Hi, We're the Kayak Safety Guys.
Welcome to KFAST — Kayak Fishing Advanced Safety Training, where passion meets purpose on the water. Founded by two lifelong anglers, Daren Wendell (@WendellFishing), Co-Founder and President, and Chad Hoover, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, KFAST was built to make kayak fishing safer, smarter, and more enjoyable for everyone.
Together, Daren and Chad bring over 70 years of combined fishing experience, from tournament trails and guiding to safety instruction and on-the-water education. Their shared mission is simple — to equip every kayak angler with the knowledge, confidence, and mindset to stay safe while chasing their next big catch.
Through hands-on training, expert-led instruction, and real-world scenarios, KFAST helps anglers of all skill levels fish with confidence and return home safely.
You can connect with Daren on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook @WendellFishing, and find Chad across the Kayak Bass Fishing network. Together, they’re redefining what it means to fish prepared.Â
Connect with Chad & DarenÂ
Chad Hoover Fishing
Chad Hoover is a pioneer in the world of kayak fishing, a U.S. Navy veteran, and one of the most recognized voices in the sport today. Known for his larger-than-life personality and decades of experience on the water, Chad has dedicated his career to teaching anglers how to fish smarter, safer, and with more purpose.
As co-founder and lead instructor at KFAST (Kayak Fishing Advanced Safety Training), Chad brings his deep knowledge of watercraft handling, situational awareness, and survival training to help anglers of all levels stay safe while doing what they love. His mission is simple — to build a culture where preparation and safety are seen as essential parts of the adventure, not afterthoughts.
Chad’s leadership extends far beyond instruction. As host of Kayak Bass Fishing (KBF) and a long-time advocate for conservation and community, he’s helped shape the modern kayak fishing movement from the ground up. Through KFAST, he continues that mission by empowering anglers to take responsibility for their safety, understand their environment, and return home after every trip with stories — not scares.
When he’s not filming, teaching, or mentoring the next generation of kayak anglers, you’ll find Chad on the water somewhere — still pushing limits, testing gear, and reminding us all that the best day of fishing is one you live to tell about.
Wendell Fishing
Daren Wendell is a lifelong adventurer, endurance athlete, and storyteller who has turned his passion for kayak fishing into a mission to make the sport safer for everyone. As co-founder of KFAST (Kayak Fishing Advanced Safety Training), creator of Wendell Fishing, and host of the Kayak Fishing Obsessed Podcast, Daren brings a unique blend of experience, education, and energy to every lesson, video, and initiative.
Before founding KFAST, Daren tested the limits of human endurance — hiking the Appalachian Trail, walking across the USA, running 100 marathons in 100 days, swimming 50.6 nonstop miles across Lake Michigan, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro three times, and completing multiple century and double-century cycling rides. Those adventures taught him one undeniable truth: preparation and safety aren’t optional — they’re the foundation of every successful journey.
Through KFAST, Daren combines that hard-earned perspective with years of on-the-water experience to build a kayak fishing safety culture that’s practical, relatable, and rooted in real-world conditions. His approachable teaching style and creative communication make complex safety concepts easy to understand — and even easier to apply.
When he’s not developing courses or filming with his Wendell Fishing crew, Daren can be found on the water with his wife Danielle and kids, Mercy and River — proving that safe kayaking isn’t just smart, it’s what makes the best memories possible.