Hunter Amidon is one of our youngest KATS Anglers, but also one of our most enthusiastic! Not only did he finish in the top 5 at our last event on Lake Travis, he also qualified for the National Student Angler Federation tournament in Florence, Alabama. We caught up with Hunter to see how he is preparing for the tournament and ask how KATS has helped him in his fishing career.
Q&A With Hunter Amidon: KATS Angler Heading to High School Fishing National Championship
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A Big Thanks To Our Long List Of KATS Sponsors!
We are now in our 11th year of KATS, and the tournament series has come further than we ever could have expected, in largest part thanks to our amazing sponsors! <insert picture of sponsor banners from event> Most of our generous sponsors have been with us for many years and we have been more than happy to welcome them back with open arms.
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A Shout-Out To Our Friendly Neighbor, Oskar Blues Brewery
Oskar Blues Brewery recently celebrated their 1 year anniversary here in North Austin, and we couldn’t be more grateful they came. While the brewery's team has been great at quenching our employees’ particular thirst, they’ve also been great partners in the outdoor and fishing communities.
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Meet Guillermo Gonzalez: 2017 KATS Texas Angler of the Year
Combining his best five events, with a grand total of 483 points, Guillermo Gonzales was crowned our 2017 Angler of the Year at the final KATS event in our regular season at Lake Travis. We caught up with him to chat about this season and what we can expect from him in the future in both fishing, and life.
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ACK Donation Drive: Hurricane Harvey
Our sincerest thoughts go to those who have been affected by this devastating storm. The storm has already brought historic rain and flooding to the Texas Coast, and is expected to continue through the week.
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Demo Days Resource Guide
ACK Fall Demo Days are right around the corner and we hope you plan to come spend the day with us! We’ve been hosting our demos for 10+ years and it’s always great to see everyone come and enjoy a day on the water.
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7 New Boats You Can Expect at ACK Fall Demo Days
ACK Demo Days is a unique experience for paddlers. Weather you are in the market for a new kayak, or just getting into the sport, it gives you the opportunity to try out the kayaks in the market and determine what is right for you, before you make a purchase.
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Thank You for Attending Our 2017 Fall Demo Days!
Thank you all for coming out to our 2017 Fall ACK Kayak Demo Days! We had some incredible vendor reps and employees out on the water, and we hope you were able to take advantage of the great clinics they hosted.
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Local Event: San Antonio River Relay
ACK Is proud to be sponsoring the 2017 San Antonio River Relay, presented by the San Antonio River Foundation. The relay takes place Saturday, November 11th at Mission County Park in San Antonio, TX.
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Upcoming Events: 2018 Winter Boat Shows
Looking for something fun to do while trying to beat those post-holiday blues? Stop by our booth at the upcoming Winter Boat Shows!
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National Outdoor Specialty Retailer Names Tom Rolls, Director of Merchandising
Austin, Texas (February 14th, 2018) - Outdoor adventure and action gear specialty retailer, Summit Sports, welcomes Tom Rolls, former VP of Planning and Inventory at Cabela’s to head Merchandising at Austin Canoe & Kayak (ACK), overseeing all buying and merchandising functions.
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Spring 2018 Demo Days are Here!
Austin Canoe & Kayak (ACK) is excited to announce the return of its annual Spring Demo Day events. The event will Feature over 90 kayaks, canoes and stand up paddleboards, as well as educational clinics from industry experts.
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New Boats You Can Expect at ACK Spring Kayak Demo
ACK Demo Days is a unique experience for paddlers. Weather you’re in the market for a new kayak, or just getting into the sport, it gives you the opportunity to try out kayaks that just hit the market and determine what is right for you before you make a purchase.
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Checking in with Kayak Angler’s Tournament Series
This year was easily the most we have traveled in the history of KATS! Our season kicked off on Lake Somerville, we then traveled to the ever popular Sam Rayburn in the middle of our season, and rounded out the schedule with some old favorites like Fayette, and LBJ.
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2018 Fall Kayak Demo Days are Here!
Austin Canoe & Kayak (ACK) is excited to announce the return of its annual Fall Demo Day events. The event will Feature over 80 kayaks, canoes and stand up paddleboards,…
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New Boats to See at the 2018 Fall Demo
ACK Demo Days is a unique experience for paddlers. Whether you’re in the market for a new kayak, or just getting into the sport, it gives you the opportunity to…
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Recap: Bayou Preservation Association 50th Anniversary Gala
A few weeks ago, ACK was honored to be a part of the 50th Anniversary Gala of the Bayou Preservation Association, a Houston-based group whose mission is to celebrate, protect and restore the natural richness of Houston’s bayous and streams. We’re thankful of the relationship we have formed with members of the Association board, and we’re always willing to help out with several events hosted around Houston.
To aid our support of the Association’s work, our friends at Viking Kayaks were kind enough to partner with us in the donation of a Viking Profish 400 kayak to be included in the silent auction! Our Houston store associate Ben Reimers was able to attend the Gala and return with a full report on his experience. Not only was he overwhelmed with the beauty of the venue and bayous, but also with the generosity of the raffle winner, Terri. After winning the Viking Profish 400, she decided to donate it back to the Association. It was christened “Terri” in her honor and will continue to live on as an important tool for bayou cleanups and paddle trail maintenance. Here is Ben’s account of the event in his own words:
“The Gala started at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at the property of Colleen Holthouse. When we arrived at the event, we were greeted by Steve Hupp, Water Quality Director for the Bayou Preservation Association. Upon arrival, I immediately noticed that the property was overwhelmed with beautiful stone surrounded by enchanting vegetation. A large stone-made mansion graced us with its presence as we started to walk down a long path which lead to the Gala. Considering this property was on a mini-peninsula, the bayou was observable through the trees on both sides of the path. There were also many lantern-lit, stone-made staircases that stemmed from the path towards the shores of the bayou. Once we reached the Gala, we were received by servers as a local band named “KAOS” complimented the breezy environment with their blues-influenced song covers and originals.
The Gala surrounded a second “guest” house which had bars stationed in the front and in the pool area. In the pool area, the donated Viking Profish 400 in Aurora Blue shined among the clear water in the center of the pool. This donated kayak was the grand raffle prize for the Gala, and only looked more appealing as the wine started to flow among the crowd of what appeared to be 300 people all dressed in light blue formal attire. As the night enfolded, I met many interesting people and ate what I review as five-star restaurant quality food. The music continued to play until it was time for speakers to ACK-nowledge (get it?) and thank all those who made generous donations. Before I knew it, the person who won the Profish 400 was announced. She was in surprise and awe with the kayak she had just won, and graciously decided to donate the kayak back to the Bayou Preservation Association. It will now be used as transport to help clean and maintain the bayous of Houston.
Walking back to the entrance of the property, I realized I had forgotten I was in the city. The overall presentation of the property and the Gala assumed the role of a place far from the flat, unappealing urban areas of Houston. In accordance to this experience, the nature of the land had been preserved enough to simulate a place which had not been affected by the passages of time.”
To learn more about the Bayou Preservation Association, visit their website at www.bayoupreservation.org/Home.
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ACK Store Holiday Hours
With the holiday season upon us, we hope you’re all gearing up for adventures with your loved ones. To help outfit your holiday adventure, all ACK locations will be observing the following hours for the upcoming holidays:
Thanksgiving: Closed
Christmas Eve: 10 am – 3 pm
Christmas Day: Closed
New Years Eve: 10am – 4pm
New Years Day: Closed
Don’t forget, ACK.com is open 24/7!
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Recap: Kayak Angler Tournament Series 2016 Season Comes to a Close
2016 was the tenth year for KATS Texas, and it was one for the books! Competitors from all over Texas and beyond came together to fish a total of ten events, beginning in January and running all the way through October. The 2016 season saw over 600 registrations with 250 total anglers competing across the board, making it our biggest KATS season yet!
The first seven tournaments were qualifying events in which contestants could compete in either the Pro or Social divisions. Those looking for more serious competition chose Pro and kept track of their progress over the season for a stake in the Classic Elite Series and for prestigious titles such as Kayak Angler of the Year and King of the Fish. Those looking to get started in the sport or improve their skills joined the ranks of the Social division, competing for lots of amazing prizes and certificates donated by our generous sponsors!
For more information about the Kayak Angler Tournament Series, visit fishkats.com.
Classic Elite Series
This year we decided to shake things up and have a three-part championship! The top 35 anglers competed in this series and were determined from the seven regular season events. The anglers traveled to Lake Fayette, Lake Fork and Ladybird Lake to duke it out for the gold.
We combined the scores from the Elite Series with the regular season events and took the best eight out of the ten total (7 regular season and 3 elite series) to determine the 2016 Angler of the Year.
Tyler Howell Wins Angler of the Year
Tyler Howell earned the Kayak Angler of the Year title at the final event in our Classic Elite Series at Ladybird Lake! Tyler had the most inches at 742 points after combining his best eight events. A solid performance in the regular season was strong enough to carry him through the Classic Elite Series and keep him at the top. His stellar performance won him a Malone Auto Racks MegaSport Fishing Trailer and an Old Town Predator XL Minn-Kota Package with a Lowrance Hook Fishfinder and Supernova Lights.
Joseph Sanderson Named King of the Fish
Coming in at 2nd place for Angler of the Year and 1st place for King of the Fish, Joseph was a force to be reckoned with! He broke the KATS record for largest stringer during the final Championship Elite Series event at Lady Bird Lake with 110.25 inches! His top 5 catches from this season totaled a whopping 111.75 inches, and won him a Diablo Paddlesports Amigo Kayak with Seadek outfitting and a Power-Pole Micro Anchor with a Battery Pak.
KATS Saltwater
This was the second season for the Saltwater edition of our KATS tournament, which also saw an increase in interest and attendance. There were three total Saltwater events, taking place in Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass and Galveston. The first event had a total of 40 competitors setting the record for the number of participants for the KATS Saltwater Series!
A big thanks to everyone, contestants and staff, for a successful season.
Want to join us in 2017? For more information about next year’s season, click here.
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Meet Tyler Howell: 2016 KATS Texas Angler Of The Year
Combining his best eight events, with a grand total of 742 points, Tyler Howell was named Angler of the Year at the final KATS event in our Classic Elite Series at Ladybird Lake in Austin, Texas this season.
We chatted with him about all things fishing, from early memories to mentorship, to get a better picture of the guy behind the title.
How long have you been fishing KATS?
I have fished KATS for the past three years. When I bought my first Pro Angler from Ryan back when he was working at the San Marcos location, I noticed a flyer for the KATS series and I was ‘hooked’ ever since.
How did you get started kayak fishing?
My kayak fishing beginnings started when I was probably 11 or 12 years old. My parents had a friend who operated a canoe/tubing outfitter in Spring Branch, Texas, on the Guadalupe River. Whenever my family would elect to go on a tubing trip I would usually opt for a kayak because it gave me the mobility and independence to fish instead.
What is one memorable experience you have from fishing?
This is a tough question. I have had a lot of memorable things happen regarding fishing and it’s hard to choose one time that really stands out. If I had to choose, the memory of the first big bass I caught is something I can vividly recall (it was only like 2 pounds, but it made my little 10 yr old world) and was an experience that helped catalyze the passion I have for fishing still. I would also say the time I placed 2nd on Ladybird in the first event of my second KATS season is definitely up there.
What is your favorite lake to fish and why?
This is going to be a two part answer:
1. Lady Bird Lake: It is home to some truly monster bass and it is a place that I really worked on my skills as a kayak angler. The Bird can be tricky and demands a versatile skill and the ability to fish under highly pressured circumstances.
2. Fayette County Reservoir: Simply put, this lake is full of solid 4 – 5lb bass and they are usually pretty willing to eat.
Do you any tips or tricks for beginners and/or other anglers?
One thing I believe that helped me a lot this year was my commitment to covering a lot of water while fishing. Some days you can find a spot that is loaded up with fish, but more often than not (especially in a tournament situation), you are going to have to cover some ground to find not only numbers of fish, but the right quality of fish too. Pick a handful of baits or techniques that you have confidence in and allow you to cover a wide range of situations, make a lot of casts, and keep an open mind.
Who comes to mind when you hear the word “mentor”?
Does YouTube count? In all seriousness, this is a hard question for me. I can be a bit stubborn and have not sought out mentorship as much as I probably should. My dad taught me some of the foundational principles of fishing and I can definitely credit him for planting the seed for me. For better or for worse, in both life and in fishing, I’ve always tried to do things myself, although as I’ve gotten older I’m realizing that this is not always the best approach. When I do seek mentorship, it is usually in a more indirect fashion. I’ll look to people who have enjoyed success, both notable and everyday, trying to see what sort of habits and character traits they employ, and from there try to apply what I’ve taken from them into my own life.
Favorite fish dish?
It’s hard to beat some delicious grilled salmon, although fried crappie also has a special place in my heart.
Beyond titles/awards, what does your involvement with KATS mean to you?
Awards and titles are great and it is cool to look back at what I have accomplished, but in truth they are not the things driving me to involve myself in KATS. For some reason I actually get a bit uncomfortable whenever I get an award, it’s a strange feeling. I mainly just enjoy KATS for the camaraderie and the competition. I’m a pretty competitive person, so seeing the fruits of your labor come to fruition during a tournament is something that is special to me.
What’s next – in life and in fishing?
Right now I am just happy to be a part of a company that allows me to pursue and live out my passion every day. Somewhere down the road I would like to return to school in order to attain my Master’s Degree, possibly in the fields of Fisheries Biology or Nutrition. As for fishing, in a general sense, I simply want to keep getting better and learn as much as I can. There are so many good fishermen in KATS that if I hope to have continued success I will need to not rest on my laurels. That being said, I hope to continue my involvement with KATS and just tournaments in general. One day I would also really like to work as a fishing guide.
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