2011 Presenter Bios
Listed in alphabetical order. Updated as of September 13, 2011.
Brian Clemens of Nor Cal Fly Guides
Brian has over 20 years of fishing experience with the last 6 years being entirely devoted to fly fishing. With his extensive background in fishing, and his devotion to fly fishing, Brian is one of the top rated up and
coming guides in Northern California. Whether a walk and wade is you cup of tea or a leisurely float in his 16 foot Greg Tatman wooden drift boat, Brian is the guide that not only makes your day on the water exciting and unforgettable, he will guide you on some of the finest rivers and streams that Northern California has to offer. He will also accommodate his guiding style to meet your needs and abilities. Whether a beginner or an expert, with his extensive fly fishing knowledge and experience on waters all over Northern California, he will guide you on a trip you will not soon forget. In his first seminar Brian will discuss and "Intro to Fly Fishing" covering the fly fishing essentials, from gear to rigging, to insects in the local rivers and what flies to throw to match the hatch. In his second seminar he will discuss an "Intro to Spey Casting" covering again the essentials, flies, knots, and in both seminars, areas to fish and maybe a secret fly or two.
Gary Coe of Kokanee Power
Gary is a native Californian who began fishing in Humboldt Co. as a young boy with his Dad and family. Gary was a founding member of Kokanee Power and has been President of the organization since 2004. Gary is a Pro Staffer for North River Aluminum Boats and several tackle manufacturers. He has won 27 organized Kokanee Trout and Salmon tournaments and is a leader in tournament wins.
Bill Gaines of California Outdoor Heritage Alliance
Bill Gaines received his B.S. degree in Agricultural and Managerial Economics from the University of California at Davis in 1980. He received an M.B.A. degree in Management from Golden Gate University in 1990.
Mr. Gaines served as Director of Government Affairs for the California Waterfowl Association since 1992, before becoming president of COHA upon its creation in early 2006. For 13 years, under Bill's guidance, CWA Government Affairs played a critical role in influencing local, regional, state, and federal policy decisions of importance to California’s waterfowl, wildlife habitats and our hunting heritage.
During this period, Bill established significant credibility, strong working relationships, an extensive background, and an impressive track record of effectively lobbying agency and elected officials at every political level.
Under Bill's guidance, CWA's Government Affairs team not only gained the undeniable reputation as the outdoor community's most effective voice throughout the State, but also established CWA as a respected and highly effective voice in Washington, D.C. Mr. Gaines is also a well known individual within the national sporting community. Bill has appeared numerous times on a variety of wildlife and hunting related television shows, including “Engel’s Outdoor Experience” on the Outdoor Channel, and OLN’s and Versus’ “A Dog’s Life”, “The Outdoorsman”, “Ruger’s Hunting Adventures”, “Benelli’s On Assignment” and “Life in the Open”. Bill also regularly appears on two top-rated radio shows in the greater Sacramento area, including “California Sportsman” on which he occasionally serves as
co-host.
Cindy Hervey of Raahauge's Hunting Club
Cindy runs Dog Trials for the club. Her seminar will be on Back Yard Training for your dog. Cindy will present 6 different ways to train your dog in your back yard and will also talk about bird hunting with your dog.
Doug Huffman of Sierra School of Survival
Doug has over 30 years of survival experience and a lifetime of experience in the back country. He is an expert in hand-to-hand combat, knife and stick fighting, weapons, urban warfare, escape and evasion, tactical/combat tracking, wild plant identification and wilderness or urban survival.
Joe Johnson of CA Department of Fish & Game
For the past 30 years Joe has chased & hunted turkeys from Virginia down to Louisiana to California. Over the last 23 years he has worked for California Department of Fish and Game. Joe is also a Hunter Education Instructor for DFG and really enjoys teaching new hunters how to hunt safely. In addition, Joe teaches an advanced hunters education class on how to hunt turkeys each Spring for DFG Hunter Ed program.
Marc Kenyon
Marc spent 4 years in USAF as an Aircraft Electrician on Spy planes and spent 6 months in Saudi Arabia at the end of the Gulf War. He has a BS degree from UC Davis in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology - worked multiple research positions for many projects; most notably coauthored two publications analyzing mountain lion attacks on humans. Marc also spent 6 months as a Research Technician for the Nation Park Service in Yosemite working on Bighorn Sheep recovery team and Black Bear nuisance control team. Marc received a MS degree from Montana State University - Bozeman (Animal and Range Sciences); thesis project in animal damage management and landowner/sportsman's relations. He spent 3 years as a Private Lands Biologist for Ducks Unlimited in California's Central Valley - on contract for CA DFG.
Marc has been in his current position as Black Bear, Mountain Lion and Wild Pig programs coordinator for 2 years and is loving every minute of it. Marc enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking and playing with his 2 year old girl and 3 1/2 year old boy.
John Kunkle, Board of Trustees member - CA Houndsmen for Conservation
John is a lifelong hunter who has always enjoyed watching hunting and working dogs perform. John says using hounds is a great way to enjoy an old American tradition and actually view game close up without actually taking it if one chooses.
John Lico of Kokanee Power
John is a director for Kokanee Power. He has been fishing for Kokanee and trout for over 20 years. John has been tournament fishing for 13 years and has won multiple top ten and top five finishes. He is a Pro Staffer for Shasta Tackle Co. and Crystal Basin Tackle. John works closely with companies to design and test lures.
Captain Jay Lopes of Right Hook Sport Fishing
The youngest Captain in the fishing fleet, Captain Jay is a very aggressive and knowledgeable angler in the delta and bay waters. His knowledge of operating fishing boats up to 50 feet in length is not only self-taught but garnered through the teachings of some of the California Bay Area’s most recognized fishing guides and captains. Through trial and error, Capt. Jay has come to understand the habits of fish, from their reactions to nature, the tide, phases of the moon and the weather. Whatever your desired species, this new generation of leader will employ the tactics to get you the results!
Jana Love of Love's Labradors
For the last four years, Jana Love of Love's Labradors has been on the competition road proving her own Labradors while training waterfowl and upland dogs along the way. Her success is measured by qualifying a 2-year-old for the 2010 AKC Master Nationals, training multiple friends dogs to successfully retrieve birds and training family dogs establishing good citizenship. Love will be discussing force fetching & collar conditioning your hunting dog and quick fixes for your hunting dog on Friday at 4 and Saturday & Sunday at noon and 2pm.
Steve Lynch - Pro-Cure Bait Scents
Steve is no stranger to the fishing industry. Having spent 11 years with Pro-Cure Bait Scents as Vice President of Sales & Marketing, he knows his business! Steve has a total of 20 years in the fishing industry under his belt. Not only does he catch the big fish, he is a well of valuable information and is very generous when it comes to sharing that knowledge and experience!
Steve is familiar with all types of fish and areas of the world including fishing in Canada, Mexico, Russia, Alaska, and many more. You tell him what you want to catch, and he'll tell you what Pro-Cure item you'll need to catch it!! Active in countless organizations to help protect our industry, Steve is always on the go, finding new ways to better not only business, but INCREASE your catch numbers! Don't miss the priceless information & experiences Steve from Pro-Cure will be sharing at his seminars!
Gary Miralles - Owner of Shasta Tackle Company
Professional fishing guide, TV celebrity and renown lure designer who holds several patents & trademarks. Gary's techniques have been featured on numerous fishing programs including Angler West TV, Field & Stream and Outdoor Life among others. His unique products have helped millions catch more fish including the current holder of the World Record Kokanee.
Ken Mathis – Ken’s Custom Tackle
Ken was born and raised in El Dorado County. He began hunting and fishing as a small boy with his father. A work injury led him on a journey that turned into his tackle shop with a line of tackle for Trout, kokanee, Mackinaw, Striper and Salmon for any application. 11 years ago, Ken began his fishing guide services and for the last 6 years he has been a hunting guide for Black Tail Deer and Black Bear.
Bill Mays Waterfowl Pro Staff of Mosquito Creek Outfitters
Bill Mays has been duck hunting the Sacramento Valley and Klamath Basin for over 40 years. Mays is also an outdoor writer, photographer, for Western Outdoor News, California Sportsmen’s Magazine, California Game and Fish Magazine, California Waterfowl, Owner/Publisher of Wing and Clay Online, and Seminar speaker for the International Sportsmen’s Expo and sport shows throughout California. Mays seminar will talk you to various spots from the Central Valley to the Oregon border. He is also Pro Staff for Haydel's Game Calls, Gibson Blind Covers, Drake Waterfowl Systems, Kent Cartridge, Pro Drive boats and motors, and Tanglefree products.
Clyde Wands
Clyde is affectionately referred to as “The Old Fisherman”, who caught his 1st striper on Chesapeake Bay on the East Coast in the early 1940’s, and he has been catching them ever since. Many consider Clyde the inventor of the Delta's shallow trolling method.