The first time I dropped my kayak into the emerald waters of Emerald Cove, I couldn't believe this desert state held such paddling treasures. After five years of exploring Arizona's waters from the Colorado River to hidden mountain lakes, I've discovered that this "dry" state offers some of the most spectacular kayaking in the Southwest. […]

I'll never forget the day my $300 YakAttack BlackPak fell off my kayak and sank in 20 feet of water at Lake Travis. Standing there watching bubbles rise where my fancy crate disappeared, I made a promise: never again would I spend big money on what's essentially a glorified milk crate. That weekend, I built […]

I'll never forget my first attempt at fishing from a kayak. Picture this: Lake Travis, 6 AM, me trying to paddle with one hand while casting with the other, only to hook my own life jacket and nearly flip the whole setup. Twenty years and thousands of fish later, I'm still learning new tricks about […]

I'll never forget the day I discovered my 3-year-old Perception fishing kayak had literally crumbled under its own weight. The hull split right down the middle as I lifted it off the rack – $1,200 worth of plastic turned into oversized recycling. That expensive lesson taught me everything about UV protection for kayaking the hard […]

Last summer, I launched my kayak into Tomales Bay just as the morning fog lifted, revealing a pod of harbor seals playing in the glassy water. After 20 years of paddling California's diverse waterways - from the rugged Lost Coast to the desert lakes of SoCal - I'm still discovering new favorite spots. The Golden […]

The first time I paddled into Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island, my headlamp died halfway through the 1,200-foot cavern. There I was, in complete darkness with only the sound of water lapping against ancient volcanic walls. My guide's voice echoed from somewhere ahead: "Just follow the sound of my paddle." That moment of pure […]

Last summer, I finally hit my breaking point. My garage looked like a kayak graveyard with boats stacked on boats, paddles scattered everywhere, and my wife threatening to park my truck outside if I brought home "just one more" fishing kayak. Sound familiar? That's when I decided to build my own kayak storage shed. After […]

Last April, I watched the morning mist lift off the Kentucky River as limestone cliffs towered 300 feet above my kayak. A great blue heron stood motionless on a rock ledge, waiting for breakfast to swim by. After paddling in 38 states over the past two decades, that moment in the Palisades still ranks in […]

Last Memorial Day weekend, I watched in envy as a parade of kayakers glided past my picnic spot at Lighthouse Point Park. Their colorful boats dotted the calm waters of Morris Creek like floating confetti, and that's when I knew – I'd been missing out on one of Connecticut's best-kept secrets. After spending the entire […]

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 […]