The Twelve Days of Fishmas

As a result of the ongoing Coronavirus tragedy, combined with several factors of good fortune, Hanna and I were able to spend two weeks at Anglers Inn El Salto through Thanksgiving. This marked only the third time in two decades that Hanna and I had taken two consecutive weeks away from work and away from home – the first was for our wedding/honeymoon in 2005, and the second was when we traveled to Africa in 2016. In all likelihood, this will be the last time we do it until we’re ready for retirement in a little less than a decade.

Unlike some of you lucky souls, I’d never fished twelve full 10-hour days in a row, so I made sure to be present and savor every moment of the fishing, the scenery, the service and the food. Here are a dozen observations based on the experience:

• If you don’t think that fishing requires athleticism or stamina, try grinding a 10XD crankbait for 2-3 hours a day for 12 days straight, then get back to me.

• The greatest moment of anticipation in the world is a distinct “tick” on a falling Senko.

• It’s never too early in the morning for a 7 ounce Pacifico.

• If you’re doing it right, a two-week fishing vacation will eat up a lot of sunblock.

• Even with modern electronics, we’ll never know how truly huge a school of bass can be – and what a small percentage of them we’ll actually fool.

• Mexico seems to be taking COVID more seriously than the US.

• There’s not a better popper for bass than the Rico. Change my mind.

• For the Robbins family, the greatest loss of the pandemic so far is the ensuing absence of buffets.

• El Salto’s fish are remarkably migratory, abandoning and repopulating key areas almost constantly.

• Chips and salsa are cruel sirens of obesity. I cannot resist them.

• Twelve days on the water was great. Twenty four would have been better. It never gets old.

• My wife is cooler than yours. She matched every hairy-legged dude at the lodge cast-for-cast.