Blog

Wow. So much to unpack from this last weekend on Fork for The Classic. First off, thank you Kris Morales for running the trail and taking the time to create such a tight-knit bunch of anglers. Thanks Kristopher Delgado for MC’ing the awards ceremony and making them so entertaining. Every single one of them. And thank you, TXKBL sponsors for giving all of us a chance to walk away feeling like a winner, even if we didn’t get a bite all weekend. Special thanks to No Bad Days Kayak for putting up the big prize packages that keep us looking at our raffle tickets and dreaming big dreams. It takes a huge commitment from the kayak community to make a trail run like clockwork, and it feels like TXKBL is hitting its stride with each passing year.

When I heard we’d be fishing Fork, my heart sunk a little bit. That lake has never done right by me, with over a dozen trips that had invariably ended in disappointment. I really didn’t mentally commit to going until Wednesday of the week before the event, I was that ambivalent. But then I thought what I’d be missing out on, and how much of an honor and a privilege it is to fish with you guys, and that settled it. I’d fish in a mud puddle with y‘all if it meant we’d have a chance to swap stories and experiences. Fork isn’t a mud puddle, though. There’s some serious bass in that BOW. I knew if I did things right, I’d have a chance.

Friday’s practice was about as disheartening as it gets. One bite. One 6” fish. But, that helped make my decision to fish where I did on Day One and Two, so from that standpoint, it was valuable.

For Day 1, launched on 515 bridge east of the causeway, along with a half-dozen other guys. My drive was giving me fits, so I ended up paddling a bunch. This limited where I ended up going, as my range was reduced. Maybe that was a good thing, because I happened upon a spot that held fish. First a 17.50”on a wacky senko, then a missed 14” fish that had me pretty upset when the hook pulled just as I ready to net her. Next came another 14”-er, a nice fat 18.25”, and finally, just as the last hour started, my fifth fish, a 13.5”. Everything was either on a wacky senko or a dropshot in about 3-4” of water. I had no idea if a mid-70” limit was any good, but I felt like I’d broken a curse by 1) getting a limit on Fork -and- 2) not messing up my chances for a money spot by failing to limit.

Day Two was more of the same, except my mobility was improved by flipping my 360 drive which allowed me forward movement and about 5 degrees of turning radius either side. Not ideal, but better than Day One. I tried my spot from Saturday- no luck. Uh-oh. It was going to be a long day. Fortunately, another nearby dock had a fish attractor that actually held fish. I caught a 16.25” in the first hour and then nothing until after noon. I found a 15.5” on a dropshot swimbait and then in the last thirty minutes, another 16.25” on a wacky senko. Three lousy fish. I had hoped that another limit on Day Two would solidify a top 5 spot, so when that failed to happen, I was bummed.
As I was taking out at the ramp, I heard similar tales of woe. When you hear Jacob Moeller and Rolando Nandin both tell you they’ve had a very rough day, that kinda makes you feel better, in an odd way. Three fish didn’t seem so bad.

When the awards were announced, I was floored that my 125.5” eight-fish sack was good enough to take home a check. Flummoxed. Flabbergasted. Bumfuzzled. I was in disbelief. Moreover, after having just moments earlier been given the emotionally uplifting and extremely proud honor of being blessed with the Jerry Isham Sportsman Award, I didn’t know what to say. It’s a good thing I can write, because my acceptance speeches are as awkward and rambling as they come. So getting TWO awards - just… wow. I was overcome with emotion. Y’all really have no idea what it means to perform well against such great anglers such as yourselves, and on top of that, to be recognized by my peers for contributing to the success of the trail with the Jerry Isham Award. I had butterflies in my stomach and a lump in my throat. On the ride home, I was still riding on Cloud Nine, I was so stoked.

Huge kudos to Ricky Juelg for figuring it out. Holy smokes, man. I didn’t think two consecutive 90”-plus days were even possible on Fork. Timothy Rodman, you were the only other competitor to limit both days. Hats off to you. Jared Parker, you had a season to remember, and even if you didn’t win AOY, you came within inches, and that says volumes. I’d like to say I’m not salty about being overtaken by James Young on Day Two, but that 22.75” you landed was not only a PB, it also won you some decent money. Well done. And lastly, Jacob Moeller, I’ll never forget what it feels like to have another angler step off their kayak onto mine with the confidence you displayed. That same calm, confident self-assuredness is what won you AOY in not just one trail, but now two. That’s greatness, folks.

Thanks to Rolando Nandin, Joshua Butler, and Daniel Glenney for diagnosing my drive issue. There’s never been a moment when any one of you would put a fellow competitor at a disadvantage by not helping out. You’re the best. That goes for all of you. You made the end of the 2023 TXKBL season one to remember. Thank you, all.