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Ray Wins AOY, Miller Wins NOY

"Nothing in this world is worth having or doing unless it means effort, pain, and difficulty", these words were spoken by Theodore Roosevelt and still ring true today. Insert current events and thus is the life of a kayak angler on the OKA tournament trail. The Oklahoma Kayak Anglers have crowned a new Angler of the Year Champion as well as a Newcomer of the Year and it was no easy task hearkening back to the words spoken by Roosevelt. Anglers Jason Ray and Jack Miller will take home the prestigious AOY, and NOY trophies the AOY Prize of  $1,000 and the NOY Prize of $500 Gift Card to Oklahoma Kayak. Finally OKA Sponsor Dobyns Rods will be sponsoring Ray the AOY Champion for the 2021 season. Nearly every OKA event was closely contested and the same is true with the final AOY standings. We had a tie at the top spot between anglers Josh Barlow and Jason Ray with 489 points. A tiebreaker was needed to settle on a champion and that was the angler with the most wins on the OKA tournament trail with Ray winning the OKIE Roadrunner and Lake McMurtry tournaments while Barlow had 1 win at Tenkiller. 

Jason Ray has been fishing with the OKA since 2018 and was hooked ever since the Lake Lawtonka tournament. "My goal since 2018 has been to win AOY and have worked very hard to get where I am today." Ray finished 10th in the AOY standings in 2018 and 6th in 2019. What helped Jason reach the top spot in 2020? " My advice for anyone wanting to win the next AOY is to have faith in your confidence baits, be able to change your plan and always fish until the last second of the tournament no matter how your day has gone." Ray also credits his friends and fellow anglers he met on the OKA tournament trail. " I have made a ton of friends and learned a lot from each of them, lots of my techniques come from the guys I met with the OKA".  Great job Jason! 


Newcomer of the Year Jack Miller is new to bass fishing as he began learning how to throw a bait caster and catch bass in 2015. Jack's first kayak tournament was the Fundraiser at Sooner lake were Jack failed to score a catch. However, That catch less day didn't hinder Jacks confidence in his newly learned abilities. "My goal at the start of the year was to finish a tournament with a limit. After two brutal tournaments with one fish in the boat I finally had enough to achieve my goal at Wetumka pulling out a nice limit." A nice limit it was at 83.75", placing 8th out of 62 anglers that day. Jack used the momentum from 4 Lake Slam for success at McMurtry. ".... Fishing everyday over the summer to prepare for McMurtry and catching some of the biggest bass I have ever seen at my home Lake Tenkiller for Dog Days."  Jack went on to say about the recent news of winning the Newcomer of the Year award. "It feels amazing to consistency improve and get recognition from my biggest supporters, my parents, my brother Matthew, and Jason Ray. Its not about money, bragging rights, or ego for me, every time I go into the water i'm challenging myself to the best of my abilities and to improve my techniques."  Great job Jack!

Both the Newcomer of the Year and Angler of the Year trophies and additional prizes will be awarded at the State Championship Invitational Awards on Sunday October, 18th beginning at 2:15PM. Hope to see you there! Tight Lines!  


Jack Millers Dog Days bass




Jasons Rays win at McMurtry


OKIE Roadrunner bass

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