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 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 […]

There's something almost magical about the moment when your kayak first glides onto Alabama waters. The morning light filters through cypress branches, a heron lifts off from the shallows, and suddenly you're part of a landscape that hasn't changed much since Native Americans first paddled these same routes. After spending the last decade exploring every […]

Last Saturday morning, I was paddling through the glassy waters of Lady Bird Lake when a great blue heron landed on a fallen cypress branch just 10 feet from my kayak. That's when it hit me - after living in Austin for 15 years and paddling these waters hundreds of times, I still discover something […]

Standing on the deck of my kayak at dawn last spring, I watched two bass attack the same topwater plug within thirty seconds of each other. One hit like a freight train, immediately diving for the rocky bottom thirty feet below. The other slashed at the surface, launching itself three feet into the air before […]

Paddling in Virginia offers incredible diversity, from the mountain streams of the Blue Ridge to the tidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay. But before you launch, understanding the legal landscape is just as important as checking your gear. I've learned this the hard way after 15 years of kayaking Virginia waters and watching fellow paddlers […]

Nothing ruins a fishing trip faster than watching your trolling motor sputter to a stop miles from the ramp. I learned this the hard way last season on Lake Travis when my battery died 3 miles from the launch, leaving me paddling against a stiff headwind. That experience changed everything about how I approach trolling […]

Pulling your kayak out of storage after a long winter only to find the hull covered in unsightly dents is one of the most frustrating moments for any paddler. Those depressions staring back at you—commonly called oil canning—can make even a premium boat look like it survived a demolition derby. Learning how to fix oil […]

Nothing ruins a perfect morning on the water faster than spotting a PFBC officer walking toward your kayak with a notepad in hand. Trust me, I've been there. After years of exploring Pennsylvania's incredible waterways - from the crystal-clear stretches of Pine Creek to the sprawling shores of Raystown Lake - I've learned that understanding […]

Standing at the edge of a glassy lake at sunrise, rod in hand, ready to make that first cast—it's a moment every angler lives for. But before your line hits the water, there's one question that could turn your peaceful morning into an expensive headache: Do you need a fishing license for catch and release? […]