It Doesn’t Get Better Than Bass Fishing South of the Border

While cold winter winds blew around the Major League Fishing Headquarters in Tulsa, Okla., MLF Commissioner Don Rucks packed his bags and rounded up a group of boat officials for a trip to warmer weather.

Starting many years ago with the fish-every-cast action found on the legendary Lake Guerrero, bass catching opportunities in Mexico have steadily expanded to include a number of lakes offering mind-boggling numbers, double-digit weights, stunningly gorgeous waters, and some of the finest amenities found south of the border.

“Bass fishing just doesn’t get any better in the world than it is in Mexico. Period,” Rucks said.

Rucks can’t get enough of the bass fishing action with Ron Speed Jr.’s Adventures. This year, Rucks and the officials flew into Mazatlan, Mexico, and traveled to a lake roughly 30 miles northeast of the resort city: Lake Picachos.

Lead Boat Official Aaron Beshears explained that the accommodations were first class, even though they were in a rural part of the country.

“Camp Manager Carlos “ Chino” Wong has a staff that will roll the red carpet out,” Beshears said, “When the plane lands at Mazatlan, his staff will greet you in the airport with open arms and escort you to their comfortable air-conditioned vans. Ice cold beverages are provided on your 1 hour trip to the lake. Upon arrival, camp staff will meet you with freshly cooked nachos and frozen margaritas.”

The boat officials bragged about eating some of the best meals of their lives on this trip, and they say it was all made with locally-grown ingredients. They were eating steak, seafood, authentic Mexican dishes, and fresh salsa and guacamole.

“I also recommend dieting prior to your trip!” Beshears joked.

Sawyer on Lake Picachos

One of the trip participants, John Sawyer, spent the week on a boat with Rucks and one of Ron Speed Jr.’s guides. Sawyer has traveled to Mexico with Rucks three times, and for him, this was the best trip of them all. Sawyer says he was still sore from reeling in the “bucking bronco bass” several days after he returned home.

“You cannot imagine how hard these fish pull,” he explained. “My hands, I can’t get them to operate.”

It was Boat Official Mike McCormick’s first time traveling to Mexico to bass fish, and he says it had been on his bucket list for decades.

McCormick on Lake Picachos

“That was like a trip of a lifetime. It was just ridiculous,” McCormick said, “It was just turnkey, first class… It couldn’t have got any better.”

It was a week-long party for the Commissioner and boat officials. Boat Official Don Guy says all of the boats, with two anglers per boat, enjoyed an average of 100 plus bass per day.

“At very few places in the world is that possible,” Guy explained.

The boat officials agree that they were never concerned about their safety.

“Personal safety was simply not an issue,” Guy said. “From the time we entered Mexico until we left the country, there was never a time we felt unsafe in any way. In addition to the terrific food, great service and outstanding fishing, the entire trip (from Mazatlan to Lake Picachos) was an opportunity to see a different culture, lifestyle and get to know a few of the friendly people of Mexico.”

Boat Official Mac Carpenter says he highly recommends this trip to anyone who loves to fish.

“It would be a great trip for a husband and wife, father and son, father and daughter or anyone really because you felt secure, the guides took you to the fish and told you what to throw and if you paid any attention to the guides, you were catching fish. If they didn’t think you had the right thing tied on, they’d tie on the right thing for you,” Carpenter explained.

Rucks says he’s been fishing with Ron Speed Jr.’s company for years, and he’d never travel to Mexico to fish with anyone else.

“You are completely taken care of from the minute you show up at the airport in Mazatlán until you return to board the plane for your flight back home,” Rucks said. “Simply put, Ron Speed Jr. and his folks know how to send me and my friends back home happy. His staff, guides, boats and everything else in between is really great.”

Sunset over Lake Picachos

If you’re ready to plan a trip, Rucks says you’ll be catching them no matter what time of year you choose to visit.

“The spawn usually occurs, depending on the lake, sometime from January through March. But the bass action is awesome any of month you choose to go,” Rucks said.

Ron Speed Jr.’s Adventures will provide the rods. All you have to worry about is the reels and tackle. McCormick says you can call the resort before you leave so you know what to pack.

“They’ll tell you exactly what you need to bring… And they’re going to be right,” said McCormick, “You can trust what they are saying, and you’re going to catch fish.”

The boat officials recommend packing spinnerbait, jig, squarebill crankbait, and some plastic lizards.

“If you’ve never been to Mexico bass fishing, you’re missing one of the greatest experiences in life, if you’re a true bass fisherman,” Rucks said.