
Leslie VanDerau
Leslie VanDerau is an active outdoorsman, wife, Marine veteran, and mother. After providing 6 years of service with the Unites States Marines, Leslie and her husband, Troy, settled their 3 children in the small town of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. In the Spring of 2016 Leslie and Troy started the non-profit organization Heroes Outdoor Therapy. As a vet herself, Leslie saw a need for an organization that would provide transportation support for veterans participating in therapy based outdoor activities

Dylan Nussbaum
Dylan Nussbaum, at the age of 20, was the youngest person to have ever won the Cabela’s National Walleye Tour Championship. Nussbaum bested competitors who had been vying for that title for decades.

Brent Chapman
Chapman is a renowned Bass Pro Tour Angler from Lake Quivira, KS. During his 20-year career on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Chapman earned over $2 Million in prize money and qualified for 14 Bassmaster Classic events. Chapman earned the most respected title among anglers when he won the prestigious title of Bassmaster Angler of the Year in 2012

Matt Jones
Matt ‘Catmatt’ Jones is a Pro Tournament catfish angler who has catfishing experience spanning four decades. He hosted his own radio show on 101.7 River Country in Dixon Illinois, was an outdoors writer for Shaw media and other publications in the Midwest, and is a contributor to Catfish Now

Michelle Jones
In addition to traveling the country with her husband Matt on the pro tournament trail Michelle ‘Shelli’ Jones works in their fishing guide service. Michelle’s career highlights include taking Top Lady Angler at the two-day Bass Pro Tournament and placing in the top ten in multiple tournament trails.

Clay Roberts
Clay is a professional fly casting instructor, and a competitive conventional tackle bass tournament angler. He has won many fly casting events, including a charity event where thousands dollars were donated in his name to the charity of his choice.

Sandi Roberts
Sandi loves to fish, and she loves competition. She is a successful bass tournament angler, fly fishing guide, and Instructor at a prestigious destination resort. Skilled in Fly Casting

Christin Kruger
Christin Kruger is an avid angler who targets many different saltwater and freshwater species around the world. She practices and promotes catch and release. Christin, the Environmental Spokesperson at KastKing, says, “I’m a huge fan of nature and love all creatures, except maybe centipedes,”

Kristy “K-Bear” Batista
A Southern Bell born and raised in Tennessee, Kristy has cherished memories of her late Grandfather taking young Kristy to the farm’s spring fed lake to fish for bass, catfish, and carp. As an adult, Kristy moved to the Florida Keys. Kristy loves fishing light tackle in both fresh and saltwater, which was introduced to her by her husband, Gus OneBear. “My biggest catch and claim to fame was not a fish but a bear, Onebear that is,” Kristy says. This KastKing couple can be seen on YouTube’s 2BEARS OUTDOORS. Kristy holds a Degree in Behavioral Psychology from the University of TN.

Gus “OneBear” Batista
A true Floridian who has been handling alligators for over 20 years. His occupation as an animal control officer and passion has led him deep into the heart of the Florida Everglades. A reality show personality, Gus has been in numerous outdoor related TVshows. His most recent appearance was on Nat Geo Wild’s SWAMP MEN. Gus loves all types of Florida fresh and saltwater fishing. He claims that his all-time best catch was his wife Kristy, which was his hardest catch that required lots of skills and patience. Gus and Kristy share many outdoors and fishing adventures as seen on YouTube’s 2BEARS OUTDOORS.

Mike Walsh
Mike started fishing after college every summer along the Erie Canal. “About five years later,” says Mike, “I was introduced to fly-fishing and waded some amazing waters throughout the US and Canada. Later I joined a local competitive bass club that turned fishing from a past-time to a passion. My first year, I won the Classic (Non-boater) and finished second in Non-boater Angler of the Year. Although a competitive club, we are a teaching club. I’ve learned so much from this generous group of fishermen over the years. A highlight each season is the club fishing and shore lunch outing we host for our local VA veterans.”

Robert Tallman
“Fifteen years ago I was crappie fishing and caught a blue catfish ago by accident. I decided this was the fish I wanted to learn about, pursue, and become a master at catching,” says catfishing authority Robert Tallman in Arkansas. “I’ve fished with the best catfishermen in the world and learned from them.”

Mike Lamoureux
Mike Lamoureux hosts three tournaments in his local waters every year: one in May for pike and walleye, a youth bass derby in July, and a Fall Bass Smash-Off in September. These events have been a big success and continue to grow every year. Mike also competes in the local ice derbies in Casselman, Embrun and Rockland, Ontario Canada. He had 2 second place finishes last year in pike division, losing one derby by a ¼ inch.

Bernie Hoyt
Bernie Hoyt is a licensed and certified NY State professional surfcasting fishing guide with 30 years of experience. Bernie fishes all of the ocean beaches on Long Island, NY and also takes anglers on guided trips to the famed fishing grounds at Cuttyhunk Island and Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He targets striped bass, weakfish, bluefish, fluke and other species in the surf.

Kyle Brewer
“My first memories of fishing are about catching creek chubs for my grandpa to use as catfish bait on the Missouri river near Nebraska City, NE. From there it eventually grew into a passion for bass fishing. Today it is the rush, thrill, and competition of tournament fishing that fuels my fire,” says Kyle Brewer. Kyle went on to win several American Bass Anglers American Fishing Tour events and divisional two-day championships. He has also fished Bassmaster Weekend Series events.

Shane Coovert
KastKing Team Member Shane Coovert says, “I started fishing at a very young age. I was educated by my grandfather. He taught me saltwater basics and we fished the Gulf Coast regularly. As I grew older I fished along every major transition in my life. I have fished the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Sea of Cortez in Baja Mexico, and all the fresh water in between. When I entered the US Navy I got to fish several spots on the East Coast including the Chesapeake Bay and the Outer Banks.

Matt Rhodes
“I fish both but mainly freshwater. Largemouth bass is where my heart is. Although, I live close to salt water and fish it when I have the chance. I fish with a bass club, Hub City Bass Masters, and participate in events and tournaments,” says Team KastKing Member Matt Rhodes I have been bass fishing for as long as I can remember. It is something that I just fell in love with when I was young. I hope to get my kids to follow suit one day.

Jay Shimburski
Team KastKing Member Jay Shimburski fishes the salt and fresh water rivers and beaches in the state of South Carolina from aboard his kayak. “I am I on the water every chance I can get I love to take people out and introduce them to the sport of kayak fishing and promoting the sport,” says Jay. “I fish from sunup to sundown and never leave the water.”

A.J. Gore
A.J. says, “I have been fishing all my life, taught by my father who was a OMC outboard master tech. We were always on the water. I love fishing for large channel and flathead catfish on the banks of the Salt River in Arizona as well as fishing for the tr

Bob Banfelder
Bob is an award-winning novelist and outdoors writer. His articles have appeared in numerous outdoors publications; e.g., Nor’east Saltwater, The Fisherman, On The Water, Big Game Fishing Journal, Hana Hou! The Magazine for Hawaiian Airlines,and New York Game & Fish. Banfelder presently writes a monthly online column forNor’east Saltwater.

Darcy Hill
“Team KastKing gives me a platform that allows me to demonstrate to others how to be environmentally conscious and respectful while fishing,” says Team KastKing Member Darcy Hill who lives in Charleston, South Carolina. “I bring my passion for fishing, paired with my positive attitude and team spirit, to the game. I want to share my passion for fishing with like-minded individuals. I love to teach others how to reel them in.”

Captain Tom Mikoleski
Capt. Tom Mikoleski is an Outdoor Writer who retired from the NYPD in 2006 as a Sergeant. Capt. Tom runs the charter boat Grand Slam from Montauk NY, “The Striped Bass Capital of the World” www.MontaukStriperFishing.com. In 2013, Capt. Tom’s first book “Bass Buff-A Striper Fishing Obsession Guide” was published and received rave reviews throughout the angling community. In addition to hunting for trophy striped bass off Montauk Point, Capt. Tom fishes for doormat fluke, jumbo porgies, and humpback sea bass. “Catch them big,” is his motto. He is a frequent lecturer on striped bass fishing.

