Fishing Forecast: Don Martín

Don Martín, officially Presa Venustiano Carranza, is one of Mexico's oldest and most historic reservoirs, built in the 1930s in northern Coahuila. Set in a semi-desert landscape near the Texas border, it offers a rustic and authentic fishing experience.

The reservoir's surface area varies considerably depending on rainfall but can reach over 37,000 acres. Water is clear to moderately stained, with temperatures ranging from 54°F in winter to 90°F in summer.

Don Martín is particularly renowned for its blue catfish, which can exceed 45 pounds. Largemouth bass also thrive in these waters, with fish in the 4-8 pound range common during spring and fall.

Its proximity to the Texas border makes Don Martín a popular destination for Texan anglers, who cross at Nuevo Laredo and drive approximately 2 hours south.

Don Martín holds a special place in Mexican fishing history as one of the country's oldest modern reservoirs. The dam, completed in 1930, has supported recreational fishing for nearly a century. Texas-based anglers have been crossing the border to fish Don Martín since the 1950s, making it one of the original cross-border fishing destinations.

The reservoir's blue catfish population is among the best in Mexico and rivals many Texas lakes. For anglers seeking a multi-species adventure combining trophy catfish with quality bass fishing in an authentic, uncrowded setting, Don Martín delivers an experience that cannot be replicated at more touristic destinations.

March through May is Don Martín's prime window. The semi-arid climate warms rapidly in spring, pushing water temperatures from the low 60s°F into the ideal 68-76°F zone. Both largemouth bass and catfish become highly active. Bass concentrate on rocky shorelines and brush piles in 4-12 feet of water. Crankbaits and Texas-rigged soft plastics produce the best bass catches, while cut bait at creek channel intersections targets the largest blue catfish.

September through November offers a secondary peak as fall cooling relieves the summer heat. Bass and catfish that spent the summer in deep water begin moving to intermediate depths. This period is particularly excellent for blue catfish, which feed voraciously to build fat reserves before winter.

June through August is brutally hot in the Coahuila semi-desert. Daytime temperatures frequently exceed 105°F, and water temperatures can surpass 90°F. Night fishing becomes the primary approach, targeting both bass and catfish along deep channel edges. Dawn and dusk windows of 30-45 minutes provide brief surface action.

December through February sees cold northern fronts (nortes) that periodically crash water temperatures below 55°F. Bass become extremely lethargic and difficult to catch. Blue catfish, however, remain catchable throughout winter on slow-fished cut bait in deep channels.

Largemouth bass at Don Martín average 2-4 pounds, with fish over 6 pounds available during the spring peak. The bass population benefits from relatively low fishing pressure compared to more accessible lakes. Structure at Don Martín is primarily rocky — bluffs, boulder fields, and scattered brush piles — which creates a pattern-based fishery that rewards anglers who can identify key transitions.

Blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) are Don Martín's trophy species. These powerful bottom-dwellers reach 20-50 pounds in the reservoir's deep channels and are among the hardest-fighting freshwater fish in Mexico. Blue cats are targeted with fresh cut bait — carp, tilapia, or gizzard shad sections — fished on circle hooks near deep channel bends. Their white, flaky meat is considered the finest eating of any Mexican freshwater species.

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fill the smaller catfish niche, averaging 2-6 pounds. They are more abundant than blues and respond to a wider variety of baits including prepared stink baits, worms, and chicken liver. Local anglers often fish for channel cats from shore along accessible banks.