Angling
Joe Poole
Nickname/Alter Ego: GoinCoastal
Age: 50
State/Hometown: Leander, TX ( suburb of Austin)
About Me: Born and raised on the Texas coast the last of 3 sons in an outdoors family. I started hunting & fishing with my dad and older brothers when I was very young. By the age of 10, I had been bitten by the saltwater fishing bug. I have been fishing the Texas bays for 40 years now using artificial lures. (Yes, I'm 50 years old.) It is my passion. I love catching reds & trout on topwaters. Since I am 200 miles from the bay and I can't fish everyday, I enjoy playing disc golf for fun and exercise. Oh yeah, and from 8-5 Mondays through Firdays, I am an investigator for the Texas Attorney General's Office. I am married to my lovely wife, Melanie, who welcomes my fishing addiction. I think it is because she gets her breaks from me! I have 3 grown children, a 15yo step-son, 2 grandsons, and a grandaughter on the way.
Favorite Wilderness Systems Kayak: The new 2009 Tarpon 160 - I love it!!!! It's fast, stable, and dry!
Must-Have Accessory or Gear: My milk crate because it has everything else I need in it, but I think my new AT Paddle may pass it up.
Favorite Place to Fish: Brown & Roots Flats near Aransas Pass, TX
Favorite Species to Fish: Redfish & Trout on topwaters
Favorite Rod 'n Reel: Okuma Epixor 30 spinning reels on American Rodsmiths Apex rods
Favorite Bait/Lure: Heddon Spook Jr or Mann's Waker for tops and DOA CAL Shadtail on 1/16oz DOA Short Shank Jighead for soft plastics.
Professional Accomplishments: I have placed in many tournaments in the past 40 years in both freshwater and saltwater. I was member to the WS Kayak Competitive Fishing Team in 2005 competing in both Texas and Florida. I have fished just about every bay system on the Texas coast. I got to do a 10 day camping and kayak fishing trip in Baja fishing the Sea of Cortez. Way Cool!!! I have to go back.
Why You Love Kayak Fishing: It is simple, silent, and stealthy. I can fish with friends but still find some solitude. You become a part of the environment instead of just a passer-thru or on-looker as the wildlife seems to accept you. It gets me to places that only a fellow kayaker will ever see. And the fact that you can catch a lot of fish from a kayak doesn't take away from it either.
Media:
Keep up with Joe over at his profile on the Wilderness Systems Community Site.
