Where To Fish

• Most bass fishing in Mexico takes place on lakes, many of which are man-made structures designed to produce hydroelectric power and be used for crop irrigation and drinking water. Bass fishing in Mexico varies according to the lake. Some lakes are older, and older lakes tend to produce larger bass. Newer lakes tend to have greater numbers of bass. Lake El Salto and Lake Baccarac are known for large fish. In fact, "Bassmaster" magazine once called Lake El Salto the best lake in world for trophy bass. Lake Huites and Lake Agua Milpa offer more catches per day, but the fish tend to be somewhat smaller than on the older lakes. Another good spot for a mess of fish is Lake Guerrero on the eastern coast of Mexico. For those looking to make a shorter trip into Mexico, Lake El Chuchillo offers great bass fishing fewer than 100 miles from the Texas-Mexico border.
  
  

Season and Conditions

• When you book your trip to Mexico plays into how well you will do. Plan ahead, follow weather reports and target your trip to match the best moon phases. During the summer, much of Mexico experiences the rainy season -- a poor time to catch bass. The best time to fish depends on the lake you select. The best times to fish Lake El Salto are mid-September to the end of July. Anglers will find success with topwater baits from October through April, but the best time for topwater lures is November until mid-February. Spawning on Lake El Salto occurs in February and March. You can do well fishing the pre-spawn periods of December and January, and post-spawn females feed heavily from April through June. If you are looking to catch lots of fish on Lake El Salto, the best time to go is May or June.
  
  Moon phases also can affect your success. Prepare for your trip by researching weather patterns. Avoid lakes that have experienced droughts or over-fishing. Some anglers believe the best fishing is during new moons and full moons. They try to fish during the moon rise and moon set because they believe bass are more active during these times.
  
  

Techniques

• On Lake Agua Milpa use soft plastic baits, crankbaits, topwater plugs and spinnerbaits. Learn which lures work well in which areas. Most of the lakes in Mexico feature brush-covered points and lots of vegetation where bass can hide. Anglers can find them in the brush by using soft plastic baits and topwater plugs in shallow water. The best soft plastic baits include worm and crayfish designs. The best colors vary from lake to lake.
  
  Because of the warmth of Mexico's waters, topwater baits are especially effective. A good option is a buzzbait, which has a small propeller that churns the water and creates noise that alerts bass. A buzzbait works particularly well in the summer, when fish are moving. In the winter, slow the buzzbait to give the bass time to home in on it.
  
  Some of Mexico's lakes, such as Lake El Salto, feature multiple ridges. Bass gather between the shallow and deep water and around underwater obstructions, including the ruins of abandoned cities. Use crankbaits and spinnerbaits to lure fish into these slightly deeper waters.