Regional Ambassador Team
The Bending Branches Ambassador team consists of the biggest up-and-coming names in all of kayak fishing. All of the members have three things in common. They catch big fish and do it often. They know what they’re talking about, and they all use the finest paddles in all of kayak fishing. All members represent the original kayak fishing paddle brand, Bending Branches. Proudly manufactured in Osceola, Wisconsin, USA, since 1982.

Adam Cawley
Hometown: Grovetown, GA
Kayak Fishing

Adam Cawley

Adam Riser
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Kayak Fishing

Adam Riser

Austin Hines
Hometown: Monroe, LA
Kayak Fishing

I absolutely love to fish, paddle, camp, and backpack and I consider myself an adventurer and angler! I frequently gather my gear on top of my Vibe Kayaks and paddle out with my Bending Branches Angler Pro out in the backcountry where I can set up camp, enjoy the scenery, fish and make sure I capture the backcountry in its essence. I enjoy photography as well where I can capture nature at a standstill. Angler Navigator Bayou DeSaird Black Bayou Lake NWR
Austin Hines

Bill Sikora
Hometown: Deerfield Beach, FL
Kayak Fishing

Bill Sikora

Blaine Upton
Hometown: Chapin, SC
Kayak Fishing

Blaine Upton

Bradley Cody
Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia
Kayak Fishing

With growing older, life came with challenges and setbacks and he lost touch with the water until a great friend got him reeled back to the water. It didn't take long for Bradley to get the hook set and in the first year of tournament fishing he qualified for the 2018 Kayak Bass Fishing National Championship on Kentucky Lake. When Bradley is not in his Bonafide Kayak, he still makes time for bank fishing with his four daughters. He enjoyed teaching them about fishing and sharing a passion of purely enjoying nature’s sights and sounds. Bradley is currently fishing with the Westbrook Supply Co. Fishing Team out of Atlanta, Georgia headed by Fletch Griffin. He is on the Pro-Staff with SeaKnight and an Expert with Anglr as well a Regional Ambassador here at Bending Branches. #Keepinitreel Angler Pro Carbon Plus Little Tallapoosa River and Chatahoochee River I go where the fish are. https://www.instagram.com/bradleycodyfishing/ https://m.facebook.com/BradleyCodyFishing/?ref=bookmarks https://www.youtube.com/user/BendingBranchesTV?feature=mhee https://www.westbrooksupplyco.com/brad-cody
Bradley Cody

Brad Hicks
Hometown: Kettering, OH
Kayak Fishing

Brad Hicks

Buddy Miles
Kayak Fishing

Paddle sports Sales Manager for Naturally Outdoors
Founder of Pee Dee Kayak Anglers based out of Florence, SC
Been featured in Kayak Angler Magazine 3 times
Fly fishing enthusiast
Don’t discriminate. If it swims I’ll fish for it!
Buddy Miles

Casey Ryan
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
Kayak Fishing

Casey Ryan

Chris Fowler
Hometown: Austin, TX
Kayak Fishing

Accomplishments/Experience
I’ve traveled the country and fished many different bodies of water with many amazing anglers. I’ll continue my journey doing that same thing over and over... the definition of a crazy person? Maybe, but I’m okay with that! Big Chris Angler Pro San Marcos River Devils River
Chris Fowler

Christopher Arnold
Hometown: Kentville, Nova Scotia
Kayak Fishing

Christopher Arnold

Clay & Sheldon Grace
Hometown: Headland, AL
Kayak Fishing

Sheldon is currently 16 years old and in the 11th grade. He works part time at a local animal hospital. When he isn’t fishing, he also enjoys duck hunting and serving with his church’s youth group. Sheldon has spent many hours on the water and learned from experience how to effectively fish small creeks and rivers. A combination of paddling skills and reading the water has allowed him to find trophy fish in small water. Sheldon currently holds the Florida state record shoal bass caught from the scenic Chipola River.
When not at work or spending time with family you will most likely find Clay fly fishing for bass in the Choctawhatchee River. The accessibility and solitude that kayak fishing offers has given him a way to get out on the water and revel at God’s creation. Clay loves photography and art as much as fishing. He is always looking for new waters to paddle and explore in search of that perfect shot that he hopes will inspire others to get out on the water and paddle. Kayak fishing has taught both Sheldon and Clay the needs and benefits of conservation for native fish, especially in riverine ecosystems that they often paddle.
Accomplishments/Experience
Sheldon Grace
•Jackson Kayak Regional Fishing Team
•Bending Branches Ambassador
•Florida Shoal Bass state record holder
Clay Grace
•Jackson Kayak Regional Fishing Team
•Bending Branches Ambassador
•Alabama Scenic River Trail Ambassador Angler Pro Carbon & Angler Ace Coosa River Chipola River https://www.instagram.com/fishingwithgrace/
Clay & Sheldon Grace

Clint Henderson
Hometown: Rome, GA
Kayak Fishing

During this time I got married to my high school sweetheart, Meredith, in 2002. We have 2 wonderful boys, Cael age 11, and Cade age 9. They love to fish with dad. They also share something else with me, they both have bicuspid aortic valves, even though the doctors always told me it was non hereditary. I had open heart surgery in 2011 at the age of 31 to replace my leaking valve with a mechanical one. Now I take Coumadin, a blood thinner, daily to keep my body from forming a clot on the valve and causing a stroke. That's why you will notice all the blood in my national championship pictures. I accidentally stabbed my finger Sunday morning and never got it to completely stop bleeding. I hope my boys never have to do that, the surgery or the Coumadin.
Enough about my ailments, on to my oldest brother and childhood hero. Charlie was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in 2009, 1 week after his 40th birthday. I had always drank since age 14, it was how I coped with any and everything. But I let Charlie's diagnosis send me into the worst of my drinking days, before long I was in worse shape than him but I couldn't stop or fix it. I finally got clean for a few months leading up to my heart surgery, but I learned about a new demon after it. Pain pills. It wasn't long after the prescriptions ran out that I was back at the store buying beer, taking Coumadin. I totaled a 3/4 dodge cummins and got a DUI on December 17th of 2012. That's the day I took my last drink of alcohol. I lost my wife and kids for a year and a half. I volunteered myself through 2 different rehab programs and I found the program of AA, it saved my life. I recently celebrated my 4th year of sobriety and it means more to me than any fishing tournament ever will. But fishing is also an important part of my recovery.
Charlie's battle with brain cancer ended on October 22nd of 2016, he was 47 years old. He beat all the odds, and fought longer and harder than any of the doctors thought he could. A day has not gone by that I have not missed him. I miss our spur of the moment fishing trips that were always more of an adventure than a casual fishing trip. Charlie taught me to do more than what is expected of me. To go farther than anyone thinks I can. To face the unexpected or seemingly impossible with a smile on my face. And to help each and every person that I can along the way. It's for this reason I've included all this in my Bio. I'm here for more than just kayak fishing. I'm here to hopefully use my life experiences to help someone else. Please don't hesitate to send someone my way or reach out to me.
We had a small 2 acre farm pond where I grew up in Armuchee, GA. I can remember vividly watching one of the neighbors pull a monster 8+ lb bass out of there one day as I looked on from our front yard 1/2 mile away. I was probably about 5 years old. But I was hooked, I couldn't go down there by myself, I was too little. But every chance I got I went and fished for her. The lure of choice back in those days was a rubber worm or the highly coveted black jitterbug. I never got to use the jitterbug, I couldn't get it away from my bigger brothers. I do remember catching my first 3 pound bass out of that pond on a worm though.
A few years later we moved across the county to my Memaw and Pawpaw's land. Luckily the neighbor had a 5 acre lake full of timber and willow trees. It was pretty much the most awesome thing ever. I was a little older and newer lures got added to the arsenal, mainly a floating firetiger rapala, jointed if you were lucky. And then a zoom trick worm, and the slug go. I caught some big fish there on the slug go when it first came out, and I threw it at the national championship. I also graduated from an open face to my first baitcaster at that lake. I still have my first abu Garcia 5500's that I fished with there in my teen years. I also used them both during the national championship and caught my biggest fish on one of them. If that's not a testament to a product I don't know what is.
After high school at some point I ended up with a bass boat, it was the next logical step. I fished small local tournaments on Lake Weiss for a number of years. Even won a couple here and there. But it sure is expensive, glitter rockets burn a lot of fuel. And of course at this point I had spent my fair share of time in a canoe, whether at the neighbor's lake, in a creek, or in a river chasing stripers. I bought my first fishing kayak in 2013 and fell in love with the sport immediately. It was just icing on the cake when I learned of a local tournament club starting up, Reel Krazy Kayak Fishing Tour.
"Kayaking has single handedly changed my life" -Jim Ware
It has been through this club and this sport that I have met some true life long friends, most of the friends I had until that point turned out to just be drinking buddies. And Jim's words couldn't be more true for me. Kayak fishing helped me find the connection to God that I needed but had lost because of my drinking. And it's helping me connect with real people that have the same passion as me.
I love to fish for spotted bass, at this moment, they are my favorite species to target. And we have a few creeks and rivers around here that are loaded with monsters. Weiss Lake also has it's fair share of monster spots. They don't hit a lure to eat it, they aim to kill it. When I'm not fishing moving water I like to power fish shallow and muddy, usually 6 foot or less. Thanks for reading.
Accomplishments/Experience
2016 KBF National Championship-2nd place
2016 KBF AOY race-6th place
2017 KBF "The Ten"-7th place
2015 Reel Krazy Kayak Fishing Tour AOY race-2nd place
2016 KBF Southeast Regional Challenge June-1st place Angler Ace Etowah River Wherever they are biting right now https://www.facebook.com/groups/471704309706618/
Clint Henderson

Darrell Olson
Hometown: Charleston
Kayak Fishing

Accomplishments/Experience
Introducing Kayaking and Kayak Fishing to all that attend my seminars. I'm currently the Lowcountry SC Heroes on the Water (HOW) Chapter Coordinator. DDOlson Angler Pro The Charleston area The Charleston area https://www.youtube.com/user/DDOlsonCuda/ http://www.uffdaanglingkayakjourneys.com/
Darrell Olson

David Ohmer
Hometown: Erie, PA
Kayak Fishing

A longtime hunter focused primarily on pursuing deer and turkey, a regional tick explosion which became problematic in 2010 led to a Lyme Disease scare and a desire to satisfy his outdoor fix in a more reasonable setting. Upon being introduced to fishing from a kayak in 2013, Dave’s desire to spend more time in the outdoors was satisfied and he became literally hooked on kayak angling. While a very competitive person at heart, Dave found an extreme sense of peace through the simple act of pursuing fish, which has created a bit of a roadblock in getting all that serious about competing in kayak fishing tournaments. While Dave does enter a nominal number of kayak fishing tournaments each season, his main focus during the warm months is to simply spend time on the water with good folk, in search of memories as well as fish.
Accomplishments/Experience
* Bending Branches Regional Ambassador Team
* Team Bonafide at Bonafide Kayaks
* YakAttack Northeast US ProStaff
* Raymarine ProStaff
* Fishing Online Fishing Team
* Gamma Fishing ProStaff
* The Original O’Wacky Tool ProStaff
* 2018, 2019 & 2020 KBF National Championship Qualifier Angler Pro Carbon Georgian Bay, Ontario North Fork of the Holston River, VA
David Ohmer

Dave Roberts
Hometown: China, TX
Kayak Fishing

Dave Roberts

Devin Sijan
Hometown: Savage, MN
Kayak Fishing

Accomplishments/Experience
Minnesota Kayak Fishing Association Member
2018 Big Toothy Team Tournament Champion Angler Pro Carbon Plus Local lakes and rivers Lake Erie https://www.instagram.com/mn_kayak_angler/
Devin Sijan

Donny Bennett
Hometown: Franklin, TN
Kayak Fishing

In 2013, I bought my first kayak and just fell in love with kayak fishing. In 2015, I decided I wanted to fish in kayak tournaments. So I entered my first tournament in the local KBFTN on Percy Priest Lake. From that day. I have never looked back. Now I will be fishing the Bassmaster kayak series and the Hobie bass open series
I have been very fortunate with my fishing career over the last 6 years to meet some great people and get involved with some great companies. I hoping one day I will able to fish for a living.
Accomplishments
KBF series:
2 - 1st Place Finishes
1 - 2nd Place Finishes
2 - 3rd Place Finishes
25 - Top Ten Finishes
Donny Bennett

Eric Atkins
Hometown: Huntsville, AL
Kayak Fishing

I’ve always grown up near water. In my earliest years, there was just a screen door, a clothesline, barn, and a few hundred acres of pasture between me and Lake Guntersville backwater. Catching crappie from the bank of upper Lake Guntersville by the light of a kerosene lantern has burnt fond memories into my head. Later in my childhood, we moved to east Tennessee to a farm that had a creek flowing across the bottomland into the Hiwassee River. There my sister and I had a blast trying to catch catfish, rock bass, perch, and the infrequent rainbow trout.
I want to instill within my daughter and son a sense of wonder and awe towards creation. From our back porch in Huntsville, Alabama, we can observe wonderful creatures living in their natural environment. Eagles, owls, coyotes, deer, pileated woodpeckers, chipmunks, and great herons are just a small sample of the magnificent creatures we regularly see at our home.
Bending Branches paddles help me explore our world. Their paddles help take me to places that would otherwise be inaccessible; alligator-filled swamps, shallow flats on the Tennessee River, tiny creeks that are sometimes better described as ditches. Although, I’m just 5-foot 10-inches tall, I prefer 260cm paddles. The longer length comes in extremely handy while standing in my Jackson Kayaks. I use the lightweight and strong Angler Pro paddles in SUP situations on nearly every fishing trip. The extra length also gets used when trying to navigate around, over, under, and through some of the gnarly underbrush, trees, beaver dams, and other obstacles I hope to encounter on each trip.
Accomplishments/Experience
* Cover, Kayak Angler Magazine, Summer 2014
* Headline shot 2016 iCast booth for Jackson Kayak
* 2014 Top 20 River Bassin' Tournament Trail
* Various photos and media used by industry partners
* Current local club record longest black bass: 24.75-inches
* First Tournament Trail Director for the North Alabama Kayak Anglers (2014)
* Bassmaster and FOX Sports Outdoors Catches of the Week
* Consults with various outdoor product companies
* Leader of Alabama Kayak Anglers
Pro Staff, Partners, and Ambassadors with: * Jackson Kayak * LifeProof * YakAttack * Power-Pole * Red Fox Wireless * Orion Coolers EA Angler Pro Cossa River, Wetumpka, AL Small streams with good flow https://www.instagram.com/ericatkins/ https://www.facebook.com/ericatkins https://www.youtube.com/ericatkins https://ericatkins.com/
Eric Atkins

Henry Aguinaldo Jr
Hometown: Portsmouth, VA
Kayak Fishing

Henry Aguinaldo Jr

Ivan Hamilton
Hometown: Milton, Ontario
Kayak Fishing

Bending Branches Ambassador
Jackson Kayak Regional Fishing Team
The Complete Paddler= Pro/staff
Canadian Fishing Network= Kayak Guy
Power_Pole =Pro/staff
Kayak Fishing Tournament Director YAKMAN ONT Angler Pro Plus Lakes North of the City Largemouth Water https://www.instagram.com/yakman_ont/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014721480990 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSqfhFEJ3oaN2bpLXTAU7gA
Ivan Hamilton

Jim Ware
Hometown: Rome, GA
Kayak Fishing

10 years ago something magical happened, I fished out of a kayak and I knew that it would be my passion. Since then I have chased fish in saltwater, lakes and rivers...The more remote the better and these fish were my ticket for adventure. The past three years I have stepped into tournament bass fishing and this has introduced me to an entirely different aspect that our sport offers. Before, I was doing most of my fishing solo or with a few select friends but the competition world has introduced me to some of the most passionate, skilled and genuine kayak anglers on the planet. This brotherhood has been a welcome experience.
Accomplishments/Experience
Three Rivers Kayak Bass Fishing Tournament- 1st place
N. GA Reservoir Dogs Rocky Mtn PFA tourney -1st Place
River Bassin Cartersville GA- 3rd place and Big Fish
Competed in KBF Opens @ Ky Lake, Paris TN and Toledo Bend TX
2 time KBF National Championship qualifier
Co-founder of Peach State Kayak Anglers
Sponsors:
Jackson Kayak Fishing Team
Bending Branches Ambassador
iRod Fishing
Picasso Lures
Ardent Outdoors
Strike King VIP program Jimbo Angler Pro Santa Fe River, FL Wherever there are fish https://www.facebook.com/jim.ware.169
Jim Ware

Josh Bolz
Hometown: Dawsonville, GA
Kayak Fishing

Josh Bolz

Juan Gomez
Hometown: Chatfield, MN
Kayak Fishing

Accomplishments/Experience
- Owner/Founder of Reel Midwest Fishing
- ProStaff Team Member for JB's Fish Sauce, Cold Snap Outdoors, PowerTeam Lures, and Omnia Fishing
- KBF and Yak Bassin member and tournament angler Angler Pro Mississippi Backwaters - Pool 4 South Central Minnesota
Juan Gomez

Justin Floyd
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Kayak Fishing

Accomplishments/Experience
Kayak enthusiast with a demonstrated history of working in the kayak manufacturing industry. Angler Navigator Plus Key West Below the Hartwell Dam on the Savannah River
Justin Floyd

Matt Ball
Hometown: Little Hocking, OH
Kayak Fishing

Accomplishments/Experience
2016 Kayak Bass Fishing National Champion
2016 KBF winner of the Best of the Best
Jackson Kayak Pro Staff
412 baitco.
fishingonline.com
13 fishing Angler Pro Plus Hocking River, OH New River, WV
Matt Ball

Matthew Trucks
Hometown: Long Neck, DE
Kayak Fishing

In 2008 he sold his fishing boat and was looking for a new way to get out on the water. Searching the internet for small fishing boats he stumbled across sit on top style kayaks. These little plastic boats sparked his interest in fishing from a small platform such as a kayak. From that day on his skills and name has grown within the sport. His reason for kayak fishing is capturing the bliss and tranquility of being out on the water with the thrill of angling.
In early 2012 he was accepted to be a member of the Jackson Kayak Fishing Team he also began volunteering as a kayak fishing guide for Heroes On The Water outings. Later in early 2013 accepted an invite to join the New Jersey Chapter Leadership team. In 2016 he relocated to southern Delaware living right on the water a dream of his. You can find him fishing at many major tournaments and Jamborees. You may even find him at a boondoggle here and there. Typically fishing anywhere from the shore of Virginia up to New York.
His favorite paddle is the Bending Branches Navigator followed by the Angler Pro both with plus ferrule 240 - 255 CM
Accomplishments/Experience
• 8 Years Kayak Fishing Veteran (2008 – 2017)
• Jackson Kayak Fishing Team (2012 – 2017)
• YakAttack National Team
• Ram Mounts Pro Staff
• Sea-lect Designs Pro Staff
• MTI Adventurewear Ambassador Yak Chum Angler Navigator Sandy Hook, NJ http://www.ThePlasticHull.net
Matthew Trucks

Mike Schmitz
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Kayak Fishing

Accomplishments/Experience
Mike is a Regional Director for NuCanoe, a member of their National Pro Staff and fishing team. Other pro staff positions held are with Rub Rail Lights, Anchor Wizard, Gator Patch, Funk Buster Baits, NeverLost Gear Leashes, All Pro Rods Angler Pro Cumberland River Lakes and rivers of middle Tennessee https://youtu.be/CA7seYYg0c4
Mike Schmitz

Moo Lee
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Kayak Fishing

Moo Lee

Rhonda Phillips
Hometown: Braselton, GA
Kayak Fishing

Rhonda Phillips

Ricky Wolbert
Kayak Fishing

Rick is owner of Coastal Kayak Fishing Adventures and enjoys helping people get started in our great sport of kayak fishing. Proud to be a member of Bending Branches. http://www.coastalkayakfishingadventures.com/
Ricky Wolbert

Rob Wright
Hometown: West Bloomfield, MI
Kayak Fishing

Rob Wright

Robert Brown
Hometown: Huntsville, AL
Kayak Fishing

Robert Brown

Stephen Hrynewycz
Hometown: Goshen, IN
Kayak Fishing

Stephen Hrynewycz

Steven Johnson
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Kayak Fishing

Accomplishments / Experience
• NuCanoe Fishing Team
• Frontier Outdoors USA Fishing Team
• Virtus Outdoors Brand Ambassador
• Bending Branches Regional Ambassador
Angler Ace Plus French Broad River https://www.instagram.com/steven_p_johnson/ https://www.youtube.com/sjoutdoors
Steven Johnson

Timmy Dixon
Hometown: Fries, VA
Kayak Fishing
