Skip to main content

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


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lakes and Regions of Oklahoma

If you have ever traveled more than 2 hours to fish in the state of Oklahoma chances are you have crossed through, in, and out of several distinct regions of this great state. Oklahoma has 10 ecological regions that include: The Gypsum Hills, Wichita Mountains, Red Bed Plains, Sandstone Hills, Arbuckle Mountains, Red River Plains, Ouachita Mountains, and the Ozark Plateau. Each one of the ecological regions have different climates, annual rainfalls, soil, and landscapes that can and do effect the way we fish lakes in each region. Oklahoma has 52 major lakes that are 1,000 acres or more in size. Additionally, there are over 3,000 lakes and ponds that are 10 acres or greater in size, containing a total of 1,049 square miles of water and 10,384 miles of shoreline. Moreover, these waters are separated into Watershed Planning Regions. These regions are as follows: Panhandle, West Central, Southwest, Beaver - Cache, Central, Lower Washita, Blue - Boggy, Eufaula, Lower Arkansas, Grand, Midd...
Post a Comment
Read more

2021 OKA POWER Rankings, AOY, NOY and Much More

The 2021 OKA season is upon us and if you thought the 2020 trail events were a big deal just wait until you see what we got going on in 2021! As normal the OKA trail will crisscross the great regions of this state with a large pool of talented anglers in tow. Last season the OKA came out with its inaugural Power Rankings listing the top 15 anglers who are on the rise for the upcoming season. With the record attendance of 2020 the OKA has decided to expand the PWR Rankings to the top 25. These 25 anglers are expected to fill the top of leaderboards, challenge for AOY, SPOY, KBF, and BASS Qualifications throughout the OKA trail season.  The top 25 will be at the bottom of this article but before you scroll past make sure to check out what else we have going on for 2021!  AOY Champion Jason Ray Angler of the Year Competitors top 5 finishes will be compiled and the angler with the highest score will be the 2021 Angler of the Year Champion. The AOY Champ will receive: $1,000 paymen...
Post a Comment
Read more

HOW and Why

Last weekend the Oklahoma Kayak Anglers hosted a 2-day online charity tournament named the Freedom Fighters online charity fundraiser. This event was a benefit tournament with all proceeds donated to Heroes on the Water Northeastern Oklahoma Chapter. The OKA donated $585 to HOW NEO Chapter. "We are very appreciative of the donation to our chapter. It will be used to update gear and chapter operations" - Casey Fugett - Chapter Coordinator.  Heroes on the Water is a veterans and first responder organization whose mission is to help warriors relax, rehabilitate and reintegrate through kayak fishing and the outdoors . HOW  has chapters all across the United States, as well as Australia and the United Kingdom. When choosing to partner with HOW Northeastern Oklahoma Chapter, veteran and OKA board member Luke Aryan had this to say: "I have spent my entire life fishing in some way shape or form, and it helped me and continues to help me cope with stress and day to day life....
Post a Comment
Read more