Last weekend at Lake Travis, I watched a guy try to load a 20-foot canoe onto his Honda Civic. After 10 minutes of creative rope work and some colorful language, he gave up and called his buddy with a truck. That's when it hit me - most people have no idea how long canoes actually […]

Last summer on Lake Travis, I watched a family's canoe slowly sink lower and lower at the launch ramp until water started pouring over the gunwales. They'd loaded it with two adults, three kids, a massive cooler, camping gear, and what looked like half their garage. The dad kept insisting "the guy at the store […]

Last weekend on Lady Bird Lake, I watched a couple spin in circles for 20 minutes, switching paddle sides every three strokes like they were churning butter. Their frustration was written all over their faces - the same look I had 15 years ago when I first tried canoeing. That's when an old-timer paddled up […]

The first time I missed a 40-pound cobia by inches, I wanted to throw my speargun across Tampa Bay. Six feet away, perfect shot lined up, and I jerked the trigger like a rookie. That was 15 years ago, and that missed fish taught me more about spearfishing than any successful shot since. If you're […]

Last weekend at Lake Travis, I watched a guy struggle for 15 minutes trying to load his fishing kayak onto his truck. His face was beet red, sweat dripping, and I could tell his back was screaming. When I helped him lift the beast, I understood why – that monster weighed at least 120 pounds […]

I learned the hard way that proper kayak storage isn't just about finding space - it's about protecting your investment. Last winter, my neighbor's $1,200 fishing kayak warped beyond repair because he stored it flat on his garage floor. Meanwhile, my 8-year-old Wilderness Systems is still going strong thanks to proper storage techniques I'm about […]

Last summer, I watched my 68-year-old mom step onto a paddle board for the first time. Within 20 minutes, she was gliding across Lake Austin like she'd been doing it her whole life. That's the magic of stand up paddle boarding – it looks intimidating but is surprisingly accessible to almost anyone willing to give […]

I'll never forget the day my buddy's kayak turned into a submarine off the coast of Monterey Bay. We were paddling through some decent swells when a rogue wave caught him sideways. His cockpit filled instantly, and within seconds, his entire kayak was underwater – except it wasn't. The bow and stern stayed buoyant, keeping […]

I'll never forget the morning I launched my kayak into Lake Superior near Munising. The water was so clear I could see 30 feet down to the rocky bottom, and ahead of me, the Pictured Rocks cliffs rose like ancient castles from the water. That day changed everything - what started as a casual paddle […]

I learned the hard way that choosing between a wetsuit and drysuit isn't just about staying warm – it's about staying alive. After dunking myself in 45°F water wearing nothing but board shorts (yeah, not my brightest moment), I became obsessed with cold water gear. Now, after testing dozens of suits in everything from Florida […]