Speakers
SPEAKER BIO
Christy Kurtz, Paddle KC Paddling Club Founder & Manager
Christy Kurtz LOVES to kayak, hitting the water over 100 times a year, from local Kansas City area lakes, rivers and creeks to the Ozarks, to Lake Superior and Maine Atlantic coast, to Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and waters in between. Over the years, Christy has earned ACA Instructor certification, Wilderness First Aid Certification, and completed training for Kayaking Trip Leader, and ACA L3 Coastal Kayaking Skills. After years of kayaking, she tired of the common problem of finding people who could and would show up to paddle at local spots, or even weekend and bucket list trips. In January 2015 she founded Paddle KC paddling club for active kayakers, paddleboarders and canoeists in the Kansas City area who DO get on the water together at least a couple of times a year. Paddle KC is a registered Paddle America Club with the ACA (American Canoe Association), with trained hosts and events for beginner to advanced skills. She hosts frequent paddling outings and creates unique experiences including kayaking games, underground kayaking, kayak camping adventures, skills and safety clinics, sunrise and sunset paddles, boat and gear demos, river float trips, and social events for paddlers.
SPEAKER BIO
James “JMFW WORLDWIDE” Watson
James “JMFW WORLDWIDE” Watson, is known for his quick wit and knack for jokes on the water. A US Army Veteran serving nine years of active duty as an engineer and drill sergeant turned real-estate mogul, Watson has used his success to fuel his passion for fishing. As a self-made angler, he equally enjoys balancing the competition and the business sides of the bass community.
With the support of his business partners, Watson stepped back from the real estate world and put full focus on fishing in 2013. The Missouri native prefers fishing in clear, highland reservoirs, much like that of Table Rock Lake. Being close to this body of water has proven to be an asset in Watson’s tournament placings.
Watson has won gold with the USA Bass team, captured the Ultimate Match Fishing title, and won high level tour events all over the country. He prides himself on his personality, often gaining him media attention, which positively promotes his sponsors.
Fishing boat docks is not just WORLDWIDE’s favorite way to fill his live wells, it’s also his new outdoor lifestyle clothing brand. The 2025 season will be a fresh start for the Missouri angler who will be fishing in his first season with The National Professional Fishing League.
Watson has said, “Fishing can be done at all ages, as long as you have the right tools and health to do it.” He is adamant about introducing the next generation of bass anglers to the industry, specifically motivating them to set goals and follow through them. All eyes are watching where James “WORLDWIDE” Watson will go with his professional fishing career.
SPEAKER BIO
Kenneth L. Kieser
Halls of Fames:
*February 26, 2020, Kieser was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, the first outdoor writer in Missouri’s history to be inducted.
*2010, Inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in the Legendary Communicator class for his fishing stories and work with mentally and physically challenged kids and healthy kids too in fishing.
* November 9, 2013 inducted into the Missouri Waterfowler’s Hall of Fame as a writer on.
*January 23, 2019, inducted into the Park Hill High School Alumni Hall of Fame to honor his writing career and his kid’s fishing programs.
*September 1, 2023, The Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Communicators presented Kieser with their biggest honor, The Golden Glow Award honoring his outdoor writing career. He received three standing ovations from the over 300 press and outdoor industry members in attendance.
WRITING AWARDS:
*Kieser (71) has won over 60 writing national awards.
Conservation Honors:
*March 20, 2015, named the 2014 Conservation Communicator of the year at the Conservation Federation of Missouri annual conference on
*February 27, 2016, named the 2015 Conservation Communicator of the year in Kansas.
(Kieser is the third man in history to win this prestigious award in both Missouri and Kansas.)
*February 5, 2020 Kieser’s four decades of outdoor and Conservation journalism was honored by Johnny Morris and the Bass Pro Shop with a special plaque.
SPEAKER BIO
Tommy Bench
Tommy Bench is the owner/operator of Gasconade River Guide Service. Born and raised on the Gasconade River, he has been guiding and specializing in Smallmouth habits and tendencies since 2007. Bench has found great success in tournament fishing and also hosts the outdoor radio show “Outdoor America” on 610 sports radio. While he prides himself on being a multi-species angler, his passion is catching and guiding people for Smallies.
SPEAKER BIO
Joe Farkus
“I have been a professional striper fishing guide, fishing Beaver Lake since 1980. It is located just east of Rogers in northwest Arkansas. Beaver Lake is not only one of the prettiest lakes you will ever visit, but it is rated as one of the top trophy striper lakes in the country.” – Joe Farkus
“Farkas knew he could have made that stringer even heavier if he had wanted a real challenge. Resting in the cooler was another 28-pound striper that was caught the day before. The three fish, all caught by Farkas’ guide clients last week, were headed for the taxidermy shop, destined to become a legacy of Beaver Lake’s outstanding striper fishing.”- Kansas City Star
“Twenty-pound fish are not uncommon on Beaver,” avows Farkas, who spends 200 days guiding on the lake each year. In fact, most veteran fisherman want to catch a striper weighing 30 pounds or more. My personal best is a 45-pounder, which hit a live shad fished below a balloon rig in late-October.”- Southern Outdoors “A full time striper guide for more than 20 years, Farkas has pioneered many of the techniques used by striper guides all over the county, including the use of planer boards with live bait. Fishing with Farkas is fun! After all those years of guiding, he still lives to get his clients big fish.” – St. Louis Post Dispatch
SPEAKER BIO
Todd Huckabee
Todd Huckabee’s name has become synonymous with crappie fishing over the last 20 years throughout the crappie fishing world. From his published works, to videos that not only show his vertical jig fishing skills, but teaching beginners and crappie fishermen have learned how to become better. Todd is also a professional guide service primarily on Lake Eufaula and Fort Gibson in Oklahoma. Todd put his decades of experience into the design of each of his Signature Series Rods, and together we pioneered the long rod for crappie fishing!
SPEAKER BIO
Greg Trial
Missouri fisherman Greg Trial thinks the verdict for the invasive silver carp is clear.
After gorging on plankton, breeding without limit, and being a detriment to the greater good, Trial said the culprits must be removed from the Missouri and Platte Rivers in great numbers — before it’s too late.
The good news is that his team at Missouri Coast Fisheries is well-suited for the job.
“They call me the apex predator,” Trial said during an interview with The Cool Down.
SPEAKER BIO
Erik Fine
Cyclops Jigs were born out of a passionate desire to create the most effective and innovative fishing lures on the market. The story begins with a fisherman, who spent countless hours on the water, perfecting his craft and observing the subtle behavior of fish as they hunted for their next meal. One thing stood out to him above all: the predatory fish always targeted the wounded and vulnerable.
He realized that the key to enticing fish was to simulate the natural, wounded motion of a bait fish—a subtle, yet irresistible presentation that would prompt the fish to strike. With this insight in mind, he set out to design a fishing jig like no other, one that would mimic the erratic movement of a distressed bait fish.
The result was Cyclops Jigs, a unique fishing lure featuring a one-of-a-kind head design, shaped like a bait fish, with a single three-dimensional eye positioned on the bottom. This eye, a visual cue for fish, gives the lure a lifelike appearance that ensures it falls through the water as if it were injured. The sideways angle of the rubber jig enhances its wounded action, and the multi-colored rubber materials make the lure even more irresistible to predatory species. Every Cyclops Jig is crafted with precision and care, using only the highest-quality materials. For durability and strength, they feature Mustad 2X strong hooks in their crappie jigs and Mustad steel head hooks in their bass jigs. These jigs are not just designed for freshwater anglers—they’re also perfect for saltwater fishing, and their versatility has made them a top choice among anglers everywhere.
SPEAKER BIO
Kim Burnett
Kim Burnett is a champion fly tier, tournament crappie fisherman, and fly fishing instructor who lives in Northeast Kansas. He established Crappie Stopper Jigs & Flies in 1998. Burnett is a certified ‘Master Angler’ with the organization “Fishing’s Future” and he travels across the state of Kansas giving fishing clinics to anyone willing to learn.
Over the years, Kim has hand-tied thousands of jigs and flies. Crappie Stopper Jigs catch fish — crappie, bluegill, sunfish, and more! Kim invites you to check out his hand-tied jigs and flies below and see for yourself!