|
Event Article:
El Salto with Shimano |
Fishing El Salto with pre-release Shimano Tackle and Jimmy Houston
|
Date: |
6/26/07 |
|
Location: |
Lake El
Salto, Mexico |
|
Event Dates: |
June 18-22 |
|
Reviewer: |
Team
TackleTour |
Introduction:
We were
invited to famous lake El Salto in Mexico by Shimano to field test their brand
new pre-release reels and rods before ICAST. El Salto is on the short list of
top bass lakes in the world, and it seemed like a fitting location to see if the
latest crop of Shimano reels and rods was truly ready for their upcoming debut
at ICAST.
|
 |
|
Shimano had
the entire event planned, and the minute we landed in Mazatlan we were
shuttled into the mountains to the Anglers Inn on Lake El Salto |
Getting the call:
We talk to Shimano on a regular basis, always trying to get the inside scoop on
tackle from their Product Managers. Three months ago Zander received an email
from Jeremy Sweet, Product Manager of Reels, at Shimano. On the email there were
only three words “Call me, ASAP” followed by Jeremy’s cell number.
|
 |
|
The crew
from Susquehanna fishing tackle check out the itinerary |
When we called Jeremy asked us if we would have time in June to field test some
of their new reels and rods prior to ICAST, to which Zander responded “sure
thing, we can come down to Southern California.” There was a pause, and Jeremy
said “that’s why I thought it was better we do this on the phone, get your
passport ready, were going to El Salto.” What followed was a whole lot of
hollering in our office.
|
 |
|
After what
seemed like forever we arrived at the Anglers Inn |
About El Salto: El Salto is one of those lakes that are truly made of
legend, and certainly a top fishing destination for all Bass Anglers. It
certainly was on our “wish list” (the list of places I absolutely must fish,
before I can no longer wind them in). We were not sure if the reports over the
years were exaggerated, but pictures from anglers returning to the US after
excursions south of the border were enough to make any largemouth angler foam at
the mouth. Combine that with the opportunity to not only preview the new
pre-release Shimano reels and rods, but also fish them for four days, we felt
like we just hit the lottery.
|
 |
|
Lake El
Salto was low, but still just below the Anglers Inn |
Flying in: One of
the reasons why El Salto is so popular to begin with is its geographical
location in relation to the United States. On a plane it is simply a hop and a
skip away from both coasts. Shimano flew in a number of their key dealers from
all over the country in for the event, and on average with one connection there
was less than five hours of actual flying time. Not bad for an “exotic” fishing
destination.
|
 |
|
A view of
our home base during the Shimano field test |
Most anglers traveling to
El Salto will stop in either Phoenix or Houston before hopping on the final
plane into Mazatlan, the nearest city to the lake. Once arriving at Mazatlan the
lake is about an hour and a half by car into the mountains. Lucky for us we were
greeted at the airport by a representative from Anglers Inn, the fishing lodge
that would serve as home base for our field tests. We were then shuttled an hour
and a half to the lodge.
|
 |
|
Shimano
invited a number of dealers to preview the new tackle, and they were just as
excited to be here as we were |
The Anglers Inn:
That hour and a half from the airport to El Salto felt like the longest 90
minutes in our lives, as we were eager to get a look at the new tackle, and pit
it against some big bass. When we arrived at the Anglers Inn we were immediately
greeted with nachos and margaritas, the event sure was starting out right. What
we discovered at the Anglers Inn was a far cry from the fishing lodges we were
used to. This is a full service facility with excellent air conditioned rooms, a
full service bar, covered dining area, tackle shop, and even cable TV!
|
 |
|
The tackle
shop located at the Inn |
We certainly didn’t rough
it at El Salto and the service was outstanding. The fishing schedule at the
Anglers Inn is broken up into two parts, wake up at 5AM and fish till lunch at
which time there is a siesta until 3:30pm when we got back on the water and
fished until the sun went down. The siestas were so good that we started
thinking we needed to start implementing them into all our field tests.
Robby Gant, Shimano's Brand
Manager and Jeremy Sweet Product Manager - Reels walk us through the new
solutions
The Team from
Shimano: Once we got situated at the lodge we were met with just about all
the key players at Shimano America, and even the design engineers for reels and
rods from Japan.
|
 |
|
Some of you
may remember Robby as the Product Manager of Rods from our ICAST coverage,
before being promoted the rods we fished at the event were his final project |
They were eager to get us
on the water and to see what we thought of their new products. They explained
that we would be fishing with two brand new reels, three redesigned reels, and a
brand new line of rods. They went on to say that this new lineup was just a
sampling of what they had in store for ICAST just two weeks away.
|
 |
|
Shimano
brought plenty of rods and reels for the beta test, so much in fact that the
"Federales" actually detained the team! |
Next
Section: New Shimano gear faces El Salto Bass
