Is Kayak Bass Fishing DEAD?!
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- čas přidán 4. 05. 2023
- Kayak Bass Fishing seems to be in big trouble, but is it dead or just down and out? Anglers not getting paid, tournaments getting canceled, it doesn't look good. I go over some of the other kayak fishing tournament options anglers should probably move to now for more stability and in the event KBF shuts down their live event schedule at some point.
I travel around the country fishing kayak bass tournaments including the Bassmaster Kayak Series, Hobie Bass Open Series, All American Kayak Series, and the larger regional events!
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The problem we ran into here in Kentucky with the BASS Nation program is that the BASS Nation (Bass Boat) part of it demanded a percentage of the entry fee payouts. When I asked what it was for and what the kayak anglers paying a cut to the Nation would get I was told to help pay for "The Newsletter and website". I laughed and said thanks but no thanks. I wonder if other states are like that or if our was just trying to rip us off.
Steve O working to make kayak stuff stand alone or at least independently operate under state boat club
I don't think that there will be enough participation for multiple nationwide events. I agree with you that it is a bottom up sport. The local clubs are where it is at. Bassmaster and Hobie likely have the national scene locked up. It just costs too much to compete in national event trails where you have to spend thousands for travel and entry fees. Plus, you have to miss work. If you are not doing some recon and/or pre-fishing...you are not going to have a good shot at cashing. Obviously, if it is a body of water you have fished a lot in the past...you may be able to get away with not pre-fishing...but the added time to do this costs extra money and time from work. The whole nationwide online format really isn't viable. Not all bodies of water or regions are equal. So anglers who have access to bigger species of bass or better quality fisheries will have an advantage. That model may have worked during COVID lockdowns...but not now. Until you have large corporate sponsors or local businesses willing to donate/sponsor tournaments...the money comes from entry fees and it costs money to run events. So it is never going to be 100% payback until there are businesses willing to add money to events. They will want to be able to put a number to the return on that investment. In the business world, if it doesn't make dollars...it doesn't make sense...especially in a recession.
Great thoughts shared in this video Jeff 👊 Would love to see you back fishing NSKA if you can 😎
My son is stepping in for me 🤣
@@JeffMalott still be nice to have you there 👊😎
Got a buddy that is still waiting for his payout from March.
Well Said, NSKA and Local clubs are growing
I started a BASS Nation State club here in Colorado and it's taking off.
Our payouts are great and we all travel well. I'm excited about 2023 and what the future holds for Colorado Kayak Bassmasters.
~James Strawbridge
Here in North Carolina we have 4 great local clubs and over the last couple of years have been starting to cohost tournaments with one another, if something were to happen to KBF then this would provide an avenue to keep the local clubs viable and draw national tournaments to NC
As you said, many regional clubs like ours MAKBF (Mid-Atlantic Kayak Bass Fishing Series) , Queen City, MOYAK, NSKA etc already have guaranteed money clearing $1k-$2k for the winners. As we continue to foster the relationships with the larger national trail like Bassmaster/BASS Nation, Hobie BOS and even the Native Big Bass, I think they will come to areas outside the typical big fish factories more. What you said is key though, local anglers absolutely NEED to show up in full force to keep then coming back. Another way to help bring them to your local area/state is to do some leg work for them ahead of time. Having an already established relationship with that local tourism board or at very minimum a solid POC for folks like Steve O and AJ to negotiate with is a critical piece of the equation many folks miss when they complain about trails not coming their way.
Sitting at my campsite on Table Rock doing tackle prep for tomorrow. Just a grateful rookie. Happy that my club seems really cool. Thanks for starting said club. I really dig your channel and podcast too. Is Hoover the CEO of KBF? I assumed that after watching some of his stuff, but wasn't sure.
Glad your enjoying the club and the pod sir, maybe we can fish together sometime!
The Texas Kayak Bass League (TXKBL) is taking over the Central and SouthWest parts of the state. The anglers rival any National trail
They killin the game for sure
My local club was a KBF affiliate for one year. That's all it took to turn a whole bunch of folks off. Yes, I think KBF is in trouble. I would not be surprised if this is the last season.
Personally, I see Kayak tournament fishing at the national level as peaking or reached it's peak. Managing expectations and keeping anglers happy will be key. Just don't see how it can grow much more from a national trail perspective.
Michigan needs a Bass Nation
I agree MI needs more clubs I am having a tough time finding any on the east side.
Arkansas too, one sorta started but faded
This is exactly what kind of Video I said needed to happen. Something for new Kayak anglers to see before they see KBF CZcams videos.
Definitely a buyer beware situation, thanks for the support!
@@JeffMalott great way to put it. Luckily when I got started years ago someone had warned me of what was happening.
I'm in KBF currently. Honestly, if it is sold, hopefully they work out some of the issues (lots of issues) that been plaguing it. With that said, I'm thinking for next year I'm going to go Bass Nation instead. KBF is just too unstable, and the money issues is not only the root of it, but a massive complicating issue that just compounds it even more. I know Jeff knows this. But if you don't have a Bass Nation in your area, it only takes 6 folks to start one. I have looked in to that and that does seem appealing.
Not hating on anything to be clear, nor jealous. Been down this road with other organizations outside of bass fishing and it never ends well.
Great insights sir
This is the first I'm hearing of all of this, Dig's. Did you hear much about it before joining?
@@BucktailFishing I started hearing this after joining.
@@DigsOutdoors I'll have to keep an eye out. Hopefully everything is good.
Over promise and under deliver is the KBF way.
Certainly seems that way
I’ve been around since the beginning of kbf. Before Facebook and social media took off. Many of those of us around then used the message board to discuss rules and challenges and where we wanted the sport to go. Which most wanted it to get to the point where someone could actually make a living fishing tournament trails. Hate Chad or love him, he in my opinion pushed the sport in the right direction but his inability to make payouts in a timely matter has slowed the growth of the sport. Many of the folks that were Owed money got a bad taste in their mouth and disappeared. Hobie started to step up on a national level and now bass nation. I’m starting to get the urge to jump back in tournaments. Even joined bass again after 20 years. The problems I see are the sport getting away from what made it appealing to many people. An affordable way to compete bass fishing. With folks rigging $20000 kayaks and living on daddy’s money while they travel the country fishing It’s getting out of reach for the average working man or woman to be competitive. One thing tho I was hoping to see when I joined BASS was a way to show the organization that the only reason I joined was because they have started supporting the kayaks. That would be our best bargaining chip we have to show them we have a big enough following to be worth the investment.
Going to add a little perspective here, as I’ve sat on panels and had discussions with marketing heads of some of the major brands in fishing. Folks wanted to see the sport grow to a point where, as you mentioned, folks could make a living kayak fishing. In order to do that, large sponsors (both endemic and non-endemic) needed to be involved because believe it or not, most all of the people I know that are able to travel and fish full-time do it one of 3 ways; sponsorships, remote jobs, tournament winnings (only maybe 1 or 2 anglers can do this solely on tournament winnings) and most everyone utilizes all of this things to round out an income to sustain this lifestyle. (CZcams, social media income, sponsorships, side hustles, etc) I don’t know a single (kayak) angler out there that’s on daddy’s dime fishing full time, save for a few college kids fishing the opens. That being said, for these bigger sponsors to take interest in our sport, they need to see that ROI. Drew Gregory, Guillermo and many others have shot down that theory that you need a 20k kayak to be competitive, time and time again. But having these rigged out kayaks shows these sponsors that kayak anglers are willing to heavily invest into the sport. These motor, battery, accessory and electronic companies won’t pay kayak anglers or give money to trails if 90 percent of the anglers aren’t using their products. It’s all about ROI. There are more anglers now who make a full-time living simply kayak fishing (again, not all “pro staff” get discounts, many are getting paid now) than ever before, and that’s an amazing thing that I hope will only continue to grow. So love it or hate it, that is a big part of growing the sport and getting more sponsor attention for kayak fishing.
@@kristinefischer2289 As spot on as you are the video is about KBF the organization not Kayak Bass Fishing in general.
I’m curious what your thoughts are on KBF the organization and what was said in the video?
I agree with about everything you said. And yes a lot of folks are making more than I do just on CZcams. I like your content and you have my respect for being a fisherwoman and not showing skin for views. Yes I agree we need more big sponsors to jump in. Thats the only reason I agree with motors being used in most tournaments. I wish hobie allowed them as well. Everyone thought chad was a sellout when torqueedo jumped in but I realized it was all about getting more big companies vested in the sport. Now most of the popular CZcamsrs are pushing them along with live scope I don’t have a problem with that. But it puts the new comers in a situation where they feel they can’t compete with those folks. This sport is a lot like being in a small club. Someone is always complaining about something. The same 10 % win most of the money so the other 90% complain until they get rules changed to favor them or they just quit altogether. By the way. Last year the hobie tournaments were selling out in hours. This year the participation seems to be cut in half. Are there any theories why so many fewer people are signing up this year.
The longer he waits to sell it, the cheaper the price tag will be.
With the popularity of the sport going nowhere but up the fact that an kbf organization is tanking obvious points to miss management! I personally would never fish an event associated with a history of non payment to anglers! Also I think some guys could step up and create an organization just as big as hobie or bass and have success in the mid to west states!
Hoping AAKS gets some momentum!
I gotta be honest. Last time I saw a mouth like that… it had a hook in it
Thanks I think
Don’t you have some fishing to do or something? 👎👎
Yes
Have you spoke to Chad Hoover personally?
@@JohnLong02245 why does that matter?
@@JeffMalott Yes it matters otherwise it’s hearsay and conjecture. I’ve spoke to him and part of the problem with KBF is trash like this video and other naysayers. STFU
Clickbait at best…..😂👍🏻😂🤣😂🤣😂🤦♂️🤦♂️KBF dead? 🤣😂🤣😂This statement should haunt you…..for being so quick and eager to “project” any negative outcome for KBF. There will always be a few that just “choose” to go negative…make better choices. Your statement says MORE ABOUT YOU….than KBF, IMHO.
They stole or lost everyones money ... help me spin it in a positive way!
Also they have been on the decline for several years, not a "quick" projection.
What would u call it? What would u call it if it owed u a thousand bucks
@@JeffMalott “ they stole or lost EVERYONES money”. 😳🤦♂️🤣😂🤣 if your not honest enough to admit what a gross EXAGGERATION this libelous statement is, then I wouldn’t waste a millisecond on any attempt to debate it.
Once again, this statement says more about you, and YOUR “spin”…..and very little about the reality of the KBF situation.
And the silly statement about….”….. been on the decline for several years” to try and justify your “projection”. Hmmmmmmmm not like anything MAJOR happened in the world in the last few years….🤦♂️🤦♂️😂😂🤣🤣 good grief man……the WHOLE FREAKIN world economy has been on decline for the last few years. And MANY businesses and organizations have had to fold or restructure to avoid collapse.
Good luck with your clickbait, hope your get at least a few more subs for your channel. 👍🏻👍🏻
@@randywilson6869 are you “waiting” on a $1000? Just curious….
Small clubs. And get your club to sign up for the All American Classic free of charge.
Excellent reccomendation!