If you were to ask most anglers what their favorite childhood memory was, I bet eight out of ten would tell you about fishing with a parent or grandparent. So how do you create these memories for your kids and give them a lifelong love of the sport? Here are a few tips to help make their time with you on the water experiences they will remember.

When you're on the water, other boats can present hazards for kayak fisherman.  They can also be a lifeline.  Cell phones are great when you find yourself in a hairy situation, but they don't always work.  That's where the VHF radio comes in.  It allows for on-the-water communication with other boats on the water, the Coast Guard, and you can also get weather information in case you don't notice the storm moving in on your location.

I recently upgraded my Personal Flotation Device (PFD). The vest I had wasn’t really made for kayak fishing in a sit-on-top. It was uncomfortable to wear, so I would just toss it in the back of the kayak to meet the legal requirements….not something I should be doing. As a pro staff writer/public figure, every photo of me in the kayak SHOULD show me wearing a PFD, and I apologize for my irresponsibility in regards to that.

I found this report after what I am about to tell you. My Grand Slam day turned into an unnerving situation by getting slammed. That moment when I noticed the guys looking up at the sky, the wind jumped and hit us all in the face. And not a second later heavy rain started pelting everyone, except those of us under the bridge. About a dozen boats came rushing to get cover so I knew it caught them off guard too. There was also one other kayaker nearby who had been anchored up as well. About 5 minutes later, the rain died off and we both decided it was time to head back.

Ever since I was little I’ve always heard “It’s not always easy doing the right thing”, you probably did too. Standing up for what you believe is right can also be equally as hard. Debates can quickly turn heated and the true message you’re trying to get across gets lost. Talk about kayak fishing or fishing conservation on any angler forum and you’ll see what I mean. I recently had an encounter such as this on one of these forums.

Walking around ICAST a lot of products certainly caught my. As I walked past the VestPac booth I noticed a man wearing something interesting looking around his chest. I approached Paul, the guy wearing the device, and ask about the product. He walked me through his demonstration; and I had to admit that I could certainly see where this could come in handy.

For years, every time I pull in a toothy or unwanted fish while kayak fishing, I reach for my Baker hookouts. The little tool has always been reliable at removing hooks and keeping my fingers safely out of the way. This is why I was extremely excited to receive and review the new Magnum "T" Hookouts from Baker.

One thing folks ask me quite a bit is “What’s the best kayak I should get?” Since the variables are so complex, there’s no simple, cut and dry answer. It’s almost like asking someone what sort of shoes to buy. I’m sure that any kayak fishing guide or pro angler will tell you to get the kayak that they use because, chances are, they’re on a kayak manufacturers pro staff and that’s what they’re supposed to do.

Two words of advice to live by pertaining to kayak fishing: Never underestimate Mother Nature and listen to your gut instincts, you have them for a reason...

So you have just purchased your new Kayak and are ready to head out and catch the fish of a life time. You have bought a paddle maybe a PFD, hopefully at the advice of the place where you bought your kayak and you are ready to go get em’… Right?