Last spring, I watched a guy at Lake Travis pull out what looked like a rolled-up tarp from his Honda Civic. Twenty minutes later, he was paddling circles around my buddy in his $2,000 hardshell fishing kayak. That inflatable? A Sea Eagle RazorLite that tracked better than some rigid boats I've owned. That moment changed […]

The morning mist was still rising off Walden Pond when I first dipped my paddle into Massachusetts waters fifteen years ago. Since then, I've explored nearly every paddleable waterway from the Berkshire hills to Cape Cod's sandy shores, and I'm still discovering new favorite spots each season. Massachusetts offers something special for every paddler – […]

The morning mist was just lifting off Lake Willoughby when I first dipped my paddle into Vermont's waters. That was 12 years ago, and I've been hooked ever since. Between the covered bridges reflecting in calm waters and the blazing fall colors framing every paddle stroke, Vermont has become my go-to destination when I need […]

Last weekend at Mosquito Lagoon, I watched a game warden write three tickets in under an hour. The violations? Missing safety gear that most paddlers didn't even know they needed. After 20 years paddling Florida waters from the Panhandle to the Keys, I've learned that understanding Florida kayak laws and regulations isn't just about avoiding […]

I'll never forget my first time paddling through the mangrove tunnels near Key Largo. The water was so clear I could see a spotted eagle ray gliding beneath my kayak, and when I looked up, a roseate spoonbill was perched just feet away. That moment – that perfect South Florida moment – is why I've […]

I'll never forget my first run-in with Michigan DNR officers on Lake St. Clair. There I was, paddling my brand-new fishing kayak, feeling like the king of the water – until the patrol boat pulled up. Turns out, my trolling motor meant I needed registration numbers, and my "I'll just grab a PFD if I […]

Last Saturday at Lake Travis, I watched two friends have the exact same argument I've been hearing for years: "Kayaks are way better for fishing!" versus "Dude, paddleboards are so much more fun!" After 12 years of paddling both and owning three kayaks plus two SUPs, I can tell you they're both wrong – and […]

The sun was just breaking over Lake Travis when I watched a first-time paddler struggle to keep his rented canoe going straight. Twenty minutes later, his buddy in a kayak had already made it to the far shore while canoe-guy was still zigzagging like a drunk fish. That morning perfectly captured the canoe vs kayak […]

I'll never forget my first kayak crabbing trip in Puget Sound. I thought I knew what I was doing after years of fishing from my kayak, but watching my borrowed crab pot sink into 40 feet of water with no buoy attached taught me a $50 lesson real quick. The old-timer who lent me the […]

I'll never forget my first unplanned swim in Lake Travis. One minute I was confidently paddling along the limestone cliffs, the next I was bobbing next to my upside-down kayak watching a motorboat wake roll away. That cold water shock hit like a slap in the face, but what really got my heart racing was […]