I have never fished from a kickboat or tube before. I have a
cobra tandem kayak. These seem like real fun events and I am
verry interested in fishing them. I would like to attend the
nacimento or san antonio events this month. After looking at
some old posts it seems only BNT allows kayaks. I live on the
central coast and would like to do some events on the kern
schedule. I would like to see something like this at Santa
Margarita or lopez and would be willing to help get it going.
Do I need to break down and buy a kickboat or tube? Anyone got
a good used one for sale to get started? I was thinking of
just showing up and watching at one of the events here on the
central coast but would really like to fish one. Any advice
would be appreciated thanks.

We currently have one Kayak angler (Gordon) that fishes with
us on a regular basis. BNT currenly has 3 region from the bay
area to the oregon border and plan to start up a cental coast
region in 2005. For now I would suggest showing up at Naci
,either to just hang out see how we do things or join in on
the fun and enter the tournament. Its a fun time. Let me know
if you have any question's

John Lake
President BNT

If you every decided to do a tourney with SCBBBC up north,
just let us know here on the forum and we could provide you
with a kickboat or floattube to try out. You'll just need
waders and I believe the are more than a few of us who have an
extra set of fins. 

This goes with anybody new to floattubing and kickboating who
would like to try one of our tournies (or just going fishing!)
and try some equipment before making the investment. We'll
hook you up! 

Todd

I have an old round tube you could borrow if you would like to
fish with Kern. Last time I loaned that tube out, the guy came
in second and me third. You would need waders and fins though.
The Cabela waders are only like $50. And you should be able to
find a decent pair of fins for around $20-$30. I would suggest
checking out the BNT first. If you want to be able to fish the
tourney without an initial investment. Unless you would really
like to meet us Kern guys. Since we're more accessable for
you. As for Santa Margarita and Lopez. S.M. has very limited
float tube access. And Lopez wanted us to carry club
insurance. We were unable to find insurance. Either way, stay
in touch and let us know. 

Thanks For the response John and Todd. I really appreate the
offer to borrow equiptment too. If BNT is going to have a club
down here on the central coast I would like to get in on it.
Ill put a cooler on my kayak rig up a pump and head out to
Nacimiento next weekend to check it out. Can I register that
morning?

You can register the morning of the event. I will be posting
check in times this monday the 23rd and the same info will
also be on the calendar linked above the forum. See ya there

Hey Fish24 I would defenately like to meet all the Kern guys
and be able to fish your Naci and Antone events. Im torn here
because both events are on the same weekend. Thanks for
offering me the loan of your extra tube. It looks like you
guys are doin Naci June 19th I will plan on seeing you guys
there and mabe by that time ill have a tube or kickboat. For
now getting started on my kayak would be a cheaper way to go
until I get hooked in the sport. Thanks for all the help Doug.

Just to let you know - a few years ago, we hunted high &
low for insurance & couldn't find any that would cover us
for a whole season, just on an event-by-event basis.  I think
the 1st time we bought it for Spring Lake, it ran $175.  So,
we eventually tracked down Patti Morsch with BASS, & after
a lot of delays, they agreed to let us register as a
BASS-affiliated (Federation) club.  BNT has now done the same
thing.  BASS provides you with $1 million liability coverage. 
It costs $20/member to join, & all your members have to
join BASS.  You need at least 6 members to qualify.  You do
get BASS Times as a Federation member.  It's really reduced
the hassles for us & it seems to be running pretty
smoothly at this point.

Sounds good Doug. Be sure to stay in touch with us via this
message board. We might get our own site soon. Keep us up to
date on the fishing over there if you don't mind. We make
trips over to Naci on a pretty regular basis. 

Todd G.

Hey, MargaritaMan definitely bring your kayak down to Naci! 
I'm the kayak guy from BnT.  I have a Hobie Mirage Outback
that uses pedal power.  I can show you you some of the things
I've rigged up on my 'yak (depthfinder, small livewell, etc.) 
If you don't want to rig up a livewell you can always drag a
fish basket around (I carry one on board in case I catch a
fish that's too big for my well)...but DRAG is the key word
here.  You really get a workout if you have to pull that thing
around all day.  Since you have a tandem, you probably have
room to put a cooler in there somewhere.

P.S.  I think BnT's philosophy of "human-powered"
-vs- strict tube/kickboat rules will allow them to really grow
once the word gets out.

another thing to think of is after speaking to Jason the NKFT
president quite a few guys are going to try and make it over
to our weigh ins at Naci on saturday, it will be a good time
to meet everyone

Hey Doug,
I'm Bryan, I live in Templeton...I have been to one of the
tournies that the Kern guys put on at Naci and am planing on
attending the BnT one later this month at Naci. I
kickboat/Floattube the lakes around here (Santa
Margarita,Naci,Lopez) on a regular basis. I have one other
buddy that floattubes with me sometimes, but if your ever
intrested in having another fishing buddy let me know...

Welcome to the gang!

Bryan

Yeah, we need to talk to our members about going Federation.
Sounds like the way to go. We have enough members. Hopefully
everyone will be at our first tourney and we can run it by
them then.

I'm another kickboat fisherman that fishes at Margarita and
Lopez. I hit a BNT event at San Antonio a couple of years ago
in my floattube and had a blast. I live in Santa Maria and
could fish with you any weekend. Post a note on any of the
Calfishing boards and I'll see it!

I also have a floattube(trout limited Kennebec) and fins if
you ever want to try them out.

Ken Anderson

I am interested in fishing some of these tourny's with you
guys. The  problem is that the only ones that I can make, are
the ones at Isabella, and I would like to fish those. So if
you guys don't mind answering a serious rook question, I would
feel a little more prepared for the trip. 
First question; I release all of the bass that I catch
normally. What do you use as a live-well. 
One other question, are there any groups that have these types
of Bass tournements on the Owens?  

There are a few different ways to make one. The one I use is a
mesh laundry bag with a fun noodle on top and a heavy gauge
wire to hold the bottom down. Very easy to make. I believe
there is somewhere on this site that you can get some ideas.