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Rodney Hurst with the ten-pound prize that he landed on
Lake Comedero.
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Lake Comedero near Mazatlan, Mexico, holds your greatest bass
fishing experience just waiting to happen.
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Keith Crowder was too busy hauling in bass to stop and pose
very often on this trip.
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When we left the shore, the stars
were slowly fading away to the bright purple and orange of dawn, and I
felt a strange, dreamlike detachment from reality as we skimmed across
the lake in the brisk twilight of the morning. We pulled into a bay, and
within minutes I caught my first fish. The morning was humid and cold
but the fish was warm, a stark contrast to the feel of fish back home.
Lizards,
tubes, worms and spinner baits all worked. My brother had never caught a
bass before, but was quickly welcomed to the club with over 25 fish
before lunch! We released all but 5 small fish, weighing one to two
pounds to take back for lunch. All of the guests shared stories of the
morning’s catch on the short ride back to the lodge. It was a good
thing we were late for Rodney had caught a ten-pound bass just after noon on big swimbait. We gawked at the
photos on his digital camera as his smile lit up the lunch table.
Lunch everyday consisted of fresh
salsa, fish and chips, beans, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and
anything else we desired. Notes were compared during lunch and we quickly
modified our gear accordingly.
The afternoon was focused on trying
to catch a fish over 10 pounds. My brother and I laughed and joked and
got to know the guide as he put us on fish time and time again.
By
the end of the first day my brother and I had caught over 100 bass with a
few tilapias and catfish mixed in. Many fish were over 5 pounds and a few
were in the seven to eight pound range. We again compared notes over
dinner and couldn’t believe the day!
The wonderful Mexican food Debbie
made for dinner could only be rivaled by her bread pudding dessert. I can
truly say Debbie’s food is better than going home to Momma’s
house to eat. You had to be careful and watch what you said in the lodge
for she remembered everything you said and would surprise you with a special
drink or dish to make the experience even more enjoyable.
Just before lunch on the second day
I was reeling in a huge bass, easily over 10 pounds, but when I got her
to the boat she came unbuttoned. She actually stayed by the boat for what
seemed like an eternity and then we all watched in awe and horror as she
swam away. We went back to that spot several times over the next two days
but never found her again. Keith’s biggest catch of the trip, the
one I shared at the beginning of this story, came during the afternoon of
the second day. I snapped a picture of him as he reached down to lip the
eight-pound bass out of the water; it’s the only picture I have of
him smiling.
Over the course of three days, the
four of us had an amazing experience and we’ve all vowed to return
next year and do it again. In one boat, Keith and I both caught several
fish in the five to eight-pound range, and I had a few pushing nine
pounds on the frog. In the other boat, Roy Hawk was a fishing machine,
consistently catching more big fish. We all caught our personal best, saw
some incredible scenery and not one of us got sick, which is a testament
to the great way we were taken care of.
We’d like to thank Sportsman’s
News for recommending the lodge and for giving us this wonderful
opportunity to fish; and Powell Rods for sending Roy Hawk and the
excellent rods we each got to use. Most of all, thanks to James and
Debbie Luebker for memories that will last a lifetime.
Lake Comedero Lodge is a five-star
resort with a personal, almost family like touch. James and Debbie
Luebker are the epitome of southern hospitality, and I have decided to adopt
them as my grandparents. Whether it’s James’ famous
margaritas, or Debbie’s shrimp heaven and ceviche, everything is
made with love and pride. The fishing makes Lake
Comedero spectacular, but James
and Debbie make the Lake Comedero Lodge a cut above. Be sure to visit
their website, www.lakecomederolodge.com.
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