Last weekend on Lake Travis, I watched a game warden write a $325 ticket to a guy who swore he was "just catching and releasing." The angler kept insisting he didn't need a license since he wasn't keeping any fish. Wrong move. That expensive lesson is exactly why I'm writing this guide. Here's the short […]

Introduction Looking for an exceptional fishing experience just 30 minutes from San Antonio? Boerne City Lake offers 189 acres of pristine water teeming with largemouth bass, catfish, and various sunfish species in the heart of Texas Hill Country. This comprehensive guide reveals everything you need to know for a successful fishing trip, from the best […]

Adding a skeg to a kayak can dramatically improve your paddling experience, especially in windy conditions or open water. A skeg is a fin-shaped tracking device mounted under the hull near the stern that helps maintain directional control. Whether you're dealing with weather-cocking issues or simply want better tracking performance, installing an aftermarket kayak skeg […]

Last spring, I pulled up to my favorite launch at Raystown Lake, excited to test my new fishing kayak. As I unloaded, a Fish and Boat Commission officer walked over with that look - you know the one. "Registration or permit?" he asked. My heart sank. I'd completely forgotten Pennsylvania requires documentation for kayaks at […]

I'll never forget the sinking feeling when I spotted those ugly dents in my favorite fishing kayak's hull last spring. After a winter stored on sawhorses in the garage, my trusty Perception had developed the telltale oil canning that makes plastic kayaks look like someone took a hammer to them. The good news? I fixed […]

Last weekend on Lake Travis, my trolling motor died 3 miles from the launch. As I paddled back against a 15mph headwind (yeah, that was fun), I realized I'd been guessing at battery runtime for years. Sound familiar? After testing over 40 different battery setups and burning through more amp hours than I care to […]

Last week at Eagle Creek Reservoir, I watched a conservation officer write three citations in under an hour - all for missing lake permits. The confused paddlers had no idea they needed anything beyond their kayaks and paddles. After 15 years of paddling Indiana's waterways, from the Wabash River to Lake Monroe, I've learned that […]

I'll never forget the day I watched a 5-pound largemouth demolish a baby duck right next to my kayak on Lake Travis. That moment drove home just how opportunistic these predators really are. After 20 years of kayak fishing for bass, I've seen them eat everything from mice to their own young, and understanding their […]

Last month, I watched a game warden write a $250 ticket to a kayaker at Lake Anna who thought his electric trolling motor didn't need registration. That painful lesson stuck with me – and it's why I'm breaking down every Virginia kayak law you need to know before hitting the water in . After paddling […]

Last Saturday morning on Lake Travis, I had two bass on my stringer when the game warden pulled up. "Nice catches," he said, then asked if I knew I had one spotted bass mixed in with my largemouth. My heart sank – different size limits could mean a ticket. Luckily, both fish were legal, but […]