Hanna Robbins fishing writing travel goals for 2024

Get ready to dive into my 2024 goals and planned accomplishments. I continue to cast my curiosity into the fishing industry and hope to reel in more and more curious-but-perhaps-anxious travelers to join us on our spectacular fishing journeys.

Our first stop this year takes us to Schaumberg, Illinois for the Chicagoland Fishing Travel & Outdoor Expo. Pete and I are embarking on the booth life, featuring Half Past First Cast for the first of what we hope will be many shows. This will help us share what we do with a broader slice of the public.

If you are in the area January 25 – 28, 2024 please stop by booth #816. Talk to us about fishing, travel or please just introduce yourselves.

Next up: I have something I want to learn this year, a big something that will take a lot of time, effort and practice. I want to learn how to hunt. At the end of 2023 I passed the Hunter Education course given by the State of Virginia, an essential first step for my journey.

Once again this year Pete and I will be at the SCI Nashville Convention, with Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge to help highlight the adventure you can have when booking a trip. I did some research and found that there is a meet and greet with Amanda Lynn Mayhew from Just Hunt Inc. She is the founder of the Take Me Hunting Outreach Program and I’d like to sneak away and hear her talk to other women on the how tos of hunting which may move me in the right direction.

What sparked my hunting urge? I’m not really sure but I think turkey feather mountings are beautiful and I want one of my own.

I am hoping to turkey hunt with Jacob Powroznik who is an outstanding fisherman. Beyond that, I heard he is the deal with it comes to turkey hunting.

Our friend Steve Bowman told Jacob about me, I’ve reached out once but I’ll stalk him just to get a chance to hunt with him and get those turkey feathers on the wall. Who’s coming for Thanksgiving? [YES, Jennifer Combs, I know I have to be quiet!]

Hey, if anyone has any suggestions on any part of me getting prepared please speak up. Email me – any insights would be greatly appreciated.

When goals aren’t accomplished you continue to move them forward. I am still on the hunt for a marlin. On our next trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge in May 2024, Carl Vicars and I have a pact: we want to devote a full day to marlin hunting.

Pete and Lisa, get ready with the cameras, we want that signature picture, holding the bill with huge smiles on our faces.

Black and Blue Marlin at Hannibal Bank Panama

Pete and I like meeting new fishing friends, and taking them to the lodges we love to visit makes us ecstatic. Right now our Casa Vieja Lodge (November 2024) pack of 9 has the potential to grow to 13. Our party of 7 for our January 2025 trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge is looking to be 16.

Take a chance, contact us and ask all the questions you have, there’s no time like the present to do something new or something you have wanted to do but couldn’t decide on a place because it is too overwhelming.

We’ve been there so we can help with your decision. Many of the places we go you can travel alone, as a single, which cuts down on price and as a bonus you get to meet some awesome people.

We want to help people on the fence to jump – help the singles, the couples, the groups become part of the HPFC family.

Remember that LIFE cereal commercial? “He likes it, hey Mikey!” – We promise this will be your reaction as well.

We will be attending the Super Bowl of Fishing, The Bassmaster Classic, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We will find all the new and exciting fishing equipment that the industry is keeping from us until March and let you know about it.

Watch for some live “Garage Finds” away from home and at the BOK Center in Tulsa. We will both pick items, find out how, when, why and where to use them, and report back to you. It’s the least we could do -- we don’t like keeping secrets.

When you think of Mexico you probably think palm trees, blue water, sand beaches, nachos and burritos. When I think of Mexico, I think of my second family, margaritas, largemouth bass. I also think of nachos and burritos -- fishing lures, not the ones stuffed with beans or dripping with queso.

Bacca Burrito swimbait made by Bull Shad

My nachos and burritos are of the Bacca swimbait type and I caught some good bass last year at Anglers Inn. I’ve purchased more and plan to go giant hunting (just like Panama) until they’re shredded to bits.

The year of the hunt continues with our September trip to Grosse Savanne in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Pete purchased the trip during the silent auction at the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame induction ceremony. That’s right, mama needs a new pair of shoes…alligator shoes that is! We are going alligator hunting and fishing and I really don’t know what to expect which thrills me.

I vow that in 2024 I am going to do everything in my power to attend as many Vienna Business Association and Greater Merrifield Business Association meetings and gatherings in order to spread the word about HPFC and to help the community we have lived in for over 20 years.