Fresh off the water — New episode every Thursday — Lines in, opinions out
Est. Retirement Day  •  2026

Todd Talks Tackle

Retired. Gone fishing. Talking about it — at length.

Todd on the boat, rod bent into a fish, mountains across the water
This week's episode
Feature Story

Forty Years of Tackle Boxes: What I'd Actually Keep

I emptied every tackle box I own onto the garage floor. My wife has questions. After four decades of buying anything that glitters, here's the honest short list — the twelve lures that have actually caught fish, and the two hundred that just caught me.

Read the story

Fresh from the dock

Latest Posts

Pull up a chair. These get long — I'm retired, I have the time.

Gear Review

The $40 Reel That Outfished My $400 One

A humbling week on the water, and why the guy at the counter was right all along.

July 10, 2026
Field Notes

Dawn on the Lake: A Case for the 4:30 Alarm

Retirement means no alarms — except the one that matters. What the first hour of light taught me this season.

July 3, 2026
Shop Talk

Three Hours in a Tackle Shop (I Regret Nothing)

A full field report from the aisles, including the knot demonstration that drew a crowd.

June 26, 2026

This Week's Tackle Box

Five things worth your attention.

  1. New braid arrived — testing it against the old spool (debate incoming)
  2. Interview booked with Ray from the marina (40 years guiding)
  3. Rain jacket review: the zipper finally lost
  4. Reader question: best starter setup under $150
  5. Boat maintenance day — the glamorous side of fishing

The Weekly Bite

One email a week. No spam, just fish. — Todd