What’s up, everyone. Memorial Day weekend is on the doorstep, which means the water is about to get crowded and the fishing is about to get good. Funny how those two always show up together.
I’ve got a full one for you this issue: how to actually enjoy the long weekend on the water, three deals worth grabbing from Eco Fishing Shop’s Memorial Day Sale, plus a catch from the group and a new video.
😂 Dad Joke of the Issue What did the hamburger name its daughter? Patty. |
Let’s get into it.
🐟 FEATURED TOPIC |
Memorial Day Weekend: Don’t Be That Guy
Memorial Day weekend is here, and every boat ramp from Maine to Florida is about to look like a Black Friday parking lot. Good news: the fish are still going to bite. You just have to be a little smarter about how you get on the water — and after enough holiday weekends stuck in a ramp line, I’ve got this down to a system.
First thing — get there early. I mean dark-early. If you’re not on the water by 6am, you’re going to be circling the lot waiting for somebody’s trailer to back out. Better yet, skip the main ramp entirely. Find the gravel pull-off, the little secondary access, the spot nobody else thinks about. That’s the whole advantage of fishing from a kayak — you can launch where the bass boats can’t.
And give some real thought to where you go. Starting this weekend, every lake with no horsepower limit turns into a circus — rec boats, jet skis, and personal watercraft, half of them driven by folks who haven’t been out since last summer. A kayak sits low and quiet, and they will not see you. If you can, skip the big open-water lakes on the holiday weekends and stick to your no-wake creeks, rivers, and ponds. The fishing is better back there anyway.
As for what’s biting, late May is one of the best windows of the whole year. Largemouth are post-spawn and feeding hard, and topwater first thing in the morning is about as fun as fishing gets. Up north, stripers are crushing bait on the surface. Down south, redfish and trout are pushing shallow as the water warms up. Wherever you are, the fish are eating. Don’t overthink it.
Before you go, run the five-minute check. Drain plug in. PFD on — actually on, not bungeed to the back of the seat. Phone in a dry bag or leashed to you. Water, more than you think you need. And tell someone where you’re putting in and when you’ll be back. None of it is exciting, but it’s the difference between a good story and a bad one.
That’s the whole game plan. Get out early, fish somewhere quiet, and come home with your gear and your dignity intact. Have a good one out there.
✨ SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT |
3 Memorial Day Sale Picks Worth Grabbing
Eco Fishing Shop is running their Memorial Day Sale right now, and I went through it so you don’t have to. Here are three things actually worth the money — one for just about every budget. All three are 20% off, and shipping is free.
Carlisle Magic Angler Paddle — $103.99 (reg $129.99) The paddle that came bundled with your kayak is basically dead weight. The Magic Angler has a fiberglass shaft, an angler-specific blade, and an adjustable feather angle. Lighter, quieter, and your shoulders will thank you by lunchtime. |
Old Town Lure II Angler PFD — $119.99 (reg $149.99) A fishing-specific life jacket with a high back that clears your seat, six pockets, and a built-in pliers sheath. If you’re still wearing the orange horse-collar from your dad’s garage, this is the upgrade — and the one piece of gear you should never skip. |
Every Old Town Kayak — 15% Off (Biggest Sale of the Year) This is the big one. Eco has the entire Old Town kayak lineup marked down for the Memorial Day Sale, and Old Town almost never goes on sale like this. On a $2,000-plus boat, 15% off is real money back in your pocket — and a few models are knocked down even further. If a new kayak has been on your mind, this is the year to pull the trigger. |
Want to see everything that’s marked down? Eco’s full Memorial Day Sale is live right now, with free shipping across the board. Shop the Memorial Day Sale |
🏆 BRAG BOARD |
Member Catch of the Issue
Will took his brand-new Reel Yaks Recon 10 out for its maiden voyage this week — and christened it the right way, with a solid bass to the boat. Will says the modular kayak tracked and moved well through the water and stayed stable enough to stand and fish. Nothing better than a new yak that lives up to the hype on day one. Congrats, Will — that's how you break one in.
Want your catch on the Brag Board? Post it in the Kayak Fishing Dads Facebook group or respond to this email.
📅 COMMUNITY & EVENTS |
Spring Is Peak Season — Get In the Group
The Kayak Fishing Dads Facebook group is busy right now, and spring always brings out the best catch photos and the best trash talk. If you’ve got a Memorial Day weekend trip planned, post it. If you land something worth bragging about, you know where it goes. And if you’re not in the group yet — come join us. It’s the best part of this whole thing.
📺 VIDEO SPOTLIGHT |
Native Hammer vs Old Town PDL: What Nobody Told You
Picking your next fishing kayak is a big decision, and the Native Hammer 1210 and Old Town PDL 120 Pro are two of the most asked-about boats out there. So I took both on the water and broke down what actually matters — stability, speed, tracking, pedal-drive feel, comfort, and how much rigging potential each one really has. No sponsor spin, just an honest side-by-side to help you figure out which boat fits the way you fish.
🎣 Don’t Forget — Save the Date The Kayak Fishing Dads Retreat at Santee Cooper is happening November 5–8. Registration is live now at kfdretreat.com. Don’t sleep on it. |
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See you on the water. Tight lines!
— Jay