Texas Kayak Fishing Series Launches in February

   Kayak fishing is fast becoming one of the most popular outdoor activities in the state. Combine fishing, exercise, access to places power boats cannot go, no boat registration and no gasoline to buy, and you have a winning combination. Saltwater fishermen in kayaks dot the entire Texas coastline and they participate in tournaments year round, but tournaments for the freshwater kayaker are not so plentiful – until now.
   Kenneth Harenberg saw the need and came up with the Texas Kayak Fishing Series. The series will launch on February 11 at Gibbons Creek Reservoir, located in Carlos, Texas about halfway between Huntsville and College Station. The tournaments are called kayak fishing events, but an assortment of man-powered boats such as canoes, river pontoons, float tubes, and inflatable boats are allowed.
   The Gibbons Creek Bass Series is made up of three events. Each tournament is separate and has its own prizes, but the entire series is cumulative as well with prizes after the last event. One of the most appealing features of these events is that there is a 100% payout. All entry fees collected are paid out at the end of each tournament. Kenneth keeps nothing from the proceeds, as the motto on the website declares 100% Payout – 100% Fun!
   The kayakers are concerned with conservation as well as fishing. After much discussion, they decided the best format for bass events would be a paper tournament. Bass are measured and the lengths written on paper. The fish can be verified by another contestant witnessing and signing off or with a digital picture. The idea behind this is to not have a fleet of paddlers dragging stringers of fish around all day. This could be harmful to the bass.
   The tournaments have one basic goal in mind: FUN! To add to the fellowship, quite a few of the anglers are camping out the night before events. The series also has sponsors with prizes for the fishermen. The series will feature drawings for prizes such as lures, filet knife sets, decals, and gourmet coffee. There is also a gift certificate toward a custom rod for the overall series winner. Some of the sponsors include Cross Timbers Custom Rods, Humdinger Lures, American Rodsmiths Saltwater Kayak Team, Cazbar Coffee Traders, Big Bass Fun Tournaments, and RDL Webs.
   Harenberg says the first event has already generated over 30 entries without much publicity beyond two of the more popular fishing forums on the internet: Texas Kayak Fisherman.com and Texas Fishing Forum.com.  He sees the tournaments growing as the word spreads and people get a chance to participate. He also envisions more sponsors wanting to come on board soon. Another idea being discussed is the possibility of tournaments for species such as crappie and catfish, and a multi species tournament where anglers catch a variety of fish all in one day.
 

Visit the Texas Kayak Fishing Series website.
 

By Ric Lancaster