GKF Executive Board

 
Northern Region

Claude "Claude" Collier

Age: 48
Location: Kennesaw, GA
Occupation: I own and operate Collier Claims Services, Inc., an all-lines insurance adjusting company.
Married with two girls, 18 and 12.
I've been fishing all my life (Alabama, Forida Panhandle, Texas Gulf Coast, Northwest Georgia) and kayak fishing for 1 year.

Jeff "Lifa" Steigerwald (Treasurer)

I am native of the Steel City, Pittsburgh Pa where I spent a great deal of my youth fishing the Three Rivers and the numerous creeks and streams of Western Pennsylvania. Being first and foremost a fly fishing addict – the streams and tributaries were my favorite places to fish.  After a job transfer to St. Paul Minneapolis – I quickly acquired the passion for Musky and Pike fishing.  Having purchased a small aluminum fishing boat, I quickly realized the advantages of a small boat.  Another job relocation took me to New Jersey where I dropped everything to become a NJ shore Striper fisherman.  I learned quickly how to catch these wonderful fish on both live bait and flies from the surf.  This is where I first got introduced to kayak fishing.  A guy I worked with who was equally addicted to Striper fishing told me of his used sit on top he bought from a kayak rental shop at the end of the season and converted to a fishing machine.  He showed me pictures from 100 fish days from his kayak – I was instantly hooked.  As soon as I was ready to receive my first yak, another relo took me to Atlanta, Ga.  I was not optimistic about the fishing scene in Atlanta at first – I figured it was primarily a large mouth and catfish type of thing going on down there. Boy was I wrong!  While house hunting in the Lake Lanier area, I kept seeing billboards with people holding Stripers, big Stripers!  I did more research and learned that Lake Lanier was one of the countries premier Striper impoundments.  Well the rest is history – I hooked up with The Georgia Kayak Fishing club and now fish almost weekly with a great bunch of guys and gals who all enjoy the sport as much as I do.  Having now fished from my kayak all over the south east – I am convinced that this is the sport for me and I never see myself stopping – if I live to be 100 years old – you can bet I’ll still be fishing from a kayak.

Atlanta Region

  
Sam "SLP053" Patrick (Secretary)

 As a Georgia native, Sam has lived in Covington his entire life. 

When he was barely old enough to hold a pole, Sam was introduced to  

fishing by his maternal grandfather who was an avid fisherman himself.   

Sam has fished a variety of waters from banks, bridges, piers, boats and

now kayaks.

When asked why is kayak fishing so attractive to him, Sam said: “Kayak  

fishing has renewed the excitement I felt as a child while learning to fish

from my grandfather (thanks “Daddy Ras”). It has earned a spot in my

heart. I cannot think of a location or type of fishing that I could not do from

my yak. I am having the most fun I have had in years. I honestly believe I  

have entered the best chapter in the book of my life.” He further said: “This

is a sport that avails itself to all ages and genders.”

 
      Daryl "kayakcatch" Terry

In 1990 I moved to the Marietta area to attend engineering school.  While attending school I often found the time to go fishing .  I soon discovered the many boat ramp and bank access areas of the Allatoona reservoir.  Years later I purchased a canoe to get away from the bank in addition to gain access to those areas not readily accessible by others.  While attempting to find information on canoe rigging techniques I stumbled into the world of kayak fishing on the internet.  It wasn't long till I purchased my own kayak and began my longtime addiction to kayak fishing.   Soon I began to bring my family, friends, and coworkers on kayak fishing outings.  I really enjoy bringing new people into the sport and sharing the fun with others.

Middle Georgia Region

 
Ron "Fishing Fanatic" Mancil (Vice President)

Ever since he caught his first Largemouth Bass on the Tennessee River as a young boy, Ron has had a passion for fishing and a great appreciation for the outdoors. It is that combination that lures him time and again to wet a hook whenever he gets a chance.

“Back home in Alabama it was always small lakes and private ponds. That’s pretty much where my friends and I learned how to fish. But, since relocating to Georgia a few years ago, I have discovered the beauty and pure joy of river fishing. It’s an awesome experience each time I go, and for me, there is no better way to enjoy it than using a sit-on-top kayak.”

When asked what he likes best about fishing from a kayak, Ron is quick to reply, “It allows me to fish areas where the bass boats can’t go and where the jet skiers won’t go. And, I’m able to do it in stealth mode.”

As a member of the Georgia Kayak Fishing Club, the Georgia River Fishing web site and the Ocean Kayak Fishing Team, Ron is always ready to share his experiences and knowledge of kayak fishing.

Randy "RiverPirate" Vining (Pirate at Arms)

Born and raised in central Georgia, Randy has been fishing all his life. Randy grew up fishing the lakes and rivers of central Georgia with his grandfather. He and his grandfather also took yearly trips to the coast for some salt water action. Although Randy has fished some bass tournament trails in Georgia’s larger reservoirs from his bass boat, Randy’s first passion is fishing the rivers of Georgia from a kayak. “I’ve done a lot of different kinds of fishing in my life” Randy says, “but nothing compares to exploring a river in a kayak and finding and catching shoal bass.”

“Fishing from a kayak takes me back to the times I paddled around my Grandfather’s pond fishing from his Jon boat. I love all kinds of fishing from the salt, to the rivers to the lakes, but fishing in a river from a kayak is the most fun I have ever had.” says Randy.

As a member of the Georgia Kayak Fishing Club and a member of the Ocean Kayak Fishing Team, Randy gets to live out his passion for kayak fishing by telling and showing others about the sport and how much fun it is. “Introducing new people to the sport is one of the most exciting things about being involved with these organizations.” says Randy.

Coastal Region

 Trey "3Spots" Leggett

 
Chris "C.Chris.Yak" Chappell

Chris Chappell is a Savannah native employed as a technician at a chemical manufacturing facility. Chris is a trained EMT-I and hazardous materials specialist and also works part time as a kayak fishing guide. Chris's fishing roots were grown in the rural fresh water lakes of Columbia Mississippi where his grandparents owned a bait and tackle shop. His fond memories of lazy summer afternoons fishing with his grandmother soon sparked his love for saltwater fishing in his local coastal waters.

After selling his center console fishing boat several years ago Chris discovered kayak fishing and hasn't looked back since. His passion for kayak fishing on the Georgia coast has become all consuming and he is always eager to share his enthusiasm with newcomers to the world of kayak fishing. Chris sees a very bright future for kayak fishing in the state of Georgia, thanks in no small part to the hard work of GKF and its members!

Southern Region

 
Rob "Hoth2o" Garber

I was born in rural Indiana but lived all over the country.  My family moved about every 2 years while I was growing up.  One of my earliest memories is fishing with my grandfather, in a creek under a bridge.  My best memories growing up tend to revolve around fishing.  I was lucky to have lived all around the country.  I got to fish with my father in Pennsylvanian trout streams, Canadian lakes, both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, as well as, numerous ponds, lakes and rivers in between.  Many summer vacations involved fishing trips with my uncle’s family and ours. 

In high school and college I lived in Pensacola, Florida. It was here that I became surf and pier rat.  I spent a lot of my free time, and truthfully time I was supposed to be in class, fishing from every pier and dock between Panama City and Bay Minute. 

My interest in Kayak fishing started on a scalloping trip to Port St. Joe.  While staying at the Dixie Belle Motel, I met a gentleman with a Green Kayak on the top of his truck.  I could not believe somebody was fishing out of these things!  He showed me a picture of a shark he caught and released that day.  I was hooked with the idea.  As soon as I got home I Googled “kayak fishing” and found several sites.  It took me over a year to buy my first kayak, although, a year after my first I owned 4. 

I love Kayak Fishing for the simple reason it gets me out fishing.  Since buying a Kayak, I have probably been fishing more than the ten years previous. I also find that you meet the best people.  Everyone I have met fishing out of a kayak was top notch.  While I’m an expert in neither kayaking nor fishing, I love this sport/hobby/addiction!  I love introducing people to the sport.  In my part of the state it is just starting to take off.   I can't wait to get more people in my area into plastic so that I’m not the only one driving around with 4 boats on top of the truck.  My wish for this year is to learn to river fish, since I’m less than 45 minutes from some of the great South Georgia rivers. 

At Large

Tony "Pescador" Narcisse (President)

A native of Southern California and calling Atlanta home since 1990, Tony has fished all over the US. From trout streams in the Sierra’s to chasing Billfish and Tuna in the Gulf of Mexico, he has successfully fished every region of the United States. “I’ve fished all over the country” he chimes, “but nothing has charmed me more than fishing in the Southeast. We have more diversity, more challenges and more fish mass than just about any place I can think.”

When asked what type of fishing is his favorite many assume the answer is chasing the big boys (Tuna, Billfish), but Tony will quickly tell ya, “Fishing from a kayak has awakened the joys of fishing that I discovered as a boy. Be it chasing stripers on Lake Lanier, Redfish and Trout on the GA Coast, or simply cruising on a small pond, the experience of fishing is heightened with the use of kayak… and the catching is truly incredible.”

 
Mark "Savreds" Munn (Youth Director)