To go all the way to Alaska and not see as much as possible would have been silly. We only had four extra days before we headed to Bear Trail Lodge, so we resolved to see as much as we could in Homer and Seward. Check out how much we crammed in, and be sure to watch the video.

Our good friend Carl Vicars is an exceptional photographer. We asked him to pick out his ten favorite bear pictures from our recent trip to Alaska and he didn’t disappoint. Check them out — not just Brooks Falls!

After I blogged about the need to get a visa to enter Brazil starting October 1, 2023, several readers wrote to say that they couldn’t get the online portal to work. I suspect that may be the reason that Brazil subsequently delayed the requirement. Now the visa exemption for American, Canadian and Australian travelers will end on January 9, 2024.

Same boat, two different trips, two different captains, two different groups — but the Outer Coast Alaska in Seward delivered great experiences both times. We highly recommend that you make the trip.

You know the fishing in Bristol Bay will be great, but it’s some of the little touches beyond just on-the-water activities that distinguish Bear Trail Lodge as an exceptional fishing lodge. Here are seven that stood out to us.

Our friend Carl Vicars is a welcome fellow traveler on any and all trips — not least because he typically provides exceptional video memories of our adventures. Check out his Alaska 2023 video.

Starting October 1, 2023, American travelers headed to Brazil to fish will need a tourist visa. Don’t delay. The process is a little complicated and time-consuming.

We’ve now been to Bear Trail Lodge in Alaska three times and we can provide tons of reasons for YOU to go — plus some answers to the questions you’re most likely to ask.

You should bring ample supplies of the proven lures on your next bass fishing trip to Mexico. Buy more than you think you’ll need and fill your luggage to the max. However, if you forget something, or your luggage gets lost, or you run out of something, the “pro shop” has the gear to make sure you don’t go fishless the rest of the trip.

One of the most common questions when I speak with prospective or first-time travelers to Anglers Inn’s lodges at El Salto and Picachos is, “What are the boats like?” Since it is a common question, I decided to finally not only tell you, but show you as well. They are custom made specifically for the Mexican fishing experience.

Flyout trips from Bear Trail Lodge can be among the best fishing days of your life — but prepare yourself and take the proper steps to ensure that you can hike across the tundra safely to get to the fishing grounds.

We’ve been to Mexico to chase green fish over 20 times and most of the people we’ve run into down there have been great to be around. Some have even become lifelong friends and trusted confidantes. There’s that 5%, though, that can make travel painful.

Our retirement plans are starting to come into focus, and one of those is to buy a fifth wheel and travel the country in it. That means I’ll tow the “house,” and Hanna will have an SUV to pull the boat. She’s starting to practice so she won’t be nervous when we officially hit the road.

There is now a fifth airline traveling directly between Los Angeles LAX and La Aurora International in Guatemala City — Alaska Air. This opens up even more opportunities for western anglers to visit Casa Vieja Lodge.

Passport wait times are currently at historic highs. That means you need to act sooner rather than later — or potentially miss out on your next international fishing trip.

Join us in Guatemala in November of 2024. You and your group can reserve the Rum Line, Captain Terry Brennan’s 40 foot fish-catching machine. Check out the results from last November.

Last year we decided to reenter the world of premium credit cards, and we felt that the American Express Platinum offered the best benefits for our lifestyle. We didn’t take the decision to apply lightly because the annual fee is steep -- $695 for the primary user, plus $175 for each additional card. For us, that meant we had to at least exceed $870 in “value” to break even.

If you’re too busy ripping lips to read or watch or listen to the news, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, fellow anglers. We’ve assembled a hodgepodge of newsworthy and semi-newsworthy articles from other sources that might inspire or help you on your upcoming fishing travels.

Headwaters Lake in Fellsmere, Florida may be the best bass lake in the country right now — and you don’t need to haul a boat hundreds of miles to fish there. Palm Bay Outfitters offers top-flight aluminums, they’ll even deliver to the ramp with gas!

In the aftermath of the OceanGate tragedy I offered my thoughts on lessons that fishing travelers could learn from the disaster. While I still stand by what I wrote, I don’t claim to be omniscient about the matter. I try to absorb and analyze as many facts and opinions as possible, and the media has done its job of writing about the topic.