Liam Carter

Picking the best fishing rod combos used to feel overwhelming when I started fishing at age 12 with my grandfather. Rod power, action, gear ratios, ball bearings – it was a sea of confusing specs. After 15 years of fishing everything from bass ponds to saltwater jetties, I have learned that a matched combo takes … Read more

I learned the hard way that a freshwater spinning rod does not belong at the beach. Three years ago, I showed up to Cape Hatteras with my 6’6″ ugly stick, certain I could handle whatever the Atlantic threw at me. By noon, the salt spray had corroded my guides, my casting distance maxed out around … Read more

If you have ever watched a sleek hull slice cleanly through a stiff headwind while a fishing kayak flounders, you already understand why serious paddlers chase the best touring kayaks. I spent the last four summers logging miles on lakes, bays, and saltwater coastlines, and the boats on this list all earned their spot through … Read more

I have spent the last three summers logging over 400 miles across northern lakes and rivers, hauling canoes through portage trails, and testing them in everything from glassy dawn water to Class III whitewater. When readers ask me which are the best canoes for , I take the question seriously because the wrong hull turns … Read more

I spent the last three weekends on three different lakes with eight different pedal boats strapped to my truck. My neighbor thought I was nuts. By the end, I had a sunburn, a notebook full of observations, and a very clear picture of which pedal boats deserve your money in . The best pedal boats … Read more

I have spent the last three summers testing inflatable boats on lakes, rivers, and coastal bays with our team of two boating enthusiasts. We pumped them up, dragged them over gravel ramps, ran small outboards at wide-open throttle, and even let a curious golden retriever climb aboard. What I learned is that the best inflatable … Read more

I spent the last two summers hauling, inflating, and rowing every inflatable dinghy I could get my hands on. From $150 lake boats to nearly $2,000 yacht tenders, I wanted to find out which ones actually hold up after a season of saltwater spray, rocky beach landings, and motor mounting headaches. What follows is my … Read more

Carrying a 100-pound fishing kayak from your truck to the water used to wreck my back. After one too many sore-morning launches, I bought my first kayak cart, and that single purchase changed how I paddle. The right kayak trolley takes the strain off your shoulders, protects your hull from dragging damage, and makes remote … Read more

I spent the last three months on lakes, rivers, and bays testing motorized fishing kayaks to find the ones that actually deliver. Hands-free propulsion changed how I fish, and the right kayak can put you on fish that other anglers can’t reach. The best motorized kayaks pair a reliable electric trolling motor with a stable, … Read more

I dragged eight inflatable fishing kayaks through muddy banks, oyster beds, and rough shorelines over the past four months to find out which ones actually hold up to serious angling. The best inflatable fishing kayaks today are not the floppy pool toys from a decade ago. They are rigid, drop-stitch reinforced fishing platforms that fold … Read more