Ethan Walker

Kayak fishing changed the moment I bolted my first electric motor to the stern of a 10-foot sit-on-top. Suddenly I was covering three times the water, holding position over structure without an anchor line, and arriving at my honey hole without burning every calorie in my legs. After testing dozens of setups over the past … Read more

I’ve been fishing since my dad first handed me a Zebco 33, and I’ve watched more trolling motors die on the water than I’d like to count. One minute you’re holding over a brush pile with your graph lit up like a Christmas tree, and the next, your motor coughs, sputters, and leaves you stranded … Read more

After spending three seasons testing coolers on boats, kayaks, and shore fishing trips, I can tell you that the right fishing cooler makes the difference between fresh catch and spoiled disappointment. Our team compared 10 of the most popular fishing coolers on the market, dragging them through saltwater, loading them with ice and fish, and … Read more

I have spent more days than I can count standing waist-deep in a trout stream with a hooked fish thrashing at the end of my line, and I learned the hard way that the right landing net is the difference between a clean release and a lost trophy. Finding the best landing nets is about … Read more

I have spent more hours than I can count standing over a cleaning table with a fish in one hand and a knife in the other. After testing dozens of blades over the years across trout streams, walleye lakes, and saltwater charters, I learned that the right fillet knife completely changes the experience. A great … Read more

I lost a $70 pair of pliers to the ocean floor last summer and bought four cheap replacements in the next three months. That frustration pushed our team to spend 60 days testing the best fishing pliers across freshwater bass ponds and saltwater jetties, cutting through 30 lb braid with each pair. The results matter … Read more

Are good paddles worth the upgrade from a cheap aluminum paddle? After spending 90 days testing 12 of the best kayak paddles across recreational, touring, fishing, and budget categories, I can confirm what experienced paddlers on Reddit have said for years: a quality paddle completely transforms your time on the water. An average kayaker takes … Read more

I learned the hard way that not every life jacket is built the same. A few summers ago, I took my niece out paddling on a lake in a bulky foam vest borrowed from the rental shop. By the second hour, she had stopped moving entirely because the armholes pressed into her shoulders. That experience … Read more

Water activities with kids demand one non-negotiable piece of gear above all else: a US Coast Guard-approved life vest. When our team set out to find the best life vests for kids in , we knew this wasn’t a casual shopping roundup. This is the equipment that keeps your child’s head above water, and getting … Read more

I learned about dry bags the hard way. On a 4-day canoe trip through Algonquin in , my “water-resistant” backpack came back with a soggy sleeping bag and a dead phone. That weekend cost me about $400 in ruined gear. After that, I went deep into the world of waterproof bags, talked to outfitters, tested … Read more