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OKA - NSKA Border Battle Preview

We have made it to the end of a crazy and unprecedented 2020, but before you set your eyes on the new year a single kayak tournament remains! The Oklahoma Kayak Anglers and Natural State Kayak Anglers will renew their Border battle series on Chimney Rock Lake to find out which club has what it takes to be named Border Battle Champions! Bragging rights, and good ole fashioned pride will be on the line Saturday, December 5th but more importantly it will be a chance for kayak anglers from the two border states on Chimney Rock/ Pumpback / W.R. Holloway to get together and tell fish stories and forge new friendships. 

The Natural State Kayak Anglers based out of Northwest Arkansas were founded in 2012 by then president Jeff Malott. NSKA has since expanded to an Arkansas central region trail to go along with their Northwest Arkansas (NWA) trail. Malott, who now runs the Kayak Bass Nation (KBN) Podcast  and an admin for the KBN Facebook page recalls the first and only border battle taking place on Beaver Lake and won by NSKA. NSKA held a trail tournament on  June, 7th 2020 on Chimney Rock Lake after the Corps of Engineers cancelled their event on Beaver Lake due to Covid-19. Arkie John Wofford bested the field of 59 anglers, 14 of which were from Oklahoma. Wofford finished 1st with 93" but most impressive were his 3 biggest bass being smallmouth at 21", 20.25", and 19.50". Oklahomans weren't surprised with the giant smallmouth caught, as Chimney Rock  briefly held the OK state record Smallmouth at 8lbs, 1 OZ.

NSKA Pumpback Link: https://tourneyx.com/app/tourney/nska-nwa-pumpback  

The re-upping of the Border Battle was hatched between OKA president Avery Metcalf and NSKA president Taylor Frizzell after the June event on Chimney Rock. Frizzell, Metcalf and NSKA board member Kyle Long have been working on the details since September. Long had this to say about the upcoming Border Battle: " I'm really excited about this event. I wasn't around for the first one so this will be new to me. Its so rare...these are the people that you compete against and try and beat all season to now be fishing as teammates...the ability to help your club become the winning club is a really cool deal regardless of how you personally finish. I cant wait! "The tournament will be for 2020 state championship qualifiers from each club. The total amount of inches from the same amount of anglers from each club will be compiled to find the winning club. The club who brings the least amount of anglers will set the number. There will still be an individual aspect to the derby with the top 10 % of anglers being paid and the angler who catches the biggest bass will receive $100. The awards will be held at Mazzios in Locust Grove with pizza being provided by the OKA. Hope to see you there and tight lines!  







John Wofford's 21"



21.50" Bass from a 2019 event on Chimney Rock caught by Luke Aryan


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