All posts by jkincy

NSKA

NSKA Draw 4 Recap – Hitting the Century Mark

In last week’s tournament preview article there was no indication in the predictions we would see the huge limits turned in by the top finishers. Almost sixty Natural State Kayak Anglers fanned out across five lakes on a hot Saturday in the Ozarks. The five lakes fished were Elmdale, Bob Kidd, Crystal, Lincoln and a late addition of Siloam City Lake due to the size of the field. On a hot summer day the fish weren’t supposed to cooperate, but the leaderboard provided historically big catch totals.

Rance Richardson displays his 21.25″ bass on Lincoln Lake. Rance had a one day total of 102.75″ – Kayakfishingfocus.com
Tournament Results

The last time the NSKA held a Draw 4 event, Lincoln was the skunk of the group of lakes with almost everyone drawing that lake having a terrible outing. The tournament in 2018 was radically different as Lincoln lake showed out for anglers who were fortunate enough to draw that lake.  Of the 58 total participants of the Draw 4 event, 50 (86%) submitted a fish, with 28 (46%) turning in a limit.

Rance Richardson won on Lincoln Lake with a NSKA record 102.75″ followed by Cole Sikes with 94.5″ and Carson McBride in 3rd with 86.25″ also on Lincoln Lake. The top 10 anglers looked like this:

  1.  Rance Richardson – 102.75″ (Lincoln)
  2.  Cole Sikes – 94.5″ (Lincoln)
  3.  Carson McBride – 86.25″ (Lincoln)
  4.  Jason Kincy – 84.25″ (Lincoln)
  5.  Jason Thomas – 78.5″ (Siloam City Lake)
  6. Chad Warford – 78.25″ (Bob Kidd)
  7.  Josh Sherrill- 76.5″ (Lincoln)
  8.  Jason Adams – 75.5″ (Elmdale)
  9.  Kyle Long – 75.5″ (Elmdale)
  10.  Tyler Zengerle – 75.25″ (Siloam City Lake)

Big Bass was a tie between Rance Richardson and Jason Kincy with 21.25″, however Rance Richardson won the tiebreaker to take the title for the day. View all of the NSKA Draw 4 Results on TourneyX. 

Lincoln Lake 21.25″ largemouth tied for first for Big Bass. – Kayakfishingfocus.com
Angler Recaps

The anglers in the money for the day provide a recap of how they got the fish to bite and how they assembled their limits.

1. Overall what approach worked for you in catching your fish?

Rance – I started the morning half way down the dam trying a Whopper Plopper, after a few casts and no luck I quickly moved to a squarebill and medium diving crank bait that I always have good luck on at Lincoln. I tried different plastics with no luck so I decided to stick with the crankbaits and cover a lot of water. Both gave me fish but the bigger ones came off the medium diving crankbait in water 5 feet or less.

Cole – My game plan for the day was to start out fishing shallow and then move out deeper once the sun came out. I started the day off really slow and only had two small dinks and a 15 incher at 10 a.m. I moved out deeper and that’s when I started catching the better quality fish. I was catching them in 10-15 feet of water on a SlowTown Custom jig.

Carson – My approach to this tournament was to try and get a limit early. Which I did, so I just kept fishing and hoped for better bites. All my fish came off of a jig in shallow water around shaded areas.

Jason – My initial plan to burn the banks early with a buzzbait didn’t pay off, and finally worked my way around to the back of the lake and caught some small ones on a Bandit 100 squarebill. I kept trying some of the soft plastics I had planned on but they didn’t yield any catches and when I’d go back to a squarebill I’d catch one. The last couple of hours things really slowed down so I switched to a jig around rocks and that netted me a couple of late culls.

2. All of the top anglers were on the same lake, did that change how you were fishing or mindset knowing others there were doing well?

Rance – I didn’t change the way I was fishing. Cole was making me nervous toward the end when I saw him catch a big one and the leader board was turned off so I didn’t know how close he was.

Cole – I knew Rance was on fire so I knew I needed big fish to even have a chance. I started fishing the deeper rock piles where the fish were not pressured and it paid off for me. I broke off on two other 20+ inch fish that would have made things interesting! It was a really awesome day watching the other guys catch big fish all around me!

Carson – It didn’t change my mindset at all I just kept on doing what I was doing because I knew it was working and I had a ton of confidence with it. I knew the fish were biting based off of what I had heard so I just kept grinding at it.

Jason – I’d had a very slow start and only filled in my limit at around 10:30. Compared to what I was seeing from Carson and Rance (even took a photo of Rance and his big one) I was discouraged and felt like I was out of it. When I finally caught a big one, that let me know maybe I could still make a run at a decent total.

3. Describe your biggest fish catch of the day.

Rance – Biggest one of the day was around 10 a.m. toward the back of the lake. It was very shallow in full sun light so I stuck with that pattern the rest of the day and it was working all around the lake.

Cole – I caught my biggest fish around noon in about 15 feet of water next to some of the big rocks offshore. I knew it was going to be a big fish the way she bit. I set the hook and I was almost certain it was an 8 pounder when I hooked into her because she was so heavy. It turned out to be a 21” fish but pretty sure it weighed at least 6.5 pounds.

Carson – My biggest fish catch of the day was an 18.25 incher and he slammed my jig as I was reeling it back in for another cast.

Jason – I was about to call it an early day, having a small limit and knowing these guys were smashing it, I was pretty pissed off at myself for losing three big fish already. Heading toward the ramp around 11:00 a.m., I had just told Cole I was about to load up and then hooked a 21.25″ fatty on a squarebill. No way I could leave then so I kept going and slowly grew my total. I had about 54″ when I caught the big one and finished with 84.25″ three hours later. Good lesson to never give up.

Other Lake Champs

One of the very cool things about the Draw 4 is the different water brought into play. I asked the top anglers on the other lakes how they caught fish on their lake.

Primarily how’d you catch most of your fish , and when you drew your given lake or got there, what was your overall strategy for the day?

Jason Thomas – Siloam City Lake – Everything I caught was on white Slowtown spinnerbait. And when we drew I was a little bummed to have a lake that I didn’t really know anything about. But after getting there I decided to run the bank quickly with a crankbait just to get to know the lake and maybe pick up a fish or two along the way. After a couple of hours and no fish I was beginning to get worried. Then the wind picked up a little and I decided to go to my spinnerbait. After about twenty minuntes that paid off and all my fish were caught in about a 100 yard strip of bank in about 3 to 5 feet of water.

Josh King – Crystal Lake – Bites were few and far between, but patience paid off by slow fishing a jig. Like most, I’d assume, the plan was to catch everything early on topwater. Then either pick the lake apart to cull or go find some air conditioning. Unfortunately after two hours of no topwater bites, I had to slow it down and grind it out.

Jason Adams – Elmdale (Tie) – Fish bit on three baits. The first on was on a carolina rig in the middle of the lake by the overhead lines. Carson put me on his go to lure and it worked for a 13.25 bass that fell pray to a green lizard. This was around 8 am so I was glad to get on the board. Tried to duplicate it and it didn’t work. I saw Kyle Long pick up one in the back and noticed he was throwing something black. The water was stained so it made perfect sense. So getting a jig made up in black and blue was the ticket to getting the next fish and filled a limit. I had a Skirmish square bill tied on the other rod and that helped me cull two fish that ended up being the largest fish in the livewell at the day. All of these fish came from the same lay down. Noticed if I backed off for about 15 minute it would replenish. The jig produced all day. Hitting the stand ups in shallow water and swimming it back to the boat really produced. Couldn’t believe how many fish there was in 6” to 1’ of water. Typically fish are deeper when its this hot.

Kyle Long – Elmdale (Tie) – I started by going straight across from the ramp and threw a buzzbait a little bit. Since I always have a Texas rig tied on I threw around the first lay down I came to and caught a 12.25″. Then caught an 11.5″ at the next one. Fished along some more and noticed lots of birds and then fish hitting topwater really shallow…inches of water. Threw a frog a little but nothing. Started throwing a Texas rig in the same areas and caught a 16.25″ then another 12.25″. Caught my fifth fish doing the same thing at 8:15 a.m.  Felt good to have a limit by then. By this time I had fished my way down to the shallow end. Kind of outsmarted myself at that point and went back to the deep end to drag a jig deep to try to get some big bites. Should have stayed put in hindsight. Didn’t boat a fish from 8:15-1:00. At around 11:00 a.m. I started targeting lay downs again but the bite had stopped. Threw a drop shot a while, cranked a while, nothing. Went back to fishing a Texas rig at laydowns and caught a 19.5″ at 1:00. I knew from the leaderboard I needed a little more and finally got another 13.75″ on a Wiggle Wart at around 2:20 p.m. Every fish but the last one came in 3 feet of water or less. All my scoreable fish but one came on a black and blue Beaver style bait on a Texas rig. I had only been on the lake once and I thought if I didn’t catch a few early on top I’d have to crank or dropshot deeper to grind out a limit. My strategy changed pretty quickly when the Texas rig bite was on. Of course I left that bite which was a mistake but that 19.5″ midday ended up being the kicker I needed to finish tops on the lake for the day.

Chad Warford – Lake Bob Kidd – I fished Bob Kidd earlier on in the season during the NSKA NWA Roadrunner in May. It was interesting to see how the fish responded then vs. this weekend. I concentrated on three main baits for Bob Kidd based on the current conditions and what I had learned from in May. The bite was a little tougher right out of the gate but by 6:45 a.m. , I had logged 3 fish using a Berkley drop shot green pumpkin minnow. The wind was calm until late into the morning which became my toughest time and didn’t get another bite until just after 11:00 a.m. As the wind picked up, I keyed in on areas that would likely hold fish during windy conditions and indeed, had my next two fish to round out my limit by 11:45 a.m. Now that my limit was secured, it was time to find the bigger fish. As the temperature rose, I adjusted my strategy and searched for the bigger fish deeper. Early on I caught all of my fish in water 4′-8′ deep. As the temperature rose, I began looking for them in 14′-20′. It took almost two hours to key in on a pattern that would allow me to cull a few of my smaller fish. I found an area that did have structure but also dropped off deep, relatively quickly. It wasn’t enough to just find deep water because I tried that all morning and into the early afternoon and it didn’t work. With the wind finally getting after it and the sun scorching the earth (and me), finding a steep drop off, with structure was the key to successful day on Bob Kidd. And of course, not giving up. The conditions were no doubt tough and it would have been easy to call it at noon with a five fish limit, but I tend to do my best when its a challenge and would encourage anyone faced with difficult situation not to give up. Just keep narrowing down your options!

 

Reviews

How Hard Is It To Stand In A FeelFree Lure Kayak?

Special to Kayak Fishing Focus courtesy of Ethan Dhuyvetter.

As a 6’5 fisherman, I have always had some trouble with my “sea legs”. I honestly thought that firing crankbaits on windy points while operating a trolling motor was going to be the death of me while fishing competitively in college. Somehow, I managed to survive despite multiple instances where I nearly took a nose dive into the lake.

FeelFree Lure Kayak

So when it came to picking out a fishing kayak the year after I decided to part ways with my boat, I realized that it wasn’t going to be easy to find a watercraft which I can effectively stand in. After researching numerous kayaks which fit my price range, I took a leap of faith and ordered a FeelFree Lure 11.5 from an online retailer.

A couple weeks later, I picked it up at a random warehousing facility on my way to Lake Taneycomo, Missouri for some trout fishing with a couple of my college roommates. Being new to the kayak fishing game, I quickly realized that this wasn’t your ordinary kayak. It was heavy, stable, and incredibly comfortable. After a few hours on the water, I even tried standing….

Let’s fast forward 3.5 years to current day. I still have that exact kayak and feel like I could do a handstand in it. Well, that is, if I could do a handstand in the first place. But you get the point, standing in this kayak actually comes easy for me! Heck, during the spawn, I love to “paddle board” around in search of bedding bass.

Overall, I thought this would be a helpful article for those of you who are also skeptical. Hopefully this brief write-up paired with the video which I put together will help you realize that this FeelFree Lure kayak amongst many others on the market are incredibly stable and easy to stand in, even if you are 6’5.

Ethan Dhuyvetter runs a fishing YouTube channel (Online Outdoorsman) focused on inspiring others to spend more time outside.

NSKA

NSKA 2018 Draw Four – Tournament Preview

If the NWA Road Runner is the Kentucky Derby of the NSKA schedule, then the Draw Four is the World Series of Poker, where your draw may determine your fortunes. How a particular lake matches up with an angler’s skill set or experience on that water will play a big key in who takes home the money. Get ready to adapt, overcome and improvise on either Lake Elmdale, Lincoln Lake, Lake Bob Kidd, or Crystal Lake.

These four lakes are hotbeds for kayak fishing activity in the area and everyone has a favorite among these. Small lakes in the heat of summer will be a great challenge for NSKA competitors.

Lake Elmdale has been the site of many NWA yakpots. – Source: kayakfishingfocus.com
Draw 4 History

The last Draw 4 for NSKA was back in 2016, and consisted of the same four area lakes. In that event, 38 of the 50 anglers (76%) turned in a keeper and 15 of 50 (30%) submitted a limit.  The winning total was 72″ and Big Bass was 17.5″ in length.  This has not been a big limit total event.

The 2016 top 10 finishers, lake and total inches are below:

  1.  Jackie Wright, Crystal, 72″
  2.  Justin Phillips, Bob Kidd, 71.25
  3.  Vince Minnick, Bob Kidd, 66.25″
  4.  Jason Kincy, Crystal, 66″
  5.  Michael Sandlin, Elmdale, 64.75″
  6.  Benny Williams, Bob Kidd, 64.5″
  7.  John Evans, Crystal, 64.25″
  8.  Baron Meek, Crystal, 64.25″
  9.  Jeff Malott, Crystal, 64.25″
  10.  Jeff Her, Elmdale, 63.5″
Lake Previews

Lake Elmdale – This is a very popular lake for kayak anglers and is in an easy location, just off of I-540. Lots of anglers have fished yakpots on this lake and many will probably be rooting to draw this one based on familiarity. Overall, not a very deep lake, but different types of structure with both shallow flats and steep banks. This year there seems to be shallow moss flourishing which will be frustrating to some anglers.

Lincoln Lake – This is one of the legit big fish lakes in all of Arkansas. Those who fish this honey hole often have pulled out some massive bass. The challenge with this lake is getting a limit to go along with your lunker. Amazing rock formations and grass lines are the key features for this crescent shaped lake. If you pull five keepers on Lincoln, you have a very good chance to win the tournament.

The bluffs of Lincoln Lake are the signature feature of this crescent shaped lake. – Source: Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
The main dock by the ramp at Lake Bob Kidd. – Source: KUAF

Lake Bob Kidd – Not too far from Lincoln Lake sits Lake Bob Kidd, another lake known for having some good size bass. This lake has lost some of its normal lily pads and other vegetation but still is ringed by large grass beds along most of the banks. This is one of the very few (if only) small lakes in NW Arkansas with some standing timber, setting it apart from the rest. In 2016 Bob Kidd was a player in the rankings.

The airstrip is one of the things that makes Crystal Lake unique. Source: airport-data.com

Crystal Lake – Used to be known as a dink fest lake, but in past years has improved in quality. Limits will be plenty at Crystal, the fish are numerous and usually bite. This lake has two launch points, one being the main ramp on the west end, and the other is a gravel area on the far east shallow end. I call this the “panty” end of the lake, because one morning we found the largest pair of women’s underwear I’ve ever seen laying on the bank…so use this launch with caution. The dominant feature of this lake is an airstrip that runs parallel to a good portion of it’s length. The winner of the 2016 Draw 4 and many of the top 10 came from Crystal.

Angler Predictions

NSKA anglers Tim Hotchkin, Taylor Frizzell and Kyle Fields participated in a roundtable to share their insights and predictions.

Of the four lakes (Lincoln, Crystal, Bob Kidd and Elmdale) which one do you think is most likely to produce the winner and why?

Tim – I think Elmdale will pull off the W. There are a lot of fish in that lake and everyone seems to be able to catch them there. It will take someone finding 1-2 good ones there and then to round out a limit. The wild card is Lincoln if the bite is right. It will be incredibly hard to beat with it being a summer pattern, that could be a large if though.

Taylor – I think Lincoln will be the winning lake. It’s one of those small lakes that tends to give up a couple nice ones whether you know the lake or not. If the conditions are right it can produce winning number.

How does someone best prepare for a tournament when they don’t know where they are going until the night before?

Tim – I think it is just focusing on what you are good at. It’s tough to get a true pattern on 4 lakes not knowing which you will end up at. I plan to just go out with my normal set ups and adapt based on what I figure out through the day. If the day starts slow stay calm and try and figure out what the fish are doing. I have only fished one of the lakes this year so unless I get that one I will have no idea what to expect but my plan will be the same regardless what I draw.

Taylor – Preparing for this one was tough. Luckily there was enough time in advance to make some trips and check out the lakes. I might get the one I want, I might not but at least I’ve been on all of our options either way.

What is your prediction for winning length and Big Bass?

Tim – I think it will take 78.5″ to win. Big bass will be 20.25″ as each of these lakes hold quality fish and someone will find one.

Taylor – Winning length will be somewhere around 83.5″ total with a 22″ Big Bass.

Reminders

  • Captain’s meeting at the Grove in Lowell at 6:00 on Friday
  • Can be on the water at 5:15 a.m. and lines in at 5:30 a.m., lines out at 3:00 p.m.
  • Weigh-in on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. at the Grove in Lowell
  • Wear your PFD
  • Do not crowd others, or cut off other anglers. If you are worried you are too close, you are probably too close.

Sign up for the NSKA Draw 4 on Tourney X. 

 

Uncategorized

Stormr Long Sleeve Performance Shirt & Sun Gloves – Review

Anyone who fishes with me knows I’m pretty serious about my sun protection, especially in the summer. Like many anglers, I’ve been treated for skin cancer and want to avoid future issues.

Wearing the right UV protective gear is a big key to protecting your skin – especially if you are a Scottish/Irish background like I am. I don’t tan, I burn. Two of the most important tools I have in protecting myself for 8-10 hour tournament days on the water are the UV Shield Long Sleeve Performance Shirt and the UV Shield Sun Gloves from Stormr.

UV Shield Long Sleeve Performance Shirt

This is a great sun shirt for many reasons in addition to the fact it deflects dangerous UV rays. This 50+ UV shield performance shirt is comfortable and well-made. It features a double layer of material which keeps it cool but feels more substantial than other sun shirts. The collar and sleeves are very resistant to any stretching, and I like that the collar rides just a bit higher than some other sun shirts, protecting the base of my neck. Finally, there are tiny vents in the armpit areas of the shirt which help keep me cool and reduces some of the stench created after hours sweating on the water. I’ve got this shirt in white, red, blue, smoke and yellow.

UV Shield Sun Control Gloves

I’m a big proponent of sun gloves, your hands can burn and get skin cancer very easily. Having tried various types of gloves, the UV Shield Sun Control Gloves are my favorite because they come up the wrists enough to ensure they cover the gap between your shirt sleeve and wrist. I also like how thin and lightweight they are, but have a synthetic palm for added durability and a better grip when handling fish or gear. The fit is snug to the hand, which means the gloves are never in the way or cause an issue.  I’ve become so accustomed to wearing these I don’t feel right when they aren’t on my hands while fishing. The only down side to these gloves is that over time some small parts of the stitching can come loose, but this is after heavy use over a long period of time.

Check these items out along with Stormr’s UV Shield Neck Gaiter for use on the water during the hot summer months.

 

Fishing Tips

Picking the Right Fishing Sunglasses to Save Your Eyes On the Water

Popticals Popgun fishing sunglasses on the water. – kayakfishingfocus.com

Today is National Sunglasses Day and the date not only recognizes the important of looking good in a stylish set of frames, but also of the attention needed to protecting one of the most important assets to a sportsman – the eyes. For a safe and enjoyable summer outdoors, what do you need to look for in a pair of fishing sunglasses?

Not all eyewear is created equal when protecting your eyes from the harsh UV rays from the sun. For kayak fishermen and boat fishermen alike, there are some key consideration in choosing the right pair of fishing sunglasses for a day on the water.

Adequate UV Protection

Spending a lot of time on the lake not only means the sun hitting your eyes from above, but also reflecting off the water all day long. Your fishing sunglasses need to have appropriate UV protection. According to the American Optometric Association, any fishing sunglasses you are considering need to have these factors:

  • Lenses that block out 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays
  • Should screen out at least 75% of light
  • Frames should fit closely to your eyes and the shape of your face
  • Lenses should have a uniform tint, not darker in one area from another.
  • The AOA suggests a gray tint, which is particularly helpful in color recognition.

If eyes go unprotected or are exposed to periods of time without proper UV protection, it can create an effect called photokeratitis, which is also known as the sunburn of the eye. This can cause red eyes, excessive tearing, and other uncomfortable symptoms. Long-term exposure without UV protection can lead to more serious conditions including cataracts, macular degeneration, and cancer in the eye and around the eyelids.  Protect yourself with the right pair of fishing sunglasses!

Fishing Sunglasses Tech
Popticals fishing sunglasses made a difference on the clear water of Beaver Lake – kayakfishingfocus.com

For fishing sunglasses you are not only looking for UV protection but also performance. I’ve written about Popticals sunglasses previously, and how they easily fold into a compact case for easy storage when not in use. Popticals fishing sunglasses are equipped with Ri-Pel anti-smudge technology which completely repel water, oil and dust. This keeps substances such as dust, sweat, sunscreen and other oils from getting in the way and obscuring your vision. Their polarized lenses are phenomenal in seeing down into the water, reducing glare from the surface. Recently I was fishing down by the dam on Beaver Lake in clear water and it was amazing how much of a difference the lenses on my Popticals Popgear shades made. Really helped me spot the bottom structure, including a deep pool from which I lured a 17” largemouth bass with my clear Heddon spook. Wearing the right fishing sunglasses can not only help protect your eyes, but can also improve your performance on the water.

$40 Popticals Discount

As an advocate for eye safety and UV protection, I would encourage you to make sure you have a terrific pair of fishing sunglasses protecting you. Choose any brand that works best for you that meets the safety requirements listed above. If you have an interest in Popticals, contact me using the Contact link and I can give you a discount code to save $40 off of a pair. I suggest checking out the models specifically for fishing sunglasses, but they have all types of sunglasses available.

KBF

KBF Central Open – Tournament Recap

The two-day KBF Central Open on Beaver Lake and Grand Lake is in the books and it all came down to 1/2 inch for $10,000. Based in Bentonville, Ark., the KBF Central Open allowed anglers to fish either the Ozark reservoir of Beaver Lake with its FLW history or the sprawling Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees of B.A.S.S. Elites fame.

Conventional wisdom was that Grand Lake offered a more dense fish population and larger average bass, but anglers there were going to be handicapped by getting on the water an hour later due to an anti-kayak rule in place to prevent launching until 1/2 hour after sunrise and a longer drive back to check-in. Beaver Lake had less access restrictions, but was known to be a finicky and risky pick for those looking for big fish and consistency over two days on the water. Weather made it tough on the 68 competitors because of high skies and a muggy 91 degrees each day.

20″ Largemouth on Grand Lake from Cody Milton in the KBF Central Open tournament.

KBF Central Open Results

Some of the top kayak anglers in the country were on hand and did well on day one with 31 of 68 (46%) of anglers turning in a limit and 82% of all entrants turning in a keeper.  The leaderboard looked like this at the end of the first day:

  1. Cody Milton 90.25″
  2.  Richard McMichael 84.50″
  3.  Mel Ashe 83.50″
  4.  Joshua Stewart 83.25″
  5.  Jason Kincy 82.75″

Day two proved to be tougher with lighter winds and increased pressure. On the second day only 21 of 68 (31%) turned in a limit with only 48 of 68 (71%) recording a keeper.  Day two results featured some of the same names in different order;

  1. Joshua Stewart 88.75″
  2.  Eric Siddiqi 86.00″
  3.  Jason Kincy 83.00″
  4.  Mel Ashe 81.25″
  5.  Cody Milton 81.25″

Final standings after both days were:

  1. Joshua Stewart 172.00″
  2.  Cody Milton 171.50″
  3.  Jason Kincy 165.75″
  4.  Mel Ashe 164.75″
  5.  Richard McMichael 160.75″

Cody Milton and Eric Siddiqi both hooked a 20″ largemouth for the biggest bass of the weekend. See complete results for the KBF Central Open here.

Angler Recaps

Top finishers Joshua Stewart, Cody Milton, Jason Kincy and Mel Ashe share how they caught ’em at the KBF Open in this roundtable.

Where did you go each day and why did you choose that lake and that part of the lake?

Joshua – I chose to fish Grand Lake. Arrived on Wednesday to prefish and started out looking at creeks and found one that had potential but couldn’t find a suitable launch. Caught some decent fish from the bank there. A lot of us ended up at the same spot I’m guessing because of the 150 foot rule and that area had a channel bend with a bridge all relatively close to the bank.

Cody – I chose to fish Grand Lake both days. I stayed in the dirty water on Grand because the fish there were staying shallower longer than they were around the dam. On the first day I wanted to hit 4 spots at 3 ramps before 10:00 a.m., with hopes of running into a big group up shallow. Fortunately, that worked out great the first day and I ran into 86 inches off my second spot. The second day I did the same but flip-flopped my starting spots and got around 81 inches pretty quick.

Jason – Being from Arkansas, I chose to go to Beaver Lake instead of Grand Lake, even though Grand is believed to have more and bigger bass. I prefished Beaver from the dam up to the river area and chose to go to the upper end because I just liked the water color and the type of cover I could find there. This area of the lake also had several ramps in close proximity in case I wanted to move around, which I did.

Mel – I fished Grand Lake also. Richie McMichael, Brad Case and I had originally planned on fishing Grand but when we found out about the rules we moved to Beaver. Me and Richie prefished Beaver on Wednesday and Grand on Thursday because we didn’t like what we found on Beaver. We decide we were going to fish Grand for the tournament that evening.

An 18.5″ Beaver Lake largemouth from the KBF Central Open. – kayakfishingfocus.com

What were your overall tactics for catching bass?

Joshua – The first day I ended up catching one of my better fish from the bank on a buzz bait in the morning due to the delayed launch time. The remainder of the day I would cruise around fishing the points and docks with a 1/8 wacky rigged Senko and a ½ ounce jig. Second day I figured I was fishing for second place because of Cody’s strong lead over the rest of the field. The wind was a little stronger so I put on ¾ ounce jig and basically caught all my fish on it. As the day went on I slowly kept culling my fish out and gaining ground. At around 1:30 I crossed to the other side of the bridge and got my biggest fish in about 5 feet of water on what looked like a little current break. After crossing back to the other side I was down a quarter inch with my smallest being 16.25″. with about 35 minutes to go I hooked into a fish with the anticipation of it being the one I needed but was 16.25″. After a few more casts I hook into a 17″ which gave me the lead by .50 inches.

Cody – After 10am I was focusing on brush piles on steep points in 18-22ft. That’s where I was getting the big bites day 1 but never got a bite off any of them day 2. All my fish came fishing a 1 oz football jig.

Jason – My plan on both days was to try and take advantage of topwater early and then fish deeper once the sun came up. Day one my plan was failing, with only one fish on topwater, so I wound up moving three times that morning trying to find something I liked, catching a keeper each time I moved, generally on a Ned rig. About 1:30 I landed on my last spot of the day and over the next hour and a half I used a Carolina Rig in deep water to move from 70″ up to 82.75″, including two 19″ bass in the last hour. On day two I started in the vicinity of where I ended day one and caught a quick four keepers on topwater and then moved to my Carolina Rig spot. Fishing that spot from 9:00-2:30 I caught 17 more keepers with the best five totaling 83″ and was lucky enough to finish third overall.

Mel – The morning of day 1 I got to the ramp I was going to launch from and it had a cable running across the ramp about 2 and a half feet out of the water. Eric Siddiqi had slept at this ramp one night so I called him to ask about the cable which he knew nothing about. He told me he was just three minutes up the lake from me and to come there and fish with him. I had originally planned to fish docks on the way to the bridge so I would have ended up down that way regardless. I caught my 1st fish bank fishing at the ramp with a Jackhammer chatter bait. After we were able to launch I fished my way to the bridge. There I was able to catch my limit on a shaky head and trick worm. Shortly after I made my way back to a point near the ramp and was able to cull two fish using a Jackhammer and fishing how I like to fish. Day 2 I basically did the same thing except I lost a fish at the boat ramp bank fishing and I left the bridge to go find my 5th fish.

When traveling the country to an event where you are unfamiliar with the water, how do you approach choosing a spot and prefishing?

Cody – The way I approach a new body of water is covering a lot of ramps across the lake as fast as I can. I wanna know water the water color is like in different areas of the lake before really dialing in where I’m looking to fish the tournament.

Jason- When I do travel to a new lake, I obviously will look in detail at Google Earth to find areas I’m comfortable with. Then when on the ground I will jump from ramp to ramp to look at an area and see if it matches what I thought it looked like on Google. Ultimately I am looking for water that matches how I want to fish with the type of structure and water color I’m looking for.

Natural State Kayak Anglers Beaver Lake Results

On the same weekend of the KBF Central Open was the NSKA Beaver Lake tournament with 63 anglers on the water. Read the recap of how this tournament was won on Beaver Lake.

NSKA

NSKA Beaver Lake – Tournament Recap

A hot June Saturday greeted the Natural State Kayak Anglers to Beaver Lake along with 90+ degree temps, a poly-flake blend boat tournament, wake boarders and tough fishing conditions on the Dead Sea. The NSKA event produced a big turnout of 63 anglers who scattered across the lake from Twin Bridges down to Beaver Dam.

Brayden Richardson took 1st place in the NSKA Beaver Lake event.

 

Although the lake was stingy, overall the fishing wasn’t among the toughest historically on the Dead Sea, with 23 of 63 (37%) turning in a limit, and a robust 84% (53 of 63) turning in a keeper.  These numbers may seem huge when NSKA returns to Beaver Lake in August.

Top Anglers

Junior angler Brayden Richardson took first place with 77″ on the day with 17″ being his big fish of the day.  Jeriamy Vann took second with 75.5″ followed by Declan McDonald and Roy Roberts with 74.75″ each. Big Bass was won by Toua Khang with a 20.25″ largemouth.

Toua Khang won Big Bass on Beaver lake with this 20.25″ largemouth bass.

 

The top 10 finishers were:
  1. Brayden Richardson
  2. Jeriamy Vann
  3. Declan McDonald
  4. Roy Roberts
  5. John Evans
  6. Jason Cowell
  7. Tyler Zengerle
  8. Lloyd Mize
  9. Clay Johnson
  10. Carson McBride
Angler Recaps

The top finishers of the event share where they went and how they got the fish to bite in this roundtable recap.

Where did you go on Beaver Lake and why did you choose that place?

Brayden – I fished the event at Beaver shores; originally I was going to head to Van Winkle, but with my dad not fishing the event I chose to go to the area I was most comfortable with and prefished some.

Jeriamy – Horseshoe Bend due to familiarity with the area.

Declan – I went to the north end of Beaver lake around Kirk Hollow after seeing the lake went down and the fish weren’t in the bushes I thought it would be my best chance to catch a limit.

Roy – I started the day near the dam at Lost Bridge Marina. I am the most comfortable fishing clear water so this has been my go to area on Beaver Lake. Later in the day I made a move to the mid-lake area.

In general how did you catch them, what techniques and anything noteworthy you did?

Brayden – Early morning treated me well with a 17″ on a Whopper Plopper. Soon after that I realized I left some of my key plastics In the truck and has to pedal back so I missed out on more topwater time. As soon as the sun came out I switched to my old reliable, a 4″ trick worm Neko rigged. I was fishing it right off the rock shelves from about 4 feet of water to 15 feet in the back of coves.

Jeriamy – I fish jigs…mostly. I got lucky.

Declan – I started the morning throwing a Whopper Plopper and a weightless fluke. After I worked a good section of bank and had no bites I picked up a Ned rig and worked a point and got a 18 incher so I fished the rest of the day with the Ned rig.

Roy – I caught 10 keepers on the day. The two baits that were producing for me were a Balsa Pro topwater and a 3/4 oz Jewel Football Jig in PBJ.

What is the key to fishing in the summer in your opinion?

Brayden – To me the key to summer fishing is fishing early in shallow water near deep water where they will head later in the day. All my fish came before 10:00 a.m. so the early bite was key.

Declan – I think the key to summer fishing is to get on the water early morning or late evening into night. For me the bite shuts off around 10:00 or 11:00 a.m.  A big thing for tournament fishing is to keep grinding it out through the day and keep a good mindset.

Roy – Summer is my least favorite time to fish. To me the fish are less predictable and harder to pattern. A couple tips I would suggest are always pay attention to shady areas and don’t be afraid to use big baits. I would much prefer to fish at night this time of year.

Anything else happen you want to mention or say?

Declan – After changing my mind two days before the tournament about where I was going to go I was nervous about it being the wrong move, but after catching a good fish I felt a lot better about it. Later around 8:00 or so the rod I was throwing my Ned rig on broke, it was hard not to be negative about it but I had to get another rod and keep fishing hard. A big key to tournament fishing is to not give up and keep fishing hard.

Roy – Last Saturday I got to practice and noticed several fish hanging out around a particular dock. I started at this dock and caught a double on the topwater right off the bat, a 14.25” and 15.5”. This really gave me a boost for the rest of the morning. I made a move up the lake and picked out a point with lots of wind and waves that I had never fished. This quickly paid off with a 15” and a 15.5” Smallmouth.

Next up for the Natural State Kayak Anglers is the Draw 4 event on July 14th, watch for more information coming soon.

 

RVKA

RVKA Pick Three Road Runner – Tournament Preview

The River Valley Kayak Anglers are hitting the road this week for the Pick Three Road Runner which will take anglers to one of three area lakes to try and catch a limit.

Kayak anglers who dare to enter will choose their fate by drawing from one of three bodies of water: Booneville, Greenwood and New Spiro city lakes. Captains need to be checked in at Gellco Outdoors at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 26, to be ready to participate. Anglers will draw their lake at the meeting and then will take off to fish.  Must be back to Gellco Outdoors by 3:00 to submit your fish and photos.  (3:15 if you went to Booneville)

The Lakes

I’ve only been to one of the lakes among the three, so Chris Jones helped provide a breakdown and a quick look at each destination fishery:

Greenwood Lake – This little lake southeast of Fort Smith features stained water, grass, and flooded timber.  There are two creeks that feed into the lake on the southern end and north of the bridge Greenwood Lake is a bit deeper with steeper banks. There are grass and trees in the water all around the lake. Greenwood Lake was made by flooding Vache Grass Creek and Vineyard Creek – finding the best spots on and around these creek channels is key.

New Spiro Lake – This lake just south of Spiro, is fed by Holi-Tuska Creek coming in from the northwest and is just over 2,000 acres with a max depth of 23 feet. Features stained water year round with  grass banks around most of the lake. Lake is very shallow except by the dam. The vast majority of this lake is less than 10 feet deep. It is well known as a big time bluegill lake with some giant slabs lurking in the waters. It’s a place where it is common to throw topwater all day long.

Booneville Lake – This is the largest of the three, with flooded grass
around almost all of the southern end of the lake. The upper part is a shallow, but wide creek area. This is also the only lake of the three with Spotted bass in the waters. Booneville Lake is the clearest of the three lakes as well. Hosting huge schools of shad, it is not surprising to find fish in 20-30 feet of water on this lake.

This should be an interesting event and for me will be a chance to explore some new waters. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and watch out for dehydration as the weather starts to turn warmer. As always, wear your PFD!

 

NSKA

2018 NSKA Road Runner – Tournament Recap

The annual NSKA Road Runner was predicted to produce a lot of fish and big limits – and it delivered.  The Kentucky Derby of the NSKA schedule produced a dark horse lake which ran away from the field in producing the big limits.

What makes the Road Runner the premier event is that every angler can pick the body of water where they feel like they have the best chance to catch fish. Previous statistics showed that Beaver Lake would play into the top totals, but this year it was Siloam City Lake which stole the show.

NWA Road Runner FPAA and Results

As expected, there were a lot of fish caught and most anglers found success on a beautiful May Saturday. Almost all of the 60 anglers who participated (93%) turned in a keeper, with a strong 65% (39) turned in a limit.  A very big indicator of how successful anglers were on the day was the high FPAA (Fish Per Angler Average) of 5.22 for the event. This compares to a FPAA of 3.72 for Beaver Lake South and 2.5 for Lake Fort Smith.

Bo Sarratt took first place at Siloam City Lake in the 2018 NSKA Road Runner.

First place on the day went to Bo Sarratt with a whopping 93.5″ (Siloam City Lake) followed by Dwain Batey with 87.50″ (Siloam City Lake). Third place was Carson McBride with 85.25″ (XXX) with Roy Roberts taking fourth with a total of 83.25″ (Siloam City Lake and Illinois River).  Big Bass on the day was a 22″ giant caught by Justin Brewer at the big bass factory known as Lincoln Lake.

The top 10 was as follows:

  1. Bo Sarratt
  2.  Dwain Batey
  3.  Carson McBride
  4.  Roy Roberts
  5.  Josh Goforth
  6.  Robert Murphy
  7.  Justin Brewer
  8.  JeriamyVann
  9.  Josh Sherrill
  10.  Chad Warford
Top Angler Recaps

The top finishers Bo Sarratt, Dwain Batey, Carson McBride and Roy Roberts shared how they made the most of their day on the water:

Where did you go and why?

Bo – I went to Siloam City Lake because it is the lake I fish the most in my kayak and I have some confidence in the fact I have caught some big fish there.

Dwain – I wound up fishing at Siloam Springs City Lake. It was not in the plan, but I had a phenomenal day on the last day we could practice there and made a last minute change of plans.

Carson – I went to Hickory Creek because it was muddy and the water was up and I knew the big fish would be moving, and Beaver historically is the winner of this tournament.

Roy – I pre-fished Elmdale and Lincoln and couldn’t get on anything solid. I wanted to fish Beaver but the wind and boat traffic changed my mind. I decided I would just fish the Illinois river and its tributaries. I figured the river bite would be good all day so I started my day on Siloam City Lake because it was nearby. I was looking for a topwater bite early before I shuttled over to the river.

In general how did you catch your fish? early? Late?

Bo –  I caught my fish doing all different stuff. I started out with a spook in the morning with no luck. Once the wind started blowing I went to an area where I had caught some pre-spawn females the Sunday before the tourney in hopes that they would still be around. They were. I was able to catch two of my 18” fish there. At 11:00 I found an 18.5” fish on a bed that I caught the first flip. In the afternoon I only caught two fish but they both culled a couple 15 inch fish I had and the last one was the 21.25 incher.

Dwain – I caught fish all day long, and even caught my largest at 2:00 pm.

Carson – I caught my fish flipping buck brush with a beaver and a Rage Menace and with a chartreuse spinnerbait. All of my fish were in 3ft or less of water. I caught some fish early but still caught them all day.

Roy – Early I caught my fish at the lake on a frog, later at the river I was having success on a crankbait and Ned rig.

What was the one fish you caught that was critical and what did you catch it on?

Bo – Obviously, the big fish I caught at the end of the day was a game-changer. I caught that fish at 1:30 and culled up about 5.5 inches. Once that happened I knew it was going to be tough for anybody to catch me. I caught that big fish on a swimbait rigged on a 1/4 oz War Eagle grubber jighead.

Dwain – That last fish that I culled up with at 2:00 gave me 3 more inches, and secured 2nd place instead of 3rd so that fish would have to be the key fish. I was catching fish on a YUM soft plastic in practice, and had a secret backup bait which turned out to be the only bait that I got bit on during the tournament. I have a few more fish to catch for an online event currently running so I’m not going to spill the beans on my backup bait that became primary in the tourney, sorry. Overall it was a great event, and it was good to see City Lake show out that way because that’s not normal, while it has a lot of fish they are really hit or miss. It could have just as easily been the worst place to be that day. It was a big gamble that just happened to be a good one.

Carson – One fish I caught that was critical was a 17.75″ at the end of the day and gave me a 5.25 inch cull. He was way, way back in some buck brush and I almost never got him out.

Roy – I was catching lots of 12-14 inch Smallmouth, not able to cull up much. At about 1:00 I caught a 18.5 inch Kentucky on the Ned rig and that was a huge momentum swing and help for me.

If you didn’t win, what was something you would have or wish you had done differently?

Dwain – ]I fished clean and caught a phenomenal number of fish for city lake. I don’t know of anything that I would have changed. I didn’t catch any fish on a crankbait which is unusual for me so I guess I could wish that was working for the tourney.

Carson – I would have set the hook harder on a real nice one I hooked about midday. It wasn’t a great hookset and the hook popped out when he turned.

Roy – Obviously looking back I probably should have stayed at Siloam all day. I had 4 quality bites there early but missed 2 of them. I stuck with my original game plan and had a blast catching around 50 fish on the day so no regrets.

 

NSKA

Hitting the Road – NSKA Road Runner Tournament Preview

The best tournament of the year on the Natural State Kayak Angler (NSKA) schedule takes place on May 12 when anglers hit to road to their favorite fishing hole in search of the best limit. The NWA Road Runner taking place right in the middle of the spawn is likely to produce the most limits and the highest totals of the season.

Every angler should be able to find water to fish that fits their style or strategy. In the road runner format, anglers will be able to choose from almost any publicly accessible body of water within a 30 mile radius. Private water, farm ponds, Bella Vista lakes and SWEPCO Lake are off limits!  For a breakdown of the key lakes in play for the tournament, check out last year’s road runner preview article.  Another thing to keep in mind is the further out in the radius you go, the higher risk you have of not making back to weigh in or cutting out fishing time.

IMPORTANT NOTE – Because this is a road runner, ALL eligible water is off limits after Wednesday in this week, not just where you plan to fish.

2018 NWA Road Runner radius is 30 miles from Lowell, Arkansas.

NWA Road Runner Means Big Totals

Choosing your own water generally leads to good results for anglers and there are some common bodies of water which have been key to success the past few years:

In 2015 Beaver Lake produced the winning total of near 80″, with Lake Bob Kidd producing 2nd place, Crystal Lake 3rd, and Lincoln Lake producing 4th and 5th.

In 2016, Beaver Lake produced first place again with the Dead Sea giving up a strong 86″ with Lake Bob Kidd, Siloam City Lake and SWEPCO Lake rounding out the other money placements.

Last year in 2017, Lake Elmdale was the big dog in the road runner. First place with a huge 93.75″ as well as second place came out of Lake Elmdale. The same lake also produced a 23.5″ monster for Big Bass.  Third and fourth place came from SWEPCO Lake (off limits this season). Overall, a strong 67% of anglers caught a limit, with 93% turning in a keeper – by far the best performance in recent tournaments by the field.

This 23.5″ tank was caught by Cole Sikes at Lake Elmdale in the 2017 NWA Road Runner to win Big Bass.

2018 Angler Preview and Predictions

I asked two of the most successful NSKA anglers over the past year to join me in previewing and predicting the upcoming event.  Dwain Batey (last year’s champ), Taylor Frizzell and Cole Sikes shared their thoughts in this roundtable discussion.

Name the two lakes which will most likely produce the winning limit.

Dwain – The two lakes that I think are most likely to hold the winning fish are Lincoln Lake or Lake Elmdale. Both of these lakes have a great population of larger fish, though at times both can be very stingy, and the recent inflow of flooded waters could really change things in the area. This is typically good for Elmdale, and bad for Lincoln, but to be honest I haven’t fished either one enough this year to get a good feel of what’s going on.

Taylor – I think someone fishing Lincoln Lake or Shadow Lake has a great shot at the winning limit. This time of year is always a great time for both spots.

Cole – Lincoln Lake or Elmdale.

Jason – The numbers don’t lie, history shows it likely will be Beaver Lake. If not there Elmdale or Lincoln for those who can find the best fish.

How do you decide or narrow down where to go when a road runner gives you so many options?

Dwain – I will probably just wake up that morning, if I go to sleep at all, and randomly pick which lake feels right for the day and go all in on that one. I pre-fished Elmdale recently and I plan to fish Lincoln before the event off limits, this will give me a good idea on which lake I should hit for the event. Hey, if they’re both fishing poorly I might go somewhere crazy like Siloam Springs City Lake for the tournament, we’ll see.

Taylor – When I get a chance at a road runner I tend to look at my favorite spots to fish and then go back and see how I did in those areas in years past. This year though things seem to be happening a little later with the up and down weather we have had so it could work or be a bust.

Cole – How do you decide or narrow down where to go when a road runner gives you so many options? I typically pick lakes I have confidence in and know they have big ones.

Jason – Probably one that I don’t throw…honestly jigs should be the key with fish up and around cover.

What will be some of the key baits to catch fish this week?

Dwain – I would say that my key bait would be a Skirmish Baits M9 squarebill crankbait, but with the recent heavy rains it might wind up being a jig or spinnerbait if the water is really muddy. There may be enough time to let it clear back up some in a few lakes, and then I would probably be targeting fish with the squarebill, and probably a topwater since it’s post spawn for the most part in our area now. I had a little something figured out before this rain that I am holding on to, but we’ll see if it plays in the event, if it does I’ll spill the beans afterwords.

Taylor –  I think some of the key baits are going to be jigs, chatterbaits, and a Ned rig because let’s be honest everyone is throwing it even if they won’t admit it.

Cole – This time of year when the fish are in all stages of the spawn you can catch them on about anything. I think it will be a junk fishing type tournament.

Jason – Scouting is difficult because you can’t get to many places to check them out. So I’d go somewhere you are the most comfortable with and familiar. No reason to risk a tournament day on a lake where you don’t have some spots.

Predict the winning total, and Big Bass.

Dwain – Winning length will be 89.5 inches and 21.25 inches for Big Bass.

Taylor – I think anyone with around 86 inches is going to be in a good position to win and big bass will be 21 inches.

Cole – The winning total will be 81.50” and 20.25” for Big Bass.

Jason – This is usually some of the biggest totals of the year, so I’d say 85.25″ for the winning limit and 22.5″ for Big Bass.