Today is day one. Day one in a new chapter of my story as a fisherman. Before today, the pages are filled with stories of fishing from pond banks and borrowed boats, but today, for the first time ever, I’m leaving the shore as the captain of my very own boat, a Jackson Coosa HD fishing kayak. Yes, today is day one of my story as a kayak fisherman.

I’ve always had to rely on someone else to get me to open water, and as I write this, I now realize how much of a gift this boat truly is. Since I’ve lived many of my years as a struggling musician, the ability to own a bass boat, ski boat, or even a john boat with a couple of paddles, has never really been a possibility. But with this Coosa HD, Jackson Kayak has made it possible for me to finally own my own boat and to get out on the water to fish anytime I want.

However, along with this new freedom, comes new responsibility. Now that I’m no longer beholden to someone else, it’s all on me. If I don’t make it to the water, I can’t blame anyone but myself. So the only thing that scares me about this new boat is the fact that I’m really good at making excuses for the things that I never get around to doing. Please don’t let kayak fishing be just another neglected thing that I have to make excuses for! The water is always out there waiting, and I can either start practicing my excuses now or making my plans to get out there and enjoy it.

Thanks to Jackson Kayak, today is day one of my story as a kayak fisherman, and I can’t wait to see what new stories tomorrow brings.

— Erick