Oklahoma Kayak Anglers

 By Kong Xiong The expectations are higher than ever for the 2021 OKA season and to be honest if a fish is not over 20" there is nothing to talk about. They are often referred to as mondos, tubs, toads, tanks, hawgs, ditch pandas, biggins, big mama, bucketmouth, full grown stud, slaunch, donkeys or jaints. It doesnt matter what you and your friends call them, everyone craves the adrenaline of a big bass battle. More importantly, the satisfaction of the social media post. A couple of years ago a 5 fish limit totaling 95 inches in an online event such as Toadfest or Dog Days was a good stringer worthy of a top 10 finish. Now, 95 inches wont even get you in the top 15. So, if you want to be in contention to win an online event you have to start looking for fish bigger than 20 inches. With many anglers taking a big bass mentality approach to fishing, many anglers will now catch their personal best or "pb", because their minds are focused on big fish.  Now that big fish are o...

  The 3rd installment of the OKA Angler Spotlight continues with an angler out of the Oklahoma City area Treavus Gage. Gage a family man who is married with 3 kids has called OKC home since the early 90s. " I was born and raised in Hugo, Oklahoma and I moved to OKC in 1992." Gage has fished with the OKA for several seasons now and is looking forward to a breakout 2021 season. However, Gage hasn't always targeted bass and is just recently entering the competitive fishing scene.  "I bought my first kayak to fish for crappie. I was looking for someone to fish with so I Googled kayak fishing in Oklahoma and that's how I discovered the Oklahoma Kayak Anglers. I viewed OKA Facebook page and decided to ask to join the group. I never had fished for bass but thought it would be cool to enter the tournaments." As every angler knows bass fishing can be humbling and add tournament angling to the list the sport can be downright frustrating. " I didn't have conf...

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 wo...

By: Chris Jones I was born and raised in Henryetta, Oklahoma fishing local ponds, Eufuala, and Dripping Springs. My grandfather taught me more than I can even remember, focusing more so on soft plastics than anything. This year was my first year with the OKA, and I used the knowledge that he gave me to secure 20th overall, and runner up for NOY.  Chris Jones I served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard for 10 years, finally 'retiring' at the beginning of this year, in which I now do finish carpentry for new residential housing. It gives me adequate time to prefish and fish in most tournaments. I hurt myself this year by not participating in the two monthly tournaments for the OKA in which I believe I could of maybe taken the first spot for NOY or moved up into the top ten for AOY. I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle for the most part by playing volleyball, softball, and golfing. When the weather doesn't permit the outdoor activities I enjoy, you'll usually see me sitt...

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 t...

By: Jason Scott Thomas I grew up in Henryetta, OK. That put me in frequent great fishing at Eufaula, Dripping Springs, and Okmulgee Lake with my dad, who tournament fished in the 80’s/90’s. I learned a great deal from him, and he always let me try new things (just don’t get hung up too much). I still learn from him, we all forget some great memories, but he doesn’t forget colors, weather, and where at when it comes to fishing. I bet a lot of us know that feeling. I’m now a dad and teaching my boys about fishing, and I love it. I have an incredible and beautiful wife, and two boys (4 & 2) who keep me ready to take on each and every day. For work, I’m the HR leader at Boeing (Oklahoma City) where we work on and support Military and Defense aerospace products (this video still pumps me up  https://youtu.be/HvxfarP5ENY ). My other hobby/passions are golf (lowest I’ve ever been is a 3 handicap), and collecting/selling sports cards (Vintage, specific modern…my kayak and electronics w...

I began fishing competitive kayak tournaments in 2018 and it was a trial by fire. I was new to fishing lakes and reservoirs as I had grown up walking, wading, and canoeing the small creeks and rivers of northeastern, Oklahoma. Obviously I was hooked fishing 12 tournaments excluding jackpots. The lakes were new and exciting and I had little to no experience on any of them. It was during that 2018 season where I learned what my strengths were for success. Small, moving water with hard to find access points. If it was available to fish I would locate an access point on the main inflow of the tournament lake and make that the focus of my tournament day. This water is routinely over looked by tournament anglers, but fished correctly can pay dividends on tournament day.    1. Fish are more condensed        Bass are creatures of habit and follow seasonal changes and weather patterns to migrate from deep water to shallow water and back again. However, in ...