The 2026 NSKA NWA Thai Spice Beaver Lake North kayak fishing tournament brought 55 anglers to one of Arkansas’ most challenging bass fisheries. With water temperatures in the mid-50s and pre-spawn bass beginning to stage throughout the lake’s creeks and rocky transitions, competitors had to balance covering water with slowing down around high-percentage areas. In the end, consistent keeper bites—not giant bass—proved to be the winning formula.
Kayak bass anglers launched across the northern end of Beaver Lake chasing a five-fish limit measured by total inches. While limits were possible, the leaderboard revealed a tournament defined by consistency over giants. Many anglers found solid keeper bites in the mid-teens, but very few fish eclipsed the 18–20 inch mark that typically separate the top finishers from the rest of the field.
Beaver Lake Kayak Tournament Results
Levi Schneider put together the most consistent bag of the day, securing first place with 88.75 inches. Schneider’s winning limit was built on a series of high-quality Beaver Lake keepers:
- 18.50″
- 17.75″
- 17.75″
- 17.50″
- 17.25″
Rather than relying on a giant kicker, Schneider’s victory came from stacking five fish between 17 and 18 inches—exactly the type of bag that often wins early-spring events on Beaver.
Jason Adams claimed second place with 83.75 inches, anchored by the biggest fish in the tournament, a 21.00″ largemouth. Tyler Zengerle rounded out the podium with 81.50 inches, while John Hall finished fourth with 81.00 inches and Seth Jones completed the top five with 80.25 inches.
Top 10 Finishers
- Levi Schneider – 88.75″
- Jason Adams – 83.75″
- Tyler Zengerle – 81.50″
- John Hall – 81.00″
- Seth Jones – 80.25″
- Terrill Standifer – 79.50″
- Nathan Higgins – 79.00″
- Maurilio Gutierrez – 78.25″
- Danny Dutton – 78.00″
- Kyle Long – 76.75″
The Big Bass award for the tournament went to Jason Adams, who landed a 21.00″ largemouth during the event. Large fish were relatively scarce during the tournament, making Adams’ 21-inch bass one of the standout catches of the day.
Out of the 55 anglers in the field, 45 anglers submitted at least one fish, meaning 81.8% of competitors recorded a catch.
However, filling a full five-fish limit proved much tougher.
Only 26 anglers landed a complete five-fish limit, meaning 47.3% of the field managed to fill a limit.
Across the entire field, anglers submitted 204 bass totaling approximately 3,083 inches of fish.
Breaking that down further:
- Average fish per angler: 3.71
- Average fish per angler who caught fish: 4.53
- Average inches per angler: 56.1″
- Average fish length: 15.1″
These numbers reinforce a classic Beaver Lake scenario—anglers could find keeper fish, but locating the larger pre-spawn females proved far more difficult.
Angler Roundtable
Once again, the top anglers of the tournament open up and share how it went down in a Beaver Lake kayak tournament in March!
1. What area did you fish and why go there?
Levi Schneider:
“I went to Indian Creek because I found a few coves that had a large population of fish and never found anything better elsewhere.”
Jason Adams:
“We fished Rocky Branch on Beaver Lake. I chose that area because it has a good mix of docks, rock, and deeper water close to the bank. This time of year the fish can slide up or pull back depending on conditions, and that area gives them that option.”
Tyler Zengerle:
“I chose to fish Prairie Creek simply because I have more familiarity with that area in the winter and early spring months than other parts of the lake. The thought of the boat tournament launching out of Prairie Creek almost made me change my mind the night before, but I decided to stick with my gut.”
2. Any techniques that worked for you to catch your fish?
Levi Schneider:
“I caught all of my fish on a 4.25″ Rapala Mooch Minnow and a Berkley Stunna +1.”
Jason Adams:
“Most of my fish came on a jig fishing docks and rock transitions. The biggest fish of the day came on a Neko rig with a morning dawn trick worm and a heavy nail weight. Slowing down and fishing deeper docks seemed to help.”
Tyler Zengerle:
“I started with a custom painted crankbait, painted by none other than Dwain Batey himself. I caught my first three fish off of it in back-to-back-to-back casts in the first fifteen minutes.”
3. What fish was most important?
Levi Schneider:
“My most important fish was probably my 17.75″ smallmouth that reassured me my smallies were still close to where I had found them before, which led to my 18.50″ smallmouth.”
Jason Adams:
“The last fish of the day without question. Catching that smallmouth on the final cast and getting the picture submitted with seconds left is what gave me a full limit.”
Tyler Zengerle:
“My most important fish was probably the 16.25″ chunky spotted bass that came at 11:45 and helped me secure third. That was my last cull of the day. Without it I would have placed fifth.”
4. Who has influenced you the most regarding your love for bass fishing?
Levi Schneider:
“I couldn’t necessarily say one person influenced me more than the others, but my dad for sure got me started with trout, crappie, and multiple saltwater species. In high school the Googan Squad got me more into bass fishing, and then all the top pro level events got me hooked to where I’m at today.”
Jason Adams:
“My dad started it all for me. He put a fishing rod in my hands when I was young and we spent a lot of time on the water together. These days getting to fish tournaments with Mandie and share that experience with her has made it even better.”
Tyler Zengerle:
“My mom was my biggest influence growing up. She had a 17-foot aluminum Tracker boat that she would take me fishing in, and we’d go catch whatever would bite nightcrawlers.”
AOY Race and Heavy Hitters
It’s the first event of the year, so not much news on the AOY front beyond the top 10 finishers. More to come down the road. Until then, here is the Angler of the Year sheet for your reference.
Heavy Hitters is off and running as well, this one had some big fish caught, especially for Beaver Lake. Jason Adams, Danny Dutton, and Nate Higgins are out of the gate with giants in this first one. Complete Heavy Hitters Standings for your reference.