Spring is finally showing up the way it's supposed to. The water's warming, the crappie are stacking up shallow, and honestly? This is one of my favorite stretches of the whole year to be out on the kayak. If you've been sleeping on the crappie spawn, this issue might just change that.

Let's dive in!

Bass guys, I get it. Pre-spawn bass get all the glory. But while everyone's chunking jerkbaits on spawning flats, the crappie spawn is running wide open right now — and if you've got a kayak, you're in the perfect position to take advantage of it.

Here's the deal: water temps between 58–68°F trigger crappie to move shallow. In South Carolina and the Southeast, that window is hitting right now through mid-April. On Santee Cooper specifically, the crappie are stacking up on dock pilings, brushpiles, and flooded timber in 4–8 feet of water.

1. Dock shooting — This is the ultimate kayak-friendly technique. Shoot a small tube or curly tail jig (1/16 oz head) up under a dock with a spinning rod like a pool cue. Crappie pack into the shadows this time of year and a kayak lets you position perfectly. Grab a 7' ultralight spinning rod and a pack of Bobby Garland Baby Shad in chartreuse or pink/white — best $30 you'll spend all spring.

2. Vertical jigging on brushpiles — Drop a 1/32 or 1/16 oz tube jig straight down over known brushpiles and work it slowly. The kayak advantage here is huge — you can sit right over the structure without spooking fish the way a motor boat would.

3. Live minnows under a float — Old school but it still crushes. Crappie can't resist a lively minnow during the spawn. If you know a dock or a brushpile that holds fish, throw a minnow under a small slip float and let the kayak drift alongside.

Pro tip: Go early. The 7–10 AM window during the spawn is money. Crappie are most active in that morning window before the sun gets high and pushes them a little deeper.

If you've never specifically targeted crappie from the kayak before — do it this spring. The bite is fast, the action is nonstop, and a cooler full of crappie fillets is one of the best meals you'll ever eat.

Real talk — I don’t just throw links at you for the sake of it. When I tell you to check out Eco Fishing Shop, it’s because they carry the gear I actually use on the water. Here’s what I’m recommending this spring:

Eco carries a solid selection of kayak gear and accessories you won’t always find at the big-box stores.👉 Shop Eco Fishing Shop → https://www.ecofishingshop.com/?aff=81

If you're restocking for spring, start here. Let me know what you grab — always stoked to hear what's working for people.

The Santee Cooper meetup on March 29th was a blast — thank you to everyone who came out. Nothing beats getting on the water with the KFD crew. If you missed it, keep an eye on the Facebook group for recaps and photos.

Clinton L

Maiden voyage for the new hybrid and no skunks to report! Clinton put two nice bass in the boat on a beautiful spring day — one on a swimbait, one on a crankbait by the looks of it. He picked up this setup for multi-day kayak camping trips without breaking the bank, and it's already paying off. Welcome to the fleet, Clinton. 🛶

Drop your best spring catch in the Kayak Fishing Dads group — tag it #BragBoard and you might be featured in the next issue.

13 Kayak Fishing Mistakes I Wish I Knew as a Beginner

If you're new to kayak fishing — or know someone who is — this one's worth sending. I break down 13 mistakes he made early on so you don't have to learn them the hard way. Gear, safety, setup — it's all in there. Hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss what's coming next.

Watch Full Video Here 📺 13 Kayak Fishing Mistakes I Wish I Knew as a Beginner

Make sure you're subscribed — hit that notification bell so you don't miss new uploads. We're dropping content that goes hand in hand with everything in this newsletter.

Starting with Issue #12, Hookset Weekly is going to a weekly schedule.

Here's how it's going to work. Every other week you'll still get the full issue — featured tactic breakdown, gear picks, events, brag board, the whole thing. But on the off weeks, you'll now get a short Field Report — what's biting, what I'm throwing, one tip you can use that weekend, and a quick gear pick. Fast read, straight to the point, no filler.

And down the road, I'm thinking about a premium tier for the most serious kayak anglers in this community — exclusive bite reports, early access, members-only gear deals. Nothing to commit to yet, just want to put that on your radar.

If you know a kayak fishing dad who'd get value from this, forward this email. The bigger this community gets, the better the content, the bigger the giveaways, and the more we can do together.

Tight lines — Jay

Hookset Weekly | Weekly kayak fishing for dads who fish