Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jay Yelas has experienced fish catches to make one speechless, but he recently discovered the opposite — fishing helped a non-verbal child speak her first words.
“We hear stories like that from the parents all the time,” said Yelas, executive director of the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation for the past four years. “It’s something I’m really passionate about.
“I grew up tournament fishing. I’ve loved doing that. I’ve been doing it 32 years, but now I’m just as passionate or more passionate to share the joy of fishing with these less fortunate kids … give them an opportunity to enjoy this sport we call fishing.”
C.A.S.T. (Catch A Special Thrill) for Kids Foundation has been enriching the lives of children with special needs and supporting their families since 1991. In holding 1,075 events, the organization has taken more than 121,000 kids fishing (that includes programs for urban youth) and another arm has put more than 2,000 military veterans on the water.
“The kids we serve are all special needs. They’re either disabled or disadvantaged, ages 6 to 18. Most of these kids have never been fishing; some have never been in a boat,” said Yelas, 54, who admits the reward he receives is bountiful. “Just the smiles and the joy and the hugs, the thank-you cards and letters. The difference it makes in their life and how they get so excited while they’re catching fish. The community and all the volunteers make these kids feel really loved and valued. The events are all about the kids.”
Yelas relates the story of a woman who came to an event with her nonverbal daughter. After a day of fishing, the woman ran up the dock toward Yelas, who asked if their beaming faces were because they landed a big bass.
She responded. “No, it’s way better than that — my daughter starting talking today!”
The woman told Yelas her daughter actually said her first words. The youth was opening the livewell, peeking in at the bass and saying things like, “Hey fishy.” When the girl reeled in a bass, the woman was astounded to hear her daughter say things like “I got a fish” and “I’ve got one.”
“Her parents had never heard her talk before,” Yelas said. “It triggered something in her to get her excited enough to speak. Her mom was just so elated, overjoyed. Experiences like that are priceless.”
It’s in part why Yelas, who lives in Lincoln City, Ore., first accepted an invitation to join the board of directors in 2005. That was just three years after he won the 2002 Bassmaster Classic on Lay Lake and two years after his Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. He worked on the board for 10 years before the founder and executive director retired.
“The board was tasked with finding his replacement, and I decided it was something I’d like to do — help build the foundation and take it to the next level,” he said. “It’s a real privilege and an honor to be the executive director of the foundation. It’s become the largest children’s fishing charity in the country. This year we’ll have about 75 events in about 35 states, just touch a lot of lives and introduce a lot of kids to fishing.”
While overseeing a staff of five full-time workers and a part-time accountant, Yelas said he equates it to being a CEO. There’s an office in Seattle where the foundation began, and he gets there at least once a month, working things around the Elite Series schedule. He is tasked with providing leadership and growing the number of events, and fundraising and securing volunteers is a big part of that.
“There’s increasing programs, PR and overseeing accounting and payroll,” he said. “A lot is administrative, but I also coordinate four different events myself in Oregon.”
“It’s like you’re throwing a party for 200 people, planning everything, getting all the kids to come, the boaters, all the shore volunteers who do registration and cook the lunches. We have an awards ceremony for the kids after they go fishing.”
As for the fundraising, Yelas said he can utilize his expertise and connections in competitive fishing, where he’s earned major titles and more than $1 million in both B.A.S.S. and FLW, to obtain local sponsors and volunteers. But the main benefit of handling events in Oregon is getting to meet all the participants and their families and see how it affects them.
“You know you’re making a difference in the lives of these kids. You’re giving them the gift of the experience of getting to go fishing, something we take for granted all the time,” he said. “These are kids who have never had a chance. Their parents can be so burdened just taking care of their special needs kids daily, they might not have time or resources to buy a boat. Many have never had the opportunity to do this. It’s really a joy to share our great sport of fishing.”
Catching fish lights everyone up, Yelas said, and the little girl who spoke her first words on a fishing trip is just one example of how beneficial the experience can be. He said that girl has returned to C.A.S.T. for Kids events in his region and is overjoyed to hear her progress, just like many others.
“Every year she’s gaining more and more confidence and doing better all the time,” Yelas said. “It helps to expand their confidence and their mindset. A lot come unsure of what to expect. They’ve never been, so if they have a positive experience, they gain confidence, ‘Hey, this is something I can do. If I can go fishing, what else can I possibly do in this life?’”
For more on C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation or to help, click here.