Mid-Summer Fishing and Travel Link Extravaganza
School’s out for summer, but that doesn’t mean we put reading on the back burner. As the rest of you coat yourselves with baby oil, grill hot dogs and attempt to avoid blowing your fingers off with fireworks, we keep compiling links. Here are a dozen of our favorites from recent weeks:
General Travel News
Point.Me Review: Is This New Travel Hacking Tool Worth It? — If you’ve decided to jump into the points-and-miles game, it’s still confusing when it comes time to redeem them, especially if you don’t want to leave value on the table. Super travel blogger Nomadic Matt describes the point.me app, which allegedly helps you find the most efficient redemption methods (at a cost).
Still hoping to visit Alaska this year? No problem: Late summer and fall are the perfect time to go — We’re not headed back to Alaska until late NEXT summer, and we’d love for you to join us, but if you’re itching to get somewhere SOON, The Points Guy explains why the Last Frontier’s season extends longer than most of us in the lower 48 typically believe.
Air New Zealand officially launches economy-class sleep pods, the Skynest — If you simply cannot sleep in an economy seat, but can’t justify the expense of upgrading, Air New Zealand’s sleep pods might be the wave of your future – especially on ultra-long flights. While I still have some questions about the cost and the hygiene factor, I’m intrigued by these in-flight bunk beds.
American Airlines Launches Mobile ID With TSA PreCheck® — Biometric-based solutions continue to expand in the travel space, and now American Airlines is promising to make the travel process simpler by creating a “Mobile ID” that can be used at TSA PreCheck checkpoints to verify your identity. It’s currently useable at DFW, MIA, DCA and PHX.
Fishing Links
World’s biggest freshwater fish — a 660-pound stingray — caught in Cambodia — Thailand, Cambodia and Laos are on my travel bucket list, although not necessarily for fishing. I’m not sure if this story changes that calculus in any way, but I know it makes me less likely to swim in the Mekong Delta.
Giant Atlantic Halibut Landed Off Massachusetts On ‘80s-Style Fiberglass Rod — We often stress the value of using the best tackle available for the job, but this article reinforces the notion that the most important part of catching trophy fish and having great experiences overall is not the gear, but rather just “being there.”
WWII vet, 101, leads Warriors & Walleyes fishing trip — One of the themes of our website is to “make the most of your remaining casts,” and 101 year old Paul Wojahn is clearly setting a high bar for us to match. My attention was also piqued because he went to Lake of the Woods, where we are headed around Labor Day, and intends to go to Alaska later this summer.
I went on a Bay Area all-woman fishing trip. Now I might love fishing — Despite the fact that there are no hard impediments to female participation in fishing, it’s still hard for some women to get involved. Hanna led a ladies’ trip to El Salto and joined one to Kentucky Lake, and this gives me hope that we’re making progress – and that at some point stories like this will no longer be newsworthy.
Wildlife Curiosities
A Florida county is quarantining after discovery of invasive Giant African land snail — Even on the plate, fully cooked, I find snails to be a little bit gross, but giant snails that may carry a parasite called rat lungworm, which can cause meningitis, might make me sleep with the lights on.
Yellowstone visitor again gored by bison; second incident this week — Friendly reminder – National Parks are not the zoo. They are not a Disney ride, either. Don’t do stupid shit and be careful even when you’re coloring within the lines. I feel bad for the victims, but it’s a good reminder to remain vigilant.
Catfish Stabs Boy in Chest on Florida Fishing Trip — Once again, you take risks anytime you participate in an outdoor activity – but between this and the snails (see above) Pasco County seems to be a recent hotbed for wildlife weirdness.
Dolphins recognize their friends by tasting each other's pee — The headline pretty much says it all. Money quote: “He and his team discovered they not only recognize each other through these whistles, but also through tasting each other's excretions, kind of like how your dog will sniff other dog's pee on a walk, but a little grosser.”
