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.
Bass Fishing’s Version of Dry Flies for Trout
You need to try the “mushi,” a style of artificial lure created in Japan that are designed to accurately imitate insects like beetles and dragonflies. This category of lure is extremely productive in sight fishing, on very hard days, or when there is a lot of fishing pressure.
What’s The Best Buzzbait Ever Made?
Sometimes it’s worth it to get your butt kicked by a fellow angler if it’ll introduce you to a new lure or a new technique. That’s what I’d hoped would happen when a new club member crushed me with his favorite discontinued buzzbait. Unfortunately, it didn’t worked out the way that I’d hoped.
St. Croix Engineers Tell the Truth about Travel Rods
Wisconsin’s St. Croix Rods is one of the few American companies that has shown a long term commitment to travel series at various price points, and for a wide range of situations. My friend Jesse Simpkins at St. Croix set me up to talk to two of his engineers: Jason Brunner, Director Operations; and Gavin Falk, Engineering Supervisor.
Do Double Digit Bass Make You Dumber?
On my 42nd birthday I caught the bass of multiple lifetimes, a legit, Boga-weighed 12-pounder. I achieved that feat at the legendary Camelot Bell, Mike Frazier’s bass fishing paradise about 80 miles south of Dallas.
Two Discontinued Fishing Duffel Bags that May Interest You — If You Can Find One
After my near travel rod calamity returning home from Mexico in November, I started a semi-obsessive search for the “ultimate fishing travel bag,” one that would securely accommodate enough clothing and tackle for a week of fishing, plus a 33-inch rod tube – without being considered “oversized” by the airlines.
A Hall of Fame Strike King Beatdown
Have you fished with a member of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame? How about two in one week? On one of the best public trophy bass fisheries in the world? I have, and in case the memory wasn’t indelibly burned into my brain, I saved two lures from that week to remind me of just how good those two pros are.
Anglers Inn: Pack Your Tackle to Leave it Behind
We’ve left tackle at Anglers Inn for several years and it has consistently been safe, well-kept and available upon arrival. Here are some strategies to ensure that’ll continue to be true – and also to be certain that it’s ready to fish when we get there. With a little bit of extra planning and effort, we save myself a lot of heartache and wasted time.
Mexico’s First Cast Advantage
There are times at Lake El Salto when the fish are so thick and so hungry on a given spot that you can take your time casting to them and you can experience success with any casting angle. It’s not always that easy. Many times you have to hunt and peck to get things done.
The Unlikely Story of the Tubo Rig
If Hanna and I were to go back to Japan today, I’d likely need a steamer trunk (and a bank loan) to bring home everything I’d buy, but on our last trip in 2007 I had less disposable income. Check out my oddest and most expensive purchase from that trip.
Keeping in Touch at El Salto
One of Lake El Salto’s best features is also often one of its most maddening: the sheer variety of ways that you can catch big bass down there. On our most recent trip, we caught fish that were ankle deep, and others that were 30 feet deep, and in every case both slow-moving and fast-moving lures came into play. For an ADD-afflicted tackle junkie like me, that presents a hellish temptation.
My Favorite Fishing Leggings
I love wearing leggings as often as I can. I wear them to work out, around the house, to the grocery store and even to fish. They are comfortable, they can be dressed up, and they come in a nearly infinte array of colors, shapes and designs. Worn properly, they will flatter many body styles.
Packing for a Guatemala Sailfish Trip
We may only be going to Casa Vieja Lodge for four days and three nights (and they do laundry every day) but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a process involved in getting packed.
Spoon With Us
When we first returned from our November trip to El Salto, I was incredibly jacked up about the flutter spoon bite we’d just experienced. I’d gone there on a mission and accomplished it. A couple of months later I keep reliving those bites over and over.
Asian-Market Travel Rods — In All of Their Quirky Glory
As I’ve tirelessly researched the Japanese travel rod market, I’ve continued to unearth new brands and products – some exceptionally purposeful, some decidedly odd.
Three Lures That Deserve A Second Chance at El Salto
The spoon wasn’t the only lure that got some game-time action in November, but it was the one that showed the most promise. Nevertheless, there are at least three more that have me excited – all were either left in my stored tackle down there, or will get a coveted spot in my luggage on American Airlines.
She Told Me to Walk This Way
Despite the fact that my personal best 21 pound peacock came swimming a jig, my most memorable strikes (including my second best, a 20) came on the big prop baits that made the Rio Negro fisheries famous. Those aren’t the only topwaters that will work, though. Especially when I’ve been chasing Amazonian species other than peacocks, I’ve found that a walk-the-dog topwater can be equally effective and sometimes better.
Preliminary Gear Testing at El Salto (November 2020)
This article isn’t a review of new products, per se, but rather a teaser – both for you and for us. We take a whole lot of new stuff to Mexico every time we go, and here are some products that piqued our interest on our most recent trip.
More Stylish Tubes for Your Travel Rods
I’ve already written more than I ever thought possible not only about multi-piece fishing rods, but also about how to get them from Point A to Point Z. Whether you’re backpacking, flying, driving or riding a mule, if you arrive at your fishing destination with broken sticks it can be an absolute disaster. For most of us, a standard, non-descript, one-color tube or case will suffice, but if you like a little bit of style in your carrying mechanism – and you’re willing to spend a few extra dollars – there are higher-end options available.
Stay Warm Enough to Fish Effectively
We’ve fished in temperatures up to 114 degrees, and while you can adjust to that extreme by hydrating obsessively and wearing moisture-wicking clothing, I find fishing in freezing temperatures much more challenging. I’m not talking about relatively sedentary varieties like ice fishing, where you can sit in a heated ice house or shanty, but rather open-water fishing, often in a boat. As a result of my experiences, here are 10 strategies I’ve learned for maintaining the maximum amount of body heat and comfort.
Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag: The Snowbee XS
Just as I was about to (really) give up for the time being, I somehow stumbled onto the Snowbee XS Travel Bag, which is apparently made by a British fly fishing company with a branch in California. Based on my prior experiences I wanted to avoid another disappointment, so I reached out to the Snowbee USA through Facebook on a Saturday night.