How to Share a Small Boat Without Getting in Each Other’s Way
Set casting lanes, gear locations, anchor expectations, and fish-handling routines for a more productive two-person outing.
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Hooked For The Weekend
Fishing tips, tackle talk, and stories about the ones that got away.
Caleb MercerHi I’m Caleb, a recreational angler who would rather spend a quiet morning by the water than just about anywhere else. I write about practical fishing techniques, dependable gear, and the lessons I’ve learned through years of tangled lines, missed strikes, and the occasional fish worth bragging about.
Recent articles
View archiveHow to Share a Shoreline With Anglers You Don't Know
Practical etiquette for spacing, casting lanes, moving along a bank, communicating, and handling crowded access without creating conflict.
Read articleHow to Share a Canoe When Both Anglers Want to Cast
Set practical casting lanes, storage positions, communication habits, and launch routines so two anglers can fish comfortably from one canoe on quiet lakes and slow rivers.
Read articleHow to Set Up a Simple Drift Sock System for a Small Boat
A practical guide to choosing attachment points, controlling drift speed, avoiding tangles, and stowing a drift sock system on a small boat.
Read articleHow to Set Up a Portable Aerator for Live Bait in a Cooler
A practical guide to using a battery-powered aerator in a cooler to keep live bait healthy through a day of fishing.
Read articleHow to Set the Hook Without Pulling It Away From a Fish
A practical guide to matching hook-setting motion to live bait, soft plastics, crankbaits, and topwater lures without pulling a lure away from a striking fish.
Read articleHow to Select a Rod for Small Ponds, Creeks, and Bank Fishing
A beginner-friendly guide to choosing rod length, power, action, and portability for fishing compact freshwater spots from the bank.
Read articleHow to Select a First Fly-Fishing Leader for Panfish and Small Trout
A beginner-friendly guide to choosing a first fly-fishing leader for pond panfish and small-stream trout, including length, taper, tippet size, knots, and simple dry-fly and nymph setups.
Read articleHow to Rig a Weedless Offset Hook for a Small Swimbait
A beginner-friendly guide to rigging a small swimbait on a weedless offset hook so it stays snag-resistant, tracks straight, and keeps its natural tail action.
Read articleHow to Rig a Wacky Worm for Skipping Under Overhanging Cover
A practical guide to rigging and skipping a wacky worm beneath docks, bushes, and other low bass cover.
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