On April 8, 2024. Mazatlán will be a perfect place to view a total solar eclipse – those present will get a remarkable 4-plus minutes of total coverage. It should begin just around 11am and experts believe that the weather prospects for viewing are better in Mexico than in the US and Canada.

We stay on top of the news so you can fish more. Check out these various airline tidbits, fishing travel nuggets and miscellany that you might have missed.

Despite the fact that my first two trips to Alaska were 24 years apart, some things haven’t changed and likely never will. Every American needs to visit this amazing and easily accessible national treasure, the 49th state.

The tidal Potomac River can be an incredible bass fishery — but you have to take the bad with the good. Here’s what I will (and won’t) miss about it when we leave the DMV.

After a 28 year absence, I made it back to the Salty Dawg Saloon on the “spit” in Homer, Alaska. It was much as I remembered it — and now I’m vowing to revisit some other treasured places that have fallen off of my travel/fishing itinerary.

Reading about Deacon Sebela’s trip to Lake Picachos reminded me that it’s extremely fun to bring newcomers on a bucket list bass fishing trip – whether they’re just new to Mexico or new to fishing. There’s no better way to get someone excited about the sport than to have them catch the fire out of a bunch of Mexican largemouths while being treated like a king or queen.

To go all the way to Alaska and not see as much as possible would have been silly. We only had four extra days before we headed to Bear Trail Lodge, so we resolved to see as much as we could in Homer and Seward. Check out how much we crammed in, and be sure to watch the video.

Our good friend Carl Vicars is an exceptional photographer. We asked him to pick out his ten favorite bear pictures from our recent trip to Alaska and he didn’t disappoint. Check them out — not just Brooks Falls!

After I blogged about the need to get a visa to enter Brazil starting October 1, 2023, several readers wrote to say that they couldn’t get the online portal to work. I suspect that may be the reason that Brazil subsequently delayed the requirement. Now the visa exemption for American, Canadian and Australian travelers will end on January 9, 2024.

Same boat, two different trips, two different captains, two different groups — but the Outer Coast Alaska in Seward delivered great experiences both times. We highly recommend that you make the trip.

You know the fishing in Bristol Bay will be great, but it’s some of the little touches beyond just on-the-water activities that distinguish Bear Trail Lodge as an exceptional fishing lodge. Here are seven that stood out to us.

Our friend Carl Vicars is a welcome fellow traveler on any and all trips — not least because he typically provides exceptional video memories of our adventures. Check out his Alaska 2023 video.

Starting October 1, 2023, American travelers headed to Brazil to fish will need a tourist visa. Don’t delay. The process is a little complicated and time-consuming.

We’ve now been to Bear Trail Lodge in Alaska three times and we can provide tons of reasons for YOU to go — plus some answers to the questions you’re most likely to ask.

You should bring ample supplies of the proven lures on your next bass fishing trip to Mexico. Buy more than you think you’ll need and fill your luggage to the max. However, if you forget something, or your luggage gets lost, or you run out of something, the “pro shop” has the gear to make sure you don’t go fishless the rest of the trip.

One of the most common questions when I speak with prospective or first-time travelers to Anglers Inn’s lodges at El Salto and Picachos is, “What are the boats like?” Since it is a common question, I decided to finally not only tell you, but show you as well. They are custom made specifically for the Mexican fishing experience.

Flyout trips from Bear Trail Lodge can be among the best fishing days of your life — but prepare yourself and take the proper steps to ensure that you can hike across the tundra safely to get to the fishing grounds.

We’ve been to Mexico to chase green fish over 20 times and most of the people we’ve run into down there have been great to be around. Some have even become lifelong friends and trusted confidantes. There’s that 5%, though, that can make travel painful.

Our retirement plans are starting to come into focus, and one of those is to buy a fifth wheel and travel the country in it. That means I’ll tow the “house,” and Hanna will have an SUV to pull the boat. She’s starting to practice so she won’t be nervous when we officially hit the road.

There is now a fifth airline traveling directly between Los Angeles LAX and La Aurora International in Guatemala City — Alaska Air. This opens up even more opportunities for western anglers to visit Casa Vieja Lodge.