As Hanna and I wrestle with whether to ride off into retirement in an RV, I sought out the advice of Mike McClelland. My writing career has overlapped with his success, and we explored both bass fishing history and life on the road.

Every angler has that one bucket list trip, the place they think about on slow days on the water, the fish they have always wanted to chase, or that experience that may seem just a little out of reach….even professional bass anglers.

We love our trips to Casa Vieja Lodge not only because the service and fishing are exceptional, but also because it’s easy to get there. There are direct flights from many US cities, and the number keeps xpanding.

Hanna and I have long dreamed of going on the road with a fifth wheel, but as retirement approaches, I’ve become a little skittish – worried about things that could go wrong. Luckily Gerald Swindle was available to put us back on the right path.

Bassmaster photographer Andy Crawford offers photo workshops out of kayaks in the swamp. They’re available to novice, intermediate and advanced photographers alike, and they’re limited to small groups for personalized attention.

We just completed our fifth trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge, which we first visited in April 2021 as a “once in a lifetime” trip. Trip number six is already on the calendar. So why do we keep going back? There were several moments on this trip that helped me relearn why SFPIL is a special place.

It’s been so long since we first wrote about it, and the Brazilian government delayed it several times, but as of last month it is finally once again necessary for Americans (as well as Canadians and Australians) to have a visa to enter Brazil.

If you have ever dreamed of reeling in a trophy bass you need to know about Hill Country Hammer Guides and Outfitters. Whether you are a beginner or a pro chasing your personal best largemouth in Texas, Louisiana or California, or smallmouth up north, they excel at putting anglers on PBs.

Captain Frank Campbell has been fishing the waters around Buffalo NY for decades and he can put you on trophy bronzebacks, along with trout, salmon, walleye, musky and pike. It’s a trip everyone needs to make, especially if you’re a fan of great wings.

I like to read and I like to hunt down useful fishing travel information, but I understand that some of you do not have the time or inclination to do the same. Accordingly, I come to you with the humble goal of making your upcoming fishing travel easier and better.

Starting soon many people traveling on Southwest will have to pay for checked bags. There will be some exclusions based on frequent flyer status and ticket class which will enable a percentage of travelers to check one or two bags for free. Not everyone is happy with this change.

Copa continues to extend their footprint in the United States starting in June of 2025 with direct flights between San Diego and Panama’s Tocumen International airport four days a week — making it easier to get to the prime fishing grounds.

When we visit Ft. Worth for the 2025 Bassmaster Classic, we’ll have to get some Texas barbecue. There are plenty of options near the city, including some highly-ranked restaurants, and a few with a twist on the traditional.

Our first four trips to Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala all occurred in February but in 2024 we had scheduling conflicts that forced us to move our trip to the latter half of the year. The late portion of 2024 produced some amazing sailfish catches for CVL.

We hosted 20 anglers at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge in January – the first group larger than 17. That was made possible by the fact that Shane Jarvis added a fifth boat. The other enabling factor was the fact this his right-hand man and master carpenter Steve Volk completed another house on the property.

Airlines flying to Anchorage should be aware of their policies on fishing tackle, but if you'll be bringing your own gear it pays to know them thoroughly yourself. Here are the airlines that fly there, along with their rules.

This February has been one for the ages at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge. Not only has the exceptional billfishing kept up, with ridiculous variety, but it’s produced some of the biggest yellowfin we’ve ever seen.

We’d been told that the best times for marlin in Panama were December/January and July/August. While I can’t say that a single trip is representative of a trend, this did indeed prove to be our best overall billfish visit, by a wide margin, on our January 2025 visit to SFPIL.

We’re thrilled to have partnered with Grosse Savanne because we’ve loved every aspect of our trips there and it gives our friends and clients access to  new experiences — and also because it’s SUPER-EASY to get there.

We just completed our fifth trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge, a hosted adventure that included anglers from at least nine states. We’ve learned a lot about traveling to Panama, both through our own experiences and through tireless research.