Fall 2026 Mexico Update

[Editor: this article first appeared on www.ronsfishingblog and may only be used by permission of Ron Speed Jr.]

HERE WE GO FOLKS…IT’S EL SALTO AND PICACHOS TIME!!!

That’s right! We’re now open at both Lakes El Salto and Picachos! The lakes are full of water and in excellent shape. Oh and before I forget…THE FISHING IS ON FIRE IN BOTH LAKES!!!

This is a quick update to let you know our season is fully underway at both lakes. We couldn’t be happier. Our wonderful staff at both lakes/lodges couldn’t be happier. Of course our customers this past month, COULD NOT BE HAPPIER!!!

LAKE EL SALTO EXPLODES WITH BIG BASS!!!

As I mentioned in recent updates, once Lake El Salto opens again, it will be trophy bass fishing on steroids! It certainly appears that’s EXACTLY what’s happening in this first month of fishing. We haven’t had that many groups yet as most are doing the same thing I do this time every year…HUNTING! However, like clockwork, the hunters will get their fill of that deer stand and head south for warm and sunny days to catch lots of bass and BIG BASS! In about a month, our valuable customers will be ready to escape Old Man Winter.

Our first group of the season started off with a BIG BANG! Colton Zampiello landed toads weighing 9.4 lbs and a 8.2 lbs on his first day on El Salto. His Dad, Dori Zampiello landed a 7.5 lbs bass. Lonny Machowski landed 3 hawgs in one day weighing 8.14 lbs, 7.2 lbs, and 7.1 lbs. Again, all in one day. They fished those first couple of days in the rain as one Pacific hurricane after another moved close to the coastline but never made landfall near El Salto.

Then we had the honor and privilege of hosting a lovely couple from Rain Outdoors…Rain and Jason Williams. Rain and Jason had never fished Lake El Salto before this trip with Ron Speed Jr’s Adventures. I think it’s safe to say that Rain and Jason will be returning, and hopefully soon. Rain landed a beautiful thick 9 pound bass the first day. (Please watch her video below). She also landed a 6.4 lbs that same day. You can watch many more outstanding fishing and hunting videos on their Rain Outdoors Facebook page and TikTok.

Next group arrived November 6th and the big bass were “chewing” like crazy! Our longtime friend and customer, George Harris had a great first day when he landed a fat 10 lbs 2 oz giant. George wasn’t finished though as he also landed 2 more bass over 8 lbs and 1 bass over 7 lbs. This doesn’t include the many bass he landed between 4 and 6 pounds. That day George landed a total of 48 bass while fishing alone (his partner Dave Thompson had to cancel at the last minute). If Dave had been able to make the trip, I feel confident the two would have landed 100 bass (or more) that day. Like George, Dave is an outstanding and seasoned bass fisherman. I’ll let them debate who is the better angler. Simply put, they’re BOTH very good!

Keeping with this same group, on the second day, our dear friends and longtime customers Glen and Judy Glover landed a couple of El Salto lunkers. Judy caught the largest, which was right at 8 lbs. The report stated it weighed 7 lbs 14 oz. After I viewed the photo, I would say somebody needs some new scales because that bass Judy landed looks well north of 8 lbs! See for yourself the photo provided in this update.

Yesterday, November 10th, brought another incredible day of fishing for this group. George Harris struck gold again and it was almost déjà vu when he landed another 10 lbs hawg PLUS 2 more over 8 lbs! Again, George was fishing alone. Then over to the boat of Gary Manos and Ken Yott. These two guys, particularly Ken, had a BIG DAY! Ken landed a personal best of 8.6 lbs, and between the two of them, they landed 2 over 7 lbs and 3 over 6 lbs. See photos in this update. Another boat consisting of Mark Kinard and David Pittman landed 138 bass in one day! Their largest weighed 6.8 lbs but many were in the 4 and 5 pound class! That is A LOT of bass for one day on a lake known more for trophy bass!

Today’s report is in that “saving the best for last” category…and boy is today’s report HUGE! Let’s start with the catches from the boat of Gary Manos and Ken Yott. Gary, a friend and customer for over 30 years, landed a GIANT bass that tipped the scales at 11 lbs, 4 oz! These two guys also landed a total of 73 bass with many in the 4 – 6 lbs class!!!

Now on to the other boats with big catches today:

• Larry Goodwin/Ken Gielow: 1 bass/9 lbs (Gielow); 2 bass over 7 lbs; 6 bass over 5 lbs
• Randy Richardson/Roger Birt: 1 bass/9 lbs (Birt) and 90 total bass for the day!

Folks, this lake has already been incredible for big bass since opening 36 years ago. However, I believe this season could be one of its best years ever. The lake is full and there has been very little pressure on it over the past two years. In my opinion and based on my nearly 40 years in this business, this is the one year you absolutely do not want to miss! El Salto is like a brand new lake all over again! Call us today and don’t miss out on what could be your trophy bass fishing trip of a lifetime!!!

LAKE PICACHOS JUST OPENED AND IT’S SIZZLING WITH CRAZY NUMBERS!!!

We just reopened last week with a small group that’s currently still there fishing. So there’s not too much to report. However, we’ve seen all we need to see to know that Picachos hasn’t missed a beat. Our longtime customers and dear friends, David & Cindy Bednar, arrived last Friday. They always fish with us for 14 days at a time and at least twice each season. Most days they only fish for half a day (mornings) because they strictly go after numbers, not size… and they ALWAYS get their fill of numbers! At the time of this writing, they have landed 280 bass on Day 1. On Day 2 they landed 300 bass. On Day 3 they landed 313 bass. On Day 4 (yesterday) they landed 320 bass, including a 6 lbs 2 oz as their largest! WOW! All that action and crazy numbers while fishing only half a day!!! Now ask me if I’m surprised? That would be a firm NO. They have done it many times over the past 12 years of fishing at Lake Picachos! Again, they strictly focus on action/numbers rather than fishing for bigger bass. Most of the time they fish with small to medium size crankbaits. Obviously it works for them! Great job!

Again, we just reopened last Friday and more groups are scheduled to arrive this month. So the next update will bring more stories and reports of crazy numbers…and HAPPY CUSTOMERS!

RSJA OFFERS OUR CUSTOMERS LEW’S RODS AT ALL LODGES…THE BEST FISHING RODS IN THE WORLD!!!

I have been fishing for 57 years, or since I was 5 years old. My Dad started me out in the late 60’s fishing for carp off a public dock on Cedar Creek Lake (TX) with a cane pole. My Dad guided on Cedar Creek Lake in his spare time away from his head football coaching job at Malakoff High School. He then graduated my brother and me from cane poles to a Zebco Rod/Reel combo, which was perfect for a kid my age. Then the 70’s rolled in and my Dad graduated me once again. This time it was Lew Childre’s new Speed Stick rod with a pistol grip handle. I thought I had died and gone to Heaven! That was my go to rod for the next decade or longer! After a 6 year stint in the U.S. Army that didn’t allow me much time for fishing, I resumed bass fishing. In fact, I got really serious about it when my Dad brought me into this International Fishing Business. I also decided to start fishing professionally (tournaments), which took up 2 weekends per month for 9 months out of the year. Over that time, several of the biggest rod manufacturers in the industry sponsored me. Some offered really good bass rods but it wasn’t until I went back to my roots and started fishing with Lew’s Rods again. Best decision I’ve ever made for bass fishing rods. I’m also fishing with their elite series of fishing reels. Their Pro Ti, Elite Ti and HyperMag series are a few of my favorites.

Lew’s Rods and Reels are simply second to none! There’s not another rod or reel on the market that compares! Visit their website today to find your next elite rod and reel. https://www.lews.com/

RON SPEED JR’S ADVENTURES LOSES TWO DEAR FRIENDS AND LIFE MEMBERS

It is with a heavy heart to announce the passing of two dear friends and loyal customers, Ted Wayland and Carl Moore. Both fished with RSJA for over 20 years and became two of my closest friends ever. Both also fished together in the same group each year at one of our lake/lodge operations in Mexico, sometimes twice a year. They also made many trips together and with RSJA to Brazil for peacock bass fishing. It was difficult enough for me to get that phone call from Carl saying “Teddy” had passed. Then 5 days later I received a call from another friend that Carl had passed. Two gut punches in one week! The good news is that I knew both to be men of God and I know they are both now in the presence of the Lord. I will miss both of them greatly until we reunite again in Heaven. Fly high, Teddy and Carl.

GOD CONTINUES TO BLESS US…

I cannot thank our Lord enough for all His many blessings and answered prayers. Jesus said that we believers would go through “storms,” but if we stay faithful to Him and His word, praying without ceasing, then we would not have to go through these storms alone. Jesus has been with us the entire way. I’ve prayed without fail daily that the Lord would provide for our employees and their families AND that we could continue to provide them with much-needed work. God has answered those prayers. This is what happens when we stay close to our Lord in prayer and daily reading of His word. I also want to thank ALL of our valuable customers over the years. We could not do this without YOU! Thank you for your continued support and trust in Ron Speed Jr’s Adventures. We will continue to strive for excellence while providing YOU with a 5-star service and SAFE fishing adventure!

God Bless,
Ron Speed, Jr.