Fishing and Travel News to Start 2026
We haven’t provided a news roundup in quite a while. It’s not that the news hasn’t been happening – indeed the cycle is quicker and fuller than ever before – but rather that we’ve been busy writing about trips and gear and other fishing travel hints.
Nevertheless, I’ve gathered up some links that our readers might enjoy or benefit from. Several deal with countries and locations we visit regularly, while others address those we’ll visit for the first time in 2026.
A Champion for Bristol Bay -- One of the reasons we return to Bear Trail Lodge again and again is owner/operator Nanci Morris Lyon, a world-class angler and active steward/advocate for Bristol Bay. We’re taking a group of a dozen or so there in August for the silver salmon run and to introduce them to this badass lady.
A rising tourist destination just scrapped all visas for Americans – As we prepare for our first trip to Bolivia to chase arapaima and other species, we’re excited by the news that we won’t need a visa. As several other locations tighten entry requirements, it’s nice to see one make it less burdensome.
TSA to charge travelers $45 if they don't have Real ID starting in 2026 – Get a Real ID. In fact, resolve early this year to make sure that all of your travel documents are up to date.
Panama Fishing Photo Essay – Worlds collide. Jessica Haydahl Richardson is a close friend of our offshore guru Elliott Stark. Her husband Wade formerly captained one of our favorite boats at Casa Vieja, the Hooker. Her Panama pics make us excited to go back for trip number six.
Aerolineas Argentinas Getting A330neos, New Business Class, Wi-Fi – We’ll be headed down to Argentina for the first time this year, and it’s a much longer flight than our typical jaunts down to Panama or Guatemala, a little more expensive, too. Anything that makes it more comfortable and provides more options should be a huge benefit.
Southwest Airlines To Launch First Route to Alaska in 2026 – Our August 2026 Alaska group will be coming from all corners of the country, so anything that provides more options and reliability is huge. We’re lukewarm on the Southwest experience, but we know that many others are complete loyalists.
Alaska Airlines adds 13 new routes for Spring 2026: Here’s where you can go next – We’ve had good (albeit limited) experiences on Alaska Airlines, but again, anything the provides more connectivity should be a net positive – and if you haven’t been to Alaska yet you need to put it high on your list.
