Colin Findlay of Virginia with his teaching guide at Lake El Salto

When I ask fisher people how they learned to fish, most of them say their Dads or their Grandpas.

Prior to 2004, I hadn’t picked up a rod since the early 80s when I was at summer camp in Hayward, Wisconsin and caught a bullhead catfish.

The many lakes near Hayward are known for trophy sized muskie, northern pike, walleye and smallmouth bass. I had no idea that right there in Kroehler YMCA Camp’s backyard sat Hayward’s most famous landmark, the World’s Largest Muskie, home to the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame.

“We all know that our future depends on what we do to our present. So, if we don't shape our present now, we cannot witness the desired result in the future.” – Actor Sean Patrick Flanery (born in Lake Charles, La. – home to Grosse Savanne Lodge)

Wow, I had no idea that everything leads back to fishing. That bullhead was just the first of many fish in my future.

When I first started corresponding with Pete 17 years ago, he told me he was a fisherman. I asked, “Off a bridge, with a bobber?”

He said, “You have so much to learn!”

He wasn’t kidding.

Pete Robbins Lake El Salto jig and craw big bass

There’s choosing a lure, a rod, a reel, to tying knots, choosing where to cast. There’s driving the boat, backing a trailer, cleaning the boat and yes, the dreaded maintenance of the boat. The electronics -- forget them for now, I just use my guide for direction. There is so much to learn but it’s not easy to do so if your loving boyfriend (now husband) wants to spend his time fishing and not teaching.

Although I am a fast learner and I learn by watching and replicating, time on the water with a patient guide is really the best way to gain knowledge.

I really don’t get a lot of time on the water and although I love to fish, the tackle and methods didn’t initially make sense to me. I didn’t spend a lot of time investigating them on my own because I just wanted to catch fish. Fortunately, a few years later I was introduced to what I consider the best destination for learning all of the basic fishing skills: Anglers Inn at Lake El Salto and Picachos, in Mexico.

When learning to fish you need to go where you will get a lot of chances. If you’re only going to get one bite a day, and they’re only hitting one particular lure, it’s hard to refine your technique. If you only catch little fish, you won’t be tested. In Mexico, not only are there numbers of fish, but lots of quality specimens, too, so you’ll have tons of opportunities to catch them just about any way you want.

Ladies bucket list fishing trip to Lake El Salto Mexico Anglers Inn

The guides are all top notch and all have been guiding for at least a decade --- and some as many as 30+ years. They guide an average of 200+ days a year. All of that time on the water with clients of varying skills makes them experts in their field. They even know how to catch fish on slow days, although that rarely happens….but as you know, that’s fishing.

Initially, they just gave me Senkos and lizards and told me to let them sink, then start a slow retrieve. That produced plenty of fish, but I wanted to experience more. Since Pete is a tackle junkie and packs every lure known to man to try out, when something worked, I wanted to try it, too.

I do understand that it’s Pete’s vacation, too. He doesn’t fish as much as he’d like, especially not around trophy bass, so his first focus might not be my tackle. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be. When you’re at Anglers Inn you have a full-time helper who wants to make you the focus of his efforts. For example, I’d watched Pete pitch and flip soft plastics and jigs under docks at home, but I could never perfect the mechanics. Fortunately, at El Salto my guide Juan was patient enough to break it down for me — how much line to have out, how much force to apply, when to let go for silent entry into the water. It made a huge difference down there, and also helped me for when I fish at home.

Ask your guide to show you how to tie a knot, work a topwater, bounce the bottom with a swimbait or even prepare a Carolina Rig (Pete’s favorite way of fishing, NOT).

Learning can be intimidating.

Asking for help makes us vulnerable.

Don’t let that hold you back.

The pleasure the guides get from working with the patrons is why getting up at 4 am isn’t a chore. They are teachers as much as fishing guides — it’s part of the job description.

If it wasn’t for Lacho, Juan, Javier, Chichi, Victor, and so many others, I wouldn’t be half the angler I am today. I’m no professional but I hold my own. I’ve caught more fish over 9 pounds than most long-time tournament anglers, and even caught two 9+ pounders on the same day out of two different lakes. That’s pretty special.

Of course there are no guarantees in fishing, but we’re happy to advise you on the best times to travel to learn specific techniques. Feel free to reach out to me at fishmore@halfpastfirstcast.com with that question or any others.