Last summer, I watched an Oklahoma Highway Patrol marine unit write citations at Lake Thunderbird. Three kayakers got tickets - not for being reckless, just for missing basic safety gear. That expensive wake-up call could've been avoided with a quick review of Oklahoma's kayak laws. After paddling Oklahoma waters for years and talking with marine […]

Last Saturday morning, I watched the mist rise off Lake Guntersville as my paddle sliced through glass-calm water. An osprey circled overhead, and I couldn't help but think - this is why I've spent the last decade exploring every paddleable mile of Alabama waterways. From the whitewater rush of Little River Canyon to the peaceful […]

Last spring, I watched my buddy's face drop as we pulled his vintage fiberglass canoe off the roof rack. There it was - a nasty crack running down the hull, courtesy of a hidden rock from our last river run. But here's the thing: that "disaster" turned into one of the best learning experiences we've […]

Last October on Lake Travis, I watched three boats work the same deep point for hours without a bite. Meanwhile, I quietly dropped a 3/4-ounce jigging spoon down 25 feet and proceeded to catch seven bass in 30 minutes. The guy in the $80,000 bass boat throwing a $30 swimbait wasn't happy when he motored […]

Last July on Lake Travis, I watched my buddy throw everything in his tackle box at a school of bass suspended 35 feet down. Nothing. Meanwhile, I dropped a Carolina rig straight down from my fishing kayak and immediately hooked up with a 4-pounder. That's when he finally asked the question every deep water newbie […]

Last April, I was standing knee-deep in Oak Creek's crystal-clear water when a 22-inch brown trout slammed my fly. The red rocks of Sedona glowed in the morning sun, and I thought to myself - this is exactly why I moved to Arizona 15 years ago. After exploring every fishable body of water from the […]

Last Tuesday on Lake Travis, I watched three boats work the same crystal-clear cove for two hours without a single fish. Meanwhile, I quietly paddled my kayak to the shady side, downsized to a 1/16-ounce Ned rig, and landed five solid bass in 30 minutes. The difference? Understanding how bass behave when they can see […]

Last July, I was sweating buckets in my kayak on Lake Travis, wondering if I'd lost my mind. It was 98 degrees, my water bottle was empty, and I hadn't had a bite in three hours. Then I remembered something an old-timer told me at the boat ramp: "Son, summer bass are like teenagers - […]

Last April, I watched the sun rise over Lake Marion while my buddy landed a 9-pound largemouth on a white spinnerbait. The bass had been crushing shad in the cypress trees all morning, and we'd already boated six fish before 7 AM. That's South Carolina bass fishing at its finest – and exactly why I've […]

Last Saturday morning, I watched the sun paint the San Gabriel Mountains gold as my line went tight at Santa Fe Dam. After years of fishing this hidden gem just 30 minutes from downtown LA, I've learned every secret spot, seasonal pattern, and local trick that makes the difference between going home empty-handed and filling […]