Fishing Your Last Morning at Anglers Inn

Apr 16

Dale Steele and Aaron Rygas leaving Anglers Inn El Salto

I’ve already written about how to get ready to fish on arrival day at Anglers Inn International properties at Lake El Salto and Lake Picachos. That’s a process that requires a good amount of foresight and a remarkable level of efficiency if you want to get the right gear in the boat before dark. However, with flight schedules changing due to COVID, increasingly the trip packages include a “half day” of fishing on your day of departure.

If your flight leaves at 3pm or later, it’s not difficult to maximize that time. Since it takes about one hour to get from Picachos to the airport, and approximately two hours from El Salto to the airport, the van would leave at 11 am and noon, respectively. That’ll get you there two hours before take-off.

But my favorite flight in most cases has historically been American’s 5787 to Dallas-Ft. Worth, which leaves around 1pm. If that’s your choice, too, it means you’ll be on the van at 10am from Picachos or 9am from El Salto. Since most of the year you can be on the water before 6am, if your package includes a last-day half-day, that gives you plenty of time to fish – if you take a few steps to make it happen.

First, figure out what time you need to be back at the dock. The van will leave at the appointed time and it’s not fair to the other guests aboard to hold them up. Will you need to shave? Shower? Take the Browns to the Super Bowl? All of that adds up. Be sure to let the staff know that you are not done with the room, either.

Dale Steele Andrews Texas traveling fisherman and car salesman

Second, minimize the time you’ll need back at the dock. Obviously, this entails packing as much as you can the night before, but there are several other ways to make the process more efficient:

Use a limited number of rods. If you think you can get away with four, then that’s perfect. If you need more, that’s at your discretion. You want to be able to cut off your lures, disassemble your combos, and pack everything away.
Use the lodge’s rods. Anglers Inn provides high-quality St. Croix Rods. Even if you brought your own, pack them the night before and grab a handful from the office. That way your tube is ready to go to the airport or be stored.
Build a “go box.” You don’t need all of your lures and terminal tackle with you for a few hours. By the end of the trip you should know what is working and what you’re likely to use. Put everything in a single small box or bag that you can carry in one hand and then slide directly into your suitcase when you get back to the room.
Fill out your paperwork the night before. Upon departure, the staff will provide you with an evaluation form and an envelope for staff tips. If you ask for it at dinner the night prior to your departure, that’s 5 or 10 extra minutes to fish.

Fishing Tackle for Anglers Inn El Salto Mexico

If you think you’ll be hungry on the way to the airport, or don’t want to pay for lunch, the kitchen will be happy to make you BLTs, ham and cheese sandwiches or burritos. Ask for them at breakfast and they’ll be ready to go in the van.

Finally, do not forget to bring your guide’s tip with you on that final morning. I usually place it in an empty Senko bag (I tend to have a lot of them by trip’s end) and then secure it in a zippered pocket. In the rush to get in every cast and then get off the water promptly, it’s easy to forget this simple step – that’s not fair because they work their butts off.

Believe me, I fully understand the need to get in that last morning of fishing. On a place where every cast may result in your PB, it makes sense to maximize the experience. With these few simple steps, you can do it right without missing a beat.