I can’t believe it’s been five years since my most recent fishing trip to Brazil. The first two were to the Rio Negro basin, north of Manaus, but that last one was to a comparatively un-gringo-fied river to the south. It was one of the best trips I’ve taken largely because it wasn’t a cookie cutter experience.

The long-awaited and much-delayed American Express Centurion Lounge at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) finally opened in mid-July. We are excited to have this option going forward, since DCA is our departure and/or arrival airport approximately half the time.

We haven’t written much about the great Mexican bass fishing during the fall months. So if you’ve resisted booking a trip during that time period, we apologize. We’ve been to the lakes during October, November and December. Here are six reasons to go at that time.

After nearly every trip to Mexico, I share notes about the travel experience. It’s never the same trip twice going to and from Mazatlán — there are always a few wrinkles and snafus. I feel like by writing it down I can help your next trip go a little bit more smoothly.

We’re still trying to assess whether the steep fee associated with the American Express Platinum Card is worth it give our current travel plans and needs. One nice development was the discovery that the our Priority Pass membership allows us a single visit per year to the Dulles Airport (IAD) Etihad Lounge.

After 20 trips to Anglers Inn Lake El Salto, I know that they all have subtle differences. The fishing, service and scenery are always great, but as you’ll see below there were six things in particular that made this trip unforgettable.

If you’ll have some time before, after or during ICAST, and you’d like to fish, you’re in luck – what may be the best bass fishery in the country is right nearby. The Headwaters are loaded with giant grass-based bass, so if you like to frog and flip they’re calling your name.

One or both of us have traveled to Anglers Inn Lake El Salto every May or June since 2013, but this year’s trip was the latest in the season – we were there from June 22 through June 29. Here’s a trip report.

It may be occasionally too hot to fish, or too sticky to travel, but the news never rests. Here are a handful of stories that we’ve read recently that may inform your future fishing travel.

If you’ll be in Panama City, make a detour to the Canal Zone for Maagoo’s Fish Tacos — a bar/restaurant with great food, fishing tackle and a thirst for adventure.

After three trips to Panama, we figured we had the process down pat, but every trip presents its own challenges. Fortunately, the travel aspects of fourth trip were remarkably smooth. Because it wasn’t eventful, it may not be extremely helpful to document it, but if our experiences help any future travelers avoid problems, it’ll be worth it.

We took our fourth trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge in May of 2024 and the tuna fishing for giant yellowfin on topwaters was exceptional. Here are a few notes about our trip.

If you’re likely to fly on a trip anytime starting in May of 2025, you’re going to need to have a Real ID. You’ll also need one to enter most Federal buildings like military bases and Federal courthouses. That’s a capital R, as in, not the opposite of “fake ID.”

Anchorage is the first stopping point when we head to Bear Trail Lodge, and the airport there is a great flying experience – more than half of the people are carrying rod tubes and wearing Xtratuf shoes and boots. If you’re headed up this summer, here are some newsy tidbits that might inform your trip. 

Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge provides the seclusion of a private island with all of the convenience and safety of a major metropolis like Panama City. That starts with Tocumen International Airport, a thoroughly modern, welcoming and generally efficient point of entry and exit.

Last month we told you that the fishing at Casa Vieja Lodge was off the chain in March, and that it was critical to book asap if you wanted to get in on it the same time next year. April was just as good, if not better, and the boats are already filling up for spring of 2025.

We traveled a bit in the first quarter of the year, but less than usual. That means that we’re gearing up for a lot of go time over the next few months. We hope you’ll be adding notches to your belt, too. Here are some links that may inform or inspire your travel plans and goals.

The Brazilian government has been trying to reinstate visa requirements for travelers from certain countries. It has been pushed back multiple times. Due to continuing troubles getting the system to function properly, now they have announced that the date will be moved back a year – to April 10, 2025.

Tulsa turned out to be a cool little city, with lots of culture and history to explore. We hope to have more time in Oklahoma at future Classics and fishing trips.

I have been speaking to David Leiffer about his stupendous idea of taking his son Ryan to Anglers Inn El Salto for his graduation present from high school close to a year. Based on how it went I think they both wish there was another graduation around the corner.