The Fleet

Well, it was bound to happen and it did!!!
I fell so head over heels in love with the new Native Ultimate FX12 that I had to have the new FX15 Tandem as well. That makes me a 3 Native owner (as I sold the Slayer to buy the FX15T). The FX15T is going to be a great addition to the fleet for several reasons.

1. it give me the ability to paddle Patty around
2. it gives me the ability to paddle another fisherman around
3. it gives me the ability (as stated in #2) to paddle a client around should I decide to start guiding again
4. it adds a nice boat to the fleet for family outings
5. The FXT15 is capable of being a tandem or a solo boat so if I find myself on a large body of water I can use it in the solo position.

SO, I am excited about the options associated with the addition of this new boat.

Here's the whole fleet, on the trailer, ready to go!

Tight lines,

Rev TCF

TPWD Angler Education Area Chief Annual Gathering

This past weekend a number of TPWD Angler Education Area Chiefs converged upon the Junction Campus of Texas Tech for our annual gathering. An Area Chief is a fancy name for a person who "trains the trainer". We are volunteer educators who teach new Angler Education Instructors. It is a labor of love for those who had a dad or a grandpa or someone special who took the time to teach them how to fish at some point in their life. It's a way for us to "pay it forward".

We first met in Mountain Home, Texas at the Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center where we learned all about what they do and enjoyed a wonderful presentation 
on Alligator Gars in Texas. We toured the entire facility and also had a marine biologist
show us the procedure they use for aging of freshwater fishes.



We then went to TTU for dinner and the welcome by Karen Marks of TPWD. After dinner
Jere Anderson and I taught fly tying and helped those who attended to tie several flies.

Saturday we began our meeting with a few breakout sessions and a presentation
by Tim Birdsong of TPWD Inland Fisheries and the Kerr County Game Warden.

 

Some things we learned were quite scary!

After lunch we loaded up the yaks and took off to the S Llano River for a little fishing.

After we fished it was dinner time. Dinner was a 50's themed meal based on the fact that

it is National Volunteer Month and they wanted to tell everyone that

"Our Volunteers Rock". The meal was an old fashioned burger and chips followed

by root beer floats in old fashioned glasses with the TPWD brand on them.

After dinner we had our award ceremony. 

Receiving my Silver Award for 2014

Then came the campfire and sing-along with the Stink Bait Band

We then retired for the night to get ready for our Sunday morning breakout sessions and wrap up before heading home.

I did a breakout session on "Fishing from the Kayak" which I will post pics of as soon as they become available.

I also became the foster parent for "Teddy" who is the unofficial/official mascot for 

Angler Ed. You will see lots of Teddy over the next 12 months. Be watching!!!

That's all for now. 

Tights Lines,

Rev TCF

Mariner Sails Kayak Fishing Club

In September of 2013 I joined forces with the awesome group of folks at Mariner Sails.
I am honored to have been chosen to be an Ambassador on their team.
While discussing my role as an Ambassador Aris and I discussed the idea of a kayak fishing club. He asked me what I thought a kayak fishing club would look like. I (having had the idea in mind for a couple of years) quickly explained to him what I thought would be a fun kayak fishing club concept. His face lit up like a Christmas tree!!! Thus, the MSKFC was conceived. We quickly put together a logo and some hat, decal, and shirt/jerzee ideas. We also created a mission statement that would closely describe the vision of the club.

MISSION STATEMENT

"The Mariner Sails Kayak Fishing Club exists to share a common love for kayaking, fishing and the outdoors in a fun and friendly atmosphere. We exchange information on safety, paddling experiences and other kayak fishing related subjects. We support outreach and fundraising efforts for worthy charitable organizations related to the sport of kayak fishing. Our club is open to all who would like to participate in this sport. We are active all year, both on the water and at our meetings with various programs and guest speakers."

In September we began signing up members. A membership was $5 and 100% of that money was donated directly to the DFW Chapter of Heroes on the Water. Membership came with many perks. A member gets a card which entitles them to a 15% discount on regular priced items throughout the store. Members also are eligible for pop-up discounts during meetings, get-togethers, etc. Another privilege of membership is the ability to participate in meetings and instructional camps throughout the year.

We had our first meeting in November at Mariner Sails on November 9th and it was an awesome time. We had approximately 30 folks. We discussed the goals and future plans of the club, catfish camp, outreach and education, and had a couple of great presentations. 

Next up was Catfish Camp 2013 on the 23rd at East Fork Park on Lake Lavon! 

We unanimously voted to raise the dues to a $10 donation to HOW effective January 1st.

We have since had a meeting in March with two great speakers teaching us about crappie fishing, and a Crappie Camp on March 15th at lake Bonham.

Plans are now in place for the Spring G2G for all DFW Kayakers which will be May 10th at East Fork Park on Lake Lavon. All proceeds from the G2G will go to support HOW DFW so mark those calendars and plan on attending.

I'll post more on that event as we get closer.

ALSO, mark your calendars for a meeting on July 8th and Hybrid/Sandbass Camp at Lake Cooper on July 11th & 12th.

Tight Lines for now,
Rev TCF

Proud new papa!!!

I am proud to announce the arrival of a new member to my fleet. Yesterday I picked up my new Native Ultimate 12FX from Mariner Sails. I had originally ordered the FX in the Copperhead Camo color and at the eleventh hour I was having buyers remorse and craving the Lizard Lick camo color. When the boat came in it was a Hunter camo color (the same as my Slayer 14.5). They also received a blue FX15 tandem and a Lizard Lick FX12. SO, I chose the LL FX12. 

The new FX series of the Ultimate is greatly improved over the classic Ultimates.  The Ultimate series of fishing kayaks have evolved to be even more comfortable, stable and angler friendly. The Ultimate FX 12 adds First Class High-Low seating, a wider standing platform, molded in rod stays and two anchor trolleys to the best hybrid kayak fishing platform. Plus touches like bungee over the bow and stern, a quick drain hole with Super Seal Plug, and extra padding in the footwells and on the rear thwart have been added as well. It is a more stable ride sitting or standing - Comfortable support for rear end and lower back - Ideal for flat water and up to Class II rivers.

I am looking forward to trying her out this weekend on the S Llano River in Junction as I will be there for our Annual TPWD Area Chief Conference & Training.