Experienced and hard-working fishing guides will grab a bit of sleep any time they can

One of the most critical parts of arriving on a bucket list fishing trip – or any trip, for that matter – is being rested. You can’t perform up to your capabilities if you’re not mentally and physically sharp, and that starts with good sleep. World-class athletes know that more and better sleep helps and they work diligently to get the most out of it. You should, too.

For many years I couldn’t sleep on a plane. Or in a car. Or while using just about any other form of transportation. I did take a nap in a bass boat as a media observer during the 2005 Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh, but we weren’t moving very fast at the time and the action was remarkably slow (and I didn’t own a smartphone at the time). Of course, during those days I could get by with far less sleep for extended periods of time. Now I need more to function well, and fortunately I’ve learned my limits and a few hacks to ensure that I’ll be my best possible self.

The father of my best friend growing up was a world-famous and in-demand surgeon who thrived on a heavy caseload that often required 20 hour days. At some point during his career he learned that by getting 30- to 60-minutes of sleep at key intervals he could remain focused and high-performing during the life-saving surgeries. I never asked him much about it, but my guess that was an invention born out of necessity, rather than a conscious plan. You, my friend, should make it a conscious plan to get better sleep on bucket list fishing trips and that may start with learning to sleep well on a plane. Of course fishing is not surgery (some would argue it’s more important than that), but you still want to make the most of your remaining casts. Don’t be dozing off when the fish of a lifetime strikes.

A comfortable and well-fitting face mask will help you sleep safely and soundly on an airplane

Which Flights?

Obviously, the length of your flight and the size of plane make a huge difference in the amount and quality of the sleep that you’ll be able to get. You cannot control factors like turbulence, but there are other things that are somewhat within your ability to control. For example, try to fly direct if you can, or at least get the longest segment/s possible. That’s a situation where it might be worth it to pay a little extra, just so your rest isn’t broken up.

Jet Lag Issues

If you have multiple choices about when you’ll fly, use that to your advantage, particularly if you’re changing time zones. Red eye flights are a perfect time to catch some Z’s and wake up refreshed. You’ll also want to consider time zone changes. If you get great sleep on your plane, but arrive “just in time to go to bed” at your next destination, you’re likely going to lose any benefit of the in-flight rest because you’ll be up all night at the new spot. Consider trying to get to bed earlier than usual, or staying up much longer than needed if that may help you acclimate to your destination spot.

Economy Class

For purposes of this blog entry, we’ll assume you are flying in coach class. Business or First Class, especially on some of the international carriers, is a whole different ballgame. During our flights on Air Qatar, with lie-flat seats, provided pajamas and turndown service, I was more comfortable than I am at home. I could’ve lived on that big plane. Most of the time, though, we fly coach, where things are more cramped and sleep is not quite as easy. There’s no such thing as a foolproof system – if a screaming baby is next to you, you lost that lottery, dude, but you can do some other things to maximize your chances of a restful seat.

First, check the seating chart as close to boarding time as possible. There may be an empty middle seat or an entire empty row that you can switch to. That’ll provide you more room to stretch out. Even if you can’t make that switch pre-flight, if you notice such a situation once onboard, ask the flight attendant if it’s ok to switch.

Second, but no less important, make sure that you’re not sitting across from or otherwise near the restroom. If people gather there (I know they’re no longer supposed to, but they will), it’ll interrupt your rest. Third, if you can make it through the flight without having to get up, choose the window seat – it’ll give you a surface to rest against, will preclude people from climbing over you, and requires you to only deal with one potentially bothersome neighbor. I tend to prefer an aisle seat for non-sleeping flights, but a window when it’s a shorter hop and I intend to get some shuteye.

Check the seating chart before you get on the plane to see if you can get a row to yourself

Ambien

This next piece of advice may be questionable to some, and I’m not a doctor so don’t take this as the gospel – if you suspect that you’ll have trouble falling asleep before a long flight, take some Ambien or Tylenol PM. I down them once I get onboard. Why not sooner? Because if they have to deplane for any reason and you’re zonked out, it’ll make that process more difficult.

The flip side of this is that you shouldn’t go crazy on caffeine before the flight. I virtually live on mainlined Diet Dr Pepper, but I try to tone down the intake before I fly. I will, however, drink more water—yes, it makes me have to pee but it also keeps me hydrated on the plane.

Tools of the Trade

If you have trouble sleeping on a plane, there are all sorts of commercially-available products aimed at helping you get some rest, everything from neck pillows to blankets to eyeshades. I’ve never invested in any of them, but I know people who swear by various items as panaceas. I’m typically overpacked already, so adding another bulky item to the mix is likely not worth the hassle. Your mileage may vary.

I will say, however, that planes can get cold or drafty, so if that’s going to make you miserable and prevent you from getting some sleep you need to come up with a solution. Since the airlines typically don’t offer blankets anymore, you might want to bring your own. I think that a basic hooded sweatshirt is a better option. It may serve double duty on your trip, and in addition to keeping you warm you can batten down the hood to reduce noise and light. In the COVID era, you will likely also be required to wear a facemask while flying, so bring one that’s comfortable and won’t irritate you while you sleep. Then pack a second in your carry-on in case the first one falls on the floor of the plane and ends up rolling around in who-knows-what.

If noise bothers you, then noise-canceling headphones can be worth their weight in gold. Even if you could sleep on a firing range, they still have value – once put in place the Chatty Cathy sitting next to you may be deterred from babbling on and on about her grandchildren. I know that most seatmates are generally pleasant and well-intentioned, but if you’re concerned about getting some sleep, you’ll need to politely lay down some barriers early on. Again, I typically don’t have room in my bag for a pair of bulky headphones, but I always carry fresh sets of foam ear plugs to effectuate the same function.

Be a Good Seatmate

I’ve used a CPAP to sleep for several years now, both to get better rest and to ensure that I don’t die in my sleep. Many planes now have outlets that allow me to plug in the CPAP to sleep in my seat. Fellow passengers may think that I resemble Hannibal Lecter, but I don’t care if it keeps me rested and healthy. There are also travel CPAPs that run on batteries. Just make sure that it’s allowed on your particular plane. One nice thing about bringing it alone is that a CPAP is considered a medical device, so it’s not counted in your carry-on allowance. Just be sure to allow extra time to go through security because they’ll sometimes take it out and examine it after it goes through the X-Ray scanner.

My CPAP also prevents me from snoring. Prior to getting it I understandably had several complaints or pointed comments from people sitting nearby. Just as I dread the crying baby or the overly chatty couple sitting behind me, it’s not fair to the people sitting around me to keep them up by sawing logs. If you don’t have a CPAP to prevent snoring, or for some reason can’t use it on the plane, consider other devices like mouthguards and special pillows. In fact, take great pains to ensure that you don’t inconvenience your neighbors in any way. You don’t want to be the guy on YouTube or TikTok caught drooling on the shoulder of the person next to you…but even more than that you don’t want to be the person getting drooled upon.

Finally, bring a pack of gum or some mints. Waking up for a long, dehydrating sleep will typically leave you with a bad case of stank-mouth. It’s uncomfortable for you, and may be nauseating for the people around you.

Other Places to Sleep

Getting sleep on a plane is part art, part science, and also part of a greater overall strategy to remain rested. That’s why I try to take a siesta when appropriate, and grab a few winks any time I can. Many offshore fishing boats have bean bags on them for various reasons—not just to smooth out a bumpy boat ride, but also to help you rest after a long day of battling tuna and billfish. There’s no shame in taking a time out, but you’ll be sorry if you miss an opportunity to catch a trophy fish because you were caught sleeping on the job.