Practicing During the Offseason with AOY Champ Jason Ray

By Avery Metcalf

As everyone is excited to kiss 2020 goodbye, the new 2021 season brings exciting opportunities for competitive kayak fishing. This time last year I was coming off a frustrating and disappointing 2019 OKA season. I had finished 14th in the AOY standings and failed to make the money cut in every event I competed in except the Hobie BOS Satellite Event on Lake Tenkiller were I finished 3rd and cashed a $500 check. Several other anglers had lower than expected AOY finishes including 2020 Angler of the Year Jason Ray, who finished 7th in the 2019 AOY standings. After all the 2019 tournaments had ended and the new 2020 schedule was released anglers Luke Aryan, Jason Ray, and I decided to keep fishing throughout the offseason and did it pay off! Luke Aryan caught more inches in a single event than any other OKA angler in history at 105.25" at the Sooner Lake Fundraiser. I improved by 7 places in the final 2020 AOY standings and cashed a check at OKA Event # 8 and even won an RVKA event. However, OKA angler Jason Ray turned offseason practice into a monumental 2020 season winning 2 trail events, finishing within the money most of the time and winning the 2020 Angler of the Year. This article will be a step by step approach to improving your tournament fishing by practicing throughout the offseason .

Prefishing Lone Chimney Last November 

1. Research: In todays techno savvy world there is a plethora of ways an angler can get ready for a tournament before driving to the ramp. Video tutorials, tournament vlogs, past derby results, Google Maps, Google Earth, word of mouth, electronics etc. One can easily lose sight of what is valuable information and what is not in terms of catching bass at the given body of water at the correct time of year. Before you launch the kayak know what type of structure youll be fishing and at what depth along with a relative idea of normal vs muddy or turbid water conditions. These factors alone can narrow down bait selections for making the puzzle much more simple and concise.

  

 Know the Structure 

2. Have a Plan: How many times have you put together a path or direction to fish on a new lake on the way to the ramp and ended up not following it at all? More times than not this leads to fishing dead water, not following a pattern and leaving your tournament day up to the junk fishing Gods. Moreover, finding a stable weather day to get out and fish during the winter months can be challenging given you might not have all day to fish. Simply having this thought process in mind can help immensely: "I'm going to launch and head North and hit a bluff wall first thing, then cross the lake and mark some offshore stumps in that flat by the marina, then mark some channel swing banks before heading back to the ramp." Making a simple plan such as that can have a huge impact on efficiently breaking down a lake. 

Mark way points 

3. Don't Worry About Catching a Bass: I try to catch the most biggest bass every time I hit the water, every angler does and its a good mentality to have. However, keep in mind fishing in late fall and winter is very different than fishing during March - October. Air temps, water temps, turbidity, forage, and fishing pressure will all change drastically before derby day. "The best advice I can tell any angler is to get out on the water even when its not the best of conditions just to get out and learn something about yourself as an angler." added Ray. 

                                                       

Although disappointing drum can be fun

4. Try New Techniques: Every angler has his or her strengthens for catching bass but new tools should be added every year. Ray will focus on weaknesses or tweak his confidence baits. " Each season I like to pick a bait and work on it in the colder months, things like deep cranks, chatterbaits, and Carolina rigs." Ray doesn't stop with just baits either. " Learning a new bait is very important but so is fine tuning a bait that you are already good with. When I say fine tuning that could mean a new rod that specifically for a bait or even something as small as changing the line from 16lb to 14lb. All these small changes could be the difference between placing and winning."  

                   

Chatterbait

In conclusion the OKA is a very competitive league from top to bottom. With stout, experienced anglers to diverse fisheries it can be tough to make the top 10 let alone the money cut. This is what drives me to be a better angler and the process is year around for me and many anglers alike. When its much easier to stay home Ray separates himself from the field. "Its the days when you haven't caught a fish in 6hrs and your ready to go home and get in your warm bed, that's when you find out what it takes to win. That's when you find another spot or a new bait and land a fish."