A Look Back at Half Past First Cast’s 2023 Travels
Another year full of great memories is now in the record books, but as we look forward to 2024, it’s important to recall the good times. We continue to work full-time jobs and pump every spare ounce of effort into Half Past First Cast, and it can be tough, but the rewards are more than worth the effort.
Nashville Safari Club -- We started the year by attending the Nashville Safari Club show. Pete and I helped sell trips to his “Disneyland,” Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge. On our breaks we walked the huge showroom to see all the other fishing, hunting, apparel, taxidermy, jewelry and other amazing booths the show had to offer. We were amazed by the places the fishing and hunting trips that were offered: Africa, Alaska, Guatemala, Panama, Australia and even Russia (?). This show is for people who are serious about their hobbies. Plan to see us there in 2024.
WOW, Anglers Inn Booked – For the first year in a long time we didn’t travel to Anglers Inn in the winter. We had to give our spots up in order for our clients to get the trip of a lifetime. Perhaps HPFC’s selling efforts are too good -- the lodge was completely booked for the January and February months and is again for 2024. It’s not too late to book your January/February/March 2025, trip but don’t wait or you’ll be looking at 2026.
Guatemala – Casa Vieja Lodge -- No traveling to bass fish, so how about sailfishing in Guatemala? It was so fun to travel with new friends, Joshua Moussad and Jen Falk, great people and even better travel companions.
For the front half of our trip we decided to spend some down time in Antigua. When I say “down time,” I mean no fishing. We walked every cobblestone the city had, saw each and every shop, plus took an excursion to the Pacaya Volcano and walked to an elevation of 8000 feet. Up there we roasted marshmallows. It’s definitely something you should think about when booking your next trip – the Antigua addition will take you from 5 days to a full week vacation.
2023 Bassmaster Classic, Tennessee River, Knoxville, TN -- Besides New Orleans, this is my favorite Bassmaster Classic location. We were in Knoxville in 2019, but this year with record attendance, documenting amazing products, spending time with one of the top female HPFC fans, Donna Gaunt, and part-time travel partner and roommate, Jennifer Combs. An added bonus was being able to see the show through Pete’s eyes as part of his writing assignments took him off the water and into the crowd. Getting to be in the press room with the Super Six and the champion, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, was surreal.
Girls’ Trip -- April was my mini girls’ trip to fish with Samantha Sukupcak on Table Rock Lake, fishing with professional angler Chad Morgenthaler. Samantha and I are always up for learning new techniques and perfecting what we already know. Chad is a great guide, has terrific equipment and lives on a beautiful lake, loaded with multiple species of fish. If in the Ozarks area, please consider a day on the water with Chad.
Anglers Inn -- No one can keep us away from our home away from home and our Mexican family at Anglers Inn. Once again, we had several of our groupies come back but more exciting was we met some newcomers and fished with an old friend we first met in Mexico years ago. The highlight of my trip was being in the boat with HPFC’s #1 superfan, Paul Fisler, when he caught a 10.44 pound bass. I’m still smiling about it.
Alaska: Homer, Seward and Bear Trail Lodge -- What could top a 10+ pound bass? How about a trip to Alaska with four of the most extraordinary individuals we now consider family – OK, two of them actually are family and now we have a more profound relationship with them because of this trip. Part I of our Alaska trip took us to Homer where we kayaked the Kachemak Bay, ate great food and saw more cannabis, expresso and ice cream shops than anywhere on earth. Seward was next. We hiked to Exit Glacier, saw a moose and her calf (in the wild, on the side of the road) and fished for salmon, rockfish and halibut. Our freezer is filled for a bit.
On to King Salmon, Bear Trail Lodge, to meet with our Alaskan family, Nancy, Heath and Rylie. The silvers were on their way up the river, while we were there but didn’t quite make it. We caught enough that a nice box of fish went home with our New York boys. The highlights of our trip were the flyouts. Trekking through the tundra, sometimes stepping in bear tracks, to beautiful streams to fly fish for rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and grayling. Our daily encounters with nature were different every day for each twosome and we couldn’t stop talking about our days with each other upon our return to the lodge. At the end of the day the drink of the day was so refreshing, the spread of appetizers was like a meal in itself and then you had a three course dinner. Our new guides became our friends and our old guides have become like family. Even if you don’t fish, perhaps take a chance to do something new. The guides ae spectacular and can teach you in no time at all to fish and actually catch fish. If this isn’t your thing a nature tour of sorts would be outstanding. Don’t forget your camera. Bear Trail Lodge is one of those places you shouldn’t pass up and everyone should visit Alaska before they leave this earth. If you want to travel with HPFC we will be going back in 2026 but even without us I can make sure you will have a superlative trip.
Bass Fishing Hall of Fame -- September brought us back to Springfield, MO and the 2023 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductiondinner. This year was special as we helped celebrate Michael Iaconelli as he was inducted for the contributions he has made to the sport of fishing. My fishing “career” started 20 years ago, and IKE was one of the major influences that intrigued me, so to see him with this amazing accomplishment really put things in perspective. Pete and I visited with our besties, the Morgenthalers. We fished, we partied and we strengthened our long-term friendship. We just really cherish our fishing family.
Free Fly – Charleston, SC -- Pete was invited to Charleston, SC by Free Fly Apparel and was wind, dined, clothed and taken fly fishing for redfish in mid October. It’s nice that HPFC is being seen as an influencer in the fishing and travel industry. Look for his blogs about these travels and the Free Fly brand. I’m quite jealous of his new fishing wardrobe.
Berlin, Germany -- Although not a fishing trip, I recently returned from a short week trip to Berlin, Germany to visit with my family. Traveling by planes, trains and automobiles (this includes the bus and trolley), it was fun to navigate. The visit with family makes my heart pitter patter and can’t wait for us all to be together again. I learned a lot about myself and what to do when your flight is cancelled, in a foreign country, and you phone cord fries and you have 1% battery left. That should benefit all of us (hopefully not too soon) at some point.
Final Words and 2024 Schedule
The year hasn’t ended, and Pete may fish with a friend in Florida or Texas and blog about it but we may also be done traveling for the 2023 year.
2024 is a new beginning for HPFC as we are heading to the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoors Expo and we will have our own booth. If you are in the area, please visit us at booth #816 January 25 through 28, 2024.
Even if you won’t be there, please contact us at any time for any and all things fishing and traveling. No question is too small -- lures, weather, clothing, accessories, itineraries, dates or just to talk.
2024 Schedule
January 25-28 Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoors Expo
February 1-3 Nashville Safari Club
March 22-24 Bassmaster Classic Tulsa OK
May 25-31 Panama – Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge
June 22-29 Anglers Inn El Salto
September Bass Fishing Hall of Fame
November 16-24 Guatemala – Casa Vieja Lodge and either Antigua or Lake Atitlan
Fill ins TBD
