Stuff We Like Inspired by our Travel
Fishing should be fun. Part of that is art and food and other things that don't put fish in the boat, but nevertheless make you enjoy the process more.
Does a Rooster Howl or Crow?
Texas-based Howler Brothers makes lifestyle clothing with technical and design features that make it ideal for fishing. I particularly like the fact that they’ve used roosterfish on several of their pieces. Their Reserve Rodanthe Blanket Flannel features a roosterfish. It insulates and it’s super-soft.
The Woeful Tale (and Long Tail) of Big Mouth Billy Bass
The worst gift ever? Big Mouth Billy Bass was ubiquitous two decades ago, and just like the Mafia it’s tough to escape. Here’s the tale of the animatronic fish.
Chad Morgenthaler Goes Bird Hunting
Chad Morgenthaler didn’t get to use a landing net during most of his professional bass fishing career, but he never forgot how to corral and capture his targets. Check him out in action, chasing airborne wildlife with remarkable grace.
How to Dress for Your Next Fishing Trip to Amity Island
Jaws remains a powerful influence nearly a half-century after its release. Sharks continue to trigger our fear response centers and even people who were born decades later are “afraid to go back in the water” as the result of the movie. It’s also iconic in popular culture, and that extends down to apparel.
Islands in the Stream
A number of fishing, apparel and knickknack merchandisers have connected legendary country singer Dolly Parton to Dolly Varden trout — one of our favorite Alaskan targets. Here are some examples that entertained us.
Fishy Feet Socks
As part of her gift to me for our 18th wedding anniversary, Hanna got a four pack of socks, featuring some of my favorite fish species — largemouth bass, rainbow trout, yellowfin tuna and mahi mahi. Check ‘em out.
Four Non-Fishing Articles That Inspired Me in 2023
Here are four articles that I read in 2023 that inspired me and that I think are consistent with the messages that we try to push forward at Half Past First Cast — making the most of your remaining casts and your remaining breaths.
End-of-2023 Fishing Travel Linkapalooza
Fishing travel news continues to flow freely, even at the end of the year, and we continue to scour the wires so you can focus on other things. Here are some relevant stories that you may have missed.
What I Read in 2023: Wright Thompson
I’m not big on bourbon, but Wright Thompson’s Pappyland was an amazing book and a quick read — and reminded me of how much he’s written about fishing.
Just Fish It!
Seeing that Los Angeles Angels All-Star Mike Trout likes to fish led me down a rabbit hole — not only of his multi-species angling efforts, but also to find trout-themed shoes for various purposes.
Scott Slippahs: Fly Your Feet Fiercely
Flip flops — or, as they call them in Hawaii, “slippahs” — don’t need to be boring. Scott Hawaii has some fun and comfortable ones for fishing featuring a variety of offshore angling targets.
Hanna Barbera Goes Fishing
Here’s something I never thought I’d see — one of the less-known Hanna-Barbera characters of my childhood fishing for permit on a t-shirt. Seven Mile Fly Shop in Florida has it covered.
Best Short Haul Airline Snack of 2023
Snacks on short-haul flights have mostly gone to crap — terrible pretzels or granola bars that crumble to dust if you look at them funny — but one airline stood out to us in 2023 not only for what they gave us, but for the heft of the treat, too.
Household Cleaners to Restore Your Bass Boat Bilge Area
Eventually all bass boat bilge areas get messy. Between rain water, lake water, tracked dirt, oil and other debris, it can look like a mud puddle down there. Add in pieces of plastic worms and various screws and pieces of terminal tackle that somehow work their way to the back of the boat, and you have various problems beyond just cosmetic issues.
Tee of the Week: Gas Station Time Saver
If you own a bass boat and you’ve ever stopped at a gas station, you’ve gotten “the questions.” It’s important to be a good representative of the fishing community. People who make these inquiries mean well, they just don’t know any better, so if you can’t avoid being snarky, get the t-shirt.
Wolf Fish Get in Your Head
If you become obsessed with wolf fish, you might want to get a hat to commemorate your trip to the Amazon. They’re tough to come by outside of South America — here are some of the options you’ll find there.
Fishing & Travel Links That Mostly Make Us Thankful
As the end of the year approaches, we continue to gather links and info that will amuse, educate and inform your future fishing travels — everything from explosive diapers to giant prehistoric fish.
Tee of the Week – No Worries
The “Life is Good” brand reminds us to be present and thankful for all that we have. “Fish More, Worry Less” is a pretty good mantra to keep things in perspective.
Sugar Magnolia, Steelhead Jumping
There’s substantial overlap between the Grateful Dead and fishing — and in particular fly fishing for trout. Numerous artists and clothing manufacturers have mixed the two. Here are some of our favorite options.
Tee of the Week – Don’t Settle For Less
Whether you work harder, work less and choose not to work at all, make sure it puts you in position to FISH MORE. The folks at STLHD embody the obsession that we’re talking about.