The People Who Inspire our Adventures
Through fishing we have met some unforgettable characters, and we want you to know them, too.
Lisa Skelley’s Anglers Inn Addiction
On her latest trip to Anglers Inn Lake Picachos, Tennessee’s Lisa Skelley brought not only her perma-smile, but also her boyfriend Dwayne to celebrate a couple of life milestones. As always, it was an amazing adventure.
Where Does A Fishing Lodge Operator Go On Vacation? Gary Moeller Leaves the Frigid North for Anglers Inn
Lodge Owner Gary Moeller is a fisherman at heart, and loves to check out new places. We met when he took a large group to Anglers Inn’s Lake Picachos operation, and I circled back to find out what he thought – both professionally and personally – about the experience.
Gary Moeller of Ballard’s Resorts – Serving Up Grand Slams
Gary Moeller, a partner in Ballard’s Resorts on Lake of the Woods, shares his story and explains why you should visit this summer if you want to catch walleyes, muskies, northerns or smallmouth — or ALL OF THE ABOVE.
Nicho Alvarenga: Never Give Up
The true test of a guide or captain is how hard they commit when everything seems to be working against them. Capt. Nicho Alvarenga worked hard to help us end our trip to Guatemala on a high note.
Isabel Robbins: Our Family’s Youngest and Most Devoted Gastronome
Our 12 year-old niece Isabel was born in Japan and lives a truly international lifestyle. That extends to her taste if food and cooking opportunities, but you might be surprised to learn that her “last meal” would be distinctly American.
Kevin Baxter: The Baitman Speaketh
Kentucky’s Kevin Baxter is a fishing industry lifer, but more importantly he’s a tackle junkie just like us. Here we talk about some of his favorite tackle shops and some of his most coveted discontinued bass lures.
Pete’s Fishing Report Card
Turnabout is fair play — and now Hanna gets to grade Pete’s fishing. Learn what is solid, what could be better, and which attributes are lost causes.
Pro Angler Christie Bradley Breaks Down the Potomac River
Christie Bradley competes and excels in the Bassmaster Opens, but she’s especially well-known for her success on the Potomac River. Read the Virginia pro’s thoughts on what makes the Potomac great and how to fish it.
Donald Howell of Southern Sky Aviation – Serious Angler with a Penchant for Flying
Alabama’s Donald Howell is a serious angler, aviation enthusiast, and pillar of the business community. Here are his insights into how and why to fly private on your next fishing or hunting trip.
Alabama Rigging El Salto: “They Have to Eat It ‘Cause They Can’t Stand It”
We get asked all the time whether an Alabama Rig works at Lake El Salto. Our friend Dave Mansell cracked the code and now he’ll share his strategies to make your next trip a success.
Capt. Nicho – Casa Vieja Lodge
Get to know Casa Vieja Lodge’s excellent Captain Nicho Alvarenga of The Finest Kind (and occasionally other boats) — one of the top billfish producers in the fleet and in the world.
Chris Sharas – The Daily Double
On the first day of his first trip to Anglers Inn at Lake El Salto in Mexico, Chris Sharas caught….a walleye through the ice. Think you can duplicate that achievement?
El Salto Makes for Big Memories – Three More Personal Best Largemouth Bass
Big Dreams, Big Expectations, No Disappointments. That’s the El Salto promise. I’ve already detailed how two of our lady anglers notched new personal bests on our recent trip, but now it’s the guys’ turn. Jimmy Keller, Brian Saari and Adam Cherry, three Wisconsin tournament anglers, all crushed their previous PBs.
Señor Hudnall’s El Salto Work Trip
Fourth year Elite Series pro Derek Hudnall was at Anglers Inn Lake El Salto, just a week after Hanna and I were there. I was anxious to hear about his experience and to compare it to ours. He was gracious enough to spend some time on the phone with me as he drove toward the St. Johns River in Florida for the season-opener.
Que Sara Sara! Two Wisconsin PBs in Mexico
Two new female friends from Wisconsin caught their personal best largemouths on our recent trip to Anglers Inn Lake El Salto. Read how they did it — and why they’re coming back.
Las Cabezas de Queso
I must be getting mellower in my old age – either that or Hanna is increasingly good at picking out travel partners – because I really enjoyed the group we recently hosted at El Salto. Most of them hail from Wisconsin, which further solidifies our plan to spend at least part of the year up that way after we retire.
My Fishing and Media Goals for 2022
Besides lose weight and make sure I don’t get COVID, the same goals I have had for the last two years, I’ve added a few more to my list 2022. I think they’re obtainable, but not easy, so bear with me as I try to make them happen. Here are six that I’ll try to fulfill.
Hanna’s 2021 In Review
My 2021 was mostly good. We took calculated risks several times this year to explore our passion for travel. Half Past First Cast helped us enhance that effort, bringing likeminded people together virtually and to travel to places they might not have even known existed.
My 2021 Fishing and Writing Accomplishments in Review
Year Two of the COVID-19 experience was fortunately not much different for me than Year One. While I didn’t fish nearly as much as I did in 2020, I made up for it in other ways – including a return trip to Guatemala and two rounds of popping for tuna in Panama. Most importantly, this site grew. Here are some of my 2021 highlights.
Panama November ’21: Great Trip, Great Group
Your traveling companions can make or break the quality of an international fishing trip. We had a great group in Panama — they helped us establish a blueprint for mutual success and enjoyment.