Oklahoma Kayak Anglers received an exciting and unexpected message from Joe Haubenreich, Kayak Bass Fishing's creative service director. The email extended 4 National Championship invites to OKA anglers. The surprise came after the OKA decided to become a KBF member organization once again. It was originally thought that NC invites would not be available until the 2020 season began. The stipulations were for 3 OKA anglers and 1 board member to receive invites. Anglers were chosen by the 2019 Angler of the Year standings and spots rolled down as anglers declined their invitations. Anglers who accepted invites are as follows: Josh Barlow, Josh Crosby, Jon Queen, and board member Danny Bowen. Additional OKA anglers attending the KBF NC are Jason Ray, Luke Aryan, and Mike Ring. Both Ray and Ring qualified through the State Challenge Series and Aryan through the One Night Stand Online Event.
The Kayak Bass Fishing National Championship presented by Torqeedo will be held on legendary Alabama fishery Lake Guntersville, April, 2nd - 4th. The tournament will feature 800+ KBF members from all over the United States. Anglers will compete for the 75,000$ 1st place prize plus an additional 25,000$ in bonuses. All anglers will compete for the first 2 days of the event, then the field will be cut to the top 100 anglers after day 2. The National Champion will be crowned Saturday evening following the KBFNC Expo.
If you have fished an OKA event whether it be a 2 month online event or a trail series event the name Danny Bowen sounds familiar. Danny is a current board member and has been fishing with the OKA since the early days. "I have wanted to go to the KBFNC for several years but work and family life were more important. Now that I have retired and my children grown and off on their own, I have the chance to go without feeling guilty." Danny goes on to add: "Also, this year's event is on Guntersville which is a famous bass fishery and the tournament falls within the bass spawning period which I enjoy fishing." Danny's first fishing memory is catching a 5lb bass on a Hula Popper in his grandpa's pond. This memory is what keeps Danny in search of those big bass.
Jon Queen an angler from the OKC area began his kayak fishing experience by wanting to get off the bank. "I got my first kayak because I was tired of fishing from the bank thinking if I could only get over there." Jon has been fishing with the OKA for several seasons now and looks forward to 2020. "I am excited and honored by the opportunity to compete on the national level. KBF and the OKA working together is a beautiful thing, that offers more and more opportunities for us anglers."
OKA angler Josh Crosby is exited for the challenge the KBFNC brings."I decided to fish the national championship because I didnt want to pass up on the opportunity to fish against the best in the nation." Crosby an angler from Beggs enjoys fishing out of a kayak for the advantage it brings. "I fish out of my kayak because it allows me to get into places you cant get in a boat. Fishing out of my kayak has taught me to slow down and really pick an area apart."
The condition of Oklahoma kayak fishing has never been better, our sport and our kayak fishing trail continues to gain talented anglers as well as local and national partners who want to contribute to the Oklahoma Kayak Anglers. With these great circumstances the OKA and the state of Oklahoma should take great pride in anglers qualifying, competing, and successfully establishing its presence on the national scene. Just look at Oklahoma anglers on professional trails past and present. Jimmy Houston, Ken Cook, Tommy Biffle, Jason Christie, and Edwin Evers just to name a few of Oklahoma's most successful professional anglers. These are household names in the fishing industry. Sending Oklahoma kayak anglers to compete on the national stage is as important for the success of our trail as hosting well attended trail events. Good luck: Josh Barlow, Danny Bowen, Josh Crosby, Jon Queen, Jason Ray, Luke Aryan, and Mike Ring and as always tight lines.
- Avery Metcalf
https://www.oklahomakayakanglers.com/
The Kayak Bass Fishing National Championship presented by Torqeedo will be held on legendary Alabama fishery Lake Guntersville, April, 2nd - 4th. The tournament will feature 800+ KBF members from all over the United States. Anglers will compete for the 75,000$ 1st place prize plus an additional 25,000$ in bonuses. All anglers will compete for the first 2 days of the event, then the field will be cut to the top 100 anglers after day 2. The National Champion will be crowned Saturday evening following the KBFNC Expo.
If you have fished an OKA event whether it be a 2 month online event or a trail series event the name Danny Bowen sounds familiar. Danny is a current board member and has been fishing with the OKA since the early days. "I have wanted to go to the KBFNC for several years but work and family life were more important. Now that I have retired and my children grown and off on their own, I have the chance to go without feeling guilty." Danny goes on to add: "Also, this year's event is on Guntersville which is a famous bass fishery and the tournament falls within the bass spawning period which I enjoy fishing." Danny's first fishing memory is catching a 5lb bass on a Hula Popper in his grandpa's pond. This memory is what keeps Danny in search of those big bass.
Jon Queen an angler from the OKC area began his kayak fishing experience by wanting to get off the bank. "I got my first kayak because I was tired of fishing from the bank thinking if I could only get over there." Jon has been fishing with the OKA for several seasons now and looks forward to 2020. "I am excited and honored by the opportunity to compete on the national level. KBF and the OKA working together is a beautiful thing, that offers more and more opportunities for us anglers."
OKA angler Josh Crosby is exited for the challenge the KBFNC brings."I decided to fish the national championship because I didnt want to pass up on the opportunity to fish against the best in the nation." Crosby an angler from Beggs enjoys fishing out of a kayak for the advantage it brings. "I fish out of my kayak because it allows me to get into places you cant get in a boat. Fishing out of my kayak has taught me to slow down and really pick an area apart."
The condition of Oklahoma kayak fishing has never been better, our sport and our kayak fishing trail continues to gain talented anglers as well as local and national partners who want to contribute to the Oklahoma Kayak Anglers. With these great circumstances the OKA and the state of Oklahoma should take great pride in anglers qualifying, competing, and successfully establishing its presence on the national scene. Just look at Oklahoma anglers on professional trails past and present. Jimmy Houston, Ken Cook, Tommy Biffle, Jason Christie, and Edwin Evers just to name a few of Oklahoma's most successful professional anglers. These are household names in the fishing industry. Sending Oklahoma kayak anglers to compete on the national stage is as important for the success of our trail as hosting well attended trail events. Good luck: Josh Barlow, Danny Bowen, Josh Crosby, Jon Queen, Jason Ray, Luke Aryan, and Mike Ring and as always tight lines.
- Avery Metcalf
https://www.oklahomakayakanglers.com/
Fantastic congrats to those going and those who competed all year without every competitor this would not be what it is.
ReplyDelete