New Lures and New Approaches for El Salto – May/June 2023
We’re headed back to El Salto for a week at the end of this month, generally our favorite time to fish the famous big fish factory. We’ve been going multiple times a year for a decade-plus, and we’ve narrowed down the lures that we’re most likely to use, but I still reserve some time each trip to work in new possibilities. I’m a tackle junkie, always on the lookout for some new tool that others haven’t tried – because while the El Salto bass are fast-growing and voracious, they do get pressured and might get used to certain shapes, sounds or colors.
Here are five lures that are already packed and ready to go. If conditions allow, I will give them a try, but don’t hold your breath – I’m not going to try to force feed the fish if the tool doesn’t fit the scenario. I’ve learned the hard way that they’re ultimately always in charge.
I saw Patrick Walters use this three-trebled spoon in an Elite Series tournament and was intrigued. Foul hooking or missed opportunities are part of the game with flutter spoons, so this should up my chances if a giant swipes at it. Yes, I’m also more likely to lose them, but at this point I’m resigned to that reality in order to put more hooked fish in the boat. The spoon bite is hit or miss for us, but I love it when it’s happening.
Yamamoto’s version of the “scat” bait, it could be a solid substitute for a Senko, especially if the bass are in brushy cover where a weightless Senko would be likely to get hung up, or in deep water or wind. It may be comparatively small, but it’s heavy and it’ll hold a big hook.
I messed around with the Sleeper Craw at home on some bedding fish this spring and was pleased not only with its ability to garner bites from wary bass, but also in its durability and snaglessness. I’m not sure that I’ll throw it offshore, but might drop it down a bluff or pitch it to a hardwood tree.
When the bass come up schooling they may look non-discriminating, but on occasion they can be remarkably picky -- and they seem to prefer something that closely resembles a small shad. This is another bait that I’ve worn the paint off of at home, but with new hooks it’ll be ready for a quick throw at busting schoolers.
This is one of the goodies that my brother and his family brought back from Japan for a few months ago. If there’s a rat bite or plopper going on, I’ll need to remind myself to switch it up and test out this beauty once or twice.
There are also multiple new colors from Yamamoto that are in my tackle bag, but I’m embargoed from talking about them until after ICAST.
And a few resolutions…
In addition to bringing new tackle, I’m going to continue to work on my attitude and interactions with others. In particular:
I want to listen more and talk less at meal times;
I want to try to garner quality fishing information from my friends rather than just fixating on “what I want to do”;
I’d like to fish at least one session with someone I’ve never fished with before; and
I want to slow things down, take it all in, and be ultra-prepared for when a gigantor strikes. I’ll still likely be the first to the boats in the morning, but I’m going to cut and retie more than in the past.
But I make no resolutions when it comes to skipping dessert, especially the deep-fried Oreos.
