What’s up, guys!

Topwater season is officially on. The water temps are climbing into the low 70s, the post-spawn bass are fired up and chasing bait to the surface, and there is nothing better than watching a big bass blow up a frog on a calm spring morning from the seat of a kayak. This is the time of year we've been waiting for since January.

Let's dive in!

Most of the fishing trips I take are pretty dialed in. Early mornings, long days, chasing bites. This one was different.

We made the 10-hour drive from PA down to Santee Cooper, one of those bucket list fisheries on the East Coast. But this trip wasn’t just about fishing. This one was for the whole family.

We stayed at Relaxed Retreat, and it lived up to the name. Our cabin sat right on the water with three bedrooms, a full living space, and a screened-in porch that quickly became everyone’s go-to spot. The whole place had a laid-back feel right away.

The kids were locked in from day one. They spent hours fishing for sunnies and shellcrackers off the docks, just going back and forth catching fish. No pressure, no schedule.

I still got my time in too. I’d take the kayak out and explore, breaking down water and looking for bass. Santee didn’t disappoint. It’s one of those places where every cast feels like it could turn into something.

My wife got out on the water as well using one of the rental kayaks. They’ve got legit setups too, Native and Bonafide, which made it easy for everyone to get involved.

One afternoon we rented a pontoon and just cruised. No agenda, just being out there together. That ended up being one of the best parts of the trip.

There’s also a small general store on site with tackle, essentials, and honestly the best homemade breakfast biscuits I’ve ever had. We even made a stop into Charleston, about 75 minutes away, which was a nice change of pace.

Overall, it was just a great reset. The kids had freedom to explore and fish. My wife got time to relax by the water. I still got to chase bass. Everyone got something out of it.

That’s not always easy to pull off.

We’ll actually be hosting a Kayak Fishing Dads retreat here November 5–8. More info coming soon, but if you’re interested, shoot me an email and I’ll add you to the waitlist.

If you want to check out Relaxed Retreat for yourself, click here.

Spring fishing means long days on the water, and if your fish finder or trolling motor is running on an old lead-acid battery, you already know the pain of watching that battery gauge drop before you're ready to leave. LiTime lithium batteries are lighter, charge faster, and last 2–3x longer than traditional lead-acid setups.

Whether you're running a Garmin Livescope, a Humminbird 360, or just a basic fish finder, a LiTime battery keeps everything running all day without the dead weight. A lot of KFD members have made the switch this spring and the feedback has been consistent, it's a game changer for all-day kayak fishing sessions.

LiTime hooked Hookset Weekly readers up with a subscriber code: use bdf6 at checkout on litime.com for a little love on your next battery order. Whether you're running a graph, a trolling motor, or a full electronics package off your kayak, their LiFePO4 batteries are built to last and priced better than the name-brand alternatives.

Shop LiTime Batteries → litime.com

Eco Fishing Shop's Spring Sale is live right now, and the deals are the real deal, not the "10% off stuff nobody wants" kind. Here are four picks worth a hard look before the good sizes sell out:

Oru Inflatable PFD — 50% off ($69): Low-profile, auto-inflate, zero bulk on the kayak. At this price it's a no-brainer upgrade. → Grab the PFD

Railblaza Hexx Live Pole 30": Forward-facing sonar mount built to handle the beating a kayak puts on it. If you've been running LiveScope zip-tied to a trolling motor shaft, this is the upgrade. → See the Hexx Live Pole

9'8" Rocket Fin Drive Modular Pedal Fishing Kayak (400 lb capacity, 2-piece): Breaks down into two pieces so it actually fits in a regular SUV or small truck bed. Pedal drive, serious capacity, and stupid portable. → Check out the Rocket Fin

Guardian Angel Elite Multi-Functional Safety Light (Red/Green): Clip-on nav light for pre-dawn launches and dusk paddles back to the ramp. Small, bright, and keeps you legal + visible. → Grab the safety light

👉 See all Spring Sale deals → ecofishingshop.com/collections/clearance?aff=81

Ryan dropped this one in the community on April 5 with the exact right amount of stoke: "Got my PB today fellas! Pretty stoked!! 7.16 lbs." That's what we're here for. Congrats, Ryan — and to the rest of you: hit reply with your best fish of the spring (PB or not) and we'll feature you in an upcoming issue.

The Kayak Fishing Dads Facebook group is buzzing right now with catch reports, bait recommendations, and members sharing their first topwater fish of the season. If you haven't been in the group lately, now's the time to check in — the spring activity is at its peak and members are posting great content daily

A few things happening in the community right now:

• Members are sharing Santee Cooper reports as post-spawn bass move to secondary points and bluff banks

• The bream spawn discussion is heating up — a lot of members are running topwater over bream beds and picking up huge bass

• KFD members are tagging their spring bass photos with #KFDSpring2026 — join in if you're getting out this weekend

If you're not already in the group, come join us: Kayak Fishing Dads on Facebook

I take Native Watercraft's new kayak out on the water for a full stability test, putting it through real-world scenarios that matter to kayak anglers: standing up to cast, reeling in a fish, dealing with boat wakes. If you've been eyeing a new kayak or just want to see how the latest hull designs hold up, this one's worth the watch.

Watch Now → Is the Native Hammer 1210 Actually Stable? (On Water Test)

Know a kayak fishing dad who'd be into this newsletter? Forward this email their way or share the link below. The more the merrier — and hey, more fishing buddies means more Brag Board submissions.

Share Hookset Weekly: hooksetweekly.com

Stay connected with me and the KFD crew all week long:

📺 YouTube — Bearded Dad Fishing

👥 Facebook — Kayak Fishing Dads Group

📸 Instagram — @BeardedDadFishing

🎵 TikTok — @BeardedDadFishing

See you on the water. Tight lines! 🎣