ur guide called a 9lb a 'dink'?!   

awesome trip guys!!!

Who makes a Scrounger with a strong enough hook to handle ten pounders?

Who makes a Scrounger with a strong enough hook to handle ten pounders?

 

 

We used the Luck-e-strike brand.  They were good for a few fish.  There is no REALLY good option out there, but these worked for us.

 

Jeff

Nominated for "Video Of The Year".

 

So, last year Jeff had a little trouble with break-offs. Tell us about everyone's gear,

specifically line, rod & reels. And one more question, exactly how did you guys set

your drags? 

 

 

 

 
 

Location, Location, Location, and you guys had the location, congrats and thanks for sharing, yes I am interested in your tackle as well, line, reels, rods?  And what was the water temps?

Wow Guys!!!!!!  That looks like one heck of a trip.

                  ~  TACKLE USED ~

 

As this was my first trip, I brought several set ups.  Turned out I didn't really need more than 2 or 3.

You could fish quite comfortably with crank bait set up, A med-Hvy 7 ft fast action stick and a swimbait set up ( but that could be optional).  The trees there are LINE EATERs !  If a decent fish gets you in the wood, anything less than 20 lb mono or flouro will snap instantly.  The Guides all use 17 - 20 mono.  

I was cranking with a Lamiglas SR705R 7' Glass rod and a Calcutta 200D with 40lb 832 braid and a 20lb mono leader of either Big Game or Maxima.  There was no crankbait bite to speak of so that set up didn't get much use. 

 I threw swimbaits (Hudd 68's, 6 inch Bull Shad and Big Wild Eye swim shads) on an Okhuma Hvy swimbait rod and a Callcutta 300D loaded with 25lb big game mono. 

 

 The set ups I used almost exclusively were a 7' Quantum med-hvy Tour Edition rod with a KVD Tour edition reel (6.6:1) and 20lb Maxima line - I threw a 1/2 ounce scrounger, a 1 ounce spinnerbait and a  big weightless fluke with this set up.  My PB came on this set up on the spinnerbait fished deep.

And ~

A  6' 10" Quantum med-hvy Tour Edition rod with the KVD Tour Edition Burner reel (7.3:1) loaded with 20lb Big Game mono.  I threw a LC 128 Jerkbait on this.  The slightly shorter rod helped work the bait effectively.  I landed a 9 1/4 on this set up with the jerkbait the last afternoon.

 

A-Jay

 

Nominated for "Video Of The Year".

 

So, last year Jeff had a little trouble with break-offs. Tell us about everyone's gear,

specifically line, rod & reels. And one more question, exactly how did you guys set

your drags?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kent I used 55lb braid with a 20lb mono leader. Had at least four break offs because the wood was soooooooo abraisive. Dropped another dozen fish from hooks coming unbottoned. I was using 3 piece travel rods from loomis, 6'9" . Rated 3/8 to 1oz medium heavy fast. Reels were JDM antares HG & calais 200 dc both 7:0 to 1 ratio. I set my drags by feel with adequate slippage not locked down. Most bites were tenative just nipping at the baits rather than slamming them. We did have some active fish that were eating aggressively but they were in the minority. I used a 7' st croix cranking rod rated 3/8 to 1.25 oz for cranks & jerkbaits. I was using 20lb braid on a calcutta 250 with 5:0 to 1 ratio. There was no crankbait bite. Jerkbait bite was weak. A-Jay spelled it out regarding the bite which actually sucked. The fist were transitional from spawn to deep to shallow and post cold front. Not aggressive at all. We all worked very hard to get the bites we got. Don't get me wrong we caught some beautiful fish but suffered some very tough conditions. Water temps went from 72 degrees to 75-76 during very consistent weather pattern after our arrival.  If we ever hit lake baccarac when it is turned on a hot bite it will be lights out. Lake baccarac is a world class fishery to largemouth just like lake erie is to smallmouth.

Tackle Used:

 

BCR854GLX with Chronarch 200E7 20lb Flouro

AVC70HF with Curado 200E7 20lb Flouro

AVC70MHF with Curado 200E7 50lb braid with 20lb Flouro leader

AVC70MHM with Curado 200E5 40lb braid with 17lb mono leader

Spare reel was Chronarch 50MG with 20lb Flouro

 

 

We all still had break offs.  I think it is a part of the deal down there.  My biggest fish came on Hudd68.  But others in my big bag came on scrounger/fluke, weightless fluke, t-rigged 8" lizard and LC Gunfish/Megabass Pop-max.  Others baits of notable mention are the trick worm and spinnerbaits.

 

Jeff

Sounds like a great trip! Glad you all had fun, and congrats on the beautiful fish!

What is there to say but.... OMG WHAT A TRIP OF A LIFE TIME !!!!!!

 

Guys,  seriously,  congrats on a great story, video and thank you guys for putting it all together and sharing it with us,  that is simply amazing.

Several of my friends used to go to Mexico to fish but due to security issues, they stopped going. One trip had armed guards in the boats with machine guns to keep "banditos" away from the guests. In many areas, tourists and fisherman have become targets for robbery. Were there any security concerns in the area where you were?

Scott there are none here. 0 issues.  Only danger is having your arm broken by a "Grande"

Jeff

Viva Mexico

Great trip guys! Andy, thanks for the post. Right now , I'm slobbering like " Pavlov's Dog ". Congradulations !!!!

Viva Mexico

 

 

Good to see you back, long time no see.

Good to see you back, long time no see.

Thanks Dwight, relocated near Cleveland took a year off fishing but Lake Erie calls. This year will be different

Scott there are none here. 0 issues.  Only danger is having your arm broken by a "Grande"

Jeff

^take it from Mr. July 2012 catch of the week!!!!

AJ told me the same, as I wondered the same question

Guys if you fly in by private air you touch down to clear customs then fly directly to the camps airstrip. No travel through the Mexican countryside. The camp is located in the Sierra Madres mountains just east of Yucatan peninsula

I was skeptical at first but a little research made me very comfortable with the travel plans.

are yall holding a "scroungra" club meeting at pickwick during the road trip by chance?

are yall holding a "scroungra" club meeting at pickwick during the road trip by chance?

Unfortunately the road trip is at the same time as the Pre-spawn Smallies get going on Lake Erie -

 

So I'll be trading in my Scrounga for a Jerkbait . . . although both produced down south.

 

A-Jay

Several of my friends used to go to Mexico to fish but due to security issues, they stopped going. One trip had armed guards in the boats with machine guns to keep "banditos" away from the guests. In many areas, tourists and fisherman have become targets for robbery. Were there any security concerns in the area where you were?

Both times I went to Mexico we had armed guards on the water with us, but not in our boat with us. We did have a guy come running down a hill with an AK strapped across his chest yelling for "cervesas" He looked heartbroken when our guide explained to him that there wasn't any on the boat because I don't drink beer   I still never felt real worried the whole time I was there either time but maybe that was just because I was a teenager and was still invincible 

Both times I went to Mexico we had armed guards on the water with us, but not in our boat with us. We did have a guy come running down a hill with an AK strapped across his chest yelling for "cervesas" He looked heartbroken when our guide explained to him that there wasn't any on the boat because I don't drink beer   I still never felt real worried the whole time I was there either time but maybe that was just because I was a teenager and was still invincible 

 Don't know where you were fishing but there is none of that at this lodge. 

 

Being Far from the border and surrounded by a massive mountain range, Lake Baccarac enjoys the security that isolation provides.

 

A-Jay

are yall holding a "scroungra" club meeting at pickwick during the road trip by chance?

 

Trying to convince those old dudes to leave the smallies for Pickwick is like telling them they aren't welcome back to Mexico.  It just ain't happening!!!

Both times I went to Mexico we had armed guards on the water with us, but not in our boat with us. We did have a guy come running down a hill with an AK strapped across his chest yelling for "cervesas" He looked heartbroken when our guide explained to him that there wasn't any on the boat because I don't drink beer   I still never felt real worried the whole time I was there either time but maybe that was just because I was a teenager and was still invincible 

 

No guns or guards or anything of the like.  Just good times, margaritas, laughs and a few bass.  A FEW BIG BASS!!!!

 

Jeff

Trying to convince those old dudes to leave the smallies for Pickwick is like telling them they aren't welcome back to Mexico.  It just ain't happening!!!

 

No guns or guards or anything of the like.  Just good times, margaritas, laughs and a few bass.  A FEW BIG BASS!!!!

 

Jeff

LOL ~ !

 Might want to ease up on the Old Dude remarks Jeff,  Because one of them is the Official Key Master to the Trophy Smallie Kingdom . . . . and it sure ain't me.     

 

A-Jay