So, when I got frustrated shore fishing and started looking for kayaks, I found Bayou Coast. It was before FB was the main means of club communications and the website had tons of information. I researched past posts and narrowed my search down to 3 brands based on reports written by members. It took a couple weeks, but I found a fire sale on a used Jackson Cuda 14 in my budget. Gotta start somewhere, right. It took me a couple weeks to get it rigged and procure a roof rack, so I started fishing. Yeah, I rolled out of the Cuda on the first hookset, but didn’t loose anything and was able to land the fish, thanks to rigging info from the club. Lessons learned. I fished a lot and ate up the Bayou Coast website, especially the tournaments. I had the deep desire to compete and thought I’d set the kayaking world on fire. Yeah, really! My first tournament was Fallin Tide, which I carry a reminder of every day, and I caught some nice fish, really close to being in the money. I was awed when I met Steve Lessard and humbled. I met a lot of nice people and couldn’t wait for more. Then I fished Trout Challenge and exhaustion from paddeling made me miss the weigh in, where I’d have qualified for the Championship. Then at Minamalist I skunked and fell out of my boat at the launch. Yeah, my auto PFD went off in a foot of water, in front of everyone. Lovely. I decided I wouldn’t fish another tournament until I had a pedal drive that was more stable than the Cuda.

I put my Cuda on Craigslist and sold it shortly thereafter. Then I got lucky and found a fire sale on a used Native SP13. I was fishing in it the next weekend and jumped in a vacant bunk with guys I’d never met, at Bridgeside for Paddlepalooza. I didn’t have a great day, but met Josh Redd and Andy Hammer who I shared a room with.  Andy had a paddle craft and I felt sorry for him having to paddle. Shortly thereafter he bought a used PA14 and I got a little jealous when we fished together.  Then I hooked up with Josh in his Outback and we started fishing a bunch.  I definitely had the Hobie envy. Those guys just looked so much more comfortable in their boats. I was fishing in my budget so in the end, I was thrilled to have a kayak and get to fish.  This whole time, I’m the guy writing the fishing reports on the website. People would approach me at gas stations, launches and tackle shops to meet me and seemed to appreciate what I was doing. People invited me fishing,  like Wendell. Bayou Coast did that for me.  An outlet for people who liked what I liked and appreciated my efforts. 

I quickly got tired of the Native,  and the envy, and found a smokin deal on a PA14.  I’d rented one in Florida for a day and although unfamiliar,  felt a far superior platform beneath me.  The first trip out in the PA14, Monsta Banana,  I felt like a champion and got in the money in my next tournament.  That’s all it took. No more envy other than that aimed at me. I can’t tell you what it did for my self esteem.  Unbelievable!  I can’t tell you how many important friends I’ve made in the club.  Lots of great people. The Breaux’s, Luke, Andy, Josh, Wendell, and Wade, y’all are awesome! Bayou Coast, it’s membership and tournaments were my vehicle to self improvement and fullfillment.  Yeah, I truly love the club. 

The club loves me too! They asked me to be an officer, and again,  I’m thrilled.  So in my first term, this motor thing comes up. I have the Ghost. My first new kayak, thanks to the club, with a 180 kickup drive.  A motor? I don’t need no stinking motor.  Anyways,  the board votes on whether to allow motors for a tournament,  and despite every argument,  I loose. I can accept the will of the group, so be it. Almost all the clubs and tournaments around us are doing it, so maybe we should. We all had the best intentions for BCKFC, I assure you.  But it seems like the officers opinions differ from that of members, so we were wrong. Oh well. The will of the members will rule. 

Each of the officers have strong feelings for the club, it’s members and it’s future. Volunteerism is at an all time low, so we’re trying to make it work as best we can. I feel like the loss of Jason Bain had a tremendous effect on tournament involvement and membership, and it will take years to repair.  He’d want us to move forward, and we are.  Please bear with us as we try to make the club better. Please work with us for improvement.  Please stay with us and continue the brotherhood that Tommy Eubanks and others helped create.  Come to Paddlepalooza and have fun! I hope I’ll see you there, and on the water,  but don’t you dare follow me! Thanks for having me.  Can’t wait to see you there,  and for the next trip.

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