Rally@Texas
What to Expect, What to Bring

These are some tips from folks that have attended the Rally@Texas and other rallies around the country. Hopefully, these suggestions will help you to plan your trip.

If you have a suggestion you would like to add please email the webmaster.

Connie Kilpatrick Connie has headed up 4 rallies and on board of Rally@Texas for 3 years and has attended 10 rallies from Texas, Ky, Missouri, California, Arizona.	Boaters: extra life jacket, tackle, boat food, but no bananas. Food: such as crackers/cheese, apples, oranges. Drinks: Gator aid, cold drinks, ice, gum, and maybe jar peanut butter and saltines, rain suits. A sense of humor to have fun. Be sure to explain to lady partner (if they get one) the bathroom duties.......boater take them to bank or wherever as this isn't a blood thirsty tourney, just fun- or if a woman boater, reverse info Non-boaters: their own tackle, but not too much tackle to take up all of boat. Maybe couple of rods, tell them to be sure to ask boater what to bring. Non-boater should have rain gear also and bring boat food also. Their own cold drinks, sun screen, life jacket and fishing license and sense of humor to have fun. Non-fishing folks: Mineola has antique stores, so does Mt. Vernon, Canton. There's a mini-mall in Sulphur Springs. A curves Exercise place in Quitman, There are always lots of garage sales and they can go to Grand Saline to visit the salt mine town. There's a swimming pool in Quitman as well as the 2 golf courses nearby. There's a internet cafe located at computer solutions (next door to taxidermy at Lake Fork marina) There's an art store in Quitman, next to dairy queen on highway 37.
*Terry "TopCat"* Christensen** TopCat lives in Utah and attended the first Rally@Fork in 1997 in addition to rallies in California. Each year he pulls his boat over 1,000 miles each way to attend tthe Rally@Texas.	Boater turned Non-boater.... meaning those that normally fish out of their own boat but will not be doing so at this event. Preparation for you folks is special, you are so used to having the big floating tackle box handy you have the tendency to forget the simplest of things. Clippers, backlash hook, flash light, small cooler bag. If possible spend a day on your rig and determine all those little things you have stuffed some place in your boat that you use all the time, but normally do not remove from the boat. Limit your rods, 3 or 4 is ample plus. You find that certain patterns will be in vogue and you really don't need all 12 of your rods. Limit your gear. Over the years I've done both, bring too little and bring too much. But if you have a bag that holds a half a dozen boxes you will be well stocked. Don't worry too much about plastics as it seems most buy them locally anyway. If you plan on flying out, I recommend you do a deal with a shipper, ship your rods and tackle out so it arrives a day ahead of you. Then have pick up tickets ready for the day after you depart. I did that the last time I flew and it was smooth sailing. I understand from those that have flown since 9/11 rods and tackle are nothing short of impossible to travel with. If you choose that route pack a small roll of packing tape in the box too.
*Bertis "Trap/LA"Tamplain* Trap/LA lives in Lousiana and claims "I've been diagnosed with rally pox since May of 1998 and been a rally junky since!! "	Come ready to eat!! Bring something like fish, shrimp, oysters, alligator meat, nutria meat, etc. for frying on Sunday night. And of course be ready for some Jambalaya and Whitebeans on Friday night. Webmaster note: Before you turn your nose up at the thought of eating a rodent, there are some world class chefs preparing this meat, considered a delicacy in restaurants in Europe during the 1970s and 1980s: Paul Prudhomme, Enola Prudhomme, John Folse, Philippe Parola and others. So our very own Cajun chef, Trap/LA, is among some very good company! Nutria recipe links: Nutria Recipes from USGS Nutria Recipes from LACoast Can't find nutria meat at your local deli? Click here and have it shipped to you door Trap/LA doesn't know how to cook for less than 25 as you can see in the picture he's using a boat paddle to stir the pot of Jambalaya and those Lousiania folks will eat anything that they can catch. I personally love Cajun food but learned a long, long time ago not to ask what it is unless you really want to know! And, yeah, it was a brand new boat paddle! (I actually saw him purchase two of them at the marina.) Trap/LA thinks that anyone that lives north of I-10 is a "yankee". He was in highschool before he realized that Catholic and Public weren't two major religions and when he tells a bedtime story to his kids they all start the same way, "First, ya make a roux..."
*Jesika (needs a handle) Crow* Jesika attended her first Rally@Texas in 2003 as a non-participant.	Okay, my view of the tournament... In the summer of 2003 I attended the Rally@Texas because I thought it would be a great way to work on my tan; however, that weekend turned out to be much more than I expected. Staying next to the lake was very calming and everyone there was in a festive mood, so it was easy to relax. The food we ate was wonderful; you should go for the food regardless of if you want to fish. The best part of the experience: having fun with all the new people I met. My only regret is not fishing. Wondering what to bring? A fishing pole (duh), three sets of clothes, tennis shoes and your best joker's attitude. Don't think these people are nice? They will jack with you all weekend. I'm not saying any names cough- Butt Blast- cough but if they like you, you better have a thick skin because the party lasts three days and nights! Webmaster note: Jesika will be returning in 2004 but this time as non-boater participant and she has decided she will be fishing in the draw. And, if you happen to draw her as a partner, not to worry; she's ridden in Bandit's Blazer numerous times and grew up with a 'fishing stick' in her hands!