Have you ever wanted to relive that big catch, tell your story, and enlighten others to

how you accomplished it? Do you have a tip or technique everyone should by using?

Well come aboard and contribute to The Fisherman’s Journal!

All articles must be well written and contain quality photos. Unique, knowledgeable

articles will be chosen for an upcoming issue.

Send all inquiries and questions to editor@thefishermansjournal.com

4 Bend It Like Barbie

Nick Dyroff

6 Inside The Tackle Box

D.O.A . Shrimp

7 In The Company Of Heroes

Chuck Wrenn

8 Angler’s Profile

Dan Decibel

14 Logically Thinking

TFJ Staff

15 The Fishing Chef

Lemon Butter Redfish

16 Boondoggle?

with Chip Gibson

20 Automatic For The People

Mark Lozier

FEATURES

Photo Courtesy of

Chuck Wrenn, creator of

Froggin 4 Bass

www.froggin4bass.blogspot.com

Wants You!

The Angler's FluThe Angler's Flu

I didn't always have the urge to fish.

I grew up near the water, but seldom went fishing. My family would head to a nearby dock on the ICW and we would set up a few knocker rigs and catch whiting as we were crabbing; it was more of a family fun day than a fishing excursion. As I grew older, I purchased my own rods and reels and practiced the same fishing techniques, since that was the only thing I knew, but it wasn't until a night of boredom with my then girlfriend that I caught the Angler's Flu. After dinner with my girlfriend (now wife), we were bored and had nothing to do. I told her on many occasions that I went fishing and how enjoyable it was and she was more than willing to try it out for herself. It wasn't long before we planned our first night of fishing together, and after a trip to the local WallyWorld (Wal-Mart), we were stacked with new cheap rods, fishing line, hooks, and bait. Fishing was great! No, I am lying. I caught nothing. My wife landed a nice sheepshead, as did other anglers on the dock, but I was handed the skunk; however, from that moment on I was hooked. The Angler's Flu is unique. It causes you to eat, sleep, and poop fish. When I caught the disease, fishing became a daily occurrence and the flu quickly progressed from a hobby to an obsession. With the teachings of other anglers, tackle shop knowledge, and the unlimited source of information on the web, I was quickly graduating from a beginner to a fish catching machine. I couldn't wait until I caught something more than catfish, stingrays, ladyfish, and jacks. It was apparent fishing was in my life to stay, and the woman who helped me catch the flu was coming along for the ride. It was the Angler's Flu that lead me to start this online publication. I had a hunger to learn more and wanted to share what I was learning. A fisherman's journal is full of unique experiences as they journey on and off the water and I want to divulge the excerpts of my journal with you as I fill the pages. There are also others - guides, tackle shop owners, and bloggers - who are on similar journeys as mine and many have agreed to contribute their knowledge to me, thus allowing me to share it with you. The information is tried and true and will help us all become better at our craft. If you also have the Angler's Flu, join me on my voyage. What we learn ,you will learn. What we see ,you will see. Where we go, you will go. Everything we experience will be passed from one angler to another. These are the beginning pages of my journal and there are many more to come. . .

~Tight Lines and Big Fish~

Darryl Barrs, Jr.

Editor

8 Angler’s Profile

Dan Decibel

14 Logically Thinking

TFJ Staff

15 The Fishing Chef

Lemon Butter Redfish

16 Boondoggle?

with Chip Gibson

20 Automatic For The People

Mark Lozier

What all began as a friendly

competition amongst friends, has

quickly grown in to a following.

Central Florida kayak angler Nick

Dyroff jokingly suggested a

friendly challenge to a few kayak

fishing buddies to see which one of

them could catch the largest fish

using their daughter’s miniature

two foot pink fishing combos. It

only took one trip before their

laughter and humorous photos

proved they might be on to

something big. Dyroff realized it’s

more than just the challenge of

catching a trophy fish on a tiny

fishing pole, it’s about getting

over one’s ego to confidently hit

the water in search of a quality

fish without worrying what others

think. Dyroff states:

“I have been fishing on a

competitive level representing

companies such Malibu Kayaks,

Bigfin Apparel, and Crack of Dawn

to name a few, I felt this immense

pressure to perform every time I

went out on the water and was

unable to enjoy what I used to love

so much. Over the last year I have

made many changes in my life, I

wanted to focus more on living in

the moment, I found that through

fishing with these tiny rods it wasn’t

about gaining attention or catching

some over-slot redfish, it was about

hitting the water with the most

ridiculous fishing combo without

worrying what others thought, if I

caught something, it only made it

funnier and brought even more

laughter.”

After the friendly competi-

tion amongst friends, Dyroff

offered up a trophy and opened up

The Barbie Rod Challenge to his

local kayak fishing club, the Space

Coast Kayak Anglers, having close

to fifty members sign up in only a

half hour. With such a following,

Dyroff was contacted by Fishing

Florida Radio and TackeWebs

who generously offered to sponsor

the trophy and offer prizes to the

participants. Dyroff then

announced on the Fishing Florida

Radio show earlier this month that

The Barbie Rod Challenge is here

to stay and there will be a new

unique challenge offered up every

month. After a very entertaining

interview, Dyroff informed listen-

ers, “if you take one of these rods

out there and within ten minutes

you don’t laugh, this event is not

for you, you clearly take life far

too seriously.”

The Barbie Rod Challenge is

a free group to join on facebook

and sponsors host hilarious weekly

challenges to offer prizes to those

who take part and grow their

visibility in the fishing community.

“I was simply in awe, when I made

the event public, close to two hun-

dred group members joined in less

than 24 hours,” says Dyroff. The

Barbie Rod Challenge is not just

for the avid angler, the challenges

are set up so that everyone from

the once-a-month angler, all the

way up to the experienced fishing

guide has the opportunity to get

their name engraved on the fruit-

ful trophy.

The trophy encompasses the

event perfectly; sporting two

mounted pink combos, it stands

less than three feet tall bearing

twelve pink nameplates for each

month’s winner. It’s written in the

by-laws that each month’s winner

is required to take the trophy on

three very public dates and must

post plenty of pictures and/or

video. The Barbie Rod Challenge

highly promotes creativity, confi-

dence and above all, family in-

volvement.

For more information come join

the community on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/groups/

BarbieRodChallenge

Bend It Like Barbie

What all began as a friendly

competition amongst friends, has

quickly grown in to a following.

Central Florida kayak angler Nick

Dyroff jokingly suggested a

friendly challenge to a few kayak

fishing buddies to see which one of

them could catch the largest fish

using their daughter’s miniature

two foot pink fishing combos. It

only took one trip before their

laughter and humorous photos

proved they might be on to

something big. Dyroff realized it’s

more than just the challenge of

catching a trophy fish on a tiny

fishing pole, it’s about getting

over one’s ego to confidently hit

the water in search of a quality

fish without worrying what others

think. Dyroff states:

“I have been fishing on a

competitive level representing

companies such Malibu Kayaks,

Bigfin Apparel, and Crack of Dawn

to name a few, I felt this immense

pressure to perform every time I

went out on the water and was

unable to enjoy what I used to love

so much. Over the last year I have

made many changes in my life, I

wanted to focus more on living in

the moment, I found that through

fishing with these tiny rods it wasn’t

about gaining attention or catching

some over-slot redfish, it was about

hitting the water with the most

ridiculous fishing combo without

worrying what others thought, if I

caught something, it only made it

funnier and brought even more

laughter.”

After the friendly competi-

tion amongst friends, Dyroff

offered up a trophy and opened up

The Barbie Rod Challenge to his

local kayak fishing club, the Space

Coast Kayak Anglers, having close

to fifty members sign up in only a

half hour. With such a following,

Dyroff was contacted by Fishing

Florida Radio and TackeWebs

who generously offered to sponsor

the trophy and offer prizes to the

participants. Dyroff then

announced on the Fishing Florida

Radio show earlier this month that

The Barbie Rod Challenge is here

to stay and there will be a new

unique challenge offered up every

month. After a very entertaining

interview, Dyroff informed listen-

ers, “if you take one of these rods

out there and within ten minutes

you don’t laugh, this event is not

for you, you clearly take life far

too seriously.”

The Barbie Rod Challenge is

a free group to join on facebook

and sponsors host hilarious weekly

challenges to offer prizes to those

who take part and grow their

visibility in the fishing community.

“I was simply in awe, when I made

the event public, close to two hun-

dred group members joined in less

than 24 hours,” says Dyroff. The

Barbie Rod Challenge is not just

for the avid angler, the challenges

are set up so that everyone from

the once-a-month angler, all the

way up to the experienced fishing

guide has the opportunity to get

their name engraved on the fruit-

ful trophy.

The trophy encompasses the

event perfectly; sporting two

mounted pink combos, it stands

less than three feet tall bearing

twelve pink nameplates for each

month’s winner. It’s written in the

by-laws that each month’s winner

is required to take the trophy on

three very public dates and must

post plenty of pictures and/or

video. The Barbie Rod Challenge

highly promotes creativity, confi-

dence and above all, family in-

volvement.

For more information come join

the community on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/groups/

BarbieRodChallenge

Bend It Like Barbie

Inside the Tackle Box The D.O.A. Shrimp

When Mark Nichols first created the D.O.A. shrimp, I could not help but believe he

had tailing Mosquito Lagoon redfish in mind. It is a lure meant to be fished slow,

casted accurately, and mimic a shrimp precisely. The lure’s lifelike presentation entices

even the most weary of fish with a slight twitch on the rod tip.

There is a plethora of ways you can fish the D.O.A. shrimp. During the colder months, try casting past a

tailing red and reel it onto the dinner plate. Let it fall and work its magic. Hook Up! You can also cast into

potholes and oyster bars, slowly twitch the lure, and wait for the drag to scream.

Fishing the shrimp under a popping cork creates a Deadly Combo, which is a combo pack created by

D.O.A. Fishing this style near drop offs will save a bad day of fishing. There are still many more rigging

techniques to allow you to fish the lure weedless, with added weight, for improved casting or to maximize

hookups.

When it comes to the D.O.A. shrimp, there is nothing better than the original. It is a

must have in your tackle box for wintertime fishing and should remain there year

round. For more information, visit www.doalures.com or take a gander at your local

tackle shop for colors and sizes.

In Company In Company

of Heroes of Heroes

by Chuck Wrenn

The weekend began

with kayak anglers

descending upon a

secluded field in nearby

rural Rice, VA minutes from Farmville, VA. To the every-

day traveler or local resident, the driveway marked with

orange barrier tape would have given little insight into the

fellowship and brotherhood that would soon commence

over the course of the forthcoming 48 hours. A quick glance

across the field soon revealed how important this event

would be to kayak anglers both near and far. We had repre-

sentation from places as far away as Texas, Georgia and

New Jersey.

By nightfall, it was clear how dedicated the kayak

angling family is. We had approximately 60 registered an-

glers by the time the Captain's Meeting started Friday eve-

ning, which did not include the late arrivals or others that

registered the morning of the event the following day. The

popularity of this event is growing, and each year, the

number of participants increases all in support of Heroes On

the Water and the multitudes of service members returning

from their service to our country.

The format of the tournament was fairly straightfor-

ward and familiar to most with the basic parameters of first

line in the water at first light, an assigned identifier, catch-

photo-release of all entered fish with the assigned identifier

visible and an angler check-in no later than 4pm. After the

requisite rules overview and answers to some angler ques-

tions, we all were treated to a steak dinner with green beans,

baked potatoes, bread and cake. The rest of the evening

was spent meeting new people, making new friends and

placing faces with names previously known only via the

numerous kayak angling web forums.

While the social aspect of these tournaments is an

added bonus, it further exemplifies how simplistic the con-

cept truly is yet how profound the impact can be. HOW

tournaments and events are centered around pairing up

experienced kayak anglers with service members who are

interested in getting out on the water and empowering

themselves with the strength and fortitude known only by a

select few, such as our military personnel. While these

heroes may have their own respective limitations, it does

not in any way reflect upon their inner strength to conquer

the challenges they face on a daily basis. I find no greater

joy than seeing a wounded warrior overcome their initial

trepidation upon first entry into the kayak and the

accompanying sense of instability as they paddle away from

the launch. Those challenges and inner doubts are quickly

overcome, and you find yourself put at ease as you see the

calmness and inner strength shine through on their

respective countenances as they paddle away with a new

found confidence and determination.

The warmth and gratitude I feel each time I head out

on the water with these heroes is unfortunately interrupted

by the bellowing sound of the air horn that penetrates the air

and sometimes the stiff winds signifying an end to my time

on the water with the heroes. Each time I volunteer at these

events, I sorely long for the day to last just a little bit longer

thus permitting more time on the water with my new found

friend. Alas, it is not to be this day. We make our way back

to the launch, where I assist my hero out of the water and

thank him for the time spent together. The sadness is further

deepened for me personally, because my son was not able to

participate at this event due to a previously scheduled

commitment. In the past, he has accompanied me to all of

the events, and the hero I was paired with has come to

expect my son to be there. He too was noticeably saddened

as well. I promised him that I would have him at the next

event, but my hero simply smiled and handed me a candy

bar to pass on to my son until the next time they could be

together. Words cannot express the gratitude I felt from the

simplicity of the gift and the graciousness this hero freely

offered for my son whom he had only met a few times at

previous events in 2011.

After returning to the launch, we all gathered for a

quick box lunch provided by one of the local businesses and

some more socialization and reflection upon the outing on

the water we had all shared in. Some of the heroes spoke of

"the one that got away", while others reflected upon how

much enjoyment they had. The hero paired with me told me

numerous times on the water how much of a relief it was

just to get out and do something versus sitting in the same

room each day. Sometimes I think the monotony of these

heroes' daily lives is a contributing symptom of their daily

challenges. Hopefully, the bi-weekly HOW events with the

Central VA HOW Chapter will help fight off those mala-

dies.

As the heroes were loaded into their vehicle, I found

myself longing for the next outing and already mentally

checking my calendar to see if my son would be free. I hope

he is, because days like this are ones that I hope he will be

able to hold onto as he ages and matures. These are the days

that will mold and shape the child that will one day grow

into a man. Upon that day, he too will realize that it is truly

an honor just to be in the company of heroes.

Check out more of Chuck Wrenn at

www.froggin4bass.blogspot.com

Angler Profile Angler Profile Daniel Diez, aka DJ Dan Decibel is a Cuba-born Miami resident. When he is not turning

the tables in the heart of South Florida, you can find him with a fly rod, stalking big fish.

Whether its by kayak or flats boat, Dan is out there in the skinny. In his own words, Dan

reflects on 2012 as he prepares for

the new year. Check it out...

Method

Fly Fishing

Vessel

Hobie Pro Angler

Clothing

www.SkinnyWaterCulture.com

Location

Miami

This Month’s

FEATURING

Dan DecibelDan Decibel

As we begin a New

Year, I think to myself of

what a wonderful past

year it was. From stalk-

ing tails on the flats, to

sidearm casting flies un-

der mangroves. I greatly

anticipate what this year

has in store. In the last

year, I have developed an

infatuation with fly fish-

ing. An art form to its

fullest, I have grown to

love this addiction. With

each fish I catch, I can't

wait until the "next one".

The shallow water, clear

skies, low winds, and little to no crowds is what I now live for. Those are moments of san-

ity which nothing else I have felt can give.

Thanks to a good friend, I was introduced to the art of fly fishing. It opened up a

whole new world. I was skeptical at

first, because I knew it was going to

be a challenge. But at the same time, it

was exactly what I was looking for.

Learning to fly cast was not as easy as

one would think. I had no proper

training, so I took it upon myself to

learn. After a couple of days practic-

ing, I could only cast my fly line to

about forty feet. I was able to catch

my first fish on fly, a largemouth bass.

Not long after that, I headed to

Chokoloskee, Florida. The objective

was to catch my first Snook on fly.

And from that day forward, the urge to chase fish on fly became a priority.

A fond memory that I will never

forget, was my first redfish on fly. It was

a nice clear morning. Fishing in the local

waters of Everglades City, Florida. I was

paddling across a channel in my kayak,

when I saw a splash that caught my

attention. I stopped and started to scan

the water. As I got closer, I saw a nice

wake cruising along the oyster covered

shoreline. At first sight, mullet came to

mind. As I stood up, the fish came to a

complete stop. At that moment, I knew

this was not a mullet. I did not hesitate.

As I grabbed my fly rod, I saw the fish

tail for a quick second. I made the cast

and sent my deer hair slider to its target.

Before I could strip the line, the fish

came charging. BAM! Fish on! I knew

this fish had nice size to him, so I fought

it with caution. He made a dash for the

channel, which made the fight a little

more interesting. As soon as the fish

gave up, I grabbed him by the tail,

picked him up, and laid him on the fly

line covered Kayak. I screamed at the

top of my lungs and thanked God. For it

was a fish that I had been chasing for

quite some time.

Dan’s good friend Warren Chin

releasing a juvenile tarpon

Another memory this past year was when I sight casted my largest snook to date on

fly. I think back and relive the moment as if it was just yesterday. I paddled across a

glassed out flat in Flamingo, Florida. Redfish was the primary target that day. By nine in

the morning, I had caught a few schooled up redfish. As I was releasing one of the redfish,

I noticed a nice wake heading my way. I immediately knew it had some size to it. As it got

closer, I stood up on my cooler and saw that it wasn't a redfish. It was a large snook. I

quickly grabbed my push pole to set myself up for a shot. Little did I know that I was go-

ing to be chasing this snook for the next twenty eight minutes. Something told me that I

had to pursue that fish. No matter how much work and effort lay ahead. Every time that I

would setup for a shot, he would pull away. This happened many times throughout the

chase. Just as I was about to give up on this fish, I saw a school of redfish making their

way straight to the snook. In my mind, I knew that this was either going to spook the fish,

or trigger the bite that I had been waiting for. I made my cast, and immediately noticed

that the snook was interested in my offering. With one strip, he rushed to the fly. The line

came tight, and the second round of this battle had just begun. I took my time with this

fish. Due to the fact that I only had a twelve pound bite tippet. As I cleared the fly line, the

snook peeled drag off my reel and it was a game of Tug o' War. The suspense was brutal.

But after a while, I finally got him to fold. And what a great feeling it was.

Continued on Next Page….

Eric Estrada with a bull redfish

courtesy of Dan Decibel

Check out Eric’s artwork at

www.iamwaseone.com

As a Miami resident, I have the luxury to be within driving distance of many

great fishing destinations. From Biscayne Bay to the Florida Keys and the amazing

fishery of the Florida Everglades. There are hundreds of miles of opportunity to

feed this addiction. This year, I plan to challenge myself with a more difficult cast

of characters. With a greater challenge comes a greater sense of joy with each

accomplishment. Every shot at fish is a test. When opportunity meets preparation,

its a setup for success. I will set out to accomplish some personal goals. Bonefish,

permit, and ocean tarpon are now in my sights. It will not be an easy transition

from the back country that I've spent so much time in. But it is a part of growing as

an angler.

~Dan Decibel~

Logically Thinking We all want our lures to look a particular way, have a certain action, and mimic bait as naturally as pos-

sible. So we buy the products and doctor them as we see fit. Sometimes we bite off a section or create

eyes with permanent markers. We hook them wacky for more action and tie them together for tandem

rigs. You would think the manufactures would get the hint. Create a product that gives us the versatility

we seek. It's only logic, right?

Well anglers don't you worry. There is a manufacturer out there that puts the common sense in fishing

artificials. Logic Lures, a company that prides itself on being innovative, has created a line of tackle that

gives the angler what he wants. From its Scented PlastiX to the Wiggly Jiggly, there is no denying their

unique approach they have on fishing. I had the opportunity to get my hands on a few samples at ICAST

this past summer and I must say I was impressed.

Tired of your soft plastic riding up the hook as you cast and land fish?

Logic Lures solves this problem with Bait Clips. It is as simple as push-

ing the clip through the head of your lure and the lure will hold in place,

up to five times longer. And, to add a more realistic presentation, they

have the Google Eyez Bait Clips, made with 3D Eyez.

The first product that caught my eye was the Wiggly Jiggly, a jighead

that dances. At first glance you would assume it to be just another

lead head, but on closer inspection, with a little momentum, you can

see the hook dance the jig like no other. The secret is in the pivot

point behind the head of the jig. With the entire hook able to swivel

around, you get 90% more action in the soft plastic. The pivoting

hook also enables the lure to be rigged standard and weedless and al-

lows a thrashing fish to shake and shimmy while the hook stays

firmly in place.

To top off the product list, Logic Lures has made the PlastiX. This

jerk bait gives the angler a lure with plenty of action in its flutter tail.

Couple that with their scent formula, 3D eyes, and throw it on a Wig-

gly Jiggly and you have a fish catching advantage! You can buy the

PlastiX alone or in a tandem, pre-rigged with 30lb fluorocarbon, bait

clips, sound beads, and swivel hooks.

As you build up your arsenal, be sure to include Logic Lures.

Trust me, they catch fish!

For more information on Logic Lures go to

www.LogicLures.com

The Fishing

Chef

Baked Redfish with Lemon Butter

Sauce

INGREDIENTS:

1 large yellow onion, diced

2 ribs celery, diced

1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions

4 medium tomatoes, finely diced

1 whole redfish, scalded and gutted

2 tablespoons seafood seasoning

1 tablespoon paprika

2 thinly sliced lemons

2 cups sauvignon blanc wine

2 teaspoons gravy flour

1/4 cup sweet cream butter

1 dash salt and pepper

PREPARATION: Preheat Oven to 350°

Take a baking pan, spray it with non-stick spray and evenly spread the chopped on-

ions, celery, green onions, and diced tomatoes over the bottom of the pan. Take the

redfish and sprinkle on the seafood seasoning and rub it into the fish. Place the red-

fish on the vegetables in the baking pan. Then lay the lemon slices on top the fish so

that they slightly overlap, sprinkle everything lightly with paprika, slide the pan un-

covered into the oven, and bake for about an hour or so until it is browned and

tender

Pour all the drippings into a heavy aluminum skillet and bring them to a rapid boil.

Stir in the wine and cook the sauce over high heat until the liquids reduce to about

1/2 of their original volume. Then pour the contents of the skillet into a fine-mesh

strainer, force the liquid and the vegetable pulp through the mesh, and return the

liquid to the skillet.

Now over a medium-high flame, heat the liquid until it begins to bubble slightly.

Then add cream butter by adding it to the hot liquid a little piece at a time. NOTE:

Do not stir the pan--just swirl it in small circles to incorporate the butter into the

sauce.

Once the butter melts, you may find that the sauce is just the consistency you want--

thin but rich. If it is too thin to your liking, however, sprinkle on a little of the gravy

flour, whisk it into the sauce lightly, and continue to cook the flour and the sauce for

about 3 minutes until it thickens and turns silky smooth.

Stir onto the fish and serve with chosen sides. Serves 4.

WHAT THE HECK IS A

BOONDOGGLE?

CHIP GIBSON, OWNER AND BROADCAST HOST OF

KAYAKFISHING RADIO, LLC GIVES US THE DETAILS OF THE

KAYAK FISHERMAN’S DREAM VACATION

The book definition is a term for a scheme that wastes time and money, we used it in the

military and federal service... which isn't too far off the mark! The way it works is we

(YakAngler.com & KayakFishingRadio) put a pin on the chart and hope folks show up to fish

with us.

We generally have two main BoonDoggles each year; President's Day weekend in Feb-

ruary and Columbus Day weekend in October. There may be the odd mini-doggle here and

there but we make it a point to have at least two. We don't announce the location of the fol-

lowing BoonDoggle until Saturday dinner of the current event. This begins our third year of

Official BoonDoggles!

Back in 2011, Mark Watanabe (YakAngler.com) and his better half, Sam were looking

for a place to go camping and kayak fishing. He posted it up on the forum and basically said

whoever's interested, come on! Well a bunch of us showed up in Jacksonville, Florida at Lit-

tle Talbot Island State Park and we had fun wasting time and a little money kayak fishing.

That was President's Day weekend 2011, and after a few smaller forays, we put a pin in the

map for Charleston, SC and invited the combined nations of YakAngler and KayakFishin-

gRadio to show up; and I think because of our military backgrounds, it wound up being for-

ever BoonDoggle.

What is a boondoggle and how did it

get started?

The "official" badged BoonDoggles so far,

have been:

1. Little Talbot Island, FL

2. Charleston, SC

3. Chocoloskee, FL

4. Virginia Beach, VA

and the upcoming at KARS Park

Merritt Island, FL.

All are invited! First time kayak an-

glers to innocent bystanders! It's really an

open event and we ask is that you let us know

you are coming. Go Yakangler.com/

BoonDoggle and put your marker down so

we know how many folks to expect! You can

also find out more through our Facebook

pages and any of the KFR broadcasts. Bring

the spouse and kiddos too! It's a family

friendly atmosphere.

Look at it this way, we think we go to

some cool places to kayak fish and others

might want to try it... well this way you can

and we'll have local knowledge available to

help out. How many times have you wanted

to fish somewhere but spent hours trying to

find access points or showed up with the

wrong gear, etc.. This way you get some free

expertise and all it costs you is your time and

travel.

As far as gear, well, your camping gear

large or small, whatever that might be and

your kayak gear. Heck we usually have extra

kayaks most of the time just in case a new

convert shows up! A good way to get more

specifics is to join us some time any evening

at 8:00 eastern on KayakFishingRadio.com/

live Monday through Thursday and ask

questions. As we get closer to the date (Feb

15 upcoming) we usually spend time discuss-

ing what gear you'll need. But don't worry,

really, there are plenty of folks that will share

if you show up and need something.

Lots and lots of things from manufac-

turers like lures, fishing rods and such. We

didn't really mean the BoonDoggle to be any

more than just folks getting together to go

kayak fishing in new places. But an impor-

tant part of going somewhere new was get-

ting local information and supporting the

merchants and local guides. One thing led to

another and folks started offering samples

and next thing we know we have a couple of

kayaks as door prizes!

Anywhere is tough, we have a long list

of places to BoonDoggle. To name a few:

Louisiana, Texas, the West Coast, Hawaii,

and on and on. But it really wouldn't be a

BoonDoggle if folks who wanted to show up,

couldn't. We try really hard to get folks in-

terested in taking a chance and showing up.

You never really know who will show up, but

it's great to fish with old friends and make

new ones at the same time.

Tight Lines,

Chip Gibson

Owner & Broadcast Host

KayakFishingRadio, LLC

What are the places you have

boondoggled?

Can anyone come? What should

they bring?

What are some of the giveaways?

If you could boondoggle anywhere,

where would it be?

WHAT THE HECK IS A

BOONDOGGLE?

CHIP GIBSON, OWNER AND BROADCAST HOST OF

KAYAKFISHING RADIO, LLC GIVES US THE DETAILS OF THE

KAYAK FISHERMAN’S DREAM VACATION

www.KayakFishingRadio.com

www.YakAngler.com

Kayak

Love

Kayak

Love

www.MysteryTackleBox.comwww.MysteryTackleBox.com

A Brown Box A Brown Box

Of FunOf Fun

Some would say the allure of fishing is in,

well, the lures. You have hard baits, soft baits,

wacky rigs, and diving plugs. Smelly lures, hair

jigs, topwaters and teasers. With new lures coming

out everyday, how would you know which ones to

use? The easiest solution comes in a brown box.

So I’m sure you are wondering what’s inside

this “mystery” box. You could get an array of lures,

tackle, and many more fishing products you may

have never seen or used before. We are talking new

baits trusted by professional anglers, that you can

put to the test and use to expand your tackle box.

I know. I know. Sounds a bit skeptical, right?

Let me give you a bit more information. Mystery

Tackle Box is a monthly subscription service that

introduces anglers to new freshwater fishing lures

and tackle. Each month, you will get a variety of

quality products tested by experienced tournament

fishermen. The assortment will expand to saltwater

in the coming months.

The benefits are limitless. You can gain expo-

sure to new lures you may not have found on your

own and discover the best ways to use them. Not

only does Mystery Tackle Box make you eager for

its mail delivery each month, but your brown box

of fun will keep you up-to-date on the latest trends

in fishing and of course, help you to catch more

fish.

Rest assured, this is not your typical bass

fishing subscription “club.” Mystery Tackle Box

has some of the best product specialist searching

for hot, new tackle to send to you. It’s a no brainer.

If you are serious about expanding your knowledge

of artificial lures, catching more fish, and befriend-

ing your mailman, Mystery Tackle Box is for you.

Gas is expensive! Fish are

over pressured. Water levels are

too low. I am out of shape.

Solution? Kayak Fishing. It was a

few people on an online radio

show and a forum that got me

hooked to the idea of kayak

fishing. It solved the entire

dilemma list I had, and set me up

for one heck of an adventure.

Now by no means would I tell

anyone to sell their motorized

boats and replace them with a

hollow piece of plastic that floats

in inches of water. Your boat has

its advantages. I just want to

point out a few of the advantages

a “yak” angler may have.

Getting out in a kayak

changes your entire perspective

of the water. Your low profile

and peaceful glide will calm the

worst of nerves, giving you the

sensation of being one with the

environment, but that wasn't what

sealed the deal for me. It was the

big fish I paddled over, not

knowing I was there until I

bumped into them! The quiet

approach spooks few fish and I

am now able to get back in the

skinniest of water where even a

boat with minimal draft cannot

venture. After the first trip, and a

couple of days to allow the

feeling to come back in my

arms ,I sat down and thought

things through. Done Deal. I

want to be a yak angler.

The hardest part was

finding the right kayak for me.

The options are plentiful and

after months of comparison

shopping I was stumped. I made

a list of features I wanted in a

kayak and nothing fit the bill. It

wasn't long before Jackson

Kayaks came along to introduce

their new fishing kayak, the

‘Cuda, and I took one look at the

specs and fell in love. A few

phone calls, some great customer

service, and a couple weeks of

waiting and I was out on the

water with my new yak. And I

said it. True story. It “completes

me.”

2013 will see me traveling

around, fishing tournaments, and

introducing kayak fishing to all

who dare. Many others are

converting to kayak fishing for

obvious reasons. and I suggest

you look into it yourself. I am

willing to bet this style of fishing

may complete you as well.

~D.B.

Shameless plugs:

www.jacksonkayak.com,

www.yakangler.com,

www.kayakfishingradio.com

Kayak

Love

Kayak

Love

www.1stlandingyakfish.com

With kayak fishing being the fastest growing segment of the fishing industry how do you create

a new kayak for the market? You ask the people who use them and those who will be in the market

for a new kayak what they want? Legacy Paddlesports did just that, Legacy is a kayak manufacture

based in Asheville NC with two lines of boats coming from their stable. One being the Liquid Logic

branded kayaks these are the factories white water and recreational kayaks. The other is the Native

Watercraft line. The “fishing” end of the business which already has made some monumental kayaks

in the industry.

A few that are familiar on the water are the classic Redfish and Manta Ray which are tradi-

tional sit on top style kayaks. Another very popular model is the Ultimate, a hybrid kayak that is a

cross between a canoe and kayak. With its tunnel hull shape it has incredible stability either seated or

standing, yes standing! Not to mention the 1st Class Seating that only Native offers which makes

spending hours on the water more comfortable than any seat in its class. How do you improve on

that? Easy for them, you make a Propel Drive system for a sit on top kayak, the Mariner and the

Ultimate style hull on the market. The Propel Drive is a propulsion system designed on the recumbent

bicycle style, putting the kayaker in a laid back reclining style of pedaling. With a 10:1 gear ratio the

kayaks move at good clip and the only system of its kind that allows you to move backwards. Using

your legs to move keeps your hands free to fish!

Again the challenge came to create another kayak new to the industry. Instead of sitting behind

a drafting board and drawing up something that looked good on paper and then try to sell it. Legacy

got input from the masses. Starting by asking the Endorsed Guides around the country what they

would like to see in the next generation kayak. From there the same questions filtered out the kayak

anglers and retail stores that have a huge input on what customers want.

With all that input and research they have done it again. They unveiled the Slayer at this year’s

Outdoor Retailers Show and the word spread like fire. The Slayer is a sit-on top style kayak with a

stable platform that makes standing a breeze. Throw in the 1st Class Seating that has a High/Low

configuration and this kayak can be used on the river, open waters or stalking shallow flats for any

species. Storage is another thing that this kayak is not lacking. From the open bow and stern with

scupper holes to the narrow Plano Box storage on each side of the seats you can bring along all your

favorite tackle. A clean clutter free deck with pre-molded tackle storage and plenty of gear tracks

along the gunwales so you can easily mount your accessories. In general this kayak has options and

possibilities for any and every angler out there. When you are in the market for next kayak look at a

company that has you in mind with each kayak they make!

Mark Lozier 1st Landing Kayak Fishing Service

http://www.1stlandingyakfish.com/

http://www.nativewatercraft.com/

A how-to, product review, bait catching,

fish snatching, kayak paddling, boat

Poling, lure making, batter baking,

calling in sick from work cause you

just read that the mullet run has made

it your fishing grounds and you want to

try out a different technique with a new

lure, used by a TFJ contributing writer

kind of magazine!