Meet Kai's Custom Jigs Pro Staff

903 Fishing is based in Northeast Texas and is a Christian-based, family-oriented fishing channel for the whole family. Come join the 903 Fishing family.

Guided by “Faith, Family and Freedom,” Chris shares crappie and white bass fishing adventures, tips, and techniques from Texas and beyond. A retired U.S. Army combat veteran with 25 years of service, he founded Lone Star Warriors Outdoors to support fellow combat veterans through outdoor experiences and help those living with PTSD.

John Maddox is the creator of John Maddox Outdoors, where he shares his passion for crappie fishing, deer hunting, and all things outdoors. He treasures his time in the outdoors and enjoys sharing those experiences, tips, and adventures with others.

John spent 36 years with Oncor Electric, serving in several roles throughout his career, including lineman, designer, and right-of-way agent. His years in the electric utility industry taught him the value of hard work, relationships, and serving others.

John and his wife, Jamie, have been married for 30 years and are proud of their growing family. Their son Blake is a crew foreman for a power line crew and is married to Mallory. Together, they have three children—Norah Jo, Tripp, and Wayne. John and Jamie's daughter Morgan works at a law firm in Tyler and is preparing to attend law school.

For John, John Maddox Outdoors is about more than hunting and fishing—it’s about family, fellowship, making memories, and sharing a lifelong love of the outdoors with others.

Dustin shares crappie fishing trips, catches, and time on North Texas waters. Follow along for on-the-water videos, local fishing adventures, and a closer look at the days behind the catch.

M. Hood Fishing brings anglers along for fishing adventures in fresh, brackish, and salt water. Explore the YouTube channel for fishing videos, or visit the official merchandise shop to support the channel.

Jack is the owner and operator of Crappie Jacks DFW Guide Service and runs the Crappie Catching YouTube channel. He’s fished the Crappie Anglers of Texas trail since 2025 and is looking forward to representing Kai’s Custom Jigs in these tournaments and his guide trips. Call or text 817-807-5623 to book your trip today.

My name is Matt DeVore. I’m from a small town in Pennsylvania called Meadville. When I was little my grandpa couldn’t wait to make me his fishing buddy, and I was happy to be his. We fished for bass, crappie, walleye, musky, and pike on a small lake that didn’t allow gas motors. My grandma would come out when we shore fished and outdo us all. I still have both of their favorite rods!

I took those times with me when they were no longer able to get out on the lake and honored them, and that time, with an absolute obsession for anything I could get into fishing-wise. Tiny creek and an ultralight with a curly tail jig all summer long. A neighbor’s bass pond a mile down a dirt road with a Renosky Super Claw. Shore fishing Pymatuning and Conneaut Lake when I got older with a white marabou jig and a minnow.

After college, I bought my first 14’ aluminum V and would fish in some crazy conditions just to get out there. I would back my trailer into a canal because the ramp was frozen. Who cares when you can pick the trailer up by hand! I moved up to a 24’ pontoon with fully enclosed camper canvas and fished almost daily. Rain or shine, night or day, it was a floating camper! I downsized to a tri-hull and sorta took a step back until I moved to Texas.

I remembered a lake full of trees and giant fish I saw on TV called Lake Fork. I thought, meh, Texas is huge, no way it’s close to Irving. To my surprise, 1.5 hours later, I was at Lake Fork Resort! I bumped a tree three times with that tri-hull and said nope! I got a 16.5’ bass boat and a trolling motor with no Spot-Lock and started bass fishing Fork. I had an indestructible Tohatsu 9.8 four-stroke that I had on the pontoon. Then I fished Grapevine one day and a wake boat put a foot of water in my boat. Twice. That’s when I decided it was time to get a big-boy boat and a loan.

After I started accumulating what would be needed to run a decent rig, I took a trip with BJ Shelton “Grey Beard” crappie fishing, and it changed my life. I fell in love with it. I mirrored my setup after his and started a guide business. I kept my prices low as a trade-off for experience and value. Any trip I came up short, I replaced it with another trip.

I started fishing Crappie Anglers of Texas tournaments with Jack Marinangel, aka Crappie Jack. I learned the run-and-gun method with no hand-turned transducer pole and a zero-degree mount. Then came Crappiefest, and my booth was set up next to Kai’s Custom Jigs. That brings us to where we are today!

I fish exclusively with Kai’s hand ties, soft plastics, jig heads, and weighted swivels. My last tournament was a third-place finish in the CAT Veterans tournament, losing only to Clay Gann and Mike Boon, two guys I look up to who represent another company. I also cashed a check at Crappiefest. You either caught a two-pounder or you didn’t make the money this year. Mine was caught on a Bluegrass Stinger Minnow!

I’m thrilled to be part of the Kai’s Pro Staff and can’t wait to keep taking steps forward toward the ultimate goal: the CAT Texas State Championship!