Oklahoma Kayak Anglers

BY: Kong Xiong Before you win you must learn how to lose , c oming off a top 10 finish from Oklahoma Kayak Anglers Event #2 and a 2 nd place finish from Tulsa Bass-A-thon jackpot at Taft Lake, I was riding high with confidence where you can almost smell a win in the near future.  The OKA's 3rd stop was at Okemah Lake. I like this lake, I have multiple 90" + days there before and I felt like this was a easy top 5.  Due to Covid 19 concerns, the lake cancelled all tournaments and the OKA decided to go to a statewide road runner. So, my brother Houa and I decided to go do some pre-fishing the weekend before and decided on a smaller lake.  I had a plan going in too, throw the chatterbait, topwater frog and a stick worm. Even with all this preparation, my day was still turned over and up side down. It happens to the best of us.   Jason Ray showed me new level of slow. Looking back at the tournament, I fished too fast for what was required. The thing about fishing speed i

As spring marches on so does events on the OKA schedule and what an event it was. OKA Event # 3 Okie Road Runner was an event that did not let down. Due to Covid-19 a change was made from a live event on big bass Okemah Lake to a statewide online road runner. Anglers were able to run the back roads and highways to all too familiar honey holes. This single day road runner concept showed that anglers left to their own capacities will light up the Tournyx leaderboard. Anglers logged catches from small flatland lakes in far western Oklahoma to well known former Bassmaster Elite Series lakes in the hilly Northeast. One thing is for certain no lake is too small to get big numbers. Angler Jason Ray from Stillwater grew up fishing small lakes and ponds near Wanette, Oklahoma. Ray is a slow and methodical angler who looks for structure between the bank and creek channels. Ray mainly throws Texas-rigged baits and backs it up with a jig. When pressed for a style, Ray responds with "just a

The first of several Angler of the Year standings have been released and the race is tighter than ever. The full AOY Standings can be found by following the link at the bottom of this article. New names and familiar faces line the top 40 anglers. That statement cannot ring more true than at the top of the standings. Jake Ainsworths who has just finished his 4th event with the OKA, spanning over two seasons holds the #1 spot over long time OKA angler Josh Barlow. Ainsworth compiled his points with a win at Lake Murray and a 9th place finish at the latest Lone Chimney, Hominy, and Pawnee Lakes road runner. Angler Josh Barlow has a 3rd place finish at Lake Murray and a 13th place finish at Lone Chimney, Hominy, and Pawnee lake road runner. The battle for first cannot be understated as the AOY champion will win $1,000 and a 2021 season sponsorship by Dobyns rods as well as some good looking hardware. Angler of the Year points as well as Newcomer of the Year points are compiled from each

OKA event #2 has concluded and as always the weather and fishing does its best to not cooperate. Anglers experienced low temperatures, intense fog, high winds, muddy water, and post cold front bass. However, top anglers always find a way to catch em' and put a 5-fish limit together. Out of 66 anglers only 116 bass were scored. Moreover, Only 9 anglers were able to fill the limit of 5 bass. As the saying goes, its called fishing and not catching for a reason. Nevertheless, someone always rises to the top to cash out the top payout.  Angler Chance Barham was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and has been fishing since he could walk. Barham has only been kayak fishing for the last year when he discovered Greg Blanchard's  kayak fishing channel on Youtube. Barham fished at Hominy Lake and used a green pumpkin Senko with the tip dipped in garlic chartreuse and dead-sticked it all day. At 1:40PM, Barham sat in 11th place on tourneyx and wanted to throw in the towel. Soon after 1: