Burrito vs Nacho
On Championship Sunday of the recent Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Okeechobee, I watched Brandon Palaniuk struggle to get a good bite, or any bite at all, which seems crazy since he went into the last day with a 20 pound lead. With a dream in sight, he picked up a rod with a Clutch Boss glide bait, what seemed like a Hail Mary.
Of course, this being Palaniuk, It worked. He caught a nearly 6 pound fish and solidified closed out his tournament win, beating his runner up by a whopping 15-13.
What am I getting at? This made me want to get online and grab a Clutch Boss glide bait and make Pete take me fishing. I looked them up and thought twice as they are more expensive than my amateur budget. I could just see me make one wrong snap of the wrist and see it go flying through the air and kersplat. I have done that before, not with a real expensive glide bait but with a bait that has worked really well for me at El Salto. The bait is far less expensive, I know it catches fish and I need to start getting comfortable with it and THEN move on up to the “pro level” baits.
What bait am I talking about? It’s the Bacca Burrito and it’s brother, the Nacho.
I’ve used the Burrito swimbait at El Salto to catch fish by suspending them in open water or dragging them across bottom structure. They’re also effective for targeting schooling fish and big bass. The Burrito and Nacho are a little more durable than the popular and effective Storm Wildeye Swimbait, which is reflected in the price.
When I fished the Burrito at El Salto, I relied upon the Burrito when we were fishing slower and the Carolina rig wasn’t getting any action. Let it sink to the bottom, slow roll it back and if you feel something, don’t wait, set the hook, you don’t want to give time for the fish to spit the bait. Remember, hook sets are free.
On one of our summer adventures to Lake El Salto there was a lot of baitfish activity and if I cast out and reeled back with a medium speed through the activity I hooked up with bigger than average fish – while other lures like lipless crankbaits produced smaller fish.
Fish are finicky. They may not have a huge appetite and only want an appetizer so the Bacca Nacho is a great search bait which you can use in shallow water and fish it like you would a spinnerbait or a Rat-L-Trap.
Let’s make this a little easier to make your decision on which to use and/or purchase – a list of the pros and cons.
Pros
Realistic – The look and tail kick creates action just like a real fish.
Catches Big Fish – It’s a big bait and big fish like big baits.
Cast and Reel – You can slow roll it, twitch it, and even burn it depending on the conditions and the bait performs the same.
Durable – Made well and holds up through dozens of strikes (and bites).
Cons
Need the Right Gear – Don’t be a Hanna. It’s heavy, you will need a fairly heavy rod and use good fluorocarbon line.
Medium Price Range – it sits between low to high priced baits but there is a price to pay for quality.
Pros
Size – Slightly smaller than the Burrito and may tempt all the fish in the lake.
Easier to Cast – Smaller and lighter, it casts like a bullet.
Range of Water Conditions – Whether in clear, stained, or dirty water the Nacho maintains its effectiveness.
Durable – Made well and holds up through dozens of strikes.
Cons
I Like Big Bass – Smaller bait which can certainly catch giants but sometimes it takes a bigger profile to attract the bigger bass.
Touch and Feel – The tail kick is not as distinct as that of the Burrito, which could be a downside in non-clear water.
Ultimately both baits should be in your tacklebox, it’s knowing when to use them that will make the difference when the fish are biting.
Think of it this way: You start with a Nacho appetizer and have a few cervezas and you know you’ll be hungrier later so you order the Burrito and overall you are totally satisfied. You realize that you and the bass both have eyes bigger than your stomachs.
