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Lake El
Salto
Billy
Chapman, Jr.
At Anglers Inn
El Salto, we’re proud to offer special couples packages for folks who
want to share the experience of visiting our lodge with their spouse or
significant other. We know many wives are hesitant at first to visit a
fishing camp with their husbands, but almost invariably, when they have
an opportunity to experience first-hand our great accommodations, food
and service, they fall in love with Anglers Inn and come back many
times. Most of them find they enjoy the great fishing action as well,
even if they’re not experienced anglers.
We recently
were visited by three couples who came to Anglers Inn together: Norman
and Dana Fowler, Norman’s parents Paul and Norma, and the Fowler’s
cousin Jody Barrios and her husband Dennis. Norman and Dana wrote back
to tell us they all enjoyed a fabulous vacation.
“I know this is
probably not your typical fishing report,” said Dana, “but I want all
families out there who like to fish to know how family-friendly Anglers
Inn is and for the women especially, it is not just all about fishing.
My husband Norman and his dad have been going to El Salto for about
eight years. One year they took our oldest son Daniel (14 at the time)
and the following year they took our youngest son Seth (age 11). Norman
usually books a year in advance, and when it is nine months from the
time to go, the countdown begins at our house, and he can tell you each
morning exactly how many days there are to go before they leave again
for El Salto. That tells you how anxious he is to get there!
“This year we
decided to take advantage of the couple’s package and us three women
packed our bags and went along,” she continued. “We had a great time. It
was a pleasure to wake up each morning to coffee or juice served in your
room by the friendly and ever-efficient staff, and then to go to the
dining area for breakfast where we could choose from the large variety
of breakfast foods that were offered. By 6 o’clock, each couple was
usually in their own boat with a guide. And believe me, the guides were
wonderful and full of patience. They changed the women’s lures, took out
the bird nests, got us loose when we hung up on a tree, and even took
the lures out of the fish. Because of them, our husbands were able to
fish without us interrupting them.”
None of the
women were seasoned anglers like their husbands, but they were catching
fish like pros as soon as the fishing began.
“The very first
morning, we were catching a lot of 5- and 6-pounders,” said Dana. “We
were using mostly Money Minnows, Senkos, swimbaits and lizards. I liked
fishing with the Money Minnow best because you were pretty likely to get
a nice fish with it, but I used a variety of lures like watermelon
lizards on Carolina rigs. Norma used the 8-inch watermelon lizard but
liked the swimbait the best. Jody stayed mostly with a wacky-rigged
Senko, which she used to catch her big 7.4 bass on.”
According to
Norman, this was one of his best trips as far as the average size of the
bass went. “During each session, morning and evening, I had at least one
fish of 7 pounds or better,” he said. “In the mornings, the pattern
seemed to be finding underwater humps and fishing for the large fish as
they moved up. During afternoons, we fished deep water leading up to
flats and usually caught three to four quality fish. We could have
fished different patterns and baits and caught a lot more fish, but I
was after size and not too worried about numbers.
“The main baits
we used were 5-inch Money Minnows on white jig heads,” Norman continued.
“The colors of the jig head and lure didn't seem to matter much because
I ran out of white and switched to bass color and didn't see a drop off
in fish. The fish would hit about anything. We fished Storm 5-inch
swimbaits and caught quality fish, and when we fished 4-inch swimbaits
we caught a few more although the average size fell off. My second
biggest fish, an 8.4, came on a Bill Dance Citrus Shad crankbait. When
the fishing would slow down our guide would put a green lizard on a
Carolina rig for my wife and the action would usually pick up some for
her. We also did well fishing a 3/4-ounce, white, double-willow
spinnerbait.”
Of course, fun
fishing is just one part of the overall Anglers Inn experience. When the
morning fishing ended and they came back to the lodge, Dana, Norma and
Jody were in for some additional treats.
“When we would
go in for lunch at 11o’clock, another fabulous meal was waiting,” Dana
said. “And because the boats did not go out again until 2 o’clock, we
had time to choose from a facial, pedicure, manicure or a massage, or we
could just take a siesta. Talk about being spoiled! We took advantage of
everything. The massages were wonderful!”
Everyone in the
group caught quality fish. Norman caught the biggest at 9 pounds, 4
ounces, while Norma and Dennis tied, each catching 8-pounders using
swimbaits. Paul followed close behind with a 7.9 on a watermelon lizard.
Dana caught a 7.5 on a Carolina rig, and Jody followed real close with a
7.4. Those are good bass anywhere you fish.
“We took
hundreds of pictures,” said Dana. “The lake and surrounding area are
beautiful; there’s always something different to see. At night, it was
wonderful to relax after another great meal and compare notes of the
day’s count. We were surprised to find each couple had caught a fish at
the same time and took pictures. Dennis even caught two fish on one lure
at the same time. He said he thought he had a monster of a fish.
“In the coming
spring, Norman plans to take our two daughters Macey and Kasey, on their
first fishing trip to Lake El Salto,” Dana said. “And yes, us women are
planning on going back, too. In fact the count down will soon begin.” |
