The Lake Atitlan Bass Club is based in Panajachel, Guatemala, in the Lake Atitlan basin in the Solola Department about  70 miles from Guatemala City.  This beautiful clear water, crater lake is situated about 5,200 ft above sea level and surrounded by mountains and three volcanoes.  It offers some of the most challenging trophy bass fishing in the world.The Lake Atitlan Bass Club has been formed to promote responsible sport fishing  practices and conservation of Lake Atitlan and its natural resources through education and special events such as the Lake Atitlan Bass Invitational Tournament.

Atitlán Bass Club Torneo de Pesca 2008 April 11-13
This is Lake Atitlán’s 2nd annual bass tournament hosted by the Atitlán Bass Club, as part of its ongoing effort to promote responsible rod and reel fishing and conservation of Lake Atitlán and its natural resources. This event is a benefit for the Atitlán Bass Club and El Hospitalito de Santiago.

Prizes include: saltwater sport fishing trip, , night for two at Posada de Santiago including a guided bass trip on
Lake Atitlán and more prizes.
Tournament registration:  Q100, Kids 12 & Under Q75.  
Registrants receive a free tournament t-shirt (while supplies last).
Awards luncheon 1-3 pm April 13, location to be announced

Rods & reels available for tournament rental call: 7721-7363 for info.
For more tournament information call: 7762-2428 or 5669-3923
E-mail: bass@panajachel.com

Atitlán Bass Club 2008 Torneo de Pesca by Allen Stern
Once again the bass showed us who’s the boss in the Atitlán Bass Club’s second annual tournament held April 11-13. This year fifty-one anglers, including six children 12 years old or younger from various parts of Guatemala as well as the USA, Canada and Australia, participated in this challenging event held on beautiful Lake Atitlán.   Although there was less wind than last year many anglers braved thunder showers on Saturday afternoon in search of the elusive large mouth bass.  Over $600 was raised for the Hospitalito Atitlán in Santiago Atitlán.

After a tough day of fishing Friday many participants and friends attended the welcoming party at Jack’s Café in Panajachel that evening where they could swap fish stories of the day.  At the end of day one Rolando Yach and Edi Ruan Xingo (last year’s third and first place winners respectively) were again leading the pack Saturday with the only two qualifying fish caught.

Saturday started out as a nice day with the colorful tournament t-shirts and caps from Comeca spotting the lake and shoreline but the fish weren’t biting in the morning.  However, after scattered showers around the lake in the afternoon Luis Miguel Bocel brought in a 1 lb 6 1/8 oz. bass that held third place at that point.  Everyone had high hopes for Sunday.

Sunday morning many anglers were searching for the secret spot that would hold the winning bass.  Martin Chif and Mike Dickey were able to scratch out two bass that bumped Martin into third place and gave them honors of second place team for the event.  They relied on local knowledge to search out the many bays and coves on the Santiago side of the lake.

The awards luncheon at Jack’s Café on Sunday, capped this successful event. All participants received a t-shirt courtesy of Comeca and the winners received trophies courtesy of Suzuki as well as prizes provided by Team Parlama, Posada de Santiago, Martin’s Bait Box, Cefesa True Value and Pesqueros. 

Tounament results were as follows:

1st place individual—Rolando Yach, Panajachel, 2 lbs. 15 7/8 oz.
2nd place individual—Edi Ruan Xingo, Panajachel, 1 lb. 14 oz.
2nd place individual—Martin Chif, Santiago Atitlán, 1lb. 10 oz.

1st place team—Roando Yach and Edi Ruan Xingo, Equipo Extremo, 4 lbs.  13 7/8 oz.
2nd place team—Martin Chif and Mike Dickey, Team Sushi, 2 lbs. 15 ¾ oz.

Honorable Mention goes to Luis Miguel Bocel from Sololá for his 1 lb 6 1/8 oz bass.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of largemouth bass into Lake Atitlán.  In addition to raising funds for Hospitalito Atitlán the Atitlán Bass Club uses the tournament as an entertaining way to educate people about the need to conserve the natural beauty and resources of Lake Atitlán.  Thanks to all who participated and supported this event.  We hope to see you out fishing at the tournament next year.

Lake Atitlán Largemouth Bass fishing history and general information.
Aside from the many other recreational activities available, Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán offers one of the most challenging largemouth bass lakes in the world.  This clear water lake, situated in the highlands of Guatemala at an altitude of over 5,100 feet (1,562 meters) above sea level with a depth of more than 1,000 feet (320 meters), is quite different from most lakes holding largemouth bass not only because of these features but also because of thermal warming created by underwater vents from the three volcanoes on the west side of the lake.  Although this lake has produced bass in the 20 lb class, bass over 5 lbs are rarely caught because the large ones spend most of their time deep except during the spring spawn.

Bass were introduced to Lake Atitlán in 1958 with assistance from Pan American Airlines in the hopes of attracting bass anglers.  Although this plan never developed beyond the stocking of the bass, local anglers frequently catch them up to the 5 lb class on rod and reel.  The best time of year seems to be March-May before and after spawning, but bass are caught year round on a variety of artificial lures.  While spinner baits are effective and the most commonly used, top water lures are quite productive early in the morning or just before sunset.