BassBlaster

Falcon Fishermen Packing Heat

One of our guys on Falcon, packing some serious heat.

Texas’ Falcon Lake has entered the realm of infamy thanks to crazy drug-related shootings and killings, but you can’t keep bassers away from basses. Bassers may be crazy but they’re not stupid, so seems like some are packing heat in their boats.

You have to read these highlights from a Houston Chronicle article – literally sounds like it’s fishing in a war zone. This line stood out for me: “Protection is the greatest it’s ever been on Falcon Lake.” Cool – I’m there dude!

Protection? Bass fishing? Check it:

> The lust for lunkers apparently trumps any fears of “El Lazca,” the purported leader of the gangsters terrorizing the mesquite-choked ranchlands along the lake’s Mexican shore.

> “It’s picking up,” said San Antonian Paul Hulin, 58, who rolled into the town of Zapata last week for three days of bass-chasing with a buddy, a registered firearm and what appeared to be an expensively effective boat. “You can’t keep fishermen away from fish.”

> The Mexican towns near Falcon Lake have become battlefields as the two [drug gangs] war for smuggling routes into Texas. Searching for new sources of revenue, the Zetas [gang] have branched into kidnapping, extortion and robbery. In some towns near Falcon [on the Mexican side], nearly everyone has fled.

> U.S. anglers all but evaporated from Falcon last October following the murder of a Colorado man, David Hartley, who crossed the lake on jet skis with his wife to tour the half-submerged town of Guerrero on the Mexican bank.

> Hartley, his wife told police, was shot in the head by armed thugs who swarmed the couple in boats. The attack followed reports last spring of Mexican “pirates” assaulting U.S. fishermen.

> Local and Texas state officials point to the attack as proof that Mexico’s gangland wars, which have killed more than 35,000 people over the last four years, threaten to cross the border.

> Hundreds of Mexican soldiers and marines have poured into the Falcon Lake area. Mexican military helicopters frequently patrol the area. Authorities on the U.S. side have beefed up their presence as well.

> The added security has brought a wary calm, at least to the Texas shore. Local fishing guides and tackle shops say business has returned almost to normal in recent weeks. Bass boats towed by pickup trucks and SUVs clog the parking lots of Zapata’s hotels and restaurants.

> “We’ve seen a number of boaters back in town. There are calls coming in,” said Celia Balderas, an official with the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce, which is sponsoring fishing tournaments this spring. “Protection is the greatest it’s ever been on Falcon Lake.” [That’s a selling point?!]

> “There are boats everywhere on the Mexican side, lots of people fishing over there,” said James Bendele, who along with his brother Tom owns Falcon Lake Tackle. “Anybody who is fishing on the lake is a lot more aware. Anyone with any sense, that is.” [Sounds like at least one guy below does not have that sense….]

> Jerry English and Mike Stafford, friends from the Texas Hill Country, returned to Zapata from the Mexican side one afternoon last week, gushing [gushing?] about the scores of bass they caught in 8 hours of fishing.

> A stringer of the largest fish weighed more than 40 pounds, guide Jim Edwards said. The three men had been fishing on Falcon’s Mexican side the day Hartley reportedly was killed. They’ve been back on Mexican waters nearly a dozen times since, English said. “Concerned about it? Absolutely not. It’s a nice place,” English said.
_____

Any BassParaders been on Falcon lately? If so, have you felt secure, packed heat or seen any military fly-overs? Or is the media just blowing things out of proportion somehow?

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Jason

    March 23, 2011 at 10:30 am

    I’ve got plans to return this year. Actually, I had plans to return next month for a tournament that were unfortunately scrapped due to work obligations. I’ll definitely be back, though.

    I’ve felt from the beginning that all this stuff was blown out of proportion. This type of crime is nothing new to border towns. I’d be a fool to say it hasn’t escalated in recent years, but it’s far from a new concern for folks in those areas.

    I’ve fished the lake plenty of times – always with my head on a swivel, but never with a feeling of nervousness or danger. If I were to go back today I’d probably stay on the American side of the lake, where in the past I’ve spent most of my time on the Mexican side.

  2. Rich

    March 23, 2011 at 11:54 am

    My Dad winters down in Zapata and has been spending more & more time fishing the Mexican side this spring, he says the only place they don’t go, is way up the arm by the Guerrero Church and areas past that.

    Says they are a lot more aware, don’t let any unknown boats get close, if anything seems weird, they are ready to leave, but have not had to do so.

    Overall, seems safer then ever right now

  3. Slicks N Tricks

    March 23, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    This is a case of people watching the news way too much. I have only had two boats stole and shot twice in the last year but id say its still safe. Come on people have we not ever noticed the media ( except Bass Parade) blowing things way out of proportion??? O one more thing these people are try’n to get drugs in America without getting caught…Why would they shoot up a bunch of fishermen? To get more attention? What you should do is go try to help the economy of Zapata that the jake leg media is try’n there best to kill right now.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Gitcha Bassin' Fix

To Top