Dad Joke of the Week What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh. |
Let’s get into it.
| FIELD NOTES · Issue #35 |
The best kayaks for bigger anglers
By Jay Valentin · Thursday, October 1, 2026
My buddy Andrew Blair put out a video this week on his favorite fishing kayaks for bigger anglers. Really solid list, and if you are shopping right now, go watch the whole thing.
I pulled all 10 of his picks together here so you can see them in one spot.
Quick note on weight capacity Every manufacturer calculates it differently. Some include the weight of the kayak in that number and some do not, and there is no industry standard, unfortunately. The numbers below are what each brand publishes, which is the best info out there. Where a brand like Old Town lists a usable capacity too, I added it. |
Here are Andrew's picks, in the order he covers them.
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Andrew goes a lot deeper on each of these in the video, including hull shape, seat height and how rigging changes what your boat can carry. Worth the watch if you are close to pulling the trigger on one.
BRAG BOARD |
Michael Wasson
Michael posted this out of Central Texas this week. His words: long hot summer, ready for cooler weather and some good fall bass fishing. Same, brother.
Also worth pointing out given what this issue is about. That is a Native Titan, and look how loaded it is. Four rods, crate, sonar, battery, paddle. Every bit of that counts against the same number we were just talking about.
Got a shot or a fish worth showing off? Post it in the Kayak Fishing Dads group and you might end up here next week.
Kayak Fishing Dads Retreat Lake Marion, SC · Nov 5–8, 2026Three nights on Santee Cooper. Three dinners. Group fishing all three days. Fireside Q&As with kayak creators. Swag bag and gear raffles. Shared cabin, your own bed.
kfdretreat.com · questions? just reply. |
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT · FROM ANDREW BLAIR FISHING |
10 Fishing Kayaks For BIG PEOPLE That Don't Suck in 2026
The full breakdown of all 10, with a lot more on hull shape, seat height and how rigging changes what your boat can carry.
Do yourself a favor and follow Andrew. He goes deeper on kayak specs and honest gear breakdowns than just about anybody, and he is one of the few guys making content for bigger anglers. |
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See you on the water. Tight lines!
Jay