Ric Burnley
“Thank God my dad wasn’t a podiatrist,” Ric jokes about following in the footsteps of a famous outdoor writer. After graduating from Radford University and serving two years in Russia with the Peace Corps, Ric returned to Virginia Beach and started writing for The Fisherman magazine, where his dad was editor. When the kayak fishing scene exploded, Ric was among the first to get onboard. His 2007 book, The Complete Kayak Fisherman is one of the first how-to books to introduce anglers to paddle fishing. In 2010, Ric took on the role of editor at Kayak Angler magazine where he covered the latest trends in kayak fishing tactics, tackle, gear and destinations. A ravenous angler, Ric fishes from the mountain to the sea chasing everything from smallmouth bass to striped bass.
First Look: Torqeedo Travel UL
Back before kayaks with electric motors were cool, Torqeedo produced the first reliable electric outboard systems for small boats. Now, there are several companies...
Guardian Angel Adds Kayak Lighting Solutions
One safety item I never leave the launch without is a compact safety light. Even if I don’t plan to fish past dark, I...
First Look: Garmin Force Kraken 48 And Panoptix PS22-IF
Answering the call from small boaters, Garmin is adding a 48-inch shaft to its line of Kraken trolling motors, while the new Panoptix PS22-IF...
First Look: NRS Boundary 100
Packrafts are popular with anglers looking to reach distant fishing areas far from roads and trails. However, a light and super buoyant raft is...
The Best New Lowrance Gear For 2025
Lowrance kicked off the first day of ICAST 2024 with big announcements in fish finders and trolling motors. The new Eagle Eye fish finder...
The Best New Shimano Gear For 2025
Leading Shimano’s lineup at ICAST 2024 are feature-rich and value-priced Vanford spinning and SLX casting reels. Also of note is the Poison Adrena, a...
First Look: Berkley Forward Braid & PowerBait Drip Minnow
To optimize the advantages of forward-facing sonar, Berkley released Forward Braid braided fishing line to complement their line of lures designed to perform with...
The Best New PENN & Ugly Stik Gear For 2025
When I was a kid, my grandfather had an Ugly Stik rod and PENN reel. But the old man wouldn’t recognize the latest rods...
First Look: Bonafide XTR130
Meeting the needs of hard-core anglers looking for every advantage, Bonafide released the XTR130. They call the new kayak a “mini bass boat” with...
First Look: Mustang Elite Inflatable Life Vest
The big news at Mustang Survival is their new ADAPT bladder design on their top-end inflatable life vests. ADAPT stands for ADvanced Airway Protection...
