BUZZBAIT
MEMBERS OF NTKBF GATHER FOR A NIGHT FISHING TOURNAMENT. “I COULDN’T BELIEVE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE CRAZY
LIKE ME,” MARVELS CLUB FOUNDER JASON O’BRIEN. PHOTO: DUSTIN DOSKOCIL
[CONSERVATION]
KAYAK ANGLERS COME TOGETHER FOR FISH, FUN AND PHILANTHROPY BY RIC BURNLEY
Fork, Texas, Tom Hanson and Jason O’Brien took a break from the 100-degree heat. “We started talking about how we were bummed
THE CLUB SCENE H
alfway through the last day of the Kayak Angler Tournament Series event on Lake
about the last tournament for the summer,” O’Brien recalls. In the shade of an overhanging tree, they cooked
up the ideal kayak club tournament. “Smaller water, lower entry fee, cell phone photos: our goal was to make a tournament like poker night with the guys.” The result was North Texas Kayak Bass Fishing (NTKBF) club. “We even came up with the perfect slogan,” O’Brien adds, “No wakes, no stakes.” The same scenario has played out on lakes, rivers,
creeks and flats for the past 10 years. Anglers come together, start talking and a kayak fishing club is born. Tidewater Kayak Angler Association (TKAA) came to life on a beach in 2004. For club founder Cory Routh, starting TKAA was a no-brainer. “We saw an increased interest in kayak fishing and we wanted to give the sport a voice,” he explains. Not only does a kayak fishing club bring together
like-minded anglers, but it serves to represent the sport in the community. “We fished tournaments against other clubs and
beat boaters,” Routh recalls, “that left a great first impression.”
28…KAYAK ANGLER The initial start-up was complicated with forms
for tax-exempt status and finding a location for meetings. “Elect a CPA for the club treasurer,” he laughs, “dealing with the IRS is confusing.”
Before long, the group was looking to make a
positive impact on the local fishing community. Those efforts resulted in several ongoing con- servation projects and one of the largest charity tournaments in the country. Andy Backowski is the current president of
TKAA. “We’ve grown to 260 members and the last TKAA Charity Tournament saw 235 participants,” he says. The club also participates in river clean-ups and
lends a hand with other community events. “Of course none of this is possible without members who are willing to take the reins on these projects,” Backowski admits, “the club is only as strong as its members.” After 10 years working with TKAA, Routh
has earned a master’s degree in tough knocks. “Be ready for drama,” warns Routh, “people are confrontational. Listen to everyone’s opinion, keep
things civil and always remember it’s just a club.” He urges club leaders to keep drama out of the public eye and off message boards. One lesson he learned about gossip: “No one really cares.”
“People are confrontational. Listen to everyone’s opinion, keep things civil and always remember it’s just a club.”
Since each club has its own personality, the
experts recommend finding a group with a copacetic vibe. “Look for a club that fits the type of fishing you do,” Routh suggests. TKAA is about conservation and philanthropy, holding monthly meetings and annual get-togethers. Backowski says, “We’ll have a guest speaker and there’s always tons of good food and drink.” On the other hand, the guys at NTKBF are fo-
cused on club tournaments and competition. “Our format has been successful,” O’Brien says. The club’s last event involved a 12-hour float down eight miles of rolling river. “Despite 100-degree heat, 30 people still showed
up,” O’Brien says, surprised, “I couldn’t believe there are so many people who are crazy like me.” Hook up with TKAA at
www.tkaa.org and NTKBF at
www.ntkbf.com.
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