What’s up, everyone. Big weekend behind us — the KFD meetup was supposed to be on Cayuga and ended up on Seneca, and the whole thing turned out better than the original plan. Quick recap inside while it’s fresh.
Below: how the weekend went down, plus two affiliate deals still live worth knowing about (KFD merch and Redodo lithium), and the usual reminder that November’s retreat is going to be this energy stretched out over four days.
😂 Dad Joke of the Issue I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down. |
Let’s get into it.
🎣 FEATURED |
How the Meetup Ended Up on Seneca
Quick recap from Saturday. The plan was Cayuga. The reality was heavy winds and multiple boat tournaments stacked on top of each other — by the time we got there, it was a full no-go.
So we pivoted to the north end of Seneca. And honestly, the pivot might have been the move. We met at the launch, got on the water, and ended up fishing both the north end of the lake and the Seneca Canal.
15 of us showed up. Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania, plus the home crew — folks who drove in from all over the Northeast just to fish together. Some of you have been hanging in the Kayak Fishing Dads Facebook group for years and finally got to put faces to names on Saturday. That part alone was worth the trip.
Plenty of fish came out of the water — big ones, small ones, smallmouth that pulled like trains. Nobody got skunked. It was the kind of day where you swap stories at the truck after and realize half the reason you came was the people.
If you’re reading this thinking “damn, I should’ve been there” — you should have. But here’s the better news. November is the big version. The Kayak Fishing Dads Retreat at Lake Marion runs November 5–8 — four days of exactly this, on a serious fishery, with the whole crew. If Saturday made you wish you’d come, the retreat is your move.
📣 QUICK HITS |
Two Things Still Worth Knowing
Real quick before you bounce.
🛍️ KFD Merch — 35% Off (Last Week) The Father’s Day sale is still running through the end of this week. Catch More Bass tees, tackle boxes, lure wraps, stickers, tow flags — all of it, automatic discount at checkout. Shop KFD Merch → |
🔋 Redodo Lithium — 10% Off with BDF8 Redodo is running a battery sale — code BDF8 stacks 10% off site-wide. Same lithium brand from a few issues back, same chemistry as the names charging double. If kayak power is on your list, this is the moment. Shop Redodo → |
🎯 WHAT’S WORKING |
What’s Working (Wherever You Fish)
If you didn’t make Saturday, here’s the late-June cheat sheet that applies wherever you launch.
- Heat pushes fish deeper or to current. On lakes, look for rock structure and dropoffs in 12+ feet. On rivers, hunt shaded banks, current breaks, and bridge pilings.
- Slow your presentations down. Finesse plastics — Ned rigs, drop-shots, weightless worms — outwork fast-moving baits once the water hits 75°+.
- Don’t waste midday. First hour after sunrise and last hour before dark is when topwater earns its keep. The middle of the day is for working bottom structure or finding shade.
- Lighten your line. 6–10lb fluoro on the spinning gear, especially on pressured water. Bigger fish notice.
📺 VIDEO SPOTLIGHT |
Top 5 Inflatable Paddle Boards Under $300
Different vibe this week — I dropped a head-to-head of 5 inflatable paddle boards under $300, all actually tested on the water. If you’ve got a family member angling for one this summer (or you’re looking for a low-rig way to get on the water without breaking down the kayak), I broke down which one is actually worth the money and which ones to skip.
🎣 Don’t Forget — Save the Date The Kayak Fishing Dads Retreat at Lake Marion is happening November 5–8. Spots are filling fast — register at kfdretreat.com before they’re gone. |
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See you on the water. Tight lines!
— Jay