehicles, planes, and boats here, that have never had a problem. I would make sure the Vehicle and boat are insured, the same as I would in the States and go explore.

Darth Baiter posted about going on a Road Trip for bass, and I suggested he should make the trip to Mexico. I then started thinking of all the reasons people might think a road trip for bass in Mexico would be a bad idea and I thought I would try and inform readers how easy and safe fishing on your own in Mexico really is. I have driven from the states to PV, and from the states to the East Cape of Baja many times. The first time I didn't even know where to stop and get a tourist visa. I ended up having to get one in order to cross the boarder from the southern state of Baja to the Northern State on my way back to the US. 4 months after I drove across the boarder. They simply laughed gave me a form to fill out and said have a nice day. Try that in the US and see what happens. You do need a US Passport but you can get a new one at a US consulate if you loose yours while in Mexico. It is an easy procedure, doesn't take long and you can still travel in Mexico while waiting for it to arrive. Don't ask me how I know. The first worry an angler might have is not speaking the language. Speaking Spanish while in Mexico is the polite thing to do, but far from being a necessity. A person could easily travel the entire country for years and get by with only knowing cerveza, tequila, margarita, and gracias. I didn't know a single word of Spanish when I first came here, and know very little now, but have no problem driving to and staying at places I have never been. Next. What about all the drug violence, it must be dangerous. I don't know if any one has noticed but there is drug violence in the US. Does that stop any one from going fishing? As long as you don't use, buy, or sell any drugs, the drug Cartel has no interest in you. I know it is hard to imagine, but most criminals would look at your tackle collection and instead of thinking of it as the priceless valued treasure it is, they would merely think you have a box of worthless junk. Similar to what my wife thought before she happened to see a Tackle Wearhouse receipt. Traveling in Mexico is as safe as any state in the US. Next. What about car insurance. You can buy quality car insurance right at the border. It will cost as much for a year as your US insurance costs for a month. Next. What about health care. The quality of health care can be far less than the quality in the states, but is adequate for most situations and the cost is only a fraction of what you would pay in the states. Even without insurance, a major surgery will only cost around $4000. If your insurance in the states does not cover you in Mexico, you can get travel health insurance that not only covers you, for visits to hospitals in Mexico, but will also cover the expense of being medevacked to the states. I used to Hang glide in Mexico, and many of my pilot friends came from all over the world to glide Mexico's great flying sites. Some of them got injured and they all got quality care. Some had special adventure travel insurance that paid for getting medevacked, by a helicopter and medical care all the way back to their home. If Hang glider pilots are not worried about medical care in Mexico, a bass fisherman should definitely feel at ease. Next. What if my car breaks down? Simple, you get it fixed. A few days ago, while coming home from fishing Presa Trigomil I did a stupid thing and crossed a ditch that was to deep for my junky 20 year old car. I hit the bottom of the car, but didn't take the time to look and see if I did any damage. I was in a hurry to get home, was tired and had a big list of honey dues built up from taking 3 days away from home to go bass fishing. Two hours later my oil light came on. I stopped at the closest village and found a small whole in my oil filter. I was completely out of oil. I can't believe the engine didn't freeze up but sometimes I get lucky. I bought some oil at a gas station, and was able to make it to the next larger town. I found a mechanic and they replaced the filter, and toped off the oil. They charged me 350 pesos, which is about $20. I gave the mechanic a 5$ tip and he offered to buy me a beer. I did not speak one word of Spanish in order to get this repair done. I simply pointed and used made up sign language. I have in the past had more difficulties, but always managed by finding a cab driver. The cab drivers usually know some English, or will no someone who does. They are always glad to help with any trouble for very little money. A cab driver will have no problem suggesting a mechanic, a parts store, or place to spend the night. If I could afford to buy a nice pickup, my car problems would be over but the bait monkey likes to ride in my $500 wonder, so I have to depend on luck more than I should. Next. What about the cost? Must be expensive? Gas is about $4 a gallon right now. I am assuming it is more than that in every state. The gas is not oxygenated, and is good to run in any outboard. I have a friend that has zero problems using the regular gas station gas in his airplane. As I experienced a couple days ago, mechanic work is very cheap. You can get a fishing license for a year for the whole country on line for less than most states resident license. If you go to a lodge they will get you a license. Licenses are not sold in stores. I have never heard of anyone ever being asked to show a law officer a fishing license. The times I have been stopped by law enforcement while fishing, driving, or camping they have only wanted to know if I have guns or drugs. I have had my car searched but they were polite, and gave me a high five and have a good day when they were done. I did get pulled over for speeding one time. The cop wanted $40 I only wanted to give him $10. After arguing for a few minuets he said it was close to Christmas and he needed the money for his kids. I gave him $30 and said Merry Christmas. He thanked me and wished me a Merry Christmas too. Last time I got a speeding ticket in the states it was more than $30. Food and drinks are very inexpensive. Lodging is also much less than in the states. Many of the best bass lakes do not have fishing lodges or guides, but you can easily find a local commercial fisherman to take you out for less than $50 a day. If you fish at a lake that has guides you can hire a guide for between $100 and $200 for a day. Many of the lodges give a highly discounted rate to people that just show up if they have room. Most of them will charge far less for a one or two day stay, than the going rate per day is for the guests that they book for a week from the states. If you have a boat or kayak, you can pay for one day of guiding, then be on your own for as long as you want or simply skip the guide all together. Next. What about my dog? Pets are welcome. You have to get a vet certificate proving your pet has some shots before you can cross the boarder. Most hotels allow pets, and you dog doesn't have to know any more Spanish than you do. Next weather. It can get hot in Mexico, but probably not as hot as it is in half of the States during the summer. Where I fish the summertime temperature never gets above 85 degrees the humidity is high, but bearable. Winter time low temp is 49 degrees. Surface temps. rarely get above 80 and never get below 60 degrees. The rainy season is very humid, and runs July through September. there are thunder showers almost every night. Fishing is still fantastic, but don't plan on fishing late in the afternoon. Lake Chapala is actually at its best August through October. Winter weather is hot and dry and doesn't change much all winter. Rain can wash out back roads, so make sure you have good tires, and a good spare. Next. What about fishing gear. Fresh water fishing gear can be extremely hard to find. That is my only complaint about bass fishing in Mexico. You will have to bring everything with you. There is no limit on amount of tackle you can bring, but you will have to leave the Bait Monkey at home. Saltwater gear is plentiful anywhere near the ocean. Next. Is it a hassle to bring a boat? No hassle at all. You only have to get a temporary import permit at the boarder. I drove a 75 foot sport fisher down, and the paper work only took 30 min. Bringing a bass boat will not be a problem. You do have to get your trailered boat insured but that is very inexpensive. Nothing is required for a kayak or car top boat. Good Outboard mechanics are very common, and inexpensive. Most parts are available locally. Next. How is the fishing? It can be awesome, just ask AJ. It can also be slow. Most lakes have Florida strain Large mouth and they can be very hard to catch anywhere they live. The good thing is you are always one cast away from a fish of a lifetime. I fish one lake that many days I only get 3 to 4 bites a day, but I almost always catch a bass over 7 pounds and landed 3 over 10 in one morning. This Reservoir is only 1.5 miles long, and no body I know can even agree on the official name. Some call it Presa Fernando, and most call it Presa Pocho. I just call it big bass lake. Lake Chapala is 50 miles long, and great for numbers. I always catch over 30 bass a day when I go there. Their are two guides on the lake, and on a busy day there will be 3 to 4 boats fishing the whole lake. Many days I am the only one. The biggest bass I have landed there is 8 pounds, but there has been DD bass landed by others. There are dozens more unknown lakes as well as famous ones, all over the country. All have Double Digit bass, and even a chance at one over 15 pounds. I currently fish five lakes a days drive from my home in Puerto Vallarta I have discovered 3 more that have bass, I want to try if I ever get the time. Most of the time the bass are not very educated. A typical trophy bass in the states will have a doctorate degree in fishing tackle, and some know the name of a new color pattern within a week of it being available. The typical Mexican bass most likely never made it out of the first grade. Some have never seen a lure. It's like you are fishing a private pond, with giant bass, only you are on public water. Next. What about money? This is not a third world country. There are Banks, and ATM's everywhere. You can exchange dollars to Pesos in any town, and most businesses take credit cards. Next. Is it difficult to adjust to fishing back home after fishing South of the Boarder? Yes. The only way to adjust is to promise yourself you will go back again. Fishing in Mexico is an addiction. To summarize. Bass fishing on you own in Mexico is easy, safe, fun, and has year around potential for almost anyone's PB. I have to say almost because I don't think WRB has much of a chance of catching his PB south of the border. For those of us with PB under 19 pounds, Mexico is the place. The people are friendly, helpful, and very tolerant of foreigners, that don't speak their language. For the few that have read this post all the way to the end. I apologize for being so long winded. PS. If anyone ever does drive To PV please contact me. I will give you the names and maps I have made of 5 lakes I fish, take you fishing with me if I have time, and will pay you to meet up with the Bait Monkey and bring some bass fishing gear to me.

I usually by one to give it a try. First cast I catch a small bass. The second cast I loose a trophy bass. Third cast I loose the lure. When I get home the Bait Monkey is already sitting on the couch with catalog opened to the appropriate page. I buy two of every size, and color they make. I never catch a fish on that particular lure again. I keep trying, if for no other reason than I wont mind loosing a couple instead of risking loosing the new lure I bought that is working that day. Finally I give up and put the lure in the injured reserve box that stays home when I go fishing.

You can go to Garmin's Web Site called Garmin Connect. There are many lake maps that people have made and down loaded to their web site. I have mapped a couple lakes in Mexico where there are no maps available and put on Garmin Connect. The site doesn't put the waypoints in, just the contours. I also found a lakes some one else had mapped and put on the site, I didn't know had bass, but assumed they were not mapping the lake for wind surfing. I went to the lake and caught an 8 pound bass the first day. I would like to meet the guy who mapped the lake and thank him some day. The Web Site is free, and you don't have to own a Garmin device to check it out. I haven't looked but was told Lorance has a similar Web Site.

Way to long. It takes 45 min. to an hour to get Kayak off the top of the car, install seat, fish finder, anchor system, rod holders, tackle, lunch, and rig 4 rods. About 30 min to pack up. Another hour when I get home to put everything away, rinse kayak off, and lube pedal drive. Because of the amount of time it takes with the kayak, and another 3 to 4 hour drive one way, I like to camp over night and fish for two days. It only takes me a few minuets to fish in the saltwater. All I have to do is shove the kayak in to the water, off the dock where it is stored, install the seat, fish finder, pedal drive and go. 15 min, and I am fishing for dinner. Makes zero sense that I rarely fish the saltwater, and go bass fishing every chance I get. I don't understand my obsession, but hope there are others anglers out there, that can relate to my insanity.

I have spent many days jigging for lake trout. The best lure I have found is called a Buzz Bomb. It is made in Canada. The line runs through the lure which is a pyramid shaped painted piece of lead. Doesn't look like much, but has an erratic spinning fluttering action on the fall. Soft plastics and jigging spoons work well too, but nothing comes close to the Buzz Bomb.

I forgot buzz bait, which I use everyday. rattle traps, and a #3 inline spinner which could easily be my only lure on small streams. Now I am way over my 10 bait limit. I guess I could cut it in half, depending on body of water, and time of year.

I showed my wife a the picture of one of the giant Crawdads I caught and she laughed. She told me they are fresh water Lobsters, and asked how many I got. I told her I got 4. She got mad when she found out I let all 4 back in the water. Turns out they are very good to eat, and demand a high price in the fish market here. She has learned to live with me letting bass go, she doesn't understand the logic of catch and release, but knows I enjoy fishing that way. On the other hand, I was informed catch and release lobster fishing will not be tolerated. I am going to make the best of this situation. The next time I want to bass fish at Trigomil, I am going to tell her I'm going Lobster fishing.

I couldn't live with just 10 hard baits. I only came up with 7 soft baits, so I added 3 hard baits, and combined sizes on both soft baits and hard baits. In other words I cheated and I still came up with one to many baits over all. I guess I could drop the Jitterbug because I haven't used one in a long time, but after having at least one in my box since 1976 I just can't imagine ever going bass fishing with out one. All other baits get used almost every trip. Yamamoto 7 inch Senko Zoom Trick worm, Magnum Trick W Zoom Ole Monster Zoom Horny Toad Reaction Innovations Little Dipper, Skinny Dipper, Big Dipper Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver Strike King Magnum Rage Bug Rebel Pop R Rebel Jumpin Minnow Berkley Choppo 120 Heddon Torpedo Fred Arbogast Jitterbug Rapala DT 10, 14, 16 Rapala Original Minnow 11 6th Sense Cloud Nine series C10, C15 6th Sense Crush 50, 100 Mini Mag SB 6th Sense Movement 80 Bomber Model A 7A 1/2 oz sinnerbait Jack Hammer chatter bait A rig

I suggest instead of heading East you go South to Mexico Gas is less expensive than in the States, lodging is cheaper, you can camp for free, 5 tacos for a dollar, many lakes with bass that live their whole life without seeing a lure, other lakes where a crowded day is three boats, and the bass are big. I can give you names of a dozen lakes that don't have lodges on them, and most people don't even know they have bass. Of course you can fish the famous lakes, even get a guide for a day far cheaper than if you book with a lodge. All lakes have Double digit bass and can easily be fished with a kayak. If you make it as far south as PV I would be glad to show you a couple of my best spots. Kayak fishing in the salt water is good too. Nothing against a bass fishing road trip in the states, but for a bass fishing adventure of a lifetime, cross the boarder, and leave all your fineness gear at home.

Diawa 6th Sense Zoom

Depends on the type of rock. Round river rocks, no problem. Basalt which is common where I grew up shreds braid, on contact. I fished 8 pound mono growing, up and remember loosing lots of lures and fish in the rocks. Other places I have fished, the rocks don't seem to shred the line at all. Only one way to find out.

I fished Presa Trigomil for the past two and a half days. The lake was down another 15 feet from when I was last there in April. The water was very clear, between 8 and 10 feet of vis. Thermocline at 20 feet, and surface temp. 79 degrees. I marked lots of fish on offshore humps and points, at 15 to 20 feet, and was planning on a good crankbait bite. First point I stopped at I caught a 5 pounder second cast on a crankbait, and a couple of three's on a Carolina rig. spent the rest of day fishing offshore for a big zero. I snagged many 2 pound Tilapia so I assumed that Tilapia were what all the marks were. I should have noticed there wasn't any marks of bait around all the nice size marks I was getting on my Garmin. I'm guessing bait size Tilapia don't hang out with the adults, and since there are no shad or other schooling bait fish, the bass are not in the deep water regardless of how clear and warm it is. I need to find out more about the habits of Tilapia, but only get recipes when I try and google the popular fish. There were thousands of bait size Tilapia along almost every foot of shoreline in 6 inches of water or less, but I never saw any bass chasing the bait, right next to the shore. I decided to change tactics the next day and fish the shore line with Jigs, a T rigged magnum Rage Bug in Okeechobee Craw color and a skinny dipper in a color that matched the Tilapia. I had put a minnow trap out the day before, and caught some giant crawdads that were mostly blue along with a few dozen 2 to 4 inch Tilapia. I don't know if even a double digit bass would try and take on a craw das as big as the ones I caught, but I have to assume there are also smaller ones for them to eat. I thought the Rage Bug would be a good match the hatch, along with a black and blue jig. I blanked on the jig, caught a few on the swimbait, and they tore the T rig Rage Bug up. It was calm in the morning making it possible to see down10 feet deep from a spot I climbed to on a cliff. I saw many bass cruising up and down the shoreline about six feet deep. I can only guess they were waiting for one of the baby Tilapia to make a mistake and venture to far away from the shore. They definitely were not scared to be that shallow in the clear water, and stayed about that depth regardless of how deep the water was. I would position my kayak to make a long cast next to the bluff or other rock, and the bass would usually hit it as soon as it sank a foot or two. If they didn't hit right away I would would hop it down one ledge, and if not bit make another cast. Surprisingly cast made parallel with the bank did not work very well compared with casts made directly toward the bank. I ended up landing dozens of small bass, along with about 20 in the 4 to 6 pound range, with the biggest being a 7.7 pounds and 23.5 inches long. I saw a couple double digit bass cruising up and down the bank, but couldn't get one to bite. Sure wish I had a few more days to fish this amazing place before the rainy season starts later this month.

Of course it is the rod. Can't possibly be the angler. When a reporter asked Yogi Berra about being in a batting slump, he answered I don't feel like I am in a slump, it must be the bat. Same reasoning works for golf clubs, shot guns, and of course fishing rods.

I fish in my kayak for 14 hours a day in the hot Mexico sun. I drink diet coke or water when I get thirsty. Not very scientific but seems to work for me.

You need to buy a combo designed to throw large swim and glide baits weighing 2-8 oz. Then you will have an excuse to buy large swim and glide baits. I'm just passing on what the Bait Monkey is trying to sell me on right now.

My favorite was a Mann's 1- but this year I started using a 6th Sense Movement 80 X. The Movement 80 X deflects off of trees better than any crankbait I have ever fished. The Movement is now in the starting line up. The Manns 1- has been moved to my injured reserve crankbait box. Always ready to go, but doesn't ever get in the game.