From flight to first cast: Bass fishing on Lake Aguamilpa
Whether it’s your first trip or your fifth, this trip planner covers the logistics that matter—how to get here, what to bring, when to fish, and what to expect once you arrive. Coras Lodge is built around the bite, and your time here should be too. Let’s get you dialed in.
A seasonal playbook for fishing Lake Aguamilpa
Aguamilpa offers stable water levels and warm temps year-round—but the bite changes with the seasons. Whether you’re after topwater action, jig bites, or steady numbers, there’s a window for it here. Time your trip around how you like to fish:
Conditions: Cool mornings (60–68 °F / 15–20 °C), warm afternoons (80–88 °F / 27–31 °C), low humidity, clear skies.
Fishing Outlook:
- Peak topwater action in the mornings and evenings.
- Fish are aggressive and active in shallow cover.
- Excellent time for numbers and consistency.
- Topwater, chatterbaits, and jerkbaits get it done.
What to Wear: Light jacket or vest at launch; switch to a sun shirt by mid-morning.
Why Go Now: Comfortable weather and ideal conditions for first-time visitors looking for high volume action and trophy bass potential.
Conditions: Warming trend; highs reach 90–95 °F / 32–35 °C by May. Calm mornings, hotter afternoons.
Fishing Outlook:
- Some of the best size of the year.
- Spawn and post-spawn periods.
- Big females move up.
- Fishing beds and working secondary points all produce.
- Stick to soft plastics, jigs, and slow presentations near structure.
- Bite slows midday—plan for early and late sessions.
What to Wear: Long-sleeve sun shirt, lightweight pants, and a buff—layer up early, peel back by noon.
Why Go Now: Ideal for anglers chasing quantity and quality bass in shallow water. There are no nets from March to May.
Conditions: Hot and humid. Daily highs in the mid-to-upper 90s °F / 35–37 °C. Afternoon thunderstorms are common—this is the rainy season (especially July–September).
Fishing Outlook:
- Fish push deeper mid-day, but topwater can be explosive at dawn and dusk.
- Crankbaits, swimbaits, and topwaters early; deep diving and slow presentations midday.
- Afternoon storms can cool the surface and turn the bite back on.
What to Wear: Breathable sun gear from head to toe. UPF hooded shirts, light gloves, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen.
Why Go Now: Lush scenery, explosive strikes during low-light hours, and a high potential for double digit bass.
Conditions: Cooling trend begins. Highs in the low 90s °F / 32 °C, with more consistent weather. Rain tapers off by mid-October.
Fishing Outlook:
- Cooling water fuels baitfish movement.
- Feeding frenzy resumes as fish fatten up.
- Excellent crankbait and spinnerbait bite along brush lines and rocky points.
- Stable water and structure make patterns easy to follow.
- Cover water with moving baits, then slow down when you find them. Great time for reaction bites.
What to Wear: Start in a lightweight layer; switch to short sleeves when the sun hits. Keep a rain shell handy—just in case.
Why Go Now: A favorite season for returning guests. Great numbers and solid size.
Remote but more accessible than ever
Coras Lodge may feel off the grid, but with expanded flight options into Tepic and faster highway access from Puerto Vallarta, your trip from stateside to lakeside just got a whole lot easier. No matter where you land, the Coras Lodge team will make your stay seamless.
Drive Time: 75 minutes
The fastest way to Coras Lodge is through the newly expanded Tepic International Airport (TPQ). Most major U.S. cities offer one-stop connections through Mexico City—fly in from Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami, Denver, or Chicago, then hop a short Aeroméxico Connect flight to TPQ.
Flying from the West Coast? Volaris now offers nonstop service from Los Angeles to Tepic in under three hours. Keep an eye out—more nonstop routes are anticipated.
Once you land, it’s a 75-minute ride through the Sierra Madre foothills straight to the lodge. Bags down, rods up.
Drive Time: 3-4 hours
If you’re flying into Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), expect a 3–4 hour drive to the lodge, depending on your route. Some guests build in a beach day—either on the front or back end—to put their toes in the sand.
Heads-up: the Tepic-Compostela Highway is under construction, with completion expected in early 2026. Once finished, it’ll cut drive time to around two hours—just in time for the 2026 season.
Drive Time: 4 hours
If you’re coming through Mazatlán International Airport (MZT), plan for a 4 hour shuttle to the lodge. The route winds through coastal country dotted with palm groves, mango orchards, colorful villages, and distant vistas of the Sierra Madre.
It’s a long ride, but a good one. On request, your driver can stop for lunch along the way.
Drive Time: 3-4 hours
Guadalajara’s Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (GDL) provides another scenic entry point. Expect a 3–4 hour drive to the lodge through classic Jalisco terrain—agave fields, lava rock, and small towns along the way.
Want to break it up? On request, your shuttle can stop in the town of Tequila for lunch or a quick walk through the Tequila Museum. Not a bad way to start a fishing trip.
Safe, scenic, stress-free airport transfers
Coras Lodge is remote—but getting here is easy. Whether you’re flying into Tepic or Puerto Vallarta, our all-inclusive transfer service takes the guesswork out of arrival. From the moment you land to the moment you reach the dock, you’re in good hands.
Your professional driver meets you at baggage claim—no third-party apps or rideshare stress. You’ll ride in a lodge-owned, insured vehicle with cold drinks, snacks, and air conditioning for the scenic drive into the Sierra Madre.
By the time you arrive at Coras Lodge, you’re rested, welcomed, and ready to fish. The staff will have a cold margarita waiting, your room will be clean and cool, and your rods can be prepped for morning launch.
From wheels down to hookset, we’ve built every step of the trip to be smooth, comfortable, and focused on what matters most: the best bass fishing in Mexico.
Sunrise to sunset: Bass fishing at Milpa
Anglers who know the lake just call her Milpa. She’s steady, generous, and full of surprises. Life at Coras Lodge follows her lead. From first light to last cast, the day moves with the speed of the lake.
Mornings Start Early. Be Ready.
The lodge comes alive before first light. The air is cool, the coffee’s hot, and the fish are already moving. Bring a lightweight jacket or vest to ward off the chill on your run.
Prefer a slow start? Grab a full breakfast at the lodge. Ready to chase the early bite? Toast, fruit, fresh squeeze juice, and a full Stanley will get you out the door. The kitchen packs warm breakfast burritos to keep you fueled if the fish give you a window.
Rods loaded, gear on deck, and your guide is waiting at the dock. You’re on the water before sunrise—working a Zara Spook just in time for that first topwater strike.
Midday Reset. Refuel and Reload.
By late morning, as the sun climbs and the bite slows, most anglers head back to the lodge. A three-course lunch hits the reset button—cream of zucchini soup, chicken enchiladas, and a cold scoop of ice cream. It’s a good chance to cool off, recharge, and relive the morning’s action.
Kick back in your room or re-rig on the veranda while you get ready for the next round. If you’re staying out all day, the kitchen packs wraps or sandwiches to keep you fueled on the boat.
Your guide stays stocked with cold drinks—both spirited and not—to keep you hydrated. Just reapply sunscreen and wear sun-protective gear. This close to the equator, the UV hits harder than you think.
Afternoon Push. Adjust and Attack.
Around 3:00 PM, it’s back on the water. You’re recharged, the wind’s picked up, and the bite is shifting. Your guide has your rods re-rigged—some fast movers, some finesse—ready to match what the fish want now.
Whether you’re burning a shallow crank, skipping a swimbait through timber, or twitching a fluke along the rocks, the afternoon session brings new variables—and big rewards. And if that topwater bite turns back on? Game on.
Back at the Lodge. Rest, Refuel, Repeat.
By sunset, the boats roll in to the dock. You ride back with tired arms, sunkissed skin, and a full day behind you. The smell of roasted poblanos and slow-cooked meat greets you at the gate. Dinner’s another three-course meal—shared, relaxed, and well-earned.
Pro tip: Ask ahead for the grilled crawfish appetizer. It’s a local favorite, but it takes time to source, so the kitchen needs a heads-up.
Then it’s off to rest. Because tomorrow, it starts all over again—and you’ll want to be ready.
Pack for ease, not extras
Unless you’re planning off-water excursions, keep it simple. Bring lightweight, moisture-wicking layers with built-in SPF—gear that moves with you from cool morning runs to warm afternoon drifts near the equator. Use packing cubes to keep your kit organized and your focus where it belongs. You’re headed to Aguamilpa to fish—almost everything else is optional.
Essentials
- Valid Passport
- Airline Tickets
- Cash for tips and personal purchases
- Trip insurance (recommended)
- Multiple Digital Migratory Form – (completed online or in person)
Clothing
- Long sleeve SPF performance shirts
- Fishing pants or shorts
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Widebrimmed hat
- Neck gator
- Fishing gloves
- Sandals, tennis shoes or boat shoes
Personal Items
- Sunscreen & lip balm (SPF 50+)
- Aloe vera for sunburn
- Toiletries & shampoo
- Prescription medications
- Polarized sunglasses
- Snacks, candy, or personal beverages
- Standard voltage cords and cables
Bring the gear that gets bit – fish with confidence
Aguamilpa is a numbers lake with steady patterns and active fish. You don’t need a truckload of gear in every color and model—just a few proven baits you trust and know how to fish well. The Coras Lodge tackle shop has backup if you burn through plastics or want to try a local favorite, so you can relax and keep your tacklebox focused. Your guide will help you dial it in from there. Here are a few go-to producers and colors with high hook-up rates on the lake.
Rods, Reels & Line
- Bring 3–4 rods and reels, spooled with 15–25 lb mono, fluoro, or copolymer
- Each angler may bring 4 rods and associated tackle through customs in Mexico. Check your airline and customs regulations before flying.
Terminal Tackle
- Offset worm hooks (3/0–6/0)
- Bullet weights (1/4 oz – 1 oz)
- Underspins (1/2 oz – 3/4 oz)
- Weighted swimbait hooks (1/8 oz – 1/2 oz)
- Shakey heads & Ned rigs (1/16 oz – 1/4 oz)
- Scrounger heads (1/4, 3/8, 1/2 oz)
- Wacky rig kit & hooks
- Nail weights (1/32 oz – 3/16 oz)
- Backup treble hooks & spinner blades
Soft Plastics
Recommended Colors: Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Seed, Tilapia, White, Pearl, Natural Shad
- Magnum & small lizards
- Baby Brush Hogs
- Worms & Senkos (5″, 6″, 7″)
- Zoom Super Flukes (White Ice, Pearl, Arkansas Shiner)
Hard Baits
Recommended Colors: Bone, Ghost Shad, Pearl, Sexy Shad, Chartreuse Variants
- Poppers & Chuggers (Booyah Boss Pop, Chug Bug, Pop-R)
- Walking Baits (Zara Spook, Strike King Megadawg)
- Topwater Prop Baits (Whopper Plopper 90–130)
- Suspending Jerkbaits (Lucky Craft Pointer, Strike King KVD Jerkbait)
- Mid-Range Crankbaits (Strike King Series 3–5, Rapala DT10, Bandit 300)
- Deep-Diving Crankbaits (Strike King 6XD, 10XD)
Swimbaits
Recommended Colors: Bone, Ghost Shad, Pearl, Sexy Shad, Chartreuse Variants
- Paddle-Tail / Solid Body Swimmers
- Keitech Fat Swing Impact (3.8″, 4.3″, 4.8″)
- Rage Swimmer (Strike King) (3.75″, 4.75″)
- Hollow-Belly Swimbaits
- Shadalicious (Strike King) (4.5″, 5.5″)
- Pre-Rigged / Weighted Swimbaits
- Storm WildEye Swim Shad (4″, 5″, 6″)
- Multi-Joint / Custom-Style Swimbaits (Slow or Fast Sink)
- Bull Shad Swimbaits (5″, 6″, 7″)
Miscellaneous Baits
- Spinnerbaits (1/2 – 1 oz; chartreuse/gold; willow or double willow blades)
- Jigs (1/2 oz – 1 oz)
- Jigging spoons & flutter spoons
- Blade baits
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Tools & Essentials
- Small boat bag or tackle backpack
- Pliers, hook sharpener, line cutters, scent markers
- Digital scale
- Fish clicker/counter
- Super glue
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Seasonal Bait Guide
- Fall: Topwaters, underspins, swimbaits, rattletraps
- Winter: Squarebills, Texas rigs, scrounger heads, shaky heads, Alabama rigs
- Spring: Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, plastics, rattletraps, jerkbaits
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Let me help you plan your trip
Since 2021, I’ve made annual trips to Coras Lodge—each visit deepening my appreciation for this one-of-a-kind fishery. I’m proud to represent Coras Lodge on Lake Aguamilpa and help others discover what keeps me coming back.
When we aren’t upland bird hunting, my husband and I have fished some of the most iconic waters across the Americas—from the clear depths of Smith Lake (AL) and Pickwick (TN) to the timbered structure of Lake Fork and Toledo Bend (TX), and south to Mexico’s rising reservoirs like Lake Picachos and Lake Aguamilpa. We’ve chased smallmouth on Lake Michigan (WI) and landed trout in the Bow River (Canada), the White (AR), the Strawberry (UT), and the Chimehuin (Patagonia). We’ve also worked the marshes of Cocodrie and Venice (LA), targeting redfish and speckled trout.
I share your passion for finding new new waters and reaching a personal best. Let’s plan your trip to Aguamilpa. You just might catch me there.