Competitors vie for a chance to fish for Mexican Bass
 

BASS Times Staff Report

With competition underway in three of the six regions of the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series competitions, a 9-pound, 15-ounce largemouth leads the qualifying race for a unique big-bass tournament to be held next year.

The big bass was weighed in by John Harlow, a nonboater competing in the first Okeechobee event, Jan 8. Heavy as it is, a bass that size probably wouldn’t get much notice if it were caught in the special Monster Bass Challenge at Anglers Inn Resort on Mexico’s trophy hot spot, Lake El Salto.

Twelve lucky “weekend anglers” who land some of the heaviest bass during the 2006 ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series presented by Advance Auto Parts will receive an expenses paid fishing trip to El Salto, located near Mazatlan, Mexico.

The winner of the Monster Bass Challenge will receive a $25,000 account at Anglers Inn, while the runner-up will get an $11,000 account at the resort. The special tournament will consist of one day of practice and three days of fishing.
 

In recent years, El Salto has been kicking out 10 – to 12-pound bass regularly, so catches in the Monster Bass Challenge should be huge.

In addition to Harlow’s giant, several other bass heavier than 8 pounds have been weighed in on the Bassmaster Series trail, which consist of one-day tournaments at select lakes across the country.Only one angler from each division, and no more than two from each of the six regions, can earn entry into the Monster Bass Challenge so that competitiors in northern and central regions will have a fairer chance of qualifying.

As of March 9, Harlow’s bass led the Southeast Region/Okeechobee Division, while a pair of 8-12 bass caught by Gary Arnold and Joe Buddin, both at Santee Cooper, S.C. (Palmetto Division), are runners-up in the Southeast. Big bass catches are reported along with top finishers in the Bassmaster Series in each issue of BASS Times. The contest runs throught the end of 2006, and the Monster Bass Challenge will be held in spring or early summer 2007.

Lake El Salto is an impoundment in the Sierra Madre range of western Mexico, and it has become known worldwide for the number of 10-pound and heavier bass it produces. Trophy bass fishing has become almost a year round pursuit there. In fact, more big bass are caught in the postspawn than in the prespawn and spawning periods.
Most big bass are caught on large stickworms, 10-inch Texas rigged worms, deep diving crankbaits, topwater plugs and swimbaits. Lure selections change little through the seasons, but big bass typically congregate on deeper structure during the hotter months.

For more information about fishing on Lake El Salto, visit the resort’s Web site, www.anglersinn.com or phone 1-800-GOTAFISH.

To sign up for the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series, go to http://www.bassmaster.com, or call 877-BASS-USA for more information.

TAKE THE MONSTER BASS CHALLENGE!

If you land one of the heaviest bass in your region of the 2006 ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series presented by Advance Auto Parts, you may win more than the daily big-fish prize. You might qualify for a special tournament hosted by Anglers Inn on fabled Lake El Salto, Mexico. After the 2006 season, 12 ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series anglers will compete for additional prizes in the MONSTER BASS Challenge presented by BASS and Anglers Inn. The tournament will consist of one practice day and three days of competition.

To qualify, you simply have to catch the biggest bass in your division, and that fish has to be one of the two heaviest divisional lunkers in your region. So, the more tournaments you fish, the better your odds of winning an expenses-paid 5-night/4-day trip to Anglers Inn on Lake El Salto (Expenses include round-trip airfare, transportation to and from Anglers Inn, meals, room and fishing).

The angler who catches the biggest fish in the MONSTER BASS Challenge will win the Grand Prize of $25,000 to be used on account at Lake El Salto with Anglers Inn. The runner-up will receive an $11,000 credit with Anglers Inn.

So what are you waiting for?

Register now at Bassmaster.com. Then land a big bass and take the MONSTER BASS Challenge.

Learn more about LAKE EL SALTO at http://www.anglersinn.com; 1-800-GOTAFISH.