Going to be up by Lake Britton this weekend.  Anybody know if the water is still clear or is it green soup??

Shouldn't be a surprise but the Sportsmen's expo in January has been canceled....

Nice article by Stienstra that makes you think that Ron might really catch a 18 inch crappie at Rollins. Also some plugs for some muggles from the MBay area.

Kayak, SUP, canoe for escape hatch to freedom
By Tom Stienstra February 14, 2018 Updated: February 15, 2018 1:16pm
 
 
 A kayak, stand-up paddleboard or canoe is all you need to enter a new world, like this tidal cove in the Mendocino County. Photo: Tom Stienstra, Tom Stienstra / The Chronicle

IMAGE 1 OF 8 A kayak, stand-up paddleboard or canoe is all you need to enter a new world, like this tidal cove in the Mendocino County.
All it takes is a few paddle strokes — or turns of a foot-powered propeller — and your small craft is propelled across the water.

With a kayak, stand-up paddleboard or a canoe, you can gain entry to a world where you inevitably have something to look forward to — like, for instance, a three-day holiday.



The premise for a kayak owner, of course, is that at any time, he or she can pop the kayak on a rig and take off for the water. It’s a secret escape hatch from the world.

If you want to try the sport, the greater Bay Area has 20 rental sites: 11 on the bay and coast, nine at lakes. Most also rent SUPS.

For those who own a kayak, you are limited only by your imagination and effort. It doesn’t matter your age or your experience. You don’t need a big truck for transport. Kayaks are easy to stow at home. They don’t cost a fortune and the upkeep is minimal.

The key is to find the right fit. I’ve tried more than 20 kayaks and canoes, and found there is no reason to settle for anything but the perfect fit. This is where you sit in the pocket in perfect comfort, and then paddle or pedal ahead with a near effortless sense of euphoria.

Some kayaks that didn’t fit me felt like an alligator was chomping my lower back.

That’s why it makes sense to rent kayaks and go for a test paddle before buying. Make sure the fit is perfect for your body and that the hull is designed for the use you have planned. Don’t settle. There are too many right choices out there.

Variety of choices

During the past 10 years, kayak sales have been the beacon in a dimly lit boating market. Kayaks used to be a cult market for high-end river runners. Now more than 20 companies market kayaks, SUPs and canoes, with hulls designed for a variety of activities. Hobie, Ocean Kayak, Wilderness Systems, Malibu and Jackson are the biggest players.


The designs span the spectrum of imagination. The prices vary just as much, new or used. The lightest kayaks (such as the Eddyline Caribbean) are about 45 pounds. The heaviest is the Hobie 17, a twin tandem with pedals, built like a tank and ready for anything. It goes about 240 pounds and needs a trailer.

And then there is everything in between. At the sport shows this winter, the most popular kayaks featured pedal-drive systems. That leaves your hands free to fish, watch wildlife or birds with binoculars, or have a picnic. Kayaks with pedal drivers tend to weigh between 75 and 120 pounds, and most owners use a tow dolly to wheel the heavier boats to and from the water.

Humpback whales "Rainblows" in a feeding frenzy with sea lions and birds. Seen aboard The Greatland tour on Nov. 13, 2017.


The sport has become so popular that the NorCal Kayak Anglers at www.norcalkayakanglers.com is pushing 5,000 members. Last weekend, the organization held a fishing tournament at Clear Lake, and seeing how members set up their boats for comfort and convenience was as compelling as the fishing, even with a great crappie bite at the slough at Clear Lake State Park.

But for each member, you could see how kayaking works because it represents that instant escape hatch.

You could drop your boat into Richardson Bay and on a calm day, paddle across to Angel Island — or during benign tides, right under the Golden Gate Bridge. Out of Moss Landing, you could paddle Elkhorn Slough, and near the mouth of the harbor, have sea otters swim right up. At Mendocino, you could play in the tidal currents in the protected cove on the south side of the Mendocino Headlands. Or you could venture to hundreds of lakes across the Bay Area and Northern California, and in an instant, be on the water, casting for trout or bass.


What are you doing this weekend? With a kayak, you could launch through that escape hatch. You are limited only by what you can think of.


Tom Stienstra’s Outdoor Report can be heard at 7:35 a.m., 9:35 a.m. and 12:35 p.m. Saturdays on KCBS (740 and 106.9). Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom


Kayak/SUP rentals

San Francisco Bay

City Kayak, South Beach Harbor (Pier 40), access to McCovey Cove, reopens Friday, Feb. 23, (800) 725-0790, www.citykayak.com; California Canoe & Kayak, access to Oakland Estuary, (510) 893-7833, www.calkayak.com; Sea Trek, Sausalito, access to Richardson Bay, (415) 332-8494, www.seatrek.com.

Coast

Half Moon Bay Kayak Company, access to Pillar Point Harbor, (650) 773-6101, www.hmbkayak.com; Blue Waters Kayaking, access to Tomales Bay, (415) 669-2600, www.bwkayak.com; Bodega Bay Surf/Kayak, access to Bodega Bay, (707) 875-8899, www.bodegabaysurf.com; Kayak Connection, Moss Landing, access to Elkhorn Slough, trips also available out of Santa Cruz; (831) 724-5692, www.kayakconnection.com.

North Bay

Clavey River Paddle Sports, Petaluma, access to Petaluma Marsh, (707) 766-8070, www.clavey.com.

Peninsula/South Bay

Shoreline Lake, Mountain View, Shoreline Aquatic Center, (650) 965-7474, www.shorelinelake.com; Lake Cunningham, San Jose, rentals available on sporadic basis on 50-acre lake, (408) 794-7577, www.sanjoseca.gov, type Cunningham in search box.

East Bay

Lake Chabot, Castro Valley, marina, (888) 327-2757, option 3, ext. 4536, www.ebparks.org; Del Valle Reservoir, Livermore, Del Valle Kayak Rentals, (925) 440-8888, www.outbackadventures.com; San Pablo Reservoir, El Sobrante, San Pablo Main Rec, (510) 223-1661, http://rockymountainrec.com; Lake Elizabeth, Fremont, Central Park, (510) 790-5541, https://fremont.gov/317/Central-Park; Lake Merritt, Oakland, Aquatic Center, (510) 238-2196, http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/opr/s/LakeMerritt; Shadow Cliffs Lake, Pleasanton, (925) 426-0197, http://rockymountainrec.com or www.ebparks.org; Contra Loma Reservoir, Antioch: Contra Loma Regional Park, (888) 327-2757, option 3, ext. 4518, www.ebparks.org.


Carquinez Strait

Westwind Adventures, Martinez, access to Carquinez Strait and Suisun Bay, (925) 372-8486, www.westwindadventures.com.

— Tom Stienstra

Congrat's to the two NCKA'ers who competed in the KBF National Championships in Kentucky last weekend. Matthew Brannon
came in 26th place out of 359 entrants and Mike Lavoie came in 103rd place. They were the entire representation from the state
of California. 
Way to go guys

Good Morning,
Dick's is having a flash sale on Shimano Nexave spinning reels...regular price $60 today only $24.98
58% off.
Their website is crashing right and left but be patient
T
 

Regional Sales Manager – Bass Fishing South East

Fish Division

Shimano American Corporation is a $2.8 billion global company offering the world’s sporting community with top labels and brands including Shimano, Pearl Izumi, G. Loomis, Power Pro, PRO, and AIM.  We are seeking a Regional Sales Manager (Southeast Non-Coastal) to join our team! Position can be based out of anywhere in the South East, however we prefer the position to be based out of Alabama or Kentucky.

We are proud of our staff; diverse in talent, interests and backgrounds. Job seekers can find unique, one of a kind job opportunities in our fishing and cycling divisions, including national and regional sales, marketing, retail services and distribution. We offer an exceptional array of employee benefits and we are proud of a workforce that takes advantage of the health and wellness benefits we offer. Those that seek opportunities with employers that focus on reducing negative impacts on the environment need look no further than SHIMANO AMERICAN CORPORATION. Our company is an ISO14001 certified business where environmental compliance and continual improvements are part of our business philosophy and operations.  If you feel you can bring talent, innovation and enthusiasm to our workforce then please consider the opportunities we have available.

Job Summary:

The Regional Sales Manager is responsible for developing short/mid-term strategies for target markets with a focus on freshwater fishing.  Creating monthly and annual sales objectives for territory sales reps while managing specific budgets.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

Develop short and mid-term strategy for his or her territory; taking into consideration market, retailer and consumer insight balanced against Shimano’s long term objectives.
Create both annual and monthly sales objectives in coordination with Shimano’s business plan.
Provide an annual sales plan and providing quarterly updates, revisions and modifications to the plan.
Establish both market and key account strategies.
Spend a significant portion of time in the field both with individual accounts and co-traveling with sales personnel.
Coordinate through principal sales rep, all in-territory salesmen focused activities related to sell-in and sell-through of all brands.
Build sales planning templates. Maintain sales forecasts, territory reporting and seasonal budgets.
Establish sales objectives by forecasting and developing annual sales forecasts for regions and territories; projecting expected sales volume and profit for existing and new products.
Maintain sales volume, product mix, and selling price by keeping current with supply and demand, changing trends, economic indicators, and competitors.
Create both annual and monthly sales objectives for field based reps in coordination with Shimano’s business plan.
Prepare, review and manage regional sales budgets and forecasts.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
Work collaboratively with Product, Go to Market and Supply Chain Group.
Job Qualifications:

5+ years’ experience in account and /or territory management
3+ years’ experience in managing personnel, excellence in interpersonal communication and management skills.
Advanced knowledge and skills in performing market analyses to identify profitable growth opportunities, forecasting sales, developing and implementing sales plans to profitability grow revenue.
Experience in creating and managing co-op programs and budgets.
Experience in T&E budget management.
Skills and ability to utilize analytics to develop strategic sales plans for growth.
Experience working with a CRM platform.
Providing reports to an overseas parent company
Deep knowledge of the freshwater fishing industry with a focus on the bass market.
Solid experience in MS Office, retail math and in-store merchandising.
Excellent negotiation skills and the ability to operate with minimal supervision.
This position is based in the territory with an extensive travel requirements.
Education:

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field is desired.

 NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualification associated with the job.

Shimano American Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law.

 

 


 

Job Location: AL, KY, SC
Country: United States
Position Type: Full Time
Employee May Telecommute: No
Job seekers must live within: No preference
Required to Relocate: No
Willing to Travel: Yes
Required Experience Required: 5-7 years