KBF Members competing in the 2019 KBF National Championship now have another opportunity to win cash, and the fishing and paddlesport companies they promote to enhance their brands. Five-person Challenge Cup Teams will form under the banner of their sponsoring company. With the primary sponsor’s approval, up to four additional or “adjunct” sponsors may join in sponsoring a team.
Each team members highest scoring Day 1 photo and highest-scoring Day 2 photo will contribute to the team’s total score. The winning team will be determined by the highest cumulative score, with ties broken by big fish (then second biggest, third, etc.)
On Saturday night, March 30, the winning team will be presented with plaques and split a $10,000 (minimum, guaranteed) Top Team Challenge Cup First Place Prize. Additional amounts and number of places paid out will be based on the final number of sponsored teams. If one of the team members goes on WIN the 2019 KBF National Championship, then an additional $10,000 TEAM BONUS will be awarded to the team.
The winning team will be highlighted in the 2019 KBF National Championship TV television show on Sportsman Channel and through all KBF social media assets. The team’s photograph and sponsors’ logo(s) will be featured on the KBF Website’s Home Page alongside the 2018 KBF Angler of the Year and the 2019 KBF National Champion. In addition, the entire winning team will be offered the opportunity to join Chad Hoover for an episode of Kayak Bassin TV.
We are proud to announce the members of the YakAttack Top Team Challenge Cup for the KBF National Championship. The YakAttack team is made up of some of the top KBF anglers and some of the best kayak anglers in the country. The accomplishments that these five anglers have been able to achieve over the past few years is remarkable and they are at the top of their game. Both Josh Stewart and Edic Siddiqi finished in the top five for KBF 2018 Angler of the Year and four out of the five are in the top 15. Along with numerous KBF trail and open wins this team has a serious chance to pull off a Challenge Cup win and one of them could possibly win the National Championship.
Meet the Team
Josh Stewart
Bio — Josh Stewart grew up fishing the creeks and rivers of the Kentucky Lake watershed. After a few years of recreationally fishing from a kayak he discovered competitive kayak fishing tournaments and has been hooked since. Josh enjoys fishing the large lakes of the Tennessee River system but his favorite pastime is chasing smallmouth in the smaller tributaries.
Sponsors
- All Pro Rods
- YakAttack
- First Stop Outdoors Waverly, TN
- Jackson Kayak
Career Highlights
- 2018 National Championship 2nd Place
- 2018 Hobie World’s Qualifier
- 2018 KBF Open Grand/Beaver Open First Place
- 2018 KBF KY Lake Open First Place
- 2016, 2017, and 2018 KBF Top Ten
Watercraft & Gear
- Jackson Kayak Cuda HD
- YakAttack Leverage Landing Net
- YakAttack ParkNPole
- YakAttack LeverLoc Anchor Trolley HD
- YakAttack Omega Pro Rod Holder
- YakAttack RotoGrip Paddle Holder
- YakAttack Track Mounted Retractor
- YakAttack VISICarbon Pro
- YakAttack SwitchBlade Transducer Arm
- Gerber Braided Line Scissors
- Gerber Magnipliers
- Gerber defender compact retractor
- NRS Chinook
- Yeti Roadie
- Bending Branches Paddle
- Hummingbird Helix
Guillermo González
Bio — Being Puerto Rican with an upbringing in South Florida, the water has always been a big part of Guillermo’s life. Today, living in north Texas, hasn’t really changed that. Guillermo began kayak fishing in middle school where he became obsessed with chasing snook and tarpon in the South Florida backcountry. Upon graduating high school, Guillermo moved to Fort Worth to attend Texas Christian University. Leaving the saltwater was tough, but with the prospect of becoming a better bass angler, Texas didn’t seem so bad. In 2013, Guillermo decided to enter his first kayak bass fishing tournament; which to his complete surprise, he wound up winning. He hasn’t looked back, and continues to stay heavily involved in the local and national scene. Guillermo still resides in Fort Worth, where he works as a farm and ranch real estate agent. #glorytoGod
Sponsors
- Diablo Paddlesports
- YakAttack
- Cal Coast Fishing
- Werner Paddles
- Xcite Baits
- Backwoods
- St. Croix Rods
- Moritz Chevrolet
- Gerber Gear
- SeaDek Marine Nonskid
- Shiner Energy
Career Highlights
- 2015 KATS Angler of the Year Runner-up
- 2015 KATS Classic Champion
- 2016 KBF Open Kentucky Lake Runner-up
- 2016 NTXKC Angler of the Year
- 2016 NTXKC Classic Champion
- 2016 Hobie Worlds Qualifier
- 2016 KFL Champion
- 2016 KATS Classic Elite Series Runner-up
- 2017 KATS Angler of the Year
- 2017 KATS Classic Runner-up
- 2017 NTXKC Angler of the Year
- 2017 NTKC Classic Champion
- 2017 KBF National Championship 6th place
- 2018 Beavers Bend Kayak Classic Champion
Watercraft & Gear
- Diablo Paddlesports Amigo
- Werner Paddles Kalliste
- YakAttack Omega Rod Holders
- YakAttack GT 175 Gear Tracs
- YakAttack VISICarbon Pro
- Gerber Gear Magniplier
- Garmin EchoMap 73 SV
- Power Pole Micro Anchor
- SeaDek 6mm Deck Kit
- Mustang Survival MIT
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Brad Case
Bio — Born and raised in Mississippi, Brad has been fishing all his life. He grew up fishing the waters of Mississippi. “I have even caught bream at the mailbox ditch.” Although he has fished some bass tournament trails in Mississippi’s reservoirs from his bass boat, Brad’s passion is fishing the waters of South that only a kayak can get to. He will fish fresh or saltwater and always carries an extra kayak with him. If you see him, ask to fish. Brad enjoys teaching others how to fish. “The smile on their face, says it all, as they reel in that fish.”
Sponsors
- The Fish Grips
- Torqeedo
- YakAttack
- Spro
- Wilderness Systems
- Lowrance
- Cablz
- AO Coolers
- American Tackle
- No Name Rods
- Gerber Gear
- Gamakatsu
Career Highlights
- 190 Tournaments 2010 To 2017
- 32 – 1st Place Finishes
- 85 – Top 5 Finishes
- 107 – Top 10 Finishes
- 142 – Top 20 Finishes
- Kayak Bass Series 2nd place Angler of the Year 2015
- River Bassin Largemonth Bass Angler of the Year 2015
- 2nd place River Bassin Largemonth Bass Angler of the Year 2016
- 2nd place River Bassin Largemonth Bass Angler of the Year 2017
- Elite Kayak Bass Series Angler of the Year 2017
- 10th place Kayak Bass Fishing Angler of the Year 2017
Watercraft & Gear
- Wilderness Systems ATAK 140
- Torqeedo ultralight 403
- Lowrance Hook7
- Micro Power Pole with Battery Pack
- YakAttack Omega Pro Rod Holders
- YakAttack VISICarbon Pro
- YakAttack Leverage Landing Net
- Bending Branches Carbon Pro Angler
- Gerber Gear Processor
- Anchor wizard
- Gamakatsu G Boxes
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Eric Siddiqi
Bio — Eric Siddiqi is a tournament fisherman born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. When he isn’t on the road fishing tournaments, Eric spends his time at home with his two 2 boys, 5-year-old Zaiden and 4-year-old Lofton. A completely self-taught angler, he is an example of someone who just has fishing in their blood. Growing up, he would take every opportunity to be on the water honing his skills.
In 2015, he purchased his first kayak and began fishing online tournaments…and winning them. He then went on to fish his first live tournament at Toledo Bend Reservoir where he qualified to fish the first Kayak Bass Fishing National Championship and he never looked back.
Since then he has had a lot of success at tournaments all over the country, breaking records and winning tournaments at every turn. His tournament career has just begun and there is much more to come from this talented angler. Everyone Fishing in a kayak knows to watch out when Eric Siddiqi shows up to Fish a tournament.
Sponsors
Career Highlights
- 4X KBF National Championship Qualifier
- 2017 Hobie Bass Open – All Time single day Record 61.75” (3 Fish)
- 2017 KBF Trail – Pickwick Lake – 3rd Place
- 2017 KATS Border City Classic – Lake St. Clair – 2nd Place
- 2017 #1 KBF Overall Trail Points
- 2017 #1 KBF Challenge Points – Ohio
- 2017 KBF 100 Challenge on Toledo Bend Reservoir – 5th Place
- 2018 KBF Trail – Mississippi River in La Crosse, WI – 1st Place
- 2018 Hobie Bass Open – All Time single day Record 64.25” (3 Fish) (Current Record)
- 2018 KATS Border City Classic on Lake St. Clair – 1st Place
- 2018 KBF Trail – Table Rock Lake – 1st Place
- Featured on “Kayak Bassin’” (S06 E13) on the World Fishing Network (WFN)
- 2019 Team USA Hobie World Championship Qualifier
Watercraft & Gear
- Hobie Pro Angler 1
- YakAttack Leverage Landing Net
- YakAttack Omega Rod Holder
- NRS Chinook
- Yak Power Ultimate Complete System
- Lowrance Elite 7ti
- Power-Pole Micro Anchor
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Mel Ashe
Bio — Mel Russell Ashe grew up in the Carolinas fishing farm ponds with his Dad, Melvin and his grandfather Russell. After working many years around the US he landed in Kansas City, MO. Missouri has so many wonderful ponds and lakes, and Mel went out on many with his friend Matt Clark and his canoe. Matt is the one that came over one day and said ” You gotta see this guy fish out of a kayak” on “Knot Right Fishing”. That was 2012…and in 2013 he was in a kayak fishing Santee Cooper in the KBF Open. He was hooked…line& sinker. Mel travels all over the Midwest, South & East (still haven’t gone West, maybe 2019) fishing KBF events and Midwest Kayak Bass Fishing Series events as well as his local club NEKKA. When not on the water, he loves spending time with his wife, Toni, and his three amazing rescue pit bulls-Remington, Dixie, and Zima. Saturdays during football season, if he isn’t fishing, you definitely will find him on the couch watching his beloved Clemson Tigers.
Sponsors
- YakAttack
- Xtreme Velocity Outdoors
Career Highlights
- KBF’s The Ten 2016
- KBF’s The Ten 2017
- 4th place KBF Beaver Lake/Grand Lake Open 2018
- 4th place AOY Midwest Kayak Bass Fishing Series 2018
- KBF National Championship Qualifier 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019
Watercraft & Gear
- Native Watercaft “Titan 13.5”
- YakAttack VISICarbon Pro
- YakAttack Panfish camera mount
- YakAttack Leverage Landing Net
- Garmin Echomap 93sv
- BooneDox Landing Gear
- Costa sunglasses
- Life Proof phone case
- NRS Chinook
- NRS gloves
- Power Pole Micro Anchor
- Chota Hippies
- Lew’s Fishing Reels
- APR Rods
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