Hanna Robbins and Jennifer Combs with a cooler full of crappie from Lake Sam Rayburn

The Outdoor Gear We Recommend

We may have a little bit of a hoarding problem. Good gear need not be expensive, but it has to improve the experience in some way. Whether it’s the right rod, a certain bait, or the world’s best rainsuit, we’ll give unfiltered opinions on what we use and why we use it.


No tackle shop on earth provides more specialized gear for bass than Tackle Warehouse. If you want it, they've got it in stock — whether it's a proven winner or the newest items on the market — and their service is exceptional.

Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Shane Jarvis Depends on Grundéns at Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge

On our four trips to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge we’ve run the full gamut of weather (well, everything except cold). Shane Jarvis and his team are on the water 300 days a year, sometimes dealing with brutal sun and strong rain, and they’ve got to stay on the fish constantly. They depend on Grundéns gear.

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Bass Lures I Took to the Gulf of Chiriquí

I wanted to see if bass lures could handle the power of Panama’s tuna and roosterfish. I had only limited room in my luggage for extra tackle, so check out the video to understand my thought process and to see what I toted south

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Fat Cat: Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge’s 33 Freeman

At Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge it’s hard to settle on a one-size-fits-all boating solution. That’s because the captains may start of the day trolling for marlin on the Hannibal Bank, then popping for tuna, and close out the afternoon pulling baits for inshore species. Same body of water, very different techniques. Owner Shane Jarvis has added a 33’ Freeman named the “Fat Cat” to the fleet.

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What is an Outrigger?

Put me in a bass boat and you’re going to have a hard time surprising me with any sort of accessories. In a saltwater boat, however, just about everything is new. Even if I’ve seen an item before, I don’t always know the “how” or “why” of the design and construction. Luckily I have Shane Jarvis to give me the straight scoop. Here’s what he had to say about his Tigress Outriggers.

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Tips for Your First Tuna Popping Trip to Panama

I’m a topwater addict, whether it’s chasing smallmouths up north or peacock bass south of the equator, but I’d never seen anything like acres of herding dolphins, diving birds, and rampaging yellowfin tuna converging in a tornado of chaos. On our three trips to Panama we’ve landed some finned freaks of nature on top. Here’s what I’ve learned.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Four Purchases for Our Return to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge

Tuna fishing has now become an obsession and we’re getting fully accessorized to demonstrate our passion. Some of the items are purely functional while others are more fashion-oriented. Check out four recent purchases that we plan to put to use on our next trip to Panama — if not earlier.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Down the Tubes — Secrets to Keeping Big Bait Fresh

The captains we’ve fished with in places like Guatemala and Panama have a device in their boats specifically aimed at keeping big bait fresh – so whether you’re chasing marlin, big tuna, roosterfish or some other salty creature, you’ll always have the proper temptation.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Maiden Voyage of our Yeti Hopper M30 Soft Cooler

Hanna and I weren’t going to miss out on the opportunity to stock our freezer with tuna, so prior to our trip to Panama we obtained a Yeti Hopper M30 Soft Cooler. It seemed to get the best overall reviews and have the greatest versatility and functionality for our purposes. Here’s how it fared.

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Gear Pete Robbins Gear Pete Robbins

Three New (Non-Tackle) Items I’m Taking to Panama

Historically, each new fishing trip has an opportunity or perhaps an excuse to go a little bit crazy at Tackle Warehouse. Even when I don't need ANYTHING, there's still an opportunity to shop productively for fishing clothing and accessories.

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