Covering Your Bases

(and protecting your trip)

At Yellow Dog Flyfishing, we always recommend that our clients purchase insurance coverage to protect themselves and their valuable trip investment – no matter where in the world you’re traveling. While most destination anglers are unlikely to have problems that lead to initiating a claim (or activating a rescue-evac policy), the reality is that occasionally things go wrong. And – if you’re the one who needs a policy for coverage and reimbursement – we promise it will be the best investment you’ve ever made!

Most trips take place as planned, and the overall travel process is generally smooth. Nonetheless, there are times when nature, unforeseen personal issues, work conflicts, airline turmoil, or unpredictable health crises can derail what was destined to be “the trip of a lifetime.” When the unexpected happens, it is good to have a plan, and as we’ve learned over the years, travel interruptions can and do come out of nowhere.

Wayward Weather

Most travelers are aware of how the forces of nature can impact our worldly fisheries: seasonal hurricanes, sweeping wildfires, drought conditions, and unforeseen floods. It seems as if severe weather events are playing more of a factor with our trips every year. No matter what anglers do to limit the impacts of weather by focusing on certain seasons or trying to predict prime conditions, weather can always play a critical, and sometimes unfortunate, role in travel. While you may feel you can forego trip insurance because the weather is rarely a variable at your destination, remember weather events elsewhere can also disrupt the interconnected world of air travel. More than three years after the world shut down, airlines are still reeling from the impact of the pandemic. A combination of high demand, staffing shortages, and infrastructural shortfalls continue to leave travelers in unfortunate scenarios. While the bulk of airline issues result in only minor delays, those delays can sometimes make the difference in connecting flights or arriving at your destination on time. Your time at your lodge is limited and valuable and covering any lost days or missed time on the water makes sense.

Watch Your Step

No one ever plans on stepping on a sea urchin or picking up a serious and incapacitating stomach bug. A rolled ankle while boarding the boat, an unplanned saltwater hook piercing, a severe rash that requires antibiotics … we have seen (and experienced) all kinds of things in the field. Pre-existing conditions and unpredictable accidents can prevent, disrupt, or end a trip altogether, and the costs associated with medical care or evacuation are generally unfavorable. While you’re likely to come home intact and in good health, a safety net for covering any potential health costs can be a game changer.

Family Ties

Whether you’ve just arrived at your destination or are about to depart for an exciting week ahead, family emergencies do happen. A severely ill child, a medical accident, a completely unpredictable death in the family – in all these instances, travel takes a backseat to things that are far more important. Having a policy in place to protect against these unforeseen circumstances allows you to walk away from a trip and know that you are financially covered.

We’re such big believers in the importance of trip insurance coverage that we have a full-time, in-house travel insurance expert dedicated to providing our clients with coverage and protection options. Yellow Dog is unique in the industry in that our insurance specialist can work with you to determine the right product and coverage for your next adventure, including which type of insurance to buy, when to buy it, and – if necessary – assistance with navigating the claims process. When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you can immediately discuss your insurance options with our team before you begin daydreaming about those wonderful days ahead.