While we first learned about great bass fisheries like Guntersville and Rayburn through tournaments, our intro to Grosse Savanne came through pros and major television personalities. Guys who’ve been everywhere spoke of this place in South Louisiana with awe.

For years, I have resented the full-time fishing writers. I hustle for assignments, spend my free time on the phone with anglers or behind a computer screen, and yet I still don’t have the flexibility to take advantage of the role. Every year, I turn down multiple boondoggles that I’d really like to pursue.

Casa Vieja is a “set it and forget it” experience. It doesn’t matter if the person is fish-obsessed like me, or a first-timer, or someone who just wants a perfect boat ride in gorgeous scenery. I can recommend this trip to them. It’s the one place that I’d take just about any family member and not worry about whether they’ll have a good time.

When we heard prior to our most recent trip to Casa Vieja Lodge that Captain Nicho would no longer be on the The Finest Kind, we were concerned. Just as concerning, however, was the prospect of losing his mates.

Traveling to Panama with my longtime friend Russ Baccaglini reminded me of just how important those college days were to my life. I’m also really glad he and his family CRUSHED the fish.

With his visit to Casa Vieja Lodge this past November, Carl Vicars became the first person to visit all four Half Past First Cast properties. Here’s what he had to say, fresh off catching 60+ sailfish over three days.

Sometimes I forget how far Hanna has come as an angler. If her angling career were to plateau now, she’d have nothing to apologize for. Nevertheless, part of the purpose behind our partnership is to push each other. We’re typically each other’s biggest cheerleaders and we encourage each other to take uncomfortable risks.

On Saturday night, with an entourage that included both Deion Sanders and Lil Wayne, Travis Hunter claimed the 2024 Heisman Trophy. As far as I know he became the first winner to mention fishing in his acceptance speech when he said: “Coach Prime, I’m going to whip you on that lake tomorrow.”

On Tuesday evening we got the awful news that David Salazar – owner of Casa Vieja Lodge, world renowned captain, devoted husband to Kristen, and father of four young daughters – passed away unexpectedly.

We've fished with exceptional guides across the country and around the world. The ones we like best are those who have a passion for their native soil -- like Louisiana's Greg Dawsey.

I met Dennis Tietje at his camp on Toledo Bend in either 2001 or 2003, when he hosted a crawfish boil. I was one of the few interlopers there amongst the Hall of Famers. Until a recent trip to Grosse Savanne we’d never fished together. It turned out to be just about a perfect outing.

Alligator hunting at Grosse Savanne exceeded all possible hopes. If anything it was over too quick. Fortunately, we’ll have some tangible memories of our trip down the road – we don’t know exactly what. Clint Hebert of Mark Staton LLC was there to explain the products that his family business produces and the process for getting them done.

When we headed out for a trip on the Chesapeake Bay with Bryan Schmitt, we knew it would be a great day, but we didn’t expect his 10 year-old son Dylan to be such a skilled and dynamic angler. He’s also a raconteur and educator, able to explain complicated fishing concepts and techniques in simple terms.

While fishing is not yet an Olympic sport, plenty of Olympians love to fish – possibly to feed their competitive spirits or alternatively as a way to decompress from the stressors of training and competition. Twenty-seven year old gymnast Simone Biles – all 4’8” of her – is among that group.

We were saddened to hear that longtime Anglers Inn Lake El Salto guide Lacho Anaya passed away this week. We’d fished with him on several occasions and he was an integral part of the exceptional guiding crew at the lake.

One of the highlights of my year so far was the opportunity to work with the Yeti creative team on a profile of Taku Ito earlier this year. I wish I could have written 10,000 words about him, but in the end, even after slicing out some fun info an anecdotes, I’m proud of the project.

Many young people want to work in something related to their passion, but don’t know how to go about it. I started thinking about this one day as I spoke to Kade Gewanter, my connection for all things Shimano, G. Loomis, Jackall and Power Pro, and decided that his story might help others get a toehold in the industry.

I spent a lot of time talking to Aaron Martens and writing about him, and a few days in his boat and he became one of my favorite muses. I learned a ton about bass fishing from him, but I’ve also realized that his unintended lessons extended far further than just little green and brown fish.

OT Fears and I have fished together in the four corners of the United States – from the Potomac River to Mille Lacs to Rayburn to the California Delta. Hanna and I were thrilled to run into OT and his high-school-sweetheart-turned-bride Maryline Marie at the Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa.

Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Kyle Patrick won an Open, qualified for the Bassmaster Classic, and early a Century Belt. Learn about the “Real Kyle” with his open answers to random questions.