Pete Robbins Anglers Inn El Salto Bass Fishing Mexico

With no sponsorship commitments or advertisers to hold us back, we’re committed to recommending only those products that we’ve used and enjoyed. On occasion we’ll mention gear that we haven’t used extensively but it doesn’t get a seal of approval until it has been battle-tested. If we give it an unconditional thumbs up, rest assured that we’ve put it through the ringer. We own rods from dozens of companies, reels from at least five, and no fewer than four brands of rainsuits. Different conditions call for different tools.

With that established, this article isn’t a review of new products, per se, but rather a teaser – both for you and for us. We take a whole lot of new stuff to Mexico every time we go, and here are some products that piqued our interest on our most recent trip.

Decoy wacky worm hooks finesse for El Salto Mexico senkos

Decoy Cover Finesse HD Worm Hook

I’ve been looking for years for the perfect hook to wacky-rig 6- and 7-inch Senkos in heavy cover, and the 3/0 version of this Japanese hook may be what I’ve been seeking. I threw it on heavy line and never had one bend out, and the gap is wide enough to get through a lot of plastic. I’ve always wavered on using a weedguard with my wacky rigs, and I try not to use one whenever possible, but sometimes it’s an absolute must. I’ve tried the type where the wire hooks over the barb, but I find I spend way too much time adjusting it between casts, even when I don’t hit anything or get a bite. This fiber weedguard seems to do just as well, and doesn’t present that same issue. At about $5 for a pack of 4, they’re not cheap, but they’re not out of line with other premium hooks and since they’re pretty sturdy and razor-sharp you won’t go through a ton of them.

Duo Box

I don’t know how, where or why I got this little open-compartment utility box from Duo Realis. The Tackle Warehouse website shows some of the company’s other boxes – of which I have several – but they all have lure slots and dividers. This one is perfect for carrying miscellaneous terminal tackle when you travel. Put all of your Texas Rig stuff in one, still in their original packs, and all of your Carolina Rig stuff in another, plus a third for miscellaneous hooks and weights, and you’ll have all of your basics covered for any trip to Mexico. They’re the perfect size to slip into a side pocket of your tackle bag, or carry in your backpack, and the latch closes securely so you don’t need to worry about hooks and weights scattered everywhere.

Shimano Curado 300HGK

I’ve been a huge fan of the Tranx Series of reels, both the 300A that I’ve been using to crank 10XDs and the like for several years (and which served me flawlessly in the Amazon), and the 200AHG which I bought subsequently. My 300A is only a 5.8:1 gear ratio, which is perfect for the swimbaiting I do, but a tad slow for some of my crankbait fishing. Accordingly, I had been planning to buy the 7.6:1 300AHG. In the interim, however, my prayers were answered when I got my grubby paws on the new Curado 300HGK. At 6.6:1, it’s the perfect speed for just about everything, and like every Curado I’ve owned dating back to the mid-90s, it’s butter-smooth. It holds plenty of line for big swimbaits or casting giant plugs with the wind, and at 10.8 ounces it’s almost an ounce lighter than the comparable Tranx. The $199.99 price point makes it a relative bargain.

Falcon Lowrider travel rod for El Salto bass

Falcon Travel Rod

I took three travel rods to El Salto, and the Lowrider was the one that got the most use. It’s hard to tell the difference between this 7’ medium-heavy stick and the one-piece version of the same rod. While it’s a little bit too light for my taste to throw a spinnerbait or Chatterbait, it’s perfect for pitching unweighted Senkos and Flukes a mile. I paired it with a lightweight Tatula reel spooled with 17-pound fluorocarbon and found the performance to be exceptional. Once I got home, I used the same reel with 17-pound copolymer and flicked around quarter-ounce Ricos on my local lake. I had no problems whatsoever with the ferrules twisting, coming apart or staying stuck together when I wanted to break it down. I know I’m supposed to keep it in a tube, ready for the next trip, but for now the rod is staying in the boat full-time. At $150 (including the travel tube) it’s a no-brainer.

We’ll continue to update these reports with more qualitative and quantitative reviews in the coming months. The research is the fun part.