I would like to start off by saying that I have fished my entire life, looking back throughout my young life, fishing may have not been the priority at that moment in time but it was the first thing I did when I had nothing else on the schedule. With that being said fishing kayak tournaments without a doubt have made me a better angler, outdoorsman, and fan of the sport of bass fishing. I can remember walking the clear creeks of northeastern, Oklahoma looking for that 5 pounder around the next bend, or riding my bike around the greater Catoosa area trying to find that loaded pond or strip pit. Later I was driving my 1990, 5 speed Ford Ranger to the local hotspot. Fast-forward a few years later and I was off to college at Northeastern State in Tahlequah having the Illinois River and Barron fork Creek at my disposal. Both the river and creek are outstanding places to fish and I couldn't get enough. I loved fishing the Illinois River so much I applied for a job at War Eagle Resort and ended up working there for 10 summers. Most days off I was floating down the river catching brownies, big largemouth and the occasional spotted bass or two. Life was great! But all good things must come to an end.
A river largie
I graduated from Northeastern State and moved back to the Tulsa area and started a new job and again fishing was not the priority but still something I did when I had the chance. I had bought my first kayak to fish out of in 2008 and a Jackson Coosa in 2013. With the river a little too far away, I began to find local lakes to take the Coosa to and man was the transition tough! I was able to catch a few small bass here and there and if I didn't land any that day I just shrugged my shoulders and said " They weren't biting today." It was several days in a row of not finding a bite which made me want to find more out of kayak fishing.
The Coosa
I can still remember the day and the lake. It was a very hot July day at Claremore Lake and I had been out several days prior and hadn't landed a bass in two previous trips out. I knew this had to be the day I was going to slay-em. And slay - em I did not, it was very hot, very windy, and I had lost my interest and will to even be out there. I can remember flipping my jig to a laydown and thinking "why even make a cast. " I left the ramp soon after, thinking about selling the Coosa and my gear and moving on to another hobby. I needed to find a change and find it quickly!
A few weeks had went by and a friend and co-worker of mine from War Eagle had found a jackpot hosted by Rivertown Outfitters on Lake Tenkiller and he challenged me to go. I left work early that day and drove to the meetup ramp. Long story short I landed a 21", inch bass and bested the field. That's right! I won my first kayak tournament and was hooked from there! I hung on every cast I made, every flip and every bait I used mattered. Previously in all my trips none of that had mattered to me. Instantly I was thinking about how I could've caught more, line choice, lure selection, retrieve the whole bit. I was revolutionized, revitalized and couldn't wait until the next one.
The blurry 21" Tenkiller bass
I began fishing with the Oklahoma Kayak Anglers in March of 2018 and it was a trial by fire. I had never been to Sportsman Lake and of course I had little experience fishing before April. I showed up in shorts, a light jacket, no lights, and 3 rods. In fact the first hour of the tournament I fished in the dark. I had no lights, I literally couldn't see in front of the kayak. I had scowered Google Maps leading up to the event and watched a lot of YouTube fishing videos. Two things I really hadn't done before. Surprisingly enough the very first bass I hooked into that day was a 21" monster! I only landed 4 keepers that day but that was good enough to finish 4th place out of 54 anglers. I felt if I only caught 1 more keeper I would've made a run at 1st. I was determined, hungry and ready to set the bass fishing world on fire! Watch out KVD! The very next event I was able to catch 5 keepers by lines out caught my personal best bass at that time a 22.75" giant and won the tournament by beating the angler that had won the last event, Danny Bowen. I felt that I had arrived.
The very first bass I caught with the OKA
Now beginning my 4th season with the OKA I have branched out to events on legendary fisheries such as Lake Fork in Texas, Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas and events in Kansas and all reaches of Oklahoma. I have landed bass I wouldn't have dreamed of catching before tournament fishing. I fish year round and now regularly find bass at new fishing holes that I otherwise wouldn't have even known about. Im constantly looking for an edge against the competition such as: research, map study, tackle and gear buying, practicing, honing, and reinventing myself and my angling skills. I try to be a better angler every time I hit the water. None which would have transpired had I not found competitive kayak fishing. Good Luck and Tight Lines!
The 3 largest bass I've ever caught. All during tournaments
22.75 Ardmore City Lakes
22.75 Dripping Springs Lake
22.50 TOC Lake Fork
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