Can you verify the phone number please? I tried to call it and it didn't work.

Thanks,
John "Chappy" Chapman

Sorry, Chappy...
I had the area code off by one digit. (270-205-7761) is the correct number.

Jerry's old cell phone had an 870 area code. That's what speed dial will do for ya'.
Memory of phone numbers? not so much.

Very well said. Thanks for the explanation.

Although I do like the IFA, I am not going to fish this series this year solely for the fact that bait is allowed. It would have been fun but I am going to fish the other and hopefully in 2011 the bait will go away.

I'll fish the tournament bait or no bait.. I'm just glad we have some serious kayak tournaments. The rest of the kayakers should be happy we are finally getting some good tournaments for us to fish.
The more people we have fishing these tournaments the better.. You guys saying that you're not going to fish it this year because they are going to allow baits isn't going to help these kayak tournaments be successful.. Next year the IFA might not even have the kayak division because of lack of participation..So if you want to fish it.. Fish it! If you don't want to use bait.. then don't use it and fish the tournament anyways.

I sincerely hope that someone reaches out me if or when this series goes artificial only...I'll be in without question or hesitation. There are various aspects of tournament fishing that I really enjoy but competition in its purest form is first and foremost. You match your skill, knowledge and experience against another angler, and on that given day, the best person wins...and as a result, you enthusiastically congratulate that person and wait to meet again. I would be hard pressed to generate that same enthusiasm towards the person who sat there with a bobber and live or dead bait and hoped for something to swallow it. In my opinion that’s not fishing, its waiting and I just don't see the skill in it. Patience and luck yes, skill not really. I will continue to fish with my friends and family, continuously learning how too find and fool the species we're after...while making side bets on first, biggest and most. Best of luck to all participants in 2010.

Personally if bait is used I will pass on the IFA this year. It's not about being inclusive or exclusive...it's somewhat a conflict to have a tournament that boasts conservation through CPR, then allows contestants to gut hook a fish with bait. It basically turns this event into a bullred tournament of which I have no interest....I have respect for the reputation that the IFA has already built based on solid proven rules and format. To start a kayak event, and not use the rules that have been proven over time, and accpepted by the competition just doesn't make any sense. Adopt an unproven format and you'll get unpredictible results, we done it here in Texas on multiple "Failed" tournament series with the CPR and multi species events. None of them have lasted over a year.

Originally, I was very excited to hear that the IFA was to have a kayak tournament this season, as I think many of the texas saltwater kayak anglers were. However when we started hearing rumors of bait being allowed the enthusiasm waned. Now to see it "in stone" in the rules its disappointing.

There are quite a number of tournament experienced texas kayakers who will not be participating, myself included (I'm not new to the IFA, by the way.) Its a shame because this means an impact on the potential turnout. I could be wrong but I dont see the IFA attracting much of a kayaking crowd who havent already been doing the tournaments in texas so this likely means that the turnout will be very low.

There is a considerable cost involved for the person new to the sport and for experienced tournament kayakers its too much money to "just fish it anyway." I hope this isnt a deciding factor for 2011 on whether to hold the kayak events or not. If it is, I hope the IFA keeps in mind that there are a bunch of texas kayakers out there who will happily hop on board once the series is artificial only.

Kaylin Barlow

We were very excited about the IFA starting up the kayak series here in Texas, but like I have told numerous people that are the IFA, arties only, it is the only way the majority of the Texas anglers would participate, we don't want to sit in the ICW with mullet and catch bull reds,,,,,, It's getting here fast, just hope that the IFA sees it fit to make a professional style tournament with arti only and a LIVE WEIGH-IN ,,,,my 2 cents worth

Jdub Maddox

I haven't seen anyone on here begging to use livies...No one! I think anyone who is in the loop knows about the controversy and still no one is defending using live bait. Where did the idea come from anyways? Wasnt it originally going to be artificial only? I will say live weigh in wont happen in a kayak event. CPR makes the most sense for a kayak event. Again Im going to fish it no matter what...I would rather fish the flats than sit in the pass with a dead mullet on a bottom rig though.