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LAKE HUITES FISHING REPORT

It had been 8 years or more since we visited the lake, but I remembered it to be the most beautiful lake I had ever fished.  It is a deep canyon lake of perhaps 30,000 acres, nestled in the Copper Canyon area about a 3 hour drive from Los Mochis, and the scenery must be seen to be believed.  It is simply spectacular and a photographer’s delight!

Well, what about those fishing reports?  While Dan and I are not fish “counters”, I can assure you that we certainly experienced days where we caught well over 200 bass up to 8 pounds.  The schools of bass from 2 to 7 pounds are truly amazing, and on several occasions we sat in one spot and caught bass after bass ‘till the world looked level.

Compared to many other lakes in Mexico, Lake Huites is very lightly fished by sportfishermen, and the small amount of commercial fishing was no problem whatsoever.

Additionally, healthy fish of all sizes are caught, indicating great past spawns and the promise of super fishing for years to come. 

While they weren’t attached to our lines---unfortunately---one lucky guy caught 10, 11, and 12 pounders while we were there---on topwaters!  The big fish weighed 12.13 on digital scales and I’m including a photo of the guide, Raoul, proudly displaying her.

Our host, David Fields, had told us prior to the trip that our visit in early December might well be a transition time from torrid topwater action to deeper crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastics, and his prediction was right on the money.  We had good topwater results the first morning, but spotty action thereafter.  No matter---we couldn’t wait to get to those huge schools of bass lurking in deeper water that were eager to hit just about anything we threw to them.  Crankbaits, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, soft plastics rigged Texas or Carolina style, or simply attached to heavy jigs---everything produced.  One day we even nailed the 3 to 7 pounders on every “drop” right under the boat using heavy spoons and ¾ ounce Rattletraps.

My report would never be complete without telling you some things about Trophy Bass Lodge.  What a first class operation!  The rooms are immaculate and comfortable with private bathrooms, hot showers, and plenty of space to hang clothes and store gear.  George, the camp manager, takes care of all the transfers from the airport to the Lodge, and efficiently attends to any special needs or requests.  The boats are 19’ Carolina Skiffs, with 50hp Yamahas or Hondas, MinnKota trolling motors, Eagle electronics, and premium Optima batteries.  The boats are comfortable, roomy, and very stable and Dan and I often both fished from the front platform without any problem at all. 

The guides are courteous and very experienced.  Our guide for the week, Louis, spoke fluent English, and has guided for over 30 years.  What a comic he was, keeping us laughing all day with jokes and stories. More important, he was always ready to go well BEFORE we were, and suggested some terrific fishing techniques that Dan and I had never considered.  For good reason, David calls him “Drill Sergeant!  Actually, ALL

the guides are quite happy to fish from sunup to sundown.

David maintains a well-stocked tackle shop at the Lodge, complete with a huge selection of rods and reels for use by guests.  You may bring your own tackle, of course, but if you prefer to avoid the hassle of traveling with rods, you certainly won’t be disadvantaged by fishing with some of his during the trip. 

I must not forget the food.  Indeed, I will NEVER forget the food!  Freddy the gourmet chef, constantly surprised us with different gastronomic delights every time we sat down for a meal.  For instance, when was the last time you had Chicken Cordon Bleu at a fish camp for LUNCH???  A great shore lunch one day with fantastic scenery was appreciated and box lunches can be provided if you prefer to stay out all day.

All in all, it was one of the best fishing trips we have ever made, and I recommend it highly to everyone reading this report.  David and the entire staff make you feel like family, and that’s perhaps the best compliment of all.  It’s very important to us to fish with honest operator/owners of high integrity, and I can assure you David is all of that.

Contact him at www.fishinexpeditions.com or toll free (877)755-4950 to book a trip and see for yourself. 

In conclusion, was there anything bad about the experience?  Yes, definitely.  Dan and I are both thoroughly spoiled for quite awhile now!   We can’t wait to get back next May, when we’re told the huge schools of monster fish are concentrated on deep structure.  Got to check out that report!!!

Bass wishes,

Gary Clark

Kissimmee, FL  

Dear David,

I have just returned from my latest Fall trip to Lake Huites, Mexico.  As you know, I have been visiting Huites for around five years now, coming in the Fall as well as other months in your season. Ten trips so far!

I usually do not send letters saying what I have been lucky enough to catch with respect to fishing trips, the blind pig finding the proverbial acorn type of thing.  I have always had fine trips to Trophy Bass Lodge.  I write now because my last trip  is simply off the scale in every respect, especially when the fishing part of things is the focus.  The fishing there must be the standard by which all Largemouth Bass fishing trips must be measured.  Huites and Trophy Bass Lodge are the sine quo non, the measure that all other places must stack up against.

As I think back about the fishing of my latest trip in late October and early November, I keep telling myself that nobody is going to believe me when I tell them what I had caught.  It is easy enough to tell you how many fish I boated.  I averaged just over 171 fish per day over 10 ½ days of fishing.  This is not a per boat total, but what I caught myself.  This total included 6 fish in excess of ten pounds that were actually measured and/or weighed.  It included a good number of 7-9 pound fish that were caught during every period, am and pm, during each day I fished.  The really amazing part is the great number of 3-6 pound fish caught.  Many times when people talk about what they catch, many of the total are made up of 1-2 pound or less sized “dinks”.  Most days the 3-6 pound sized fish made up at least 50% of the fish caught.  This observation was also made by everyone else visiting Trophy Bass Lodge at this time.  In my humble opinion, these are the most fun size of fish to catch.

While it may be easy to convey to one and all the numbers of fish, how can I tell you with words what it was like to boat 30-50 fish by 8 am each morning on various topwater lures – most of which were 4 pounds and larger, some much larger?.  How do you put to words, the sound, the sight, the spray of a 10.44 pound bass smacking your buzzbait a mere 15 to 20 feet from the boat one early morning?

Nor were the topwater periods, both early and late, all of the story. The fish participated nobly for most of each day of my stay.  Choose spinnerbaits, choose crankbaits, choose flukes, choose stick baits, choose Texas rigged soft plastics – you simply could not choose wrong.  Heck, you could probably have T-rigged a Lucky Strike and caught fish.

The fishing was almost entirely around the banks, just like I prefer to fish.  All one had to do is set the hook and get ‘em moving as there are tons of wood and rock cover.  Compared to other Mexican destinations for the bass folk, I have never seen the numbers of quality fish I have seen on Lake Huites at Trophy Bass Lodge. El Salto has big fish, no doubt.  It simply does not have the numbers of big as well as good fish that Huites boasts.  If your world is made out of action, with an emphasis on big and good sized fish, Huites wins hands down.  Whereas El Salto has numerous lodges, a trailer park filled with bass boats and unrestricted commercial netting, Huites has two full time lodges, little netting activity and significantly more surface area.  Some days, you do not see any other boats on Huites. 

At the airport while waiting for a jet to wisk us back to the good ole USA, we had a chance to chat with about 10 bass fisherman from Massachusetts who had visited Lake Bacarrac.  They told me that they had caught on average 30-40 bass per day.  I didn’t have the heart to tell them that all of us had caught more fish than that each day over 4-5 pounds!

Besides the fishing Lake Huites and Trophy Bass Lodge have much more going for them.   In closing, I will try to share a couple of these things that are special to me.

The lake and surrounding area are truly beautiful.  From the brilliant glow of the stars each morning as we boat down the lake, to the rugged mountains and cliffs that ring most of the lake, to the chill of the morning, the warm but not too hot glow of the day, and the magnificent vista on the lodge porch, this place is special.  It is an all out assult on your senses.

One other thing that is very special and dear to me is the staff and management of Trophy Bass Lodge.  Sure the food is great.  Better plan on bringing a pair of britches one sized larger for your return trip!  The accommodations are clean and very comfortable.  Of course, you are looked after at every turn.  These things have come to be expected by most.  But what sets Trophy Bass Lodge apart from almost everywhere else is the manner in which you are treated by the folks there.  You do not have to look far to find service that is competent, polite and efficient.  Of course, and even more common is the impersonal or shoddy service has become the rule almost everywhere.  In a stark contrast,  the people who staff  TBL treat you like family.  Professional, yes in every measure; but cold and pedestrian, never.  In the final analysis, this is what makes Trophy Bass Lodge special and so very rare.  It has crossed the line from fishing destination to home.  Every time I pass through the gate, I say to myself that I have made it back "home" one more time.

Frank Walker