Building the Perfect Travel Schedule
Posted by Pete Robbins on Jun 14th 2021
If all goes right, I’m 7 or 8 years away from retiring from my primary job. If it goes really right, I could be down to a little bit less than 6. That’s both exciting and a little bit daunting but whenever I pull the trigger I intend to travel to fish more than I already do, even if it requires a side-hustle on top of my side-hustle.
I have lots of bucket list destinations on my list, but if I had to “limit” myself to one trip a month and to places I’ve already been (with no repeats), here’s what I’m thinking:
January: Lake Picachos, Mexico
Start the year right with what may be the best public numbers factory on earth, at a time when the topwater bite is usually exceptional. There’s already the chance of a giant, and by then the municipal infrastructure should be in place to make it happen more frequently
February: Casa Vieja Lodge, Guatemala
Keeping with the numbers theme, let’s go someplace where the billfish pile in one after another after another. We’ve fished there six days in February and landed 81 sails (plus some mahi). Why mess with a good thing?
March: Grosse Savanne, Lousiana
I want to go to GS when the fish are at their fattest and possibly bedding. Just as importantly, I want some of that good Cajun and Creole food in one of the nicest fishing lodges around.
April: California Delta
I’ve fished the Delta twice in B.A.S.S. competition, in 2003 and 2007, and it’s time to go back. I loved that spring fishing, and it seems like there are a lot of good ways to catch them at this time of year. Is it too early for a frog?
May: Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge
I don’t care what kind of fishing you like to do, if tuna boiling on topwaters does not excite you then you need to have your brain checked. Our trip to SFPIL this year was life-changing. If given the option to fish topwaters for yellowfin 30-40 days a year I might give everything else up.
June: Lake El Salto, Mexico
This is the place that birthed my fishing travel bug, and I still consider it my home away from home. By the time I retire I may have the funds to build something of my own down there, so perhaps it could be more than once a year. This is the best time to throw a 10XD and a 7-inch Senko and every bite could be a beast.
July: Minnesota
I’m not sure if it would be Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, the Boundary Waters or someplace else, but I haven’t been up there since 1997 and I’m due for multiple returns.
August: Rio Juruena (Amazon)
When our group went on an exploratory wolffish/payara trip in 2019, I feel like I was just getting dialed in by the time we had to leave. I’d like a second crack at these prehistoric jungle beasts.
September: Bear Trail Lodge, Alaska
Every American needs to visit Alaska, and Bristol Bay is just special – with huge runs of salmon and unspoiled flyouts by the dozens. I went with Hanna in July 2020 and Keith Combs in August 2019. I’d like to go in September, when it’s a bit colder, but the rainbows are at their fattest.
October: Lake Erie
Big water, big smallmouths. Great chicken wings.
November: Venice, Louisiana
I won’t say that they’re like “bass on steroids” but redfish are a special species, and you can also go offshore for another dose of tuna. Besides, after 8 months away from Louisiana I’ll be due for some belt-busting meals.
December: Rio Negro (Amazon)
Freakishly big fish eating big topwaters. They make you work for them but it’s worth it, and the scenery and wildlife are exceptional. Fluctuating water levels make it tough to time, and the COVID plague has closed them down for the time being, but by the time I can go back a new generation of peacocks should be chewing.
Where would you go?
