The Rise of Texas Kayak Fisherman

[SWFinatic]

Really good video by Ben Maldonado on TKF.
https://youtu.be/A2QVoqOt1cM

[Tombo]

Great production.

[CaptJack]

Excellent video
but a few adds
those few of us who were kayak fishing before Richard Zewe started TKF
hung out on three message boards CCCF, CoastalKaykFishing out of California, &a local board for the fishing pier at SanLuisPass on the Freeport side.
The guy in California, Dennis Spike, who ran CKF wasn't very friendly to the six of us Texas kayak fisherman that were on his board
so Richard built TKF in 2000.
the original 6 members were TStubb- now TKF- Tom Stubblefield
Richard 'TKF' Zewe- the founder of TKF
Tom 'Tombo' Bulger, Ray 'Flyfisher' Crawford, Paul 'Yaqui' Lara
&me Jack 'CaptJack' Krohn
Not to correct Tom but.... he bought the TKF website from Richard in 2002
because i was the other person it was offered to.
I started in 1989 with one of the original Aquaterra Prisms from Bruce Gillan at Canoesport
Bruce Gillan is who brought/invented kayak fishing on the Texas coast
the first sit-on-top kayak was the OceanKayak Scupper (no tankwell) 1988
the tankwell came later with the Scupper Pro
my Trooper with the blue 1990 Prism & 1992 white Prism
pic is Galveston seawall around 1995
the original picture of Malcom Davies in the blue Prism at SanLuisPass that we made the TKF graphic from
my 1999 Kevlar Wilderness Pamilco, behind the toll bouth at SanLuisPass

[Tombo]

And still I get excited every time I go fishing. F minus 60 minutes.

[imaoldmanyoungsalt]

Awesome video Tom!
It's nice to see the origins of the website and the sport for a fairly newcomer like me. Very cool how much influence all you guys had on the sport too.
And good job kicking those Fla. Butts!
That's a sharp looking bonafide your fishing from now as well!

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

[TexasJim]

Great video. Thanks to Ben & all the old salts that made this forum and kayak fishing in Texas such a unique and great thing! I've only been on here since '13, but I have met and fished with some great folks, including a few of the founding members that were in or were mentioned in the video. Finally, a really big thank you to TKFStubbs for not letting this place die a year or so back. Let's keep 'er going! TexasJim

[ClovisMan]

Say the video on Facebook and had to come back here to see if I could still log in. Nostalgic!

[fred]

Great show.

[CaptJack]

Finally, a really big thank you to TKFStubbs for not letting this place die a year or so back.
Let's keep 'er going! TexasJim

We thank Monty Weeks for saving the board

[ben_beyer]

Awesome video and it makes me wish I had more time to be fishing in my kayak.

[h_10]

I joined in 2007ish. I remember Phil posting videos of catching redfish with a jalapeno, bare hooks, cigarette butt, and other crazy things. There is a wealth of Texas coastal fishing knowledge from the all the guys in that video. There have been so many great fishermen who used to post on this board.

Thankful to Tom and all the pioneers who made this board what it is and what kayak fishing the Texas Gulf what it is.

[Kayak Kid]

It was 2002 when I exchanged my much loved entrepreneurial life for full time kayaking/ fly fishing. My first, of many future kayaks, was a wilderness original 16 footer, purchased from Canoe Sport. I bought a Werner kevlar bent grip paddle at that time, and used it exclusively for the following seventeen years of my kayaking "career".

My first go to spot was the Dana cove area, where, even on week-ends, I don't recall seeing kayaks other than mine on the water. The many excursions I made to fish Estes Flats were also sans kayak spotting. It was only when I ventured into the Light House Lakes that I began to see a few Kayaks. A car, other than mine with a kayak on top was, indeed, a rarity.

The change that exponentially took place was as if it happened over night. I feel, perhaps, due to an over expanded ego, as if I were an integral part to a sporting phenomenon that has become a major addition to the Texas boating world.

My kayaking became more than a pleasurable selfish indulgence when those of us who helped initiate Heroes on the Water discovered that introducing PTSD military patients to kayaking could make a dramatic difference in their recovery. Working with the late Jim Dolan to help these young men and women find relief from their pain was a lifetime experience I attribute to kayaking and the many good men and women who have discovered all that kayaking can be.

[Tombo]

I to am helping with HOW, volunteered yesterday. Got a big ole hug from one of my kayakers. I must have been doing something right.

[CaptJack]

HEY KK

[Yaqui]

Good times for sure. I still have the same yak and rig. Mostly hit small private lakes lately. Miss ya guys.

[Tombo]

Good times for sure. I still have the same yak and rig. Mostly hit small private lakes lately. Miss ya guys.

You and "all in Dave". Sorry I kept you two from sleeping at the cabin in San Louis Pass.

[Yaqui]

haha, I still communicate with Dave little. He's moved up north. I'll be in CC next week. Would love to see ya.

[Tombo]

Cool, see you soon Paul