Four Purchases for Our Return to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge
We barely got back from our first trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge before we started planning our return – in fact, we may have sketched out some plans on the plane ride home, knowing that our friends Mike and Samantha had airfare credit to use by the end of 2021. I know that it sounds a little bit hokey, but I keep telling people that this was a life-changing vacation in that I hadn’t been this excited about a new style of fishing since I caught my first bass over four decades ago. Therefore my quest became how to relive that first trip while taking many more.
That led to four short-term purchases that I hope will give me long-term happiness. Two of them are highly functional and the other two are useful but also a little bit whimsical. Let’s start with the two practical ones:
Yeti Crossroads 29” Rolling Bag
I was really impressed not only with the way that our Yeti Hopper got our yellowfin fillets home still solid, but also that the bag survived the baggage handlers where our suitcase did not. When it came time to throw away that damaged bag, I broke my rule about inexpensive luggage and acquired a Yeti Crossroads rolling bag. At $449.99 it shouldn’t be an impulse purchase, but I have to check valuable gear often enough that it’s time to step up to a “grownup” bag meant to take a beating. This Navy roller will not only match our Yeti, but will allow me to remain much more organized that a typical wide-mouth single-compartment bag. It won’t have to wait until Panama, though – I’m pretty sure it will accompany us on a prior trip.
Columbia PFG Drainmaker Shoes
After sliding around the decks, nearly doing a face plant, and banging my toes on cleats during the chaos known as a tuna boil, I realized that I couldn’t be barefoot while fishing in Panama. Nor would flip flops suffice for me. I had to invest in some dedicated shoes. Hanna and I went to the outlet shops recently and Columbia had some Megavents on sale for $59.95. They gave me more support than the slip-ons, and with their “Blood N Guts” stain-resistant treatment, I could go for the light gray color instead of the black option and not worry about them getting ruined by tuna blood. Hanna didn’t like the women’s options, but they had the men’s version in her size, so now we have the same shoes in the same color. Dorky, I know, but worth it for the sake of fishing efficiency.
Tackle and Hollar Ribbon Belt
I needed a new belt anyway (Chef Eddie’s recipes might’ve stretched my waistline a bit) so I decided to go with something tuna-themed and found Tackle and Hollar on Etsy. I liked the fact that the mostly black belt will go with a lot of things and the tuna itself is anatomically correct. The print, licensed from Guy Harvey, can also be found on key chains and dog collars, so Rooster and I may end up matching.
Tormenter Board Shorts
Finally, after my deep dive into the tuna-related possibilities in board shorts, I invested in the “Side To” version from Tormenter, with yellowfin bodies running up each side. I really wanted to buy a pair, and of the many solid options those were the ones that I kept coming back to again and again – especially because Hanna had bought me another pair of Tormenter board shorts five or six years ago and I knew that they fit perfectly – so I wouldn’t have the pain of exchanging them or returning them altogether. They’re a little gaudy for around the house or heading out to dinner, but they might take a dip in the pool or at the beach this summer.
