When you decide to get a fish replica, there are several decisions you should not take lightly. First, you want to choose the right artist – someone who is reliable, has the right mold, and does quality work at a fair price. After that, however, it comes down to getting the particular piece of art that fits your needs.

De Kromme Haring in the Netherlands offers a Chopique Belgian Tripel – “A big and warming beer with hints of banana, vanilla, almond paste and citrus peel. A perfective digestive after a festive meal or for a cozy night in on a winter night.”

I’m not great at bed fishing, but it’s something I look forward to every year, and I feel accomplished when I manage to fool one. One way to get better is to pick the brain of a sight fishing guru like Elite Series pro Drew Benton.

I’ve taken three Alaska halibut trips. I enjoy it for two reasons: the fish grow huge and they’re my favorite cold water species to eat. If we imbibe when chasing barn doors it’s usually beer, but if you’re looking for something more thematically-appropriate, consider these options.

I really want to shoot a turkey, but in order to make that happen I had to learn some shotgun basics. Todd Wright of Wright Way Shooting got me headed in the proper direction.

Here on the Potomac, snakeheads are here to stay. I find that they’ve become tougher to catch – at least when I’m targeting them – but I see some on just about every trip. If you’re intrigued by old snakey, you should be aware that the news about their various types and locations keeps on coming.

Catching your biggest largemouth bass is nothing short of electric. It’s the kind of moment that makes time slow down — your heart’s pounding, hands are shaking, and for a second, it’s just you and that fish, and you just hope you get her in the boat.

Despite being one of the most majestic and distinctive fish we’ve caught, I don’t feel like many people consider an Arctic Grayling as a prime candidate for the wall. That’s a mistake, because grayling punch above their weight and stand out in a crowd.

I wish I liked cigars more, because I think they befit my curmudgeonly appearance and attitude. I smoke one every few years, and tend to enjoy them, even if I don’t know much about them. They seem like a great way to celebrate an exceptional day on the water.

While there were plenty of boats, swimbaits and clothing at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, the one product that might interest our fellow travelers most was in Matt Robertson’s booth – Picture Me 3D photos. They produce high-definition photos of you with your trophy fish – and the fish protrudes out in three-dimensions.

Kurt Dove is one of the busiest and most diversified businessmen in the bass fishing industry, but I believe his best idea was his Pro Bass Camp. This year they’ll have sessions on Amistad, Toledo Bend and Oneida. If you want to attend, or you know a kid who needs to go, there still may be some spots left.

I’ve enjoyed cataloguing my favorite taxidermy from SCI events. I’m not necessarily looking for the biggest, baddest or most coveted species. If you’re looking for conventional whitetails, moose and bears, I’m not your guy, but if you like the oddities, check out what stood out to me in Nashville.

We’re hoping that 2025 is the year of the marlin for Half Past First Cast. To get in the mood, I’ve been noodling around with some hat designs. I’m expecting the Cabo trip to be our best chance to whack on ‘em, so I’ve leaned heavily on the striped marlin, but a blue or black would be absolutely fine.

Long fins are a hallmark of yellowfin tuna, and part of what make them powerful and agile — but the ones in Panama don’t have the sweeping “sickles.” Are they a different species?

Bassmaster acknowledged they could be doing a better job of welcoming women into the sport and has introduced the BassmastHER program. They provide workshops at Elite events. The seminars teach fundamentals for beginners and more advanced techniques for those who have more experience.

When we retire in a few years, I hope to build a house that has an oversized outbuilding for my boats and gear. Accordingly, I’ve been studying various “man caves” online. I’ve started looking at sources outside of the bass world for inspiration.

We’ve never targeted arowana, but we’ve inadvertently caught a few while fishing for peacock bass and other exotics in various parts of Brazil. They’re actually surprisingly cool fish – who knew we’d have to visit Hanna’s hometown to taste a beer named after them?

We got our stateside introduction to exotic fish when we caught peacock bass in Miami airport over a decade ago, but we need to make a trip back. There’s another bizarre fighter that’s high on my list: the Clown Knifefish. If we capture one, we might want to commission a replica.

We’re hoping that Hanna’s marlin drought ends when we go to Baja this November. She’s paid her dues and deserves to get that notch in her belt. At that time, however, I will insist that she take some drastic step to memorialize the catch — perhaps with ink.

For years we’ve been told through t-shirts and bumper stickers that “A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work.” I don’t know who came up with this theory, but if you believe it, then you’ve been hoodwinked.