Last weekend, I launched my kayak at Dana Point Harbor when a marine patrol officer pulled alongside to check my registration. That five-minute conversation taught me more about California kayak laws than hours of online research ever had. After 15 years of paddling California waters from Crescent City to San Diego, I've learned that understanding […]

The sun was just breaking over the Cascade Mountains when I launched my kayak into Lake Roosevelt last spring. Within minutes of paddling out from Sterling Point, my fish finder lit up like a Christmas tree. Twenty feet down, suspended over a rocky ledge, was a school of smallmouth bass that would make any angler's […]

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 Saturday morning, I pushed off from Sandy Point State Park just as the sun painted the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in shades of gold and orange. The water was glass-calm, and a great blue heron watched me paddle by with that judgmental look they're famous for. After 15 years of exploring Maryland's waterways, I still […]

Last Saturday morning, I loaded my kayak onto the roof rack and headed out to explore Lancaster County's waterways. After paddling these waters for over a decade, I'm still discovering new launch spots and hidden coves. Whether you're planning your first paddle on the mighty Susquehanna or looking for a peaceful lake escape, Lancaster County […]

Last spring, I learned the hard way that shipping a kayak isn't as simple as slapping on a label and calling UPS. After watching the freight company driver's eyes widen at my 14-foot touring kayak (poorly wrapped in a single layer of bubble wrap), I knew I'd messed up. That $450 shipping quote turned into […]

The first time I paddled through a mangrove tunnel near Miami Beach, watching a manatee surface just feet from my kayak while the city skyline glimmered in the distance, I knew I'd found something special. After spending the last five years exploring every paddleable waterway from Key Biscayne to the Everglades, I've discovered that Miami […]

After spending the last decade paddling through Colorado's pristine waters, I've learned that this state offers something special for every kayaker - especially beginners. From the glass-calm morning waters of Grand Lake to the gentle rapids of the Upper Colorado River, I've discovered that Colorado isn't just about skiing and hiking. It's a paddler's paradise […]

Last Saturday at Lake Travis, I overheard two paddlers arguing about whether "Unsinkable II" was bad luck or brilliant humor. That's when it hit me – naming your kayak isn't just about slapping a decal on the hull. It's about giving your floating companion the personality it deserves. After spending the last decade paddling everything […]

Last summer, I stood in my garage staring at my old Coleman canoe with a sinking feeling in my gut. After 15 years of faithful service on Texas lakes, she'd finally sprung one too many leaks. The patches weren't holding anymore, and water seeped through the hull faster than my bilge pump could handle. But […]