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Bass Fishing Main Lake: When to Choose Deep Structure Over Creek Arms

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Understanding bass fishing main lake versus creek strategies can dramatically improve your catch rates. While creek arms offer obvious advantages, mastering main lake patterns separates successful anglers from those struggling to find consistent fish.

Main lake bass fishing focuses on primary structure like points, humps, and deep ledges connected to the main body of water. However, knowing when to abandon creek fishing for main lake opportunities requires understanding seasonal transitions and fish behavior patterns.

Why Bass Fishing Main Lake Dominates Certain Seasons

During spring transition, bass fishing main lake areas provides several key advantages over creek fishing. First, main lake structure holds larger concentrations of staging bass preparing for spawning activities. Additionally, these areas offer more predictable seasonal movements as bass follow established migration routes.

Furthermore, main lake areas typically maintain more stable water conditions compared to creek arms that fluctuate with weather changes. Consequently, bass fishing main lake locations often produces larger average fish sizes due to deeper water sanctuaries and abundant forage.

Seasonal Strategies: Main Lake vs Creek Timing

Early Spring (Water 45-55°F)

Initially, bass fishing main lake requires targeting deep structure in 15-25 feet of water. Meanwhile, creek arms may seem appealing due to slightly warmer temperatures, but main lake points hold concentrated schools of lethargic bass.

On lakes like Table Rock and Beaver Lake, focus on main lake points where creek channels intersect deeper water. Similarly, Tenkiller’s main lake humps produce better early spring results than shallow creek arms.

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Peak Spring Transition (Water 55-65°F)

As spring progresses, bass fishing main lake becomes even more critical. During this period, bass use main lake structure as highways between winter sanctuaries and spawning areas. Moreover, main lake points adjacent to creek mouths create perfect ambush locations.

Subsequently, target transitional areas where main lake structure meets spawning flats. These locations concentrate bass during their most aggressive feeding periods before spawning activities begin.

Post-Spawn Period (Water 65°F+)

After spawning, bass fishing main lake excels because exhausted bass seek deep water recovery areas. Unlike creek arms that may lack sufficient depth, main lake structure provides immediate access to deeper sanctuaries.

Additionally, post-spawn bass often school on main lake humps and points, making them easier to locate than scattered creek fish. Therefore, focus your efforts on main lake areas during summer transition periods.

Proven Bass Fishing Main Lake Baits and Techniques

Deep Water Presentations

For bass fishing main lake structure effectively, use football head jigs in 1/2 to 3/4 ounce sizes. These baits excel on rocky main lake points common on Table Rock and Beaver Lake. Furthermore, brown and green pumpkin colors match natural crawfish found around main lake structure.

Carolina rigs also dominate bass fishing main lake scenarios, particularly on deeper humps and ledges. Use 1/2 to 1 ounce weights with 18-24 inch leaders to cover expansive main lake flats efficiently.

Transitional Area Tactics

Medium diving crankbaits prove essential for bass fishing main lake points and channel swings. Specifically, target 8-15 foot depths where bass stage during seasonal movements. Natural shad patterns work exceptionally well on clear lakes like Tenkiller.

Drop shot rigs excel when bass fishing main lake suspended over deep structure. This technique particularly shines on main lake humps where bass hold at specific depths above bottom structure.

Advanced Main Lake Location Strategies

Successful bass fishing main lake requires understanding structure relationships. Look for main lake points that intersect creek channels, creating depth and cover combinations. These areas concentrate bass during multiple seasonal periods.

Additionally, focus on main lake humps with quick access to spawning areas. Bass use these structures as staging areas before and after spawning activities. On Beaver Lake, underwater humps between major creek arms consistently hold bass throughout spring.

Moreover, target main lake ledges and channel drops that provide thermal refuges. These areas become critical during temperature fluctuations when creek areas become too unstable.

Kayak-Specific Main Lake Considerations

Bass fishing main lake from kayaks presents unique challenges and opportunities. Initially, main lake areas expose you to larger waves and weather changes compared to protected creek arms. Therefore, always monitor weather conditions closely and plan escape routes to protected areas.

However, kayaks offer stealth advantages when bass fishing main lake structure. Your quiet approach prevents spooking bass on main lake points that receive heavy boat traffic. Additionally, kayaks allow precise positioning over specific structure that larger boats cannot access effectively.

Fishing Tips

Bass Fishing Secondary Points in Spring: Hidden Structure for Big Bass

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When bass fishing secondary points spring season, most anglers miss the best opportunities. While everyone crowds main lake points, smart anglers target secondary points – subtle underwater ridges that hold unpressured bass during spring transitions.

Secondary points are smaller structures extending from main points or running perpendicular to shorelines. During spring, these areas become critical staging zones as bass move from deep winter locations toward spawning areas.

bass fishing secondary points spring

Why Secondary Points Dominate Spring Bass Fishing

Bass fishing secondary points spring success comes from understanding fish behavior. Unlike main points that drop quickly into deep water, secondary points offer gradual depth changes perfect for transitioning bass. These fish are aggressive feeders positioned to ambush baitfish using the same migration routes.

Therefore, secondary points receive less pressure because they’re harder to identify than obvious main lake structures. This means more opportunities for consistent catches when other anglers struggle.

Types of Secondary Points for Spring Bass

Finger Ridges: Narrow underwater ridges extending from shorelines into deeper water, typically found in creek arms and secondary coves.

Saddle Points: Areas connecting two ridges, especially transition zones where bass stage during spring movement patterns.

Inside Turn Points: Points facing protected coves that warm faster in spring and concentrate baitfish.

Hump Extensions: Small ridges running off main lake humps, receiving minimal fishing pressure.

Creek Channel Points: Inside bends where old creek channels turn, combining depth, structure, and current flow.

Finding Secondary Points with Electronics

Successful bass fishing secondary points spring requires proper electronics use. Such as side imaging that reveals underwater ridges invisible from the surface. Look for subtle depth variations and bottom composition changes indicating secondary structure.

Down imaging helps understand exact bottom composition and locate specific targets like stumps or rocks. Study contour maps carefully – secondary points appear as subtle extensions in depth lines where multiple contours converge.

Best Baits for Bass Fishing Secondary Points Spring

Jigs

Jigs excel for bass fishing secondary points spring because of their versatility. Use 1/2 oz football head jigs, like a War Eagle Pro, with craw trailers on rocky secondary points, or 3/8 oz flipping jigs around wood and vegetation. Green pumpkin, brown/orange, and black/blue are proven colors. Jigs work multiple depths and handle various bottom compositions perfectly.

Carolina Rig

The Carolina rig dominates deeper secondary points where bass stage before moving shallow. Therefore, ig 1/2 to 3/4 oz weights with 18-24 inch leaders tied to 3/0 or 4/0 hooks. Soft plastics like YUM lizards, brush hogs, or creature baits in natural colors work best. Carolina rigs excel at fishing deeper edges where larger bass often stage.

Medium Diving Crankbaits

Medium diving crankbaits like a Bandit 200 series cover water efficiently on secondary points. Choose running depths matching your secondary point depth – typically 6-12 feet in spring. Natural shad patterns work in clear water, while chartreuse/blue or fire tiger produce in stained conditions.

Kayak-Specific Secondary Point Strategies

Bass fishing secondary points spring from kayaks offers unique advantages. Your stealth allows quiet approaches that don’t spook fish. Approach from deep water and work shallow, using your paddle as an anchor in soft bottom.

Cast parallel to secondary point edges rather than straight at them. This keeps baits in strike zones longer and appears more natural to staged bass. Your lower profile enables casting angles impossible from larger boats.

Mount fish finders where you can see them while paddling and fishing. Drop waypoints immediately when marking fish or structure – secondary points can be subtle and difficult to relocate.

Timing Your Secondary Point Approach

Early Morning: Start with medium diving crankbaits to cover water and locate active fish in low light conditions.

Mid-Day: Switch to jigs and Carolina rigs as bass move to deeper edges. Work slowly as fish become less aggressive in bright conditions.

Late Afternoon: Return to crankbaits as bass move up to feed during changing light conditions.

Seasonal Timing for Maximum Success

Early Spring (45-55°F): Focus on deeper secondary points in 12-18 feet. Bass are staging but not committed to moving shallow. Carolina rigs and slow jigs produce best.

Mid-Spring (55-65°F): Prime time for bass fishing secondary points spring. Bass actively use these areas as highways to spawning locations. All three baits can produce depending on conditions.

Late Spring (65°F+): Secondary points become holding areas for post-spawn bass recovering from spawning stress. Target points with deeper water access where bass can quickly escape pressure.

Putting It All Together

Success with bass fishing secondary points spring requires systematic approach and patience. Start by studying electronics and maps to identify potential areas. Once on water, begin with medium diving crankbaits to cover water and locate active fish.

When you contact bass, slow down and work the area thoroughly with jigs and Carolina rigs. Pay attention to specific depth ranges and bottom composition where fish are holding – this pattern often repeats on similar secondary points throughout your fishing area.

Remember that secondary points shine brightest during spring transition periods. While other anglers fight crowds on obvious structure, you’ll be catching bass from overlooked areas that receive minimal pressure.

The key to consistent bass fishing secondary points spring success is understanding that these subtle structures serve as highways for moving bass. Position yourself to intercept these fish during their spring movements, and you’ll discover some of the most productive and underutilized fishing spots on any lake.

Secondary points represent the perfect combination of fish-holding structure and low fishing pressure. Master these techniques, and you’ll have a significant advantage during spring bass fishing season.

Carolina Rig Summer Bass Fishing Setup
Fishing Tips

Flipping Lily Pads from a Kayak: How to Work Heavy Cover Without Getting Stuck

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There’s something about lily pad fishing that gets every bass angler fired up. Maybe it’s the visual – knowing bass are lurking under that green canopy. Or maybe it’s the challenge of getting your bait through the slop without losing half your tackle box.

Flipping lily pads from a kayak becomes a whole different game. You’re sitting low to the water, working tight spaces, and dealing with cover that can turn into a nightmare if you don’t have the right approach.

Flipping lily pads from a kayak kayakfishingfocus.com

Why Lily Pads Hold Bass

Bass use lily pads the same way we use umbrellas – they provide shade, cover, and ambush points. The stems create structure underneath, and the canopy blocks sunlight while providing oxygen. During summer months, lily pads become bass magnets because they offer everything fish need: cover, food, and cooler water temperatures.

The key is understanding that not all lily pad areas are created equal. You want to find edges, pockets, and transitions rather than just bombing casts into the thickest stuff you can find.

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Setup for Flipping Lily Pads from a Kayak

Rod Selection A 7-foot heavy action flipping stick minimum. I prefer 7’3″ or 7’6″ for the extra leverage when pulling fish out of cover. From a seated position in a kayak, that extra length helps with hook sets and keeping fish from diving back into the pads.

Line Choice Straight 17-25 lb fluorocarbon or 50-65 lb braid. Forget about leader setups – you need the strength to horse bass out of cover. Fluorocarbon gives you better abrasion resistance against stems, while braid cuts through vegetation better. My preferred brand for line is P-Line – for both fluoro or braid.

Reel Considerations High-speed retrieve reel, 7:1 gear ratio or higher. When a bass hits in the pads, you need to get them moving toward open water immediately.

Bait Selection That Actually Works

Beaver-Style Baits YUM Wooly Bug, or similar style baits. These baits push water, have good bulk, and the appendages create action even on a slow fall. Rig them Texas style with a 1/2 to 3/4 oz tungsten weight.

Creature Baits YUM Christie Critter or similar designs work well when bass want something with more subtle action. The key is matching bait size to cover thickness – heavier cover needs bigger baits.

Color Selection Black and blue in stained water, green pumpkin in clearer conditions. When fishing thick mats, darker colors show better contrast against the green background.

Kayak Positioning and Approach

Here’s where flipping lily pads from a kayak gets tricky. You can’t just paddle into the middle of a pad field and start flipping. The vegetation will grab your paddle, spin your kayak, and turn the whole experience into a wrestling match.

Work the Edges First Start on the outside edges and work your way in. Look for natural openings, creek channels that cut through the pads, or areas where the cover breaks up. These transition zones hold the most active fish.

Use Wind to Your Advantage Let the wind push you along the edge rather than fighting it with constant paddle corrections. This keeps you quieter and lets you focus on fishing instead of boat control.

Anchor Points In thicker cover, use the vegetation itself as an anchor. Grab a handful of stems to hold position, make your casts, then move to the next spot. Don’t try to paddle through – work with the cover.

Presentation Techniques

The Flip and Rip Method Make short, accurate flips into pockets and openings. Let the bait fall, give it a couple twitches, then rip it back out if nothing happens. Don’t waste time working dead water.

Punching Through When you need to get through the mat, use a heavier weight (1 oz or more) and punch straight down. Let it fall to the bottom, work it a few times, then bring it back up. Bass often hit on the fall or as the bait breaks back through the surface.

Walking the Edges Focus on irregular edges where the pads meet open water. Bass use these transition areas as highways. Work parallel to the edge, hitting every pocket and indentation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Fighting Fish in the Pads The biggest mistake is trying to finesse a bass out of heavy cover. When you get bit, lean into that fish immediately. Get their head up and moving toward open water. Hesitate for even a second, and they’ll wrap you around every stem in the area.

Ignoring Water Depth Not all lily pads are created equal. Focus on areas where the pads grow in 3-8 feet of water rather than the shallow stuff. Deeper pads usually hold bigger fish and more of them.

Reading Lily Pad Water

The best lily pad areas have variation. Look for:

  • Depth changes along the edge
  • Creek channels cutting through the pads
  • Areas where the pads thin out or thicken up
  • Points and pockets in the vegetation line
  • Isolated patches separated from the main pad field

When to Fish Lily Pads

Early morning and late evening produce the best action, but don’t ignore midday fishing. Bass often move tighter to cover during bright conditions, making them easier targets for flipping presentations.

Overcast days can turn lily pad fishing into an all-day affair. The low light conditions keep bass active and feeding throughout the pad edges.

Making the Most of Limited Time

From a kayak, you can’t cover as much water as a bass boat, so efficiency matters. Pick one section of pads and work it thoroughly rather than bouncing around. Spend 15-20 minutes in an area before moving on.

Focus on the highest percentage spots first – edges, points, and openings. Save the experimental fishing for when you’ve worked the obvious stuff.

Bringing It All Together

Flipping lily pads from a kayak takes practice, but once you dial it in, it becomes one of the most productive techniques in your arsenal. The ability to get into areas that bigger boats can’t reach, combined with the stealth advantage of a kayak, gives you access to bass that rarely see lures.

Start with the basics – heavy gear, the right baits, and smart positioning. Work the edges before diving into thick cover. And remember, when you get bit in the pads, there’s no such thing as being too aggressive on the hookset.

The explosion of a bass coming through lily pads never gets old. Neither does the satisfaction of pulling a 4-pounder out of cover that looked impossible to fish.

Get out there and flip some pads. Your biggest bass of the season might be sitting under the next patch of green.

Looking for quality flipping gear that can handle heavy cover? Check out Lurenet.com for tackle that’s built to last – and don’t forget to use code KINCY15 for 15% off your order.

Spring Bass Flipping: Target Shallow Cover for Spawning Bass
Fishing Tips

Best Kayak Fishing Baits for May: 5 Proven Bass Catchers for Spring

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May bass fishing from a kayak is something special. Water temps are hitting that sweet spot. Post-spawn bass are settling into summer patterns. Your kayak can sneak into shallow coves where the action heats up. After spending countless mornings paddling Ozark highland reservoirs, I’ve figured out which spring bass fishing baits actually work from the kayak seat.

These aren’t just random tackle box suggestions – these are the baits that have consistently put bass in my kayak during May fishing season, year after year.

kayak fishing baits for May

1. Yum Dinger (Wacky Rigged Senko Style)

This plastic worm dominates my May kayak fishing for one simple reason – it catches bass when nothing else will. The Yum Dinger’s slow fall drives lethargic post-spawn bass crazy, especially in 3-6 feet of water around shallow cover.

From a kayak, you can position yourself right over productive spots without spooking fish. I’ll wacky rig a 5-inch green pumpkin Dinger. Then, I’ll work it through submerged timber or around rocky points where bass are recovering from the spawn.

Why it works from a kayak: Easy casting from a seated position, snag-resistant, and deadly effective in the shallow water highland reservoirs where kayaks excel.

2. Texas Rigged Plastic Worm – The Reliable Producer

Sometimes the old school approach just works. When May bass get finicky – and they will – a simple Texas rigged plastic worm keeps producing. I’m talking about a basic 7-inch ribbon tail worm in watermelon or junebug, rigged with a 1/4 oz bullet weight.

The methodical presentation that kayak fishing allows makes this bait shine. You can thoroughly work every piece of cover along the shoreline. This is something harder to do from a bass boat moving at higher speeds.

Highland reservoir tip: Focus on chunk rock banks and steep points in 8-12 feet of water during late May as bass transition to summer patterns.

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3. Heddon Zara Spook – Morning Topwater Magic

Starting May mornings with topwater is non-negotiable. The Zara Spook consistently outperforms other walking baits on clear highland reservoir water. The key is using a 7-foot rod minimum to get proper leverage for that walk-the-dog action from a seated position.

Early May mornings, when water temps hit 65-70 degrees, this bait triggers explosive strikes in shallow coves and around spawning flats.

Kayak advantage: You can follow moving schools of bass and work topwater baits in tight spaces where larger boats can’t maneuver.

4. Spinnerbait – The Search Bait

A 3/8 oz white spinnerbait with double willow blades covers water efficiently when you need to locate active May bass. This bait works around cover without constant hang-ups and adapts to different retrieve speeds as you work along structure.

In highland reservoirs, slow roll it over submerged timber in 6-10 feet of water. Or burn it past shallow rock piles during low-light periods.

Spring bass fishing tip: Chart and white spinnerbaits work well in slightly stained water after May thunderstorms.

5. Rebel Pop-R – Pocket Topwater

When the Zara Spook isn’t triggering strikes, switch to the Pop-R’s different action. This popping topwater bait excels in tight pockets and around shallow structure where post-spawn bass might be guarding fry.

The smaller profile works great from a kayak because you can make accurate casts to specific targets without overwhelming smaller areas with a massive surface disturbance. When considering the top kayak fishing baits for May, a Pop-R has to be in the list!

May Kayak Bass Fishing Strategy

Water temperature matters: Target 65-75 degree water for the most active bass. Use a fish finder or water thermometer to locate the right zones.

Structure focus: Creek channels, rocky points, and shallow flats near deeper water hold the most May bass on highland reservoirs.

Time of day: Start with topwater at dawn, transition to slower presentations as the sun gets higher.

Get Out There and Make It Happen

Here’s the thing about May bass fishing – you can read every article and watch every video, but none of it matters until you get that kayak on the water. May is hands down one of the best months to be paddling around highland reservoirs, chasing bass that are active and predictable.

Start simple. Grab a pack of Yum Dingers, tie on a spinnerbait, and hit the water early. Don’t overthink it. Some of my best May days happened when I stuck with just one or two baits and really focused on working them right.

The beauty of kayak fishing this time of year? Even when the bass aren’t cooperating, you’re still out there learning the water, finding new spots, and getting better at reading what the fish are telling you.

Water’s warming up, bass are moving shallow, and your kayak can get you places other anglers can’t reach.

Time to make it count.

Ready to gear up for your next kayak fishing trip? Check out Lurenet.com for quality tackle that actually works – and don’t forget to use code KINCY15 for 15% off your order.

Fishing Tips

Spring Bass Flipping: Target Shallow Cover for Spawning Bass

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That chilly spring morning reminded me why flipping shallow cover remains one of my favorite techniques for targeting pre-spawn and spawning bass. The 19-inch largemouth that crushed my YUM creature bait didn’t just happen by accident – it was the result of understanding spring bass behavior and putting the right presentation in the right place when spring bass flipping. Originally posted on Instagram as part of my Throwback Thursday series

Spring Bass Flipping

Why Spring Flipping Works

When water temperatures climb into the 50s and 60s, bass migrate from deeper winter spots toward shallow spawning areas. This creates incredible opportunities for anglers who understand where to look and how to present their baits.

Spring bass concentrate around specific shallow cover types: fallen trees, boat docks, brush piles, and rocky banks where current hits the shoreline. These areas provide protection, ambush points, and zones that warm faster than surrounding water.

Key Areas and Presentation

Target zones: Focus on laydowns, dock corners, brush piles in 3-8 feet, and rocky current breaks. Bass use these as staging areas before moving even shallower to spawn.

Bait selection: Creature baits excel for spring flipping. Their bulky profile and natural action trigger strikes from both active and neutral fish. Let the bait fall on controlled slack line, feeling for any tick or change in fall rate.

Essential gear: Heavy power rod, 17-20lb fluorocarbon line, and high gear ratio baitcaster. Heavy tackle is crucial for pulling fish out of thick cover. I use P-Line fluoro around wood, but will choose P-Line braid for heavy vegetation.

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Timing and Behavior

Bass spawn when water reaches the low to mid-60s, but start moving shallow in the upper 50s. This pre-spawn period often provides the best flipping action. Males move up first to prepare beds, followed by females – both become territorial and more likely to strike baits in their space.

Cold fronts push bass tighter to cover, making them perfect flipping targets. Don’t overlook midday periods during spring as water temperatures rise and bass become more active in shallow areas.

Gear Savings Tip

You can save on quality flipping baits like the Christie Critter at Lurenet.com using my discount code: KINCY15.

Spring flipping requires patience and precision, but understanding bass behavior and making small adjustments based on conditions leads to success. Every cast into shallow cover is an opportunity to connect with quality bass that have moved up from deeper water. Good luck this spring, especially flipping up close and hooking a big one!

Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for honest fishing reports, gear thoughts, and the occasional lesson learned the hard way. Save on quality fishing gear at Lurenet.com using discount code: KINCY15.

NSKA

2026 NSKA NWA Grime Away Table Rock West Recap: Wacky Wild West

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The second stop of the 2026 NSKA NWA season, sponsored by Grime Away NWA and fueled by Eco Fishing Shop, took us to the rugged west end of Table Rock Lake on April 11th. This event threw a challenge at the field for this one: a total ban on Forward Facing Sonar (FFS). For one day, the “video gamers” had to put down the remote and pick up the old-school intuition and playing hide and seek with the bass. For those that picked up the Wacky worm rig – they had a good day.

Conditions were quintessential Ozarks spring. We saw a high of 81°F and a low of 57°F under mostly cloudy skies, with a manageable 9 mph breeze. Table Rock historically has produced a lot of bass year round, the west end showed out for those who could read transition banks without a screen telling them where to throw. It was an incredible day for fish catches!

By the Numbers

  • Total Anglers: 43
  • Total Fish Caught: 402
  • Fish Per Angler: 9.35 (Insane total, maybe an all-time high?)
  • Anglers with at least one fish: 98% (42 of 43)
  • Limit %: 93% (41 of 43 anglers brought in a limiit)

The Leaderboard (Top 10)

The competition was incredibly tight, with the top spots separated by mere fractions of an inch. Jeriamy Vann took 1st place, with Seth Jones in 2nd, and Chris Robbs in 3rd. All three had big totals! Here is how the top of the pack shook out:

  1. Jeriamy Vann – 89.75″
  2. Seth Jones – 89.50″
  3. Chris Robbs – 88.25″
  4. Justin Mallot – 85.25″
  5. Tony Sorluangsana – 85.25″
  6. John Evans – 85.00″
  7. John Hall – 84.25″
  8. Jim Hall – 84.25″
  9. Tyler Zengerle – 84.25″
  10. Maurilio Gutierrez – 84.00″

Big Bass / Heavy Hitters

The Advanced Automotive Big Bass of the event belonged to our tournament winner, Jeriamy Vann. He landed a stout 20.25″ largemouth that anchored his winning bag.

Angler Roundtable: Top 3 Q&A

Recapping the 2026 NSKA NWA Table Rock West event are your top anglers – Jeriamy, Seth, and Chris, who share with us how they caught such big bags on Table Rock Lake in April.

1. What part of Table Rock did you go to and why?

  • Jeriamy Vann: I put in at Holiday Island Marina. I picked out a couple spots during the week, but I couldn’t make my mind up, so I made the decision to go there while driving in Saturday morning.
  • Seth Jones: I went to Eagle Rock. I had planned to mark brush piles with LiveScope during pre-fishing (since FFS was banned for the event), but those spots were private or closed. I settled on Eagle Rock as my backup.
  • Chris Robbs: I fished more towards the main lake. I was familiar with the area, and my pre-fish spots didn’t give me the confidence that winning fish were there.

2. What were the primary baits and techniques?

  • Jeriamy Vann: I caught all 5 keepers on a Watermelon Candy Senko worm, wacky rigged. They were in 2 feet of water or less on 10 to 30-degree banks with gravel and chunk rock.
  • Seth Jones: I started with a wacky rig but it was too slow. I actually bought a new rod and reel specifically for crankbaits for this event and stuck with that until noon.
  • Chris Robbs: My best 5 fish all came on a custom painted topwater bait by Council Bluff Crankbaits.

3. What was a key decision that made the difference?

  • Jeriamy Vann: Keying in on the specific bank angle and rock composition. Once I found they liked that gravel/chunk mix, I just hunted similar stuff the rest of the day.
  • Seth Jones: I marked every spot I caught a fish on the crankbait, then circled back later in the day with a 2.5-inch Hula Grub. That’s when the big upgrades happened.
  • Chris Robbs: Since I hadn’t pre-fished my primary area, I decided to cover water fast until I keyed in on how they were set up. Once I found them, it was on fire.

If you read these recaps and enjoy them, please do me a favor and take advantage of my discount code KINCY15 at Lurenet.com to buy War Eagle, Booyah, YUM, Bandit, Rebel, Heddon, Bobby Garland, or many other brands. Saves you 15% and helps me out. Thank you!

Ketch Angler of the Year (Top 25 Standings)

Two events are in the books for the 2026 NSKA NWA season, and the race for the Ketch Angler of the Year is already starting to separate the grinders from the one-hit wonders. In the Ozarks, consistency is the hardest thing to catch, and the current Top 25 represents the guys who have figured out how to pivot from the clear waters of Beaver to the rugged banks of Table Rock.

Here is the official Top 25 standings as we head toward the mid-season stretch after the 2026 NSKA NWA Table Rock West tourney.

2026 Ketch Angler of the Year: Top 25 Standings

RankAnglerBeaver NorthTable Rock WestTotal Points
1Seth Jones9699195
2John Hall9794191
3Tyler Zengerle9892190
4Maurillio Guitierez9391184
5Justin Malott8497181
6Levi Schneider10078178
7Danny Dutton9286178
8Tony Sorluangsana8196177
9Jason Adams9974173
10Kyle Long9181172
11Dwain Batey8979168
12Terrill Standifer9572167
13Josh Landreth8382165
14Jim Hall7293165
15James Haeberle7390163
16Nate Higgins9464158
17Jason Kincy6889157
18John Evans6295157
19Josh Goforth8667153
20Jose Abraham Garcia8271153
21Jeff Malott7675151
22Justin Wright7180151
23Justin Smith (R)7470144
24Richard Souvanaraj5885143
25Jamie Shumate6973142

Arvest Heavy Hitters (Top 25 Standings)

While the Angler of the Year race is about the grind and building up solid point totals, the Heavy Hitters race is about monster catches. This is the hunt for your biggest individual fish of each event, where a single cast can vault an angler past the field in the totals. Do it consistently through the season and you might just become a Heavy Hitters champion.

After two stops, the leaderboard is starting to see some separation between those who find the “dinks” and those who find the “kickers.” Jason Adams sits on top after two events with a golden 21″ in his bag that is a strong advantage early in the season. Danny Dutton, Seth Jones, and Nate Higgins all have 20″ or better in their totals so far.

2026 Arvest Heavy Hitters: Top 20 Standings

RankAnglerTable Rock WestBeaver NorthTotal Inches
1Jason Adams21.00″18.00″39.00″
2Danny Dutton20.50″17.00″37.50″
3Jason Kincy18.50″19.00″37.50″
4Seth Jones17.25″20.00″37.25″
5John Hall18.25″18.25″36.50″
6Levi Schneider18.50″17.75″36.25″
7Nate Higgins20.00″15.75″35.75″
8Terrill Standifer17.75″17.25″35.00″
9Maurillio Guitierez16.75″18.25″35.00″
10Justin Malott16.75″18.00″34.75″
11Tyler Zengerle17.00″17.25″34.25″
12Dwain Batey16.25″18.00″34.25″
13Jeff Malott15.00″19.00″34.00″
14Kyle Long16.50″17.25″33.75″
15Josh Goforth17.50″15.75″33.25″
16Justin Smith16.75″16.50″33.25″
17Jamie Shumate16.00″17.25″33.25″
18Josh Landreth15.75″17.25″33.00″
19Jose Abraham Garcia15.25″17.75″33.00″
20Tony Sorluangsana14.75″18.00″32.75″

A huge thank you to Eco Fishing Shop for being our title sponsor and supporting the NSKA NWA trail!

NSKA

2026 NSKA NWA Thai Spice Beaver Lake North Tournament Recap | Results, Patterns, and Big Bass

The 2026 NSKA NWA Thai Spice Beaver Lake North kayak fishing tournament brought 55 anglers to one of Arkansas’ most challenging bass fisheries. With water temperatures in the mid-50s and pre-spawn bass beginning to stage throughout the lake’s creeks and rocky transitions, competitors had to balance covering water with slowing down around high-percentage areas. In the end, consistent keeper bites—not giant bass—proved to be the winning formula.

Kayak bass anglers launched across the northern end of Beaver Lake chasing a five-fish limit measured by total inches. While limits were possible, the leaderboard revealed a tournament defined by consistency over giants. Many anglers found solid keeper bites in the mid-teens, but very few fish eclipsed the 18–20 inch mark that typically separate the top finishers from the rest of the field.

Beaver Lake Kayak Tournament Results

Levi Schneider put together the most consistent bag of the day, securing first place with 88.75 inches. Schneider’s winning limit was built on a series of high-quality Beaver Lake keepers:

  • 18.50″
  • 17.75″
  • 17.75″
  • 17.50″
  • 17.25″

Rather than relying on a giant kicker, Schneider’s victory came from stacking five fish between 17 and 18 inches—exactly the type of bag that often wins early-spring events on Beaver.

Jason Adams claimed second place with 83.75 inches, anchored by the biggest fish in the tournament, a 21.00″ largemouth. Tyler Zengerle rounded out the podium with 81.50 inches, while John Hall finished fourth with 81.00 inches and Seth Jones completed the top five with 80.25 inches.

Top 10 Finishers

  1. Levi Schneider – 88.75″
  2. Jason Adams – 83.75″
  3. Tyler Zengerle – 81.50″
  4. John Hall – 81.00″
  5. Seth Jones – 80.25″
  6. Terrill Standifer – 79.50″
  7. Nathan Higgins – 79.00″
  8. Maurilio Gutierrez – 78.25″
  9. Danny Dutton – 78.00″
  10. Kyle Long – 76.75″

The Big Bass award for the tournament went to Jason Adams, who landed a 21.00″ largemouth during the event. Large fish were relatively scarce during the tournament, making Adams’ 21-inch bass one of the standout catches of the day.

Out of the 55 anglers in the field, 45 anglers submitted at least one fish, meaning 81.8% of competitors recorded a catch.

However, filling a full five-fish limit proved much tougher.

Only 26 anglers landed a complete five-fish limit, meaning 47.3% of the field managed to fill a limit.

Across the entire field, anglers submitted 204 bass totaling approximately 3,083 inches of fish.

Breaking that down further:

  • Average fish per angler: 3.71
  • Average fish per angler who caught fish: 4.53
  • Average inches per angler: 56.1″
  • Average fish length: 15.1″

These numbers reinforce a classic Beaver Lake scenario—anglers could find keeper fish, but locating the larger pre-spawn females proved far more difficult.

Angler Roundtable

Once again, the top anglers of the tournament open up and share how it went down in a Beaver Lake kayak tournament in March!

1. What area did you fish and why go there?

Levi Schneider:
“I went to Indian Creek because I found a few coves that had a large population of fish and never found anything better elsewhere.”

Jason Adams:
“We fished Rocky Branch on Beaver Lake. I chose that area because it has a good mix of docks, rock, and deeper water close to the bank. This time of year the fish can slide up or pull back depending on conditions, and that area gives them that option.”

Tyler Zengerle:
“I chose to fish Prairie Creek simply because I have more familiarity with that area in the winter and early spring months than other parts of the lake. The thought of the boat tournament launching out of Prairie Creek almost made me change my mind the night before, but I decided to stick with my gut.”

2. Any techniques that worked for you to catch your fish?

Levi Schneider:
“I caught all of my fish on a 4.25″ Rapala Mooch Minnow and a Berkley Stunna +1.”

Jason Adams:
“Most of my fish came on a jig fishing docks and rock transitions. The biggest fish of the day came on a Neko rig with a morning dawn trick worm and a heavy nail weight. Slowing down and fishing deeper docks seemed to help.”

Tyler Zengerle:
“I started with a custom painted crankbait, painted by none other than Dwain Batey himself. I caught my first three fish off of it in back-to-back-to-back casts in the first fifteen minutes.”

3. What fish was most important?

Levi Schneider:
“My most important fish was probably my 17.75″ smallmouth that reassured me my smallies were still close to where I had found them before, which led to my 18.50″ smallmouth.”

Jason Adams:
“The last fish of the day without question. Catching that smallmouth on the final cast and getting the picture submitted with seconds left is what gave me a full limit.”

Tyler Zengerle:
“My most important fish was probably the 16.25″ chunky spotted bass that came at 11:45 and helped me secure third. That was my last cull of the day. Without it I would have placed fifth.”

4. Who has influenced you the most regarding your love for bass fishing?

Levi Schneider:
“I couldn’t necessarily say one person influenced me more than the others, but my dad for sure got me started with trout, crappie, and multiple saltwater species. In high school the Googan Squad got me more into bass fishing, and then all the top pro level events got me hooked to where I’m at today.”

Jason Adams:
“My dad started it all for me. He put a fishing rod in my hands when I was young and we spent a lot of time on the water together. These days getting to fish tournaments with Mandie and share that experience with her has made it even better.”

Tyler Zengerle:
“My mom was my biggest influence growing up. She had a 17-foot aluminum Tracker boat that she would take me fishing in, and we’d go catch whatever would bite nightcrawlers.”

Discount on Lurenet, Booyah Baits, YUM baits, war eagle lures, great lakes finesse, Bobby Garland

AOY Race and Heavy Hitters

It’s the first event of the year, so not much news on the AOY front beyond the top 10 finishers. More to come down the road. Until then, here is the Angler of the Year sheet for your reference.

Heavy Hitters is off and running as well, this one had some big fish caught, especially for Beaver Lake. Jason Adams, Danny Dutton, and Nate Higgins are out of the gate with giants in this first one. Complete Heavy Hitters Standings for your reference.

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2025 NWA NSKA Classic Championship Recap / AOY / End of Season Awards

The 2025 Moments by Mandie Photography Classic Championship and Eco Fishing Shop Trail finale on Beaver Lake delivered a championship weekend full of surprise twists and some great performances, perfectly capping off a great season by a talented group of bass anglers. The fickle nature of Beaver Lake, despite beautiful weather, proved to be the defining trend of the weekend, resulting in a dramatic leaderboard “flip” on Day 2 as the Dead Sea had one last laugh for 2025.

Classic Championship Results: The Day 1 Jinx

The most significant trend of the Classic was the massive shift in performance between the two days of competition. Consistently in a two day tournament this time of year can be challenging, and the top finishers were the ones who could keep it together.

  • Only one angler from the Day 1 Top 5—Levi Schneider—managed to put together a quality Day 2 bag and finish in the money.
  • Day 1 leaders like Josh Landreth (1st after Day 1 with 86.25″) and Nate Higgins (2nd after Day 1 with 84.25″) and Jason Kincy (3rd with 83.75″) and Richard Souvannaraj (4th with 83.75″) tumbled out of the final cash spots after day two, finishing 7th, 8th, 17th, and 18th, respectively.
  • The ultimate top finishers (Schneider, Zengerle, and Hall) all found a way to significantly improve or maintain their standing on a tougher Day 2, demonstrating their consistency and performance under pressure.
  • For the event overall, an extremely strong 7.29 Fish Per Hour ratio showed that the best anglers in NSKA were ripping a lot of lips overall, even with some of the various individual struggles.

The Top Finishers: Schneider’s Dominance

The top prizes were ultimately claimed by those who mastered the Day 2 conditions.

RankAnglerDay 1 TotalDay 2 TotalGrand TotalPayoutNotes
1stLevi Schneider83.50″89.25″172.75″$1,000Only Day 1 Top 5 angler to maintain a quality bag; also won Day 2 Big Bass (20.0″).
2ndTyler Zengerle76.50″85.00″161.50″$500Surged from 10th on Day 1 with the second-best Day 2 performance.
3rdJohn Hall81.25″80.00″161.25″$300The most consistent performance (81.25″ and 80.0″), vaulting him to 2nd in the final AOY race.

Levi Schneider capped a truly dominating season by taking the Classic title with an incredible 172.75″ two-day total. He was the only angler from the Day 1 Top 5 to figure out the Day 2 bite, landing a monster 89.25″ bag. This performance also included the Day 2 Big Bass, a 20-inch giant, earning him an additional $150.

The 2023 Angler of the Year, Tyler Zengerle, made an awesome surge, climbing all the way from 10th on Day 1 to claim 2nd place with a strong 85.0″ Day 2 bag and a total of 161.5″. Rounding out the podium was John Hall, whose consistent performance (81.25″ and 80.0″) secured a 3rd place finish with 161.25″ and a $300 prize, finishing the year 2nd in the AOY standings.

Kincy’s Big Bass from the NSKA 2025 Classic Championship. Source: TourneyX

The Rest of the Recap: Cashers, Big Fish, and Year-End Honors

The Other Check Cashers:

Jim Hall finished just off the podium in 4th place with a consistent 155.0″ total (76.5″ and 78.5″), earning him $200 for his best finish of the season. Kyle Long was the final angler to cash a check in 5th place, using a late Day 1 cull to get to 75.5″, which he parlayed into a solid 78.25″ on Day 2 for a total of $100.

RankAnglerGrand TotalPayout
4thJim Hall155.0″$200
5thKyle Long153.75″$100

Big Bass and Top 10

The overall Big Bass for the event went to Jason Kincy, who landed a 20.5-inch Largemouth on his third cast of Day 1, earning a prize of $250. The remainder of the Top 10 saw:

  • 6th: Seth Jones (152.5″)
  • 7th: Josh Landreth (151.5″)
  • 8th: Nate Higgins (149.75″)
  • 9th: Dwain Batey (149.5″)
  • 10th: Kase Ingram (144.5″)

Year-End Awards

The banquet also recognized anglers for their season-long accomplishments, which included:

  • Team Champs: Levi Schneider, Dwain Batey, Bobby Hogan, Adam Cawthon, and Taylor West split a $1,500 team prize.
  • Biggest Bass of the Year: Austin Nims with a 22.0-inch giant.
  • Metal Central Heavy Hitters Champion: Levi Schneider, whose 5-fish total of 99.5″ set an NSKA competition record and earned him $385.
  • Strike King Rookie of the Year: Kase Ingram was honored with a $200 prize and trophy after a tight race with Austin Nims.
  • Ketch Products Inc. Angler of the Year (AOY): Levi Schneider sealed his phenomenal year with the ultimate title. His 2025 season included three victories, a 2nd, a 3rd, a 5th, and a 6th place finish—a total of seven top-6 finishes, an epic level of consistency.

The final, and perhaps most meaningful, award of the night went to Mandie Adams, who was recognized as the 2025 Sportsperson of the Year. This honor, voted on by her peers, acknowledges the angler who best embodies the ideals of sportsmanship, dedication, and support within the club.

Discount on Lurenet, Booyah Baits, YUM baits, war eagle lures, great lakes finesse, Bobby Garland

Angler Roundtable – Classic Championship Edition

Where did you go on day one and day two and why?

Levi – I went to Indian Creek both days because all of my areas I caught them at in the Crucible were still producing during pre-fishing and I never found anything better elsewhere.

Tyler – I chose to go to Indian Creek both days because that is the part of the lake I have the most confidence in this time of year. With the water being so clear, I can usually fish to my strengths – finesse style.

John – I went to the back of Big Clifty both days. I actually went there during the Crucible as well, but started toward the mouth of Clifty and only caught 65″. By the end of the day though, I had made it to the very back of it and had a flurry of bites, and while it didn’t amount to much during the Crucible, I had a feeling it had the potential to set up really good during the Classic a few weeks later as we got further into the fall transition. I practiced in one other spot after the Crucible but only had about 65″ there as well, so I decided to go back to Clifty and my gut feeling about its potential paid off.

Overall, what were some of the baits or techniques you used to catch your limits?

Levi – Day 1 was a mix of a Dice Bait, small jighead minnow, and my flutter spoon using both the crappie and shad Strike Force scents. Day 2 was all Whopper Plopper and flutter spoon both applied with the Shad Strike force scent.

Tyler – I tried a few baits like a wake bait, Whopper Plopper, and a fluke, but couldn’t get those to work. I did most of my damage on a shakey head and a micro football jig, with the bigger fish off the jig.

John – On day 1 I went straight to the back of Clifty and started throwing a small buzzbait. I ended up catching fish on it until 11:00. I hit a lull for a couple hours and started throwing a medium diving crankbait down some bluffy banks halfway up the creek arm and caught an 18″ Smallmouth that moved me up into 7th. On day two I tried to duplicate the buzzbait bite, but only caught two or three on it in the first couple hours of the day, so I bailed on that and went back to the crankbait and started catching them again.

How did day one and day two differ, what adjustments did you have to make?

Levi – Day 1 the fish were acting super skittish so I knew finesse was gonna be the deal until the sun got high enough to start spooning them. Day 2 I just had the idea of trying different starting areas until I could go swing on them hard in my big fish area. I wasn’t ever worried about anything changing after day 1 and in fact knew the lack of cloud cover would most likely only make my bite stronger.

Tyler – The biggest difference was I had to start heading back to the ramp around 1pm on day 1 to attend a wedding. Really shortened my day by a couple hours. After day 1, I also figured out a lot of the fish were not on the main lake banks and were mostly towards the middle to backs of coves. Knowing that, I decided to abandon starting at the main lake and head straight towards the cove where I caught most of my fish day 1.

John – There was a strong buzzbait bite on day one and I really felt like I could duplicate it or even expand my area with it on day two, but they just didn’t seem to be as aggressive, so I pivoted and started throwing the crankbait. I’m not sure what changed between day 1 and 2, but I was super thankful that I had found the crankbait bite at the end of day 1 so that I could quickly change to that and still feel confident in what I was throwing.

What were you thinking after day one? What was on your mind overnight?

Levi – After day one all I was thinking about was to remember to wear my bibs and a hoodie so I didn’t freeze my butt off in the morning and just burn all of my best areas to the ground. The only thing I was thinking about overnight was where to start on day two which I ultimately decided to just feel it out in the morning. That decision led to my best topwater bites of the year with the Whopper Plopper.

Tyler – I knew I needed a limit of 85”+ in order to have a shot at a trophy. There were too many good limits day 1 that I couldn’t afford a mediocre limit. I didn’t stress myself out though. I just told myself I’m going to do the same thing I did day 1, just better.

John – After day 1 I was feeling pretty good, but wasn’t sure if I could get another 80-inch bag in the same area. I didn’t have any other areas that I felt confident in though, so I just went back at it on day 2 and made adjustments quickly.

Other than in the Classic, what fish catch was the most important or consequential of the year for you?

Levi – My most critical fish was actually a lost fish. I had three solid fish in the Tenkiller event and had already lost two others. I finally got a big Smallie to bite in the last hour and got it all the way to the kayak before it made one final dig and came off. That fish was the one that flipped a switch in me to really go all in on the rest of the year.

Tyler – The most important fish for me was an 18” Largemouth I caught at 1pm on a point at the Crucible. That was my last cull of the tournament, and I think I only caught 1-2 fish after that. Without that, I do not think I would’ve made the top 10. I’m also convinced that I caught that same fish during the Classic which was a couple weeks after the Crucible, because I caught an 18” largemouth on that same point, making almost the exact same cast and was also caught close to 1pm.

John – I can’t think of a specific fish that was “most important”. I didn’t catch any monsters this year, but consistently caught quality 15-17″ fish in most of our tournaments, which are the ones you have to have in order to be competitive against this group of guys and gals. This was my third year fishing with NSKA, and it was a good one. Looking forward to next year!

Angler of the Year

As you know, Levi Schneider won the Angler of the Year in a year-long awesome performance. Here is the top 25 AOY rankings.

See you all next season with the Natural State Kayak Anglers!

NSKA

2025 NSKA Beaver Lake Crucible / AOY Race / Heavy Hitters

As September arrives, anglers on the Ozark reservoirs like Beaver Lake face a unique challenge. The intense heat of summer is gone, but the water hasn’t fully cooled, creating a tricky time to find and catch bass. The fish are often scattered, sometimes staying in deep water and other times moving to the shallows to follow baitfish. This change of seasons makes for an unpredictable tournament day with unpredictable results.

This past weekend, anglers converged on Beaver Lake, a 28,000-acre reservoir in the Arkansas Ozarks. Known for its clear water, rocky cliffs, and extensive shoreline, it is a favorite for those targeting largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. The lake’s diverse environment, from deep timber-filled coves to steep rocky points, makes for a complex fishery with many options. Beaver Lake was the perfect setting for the final event of the season for the Natural State Kayak Anglers (NSKA), the 2025 Beaver Lake Crucible, which was sponsored by Cherokee Casino.

Levi’s Big Bass winner on Beaver Lake – Source: TourneyX

Tournament Results

Your NSKA president, Josh Landreth, shared the results after the event:

A gorgeous day on Beaver Lake yielded some mixed results but some monster bags!

All results are pending a 24 hour protest period, and nothing is official (including Classic qualifiers) until that protest period is over.

Levi Schneider absolutely smashes’em with a winning total of 91.25″ including nearly identical 19.5’s which also earned him Big Bass honor. This is Levi’s second win of the season, and gets him one step closer to his season long goals. What a day!!! We talked at the weigh-in that this may be the biggest one day total on Beaver Lake in NSKA history. We’ll need Jason Kincy to weigh in on that! (Kincy believes that is correct!) Either way, what an incredible day!! Congratulations Levi. He takes $600 for 1st place, Big Bass, and 2 hourly Big Bass.

Justin Brewer stays hot as well with back to back 2nd place finishes. He had a total of 87.0″ which would win on Beaver Lake nearly any other day besides today. Justin said at the weigh in that he had his first crankbait bite of the season. He also had matching 19.5’s like Levi. I didn’t even realize it at the weigh in, but the event Big Bass had to go all the way to the third kicker, because both Levi and Justin had 2 19.5’s. Justin wins $285 for 2nd place and hourly big bass.

Dwain Batey got off to a super hot start and finished 3rd with 86.25″. Another amazing Beaver Lake total that had to settle for 3rd on the podium. It’s awesome to see Dwain taking home hardware. He wins $193 for 3rd place and hourly big bass.

1st off the podium and last check cashed goes to Josh Landreth with 84.0″. I can tell you that that’s about what my goal was for the day, and I certainly did not expect 84.0 would not earn a trophy. Wow. What a day!! I get $130 for 4th and 2 hourly Big Bass.

After the top 4, there was a substantial drop in the standings. The rest of the top 10 included:

5th: James Haeberle 77.5

6th: Tyler Zengerle 77.25

7th: William Atchison 77.25

8th: Jimmy Chokbengboun 77.25

9th: Tony Sorluangsana 74.25

10th: Maurilio Gutierrez 72.75

Josh Landreth won trash fish with a 30″+ striper.

John Evans won the second side pot which was given to the last fish caught in our 2025 regular season. John snapped his photo of a 13″ bass at 2:59.58!! Now that’s a buzzer beater!

Kyle Long also won an hourly Big Bass prize with a 17.75″.

We also gave 3 $42 free entries as door prizes thanks to our sponsors. The door prize winners were John Hall, Nate Higgins, and Mandie Adams.

Thank you so much to Moments by Mandie Photography for taking our weigh in photos throughout the season!

Angler Roundtable

Some familiar anglers are once again going to share how they dominated on the water! Thank you to Levi, Justin, and Dwain for dropping some knowledge on us!

1. What part of Beaver did you go to and why?

Levi – I went to Indian Creek because I know it like the back of my hand and it just sets up very well for how I like to fish.

Justin – I chose to fish the south end of the lake. I’m a dirty water power fisherman and that works best with dirtier water. The south end is usually the best place to find that.

Dwain – I chose to fish the White River mainly to avoid the heavy pleasure boat traffic. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it was the right call this time of year since I hadn’t done any pre-fishing, but I decided to commit to it anyway.

2. What were some of the key baits or techniques that led to your success?

Levi – I had a multiple off-the-wall presentations tied on but the key players for me this go around were a Berkley Choppo, a deep diving jerkbait, various jig head minnows and lastly my reliable flutter spoon. I also applied the Strike Force crappie scent to everything.

Justin – Usually do pretty good on topwater in this tournament but it just wasn’t producing so I picked up the squarebill and first cast after picking it up, caught a 16” fish and then a few casts later caught my first 19.50”. Decided to keep it locked in and it turned out to be the deal.

Dwain – All of my fish came in the first two hours on topwater. After that early bite faded, I was able to catch fish throughout the day on other baits, but I never found another quality bite that helped me cull. My only real pattern was focusing on main river channel bends with wind.

3. How have you been approaching pre-fishing this season and if you have done it how has it helped?

Levi – At the start of the year I was just going into every event with some or little practice just sort of fishing with the flow and it was working. However after I lost my freak giant smallie in the last hour of the Tenkiller event and I knew we were going to Table Rock next that combo sort of hit a nerve that I needed to shake. Ever since that moment I’ve dedicated all of my free time to practice for each event from daylight to dark and it resulted in my biggest bag ever on both Table Rock Beaver.

Justin – I have not pre-fished for a single tournament. Just showed up and went fishing.

Dwain – It’s been a tough season for me, but I don’t believe the lack of pre-fishing is the reason behind it.

4. Do you look at the leaderboard during the event to see how it’s going, and why do you or why do you not?

Levi – I like to check the leaderboard periodically just to know how I’m keeping pace with the rest of the field plus it’s a great indicator on if I just need one more big one or if I need to make a serious adjustment to start making multiple culls.

Justin – Yes. I check it regularly. I just like to know what I’m up against. Whether it be me leading and what I’ve got to do to stay on top or for if I’m behind what I’ve got to get to gain some ground.

Dwain – Normally, I don’t check the leaderboard. This event was an exception, though, because I was sandbagging three good fish and didn’t submit them until later in the day.

AOY Race and Top 25 Classic Field!

The Angler of the Year race is winding down, but the Classic counts double and could still play a role. Levi is in the lead and has a cushion, but a disaster of a Classic combined with a top finish from a few others could result in a change at the top! If Levi can finish in the Top 10, AOY is likely his to win. The rest of the Top 25 is below, including some rookies and some old-timers. Should be a challenging and fun two days on Beaver Lake.

If you didn’t qualify, don’t forget about the Classic Shootout, a one-day event where the winner gets invited to the big party!

Heavy Hitters

The Heavy Hitters competition is concluded for the regular season, and Levi Schneider is your champion for 2025! As usual it was a tight race down the stretch, but Levi did what he needed in the final event to seal the deal. Congratulations to Levi, our 2025 Heavy Hitter!

NSKA

2025 NWA NSKA Roadrunner Recap / AOY / HH

For the first time, a 10 fish Road Runner in NWA occurred in August. I asked Google Gemini to rank all months in order for quality bass fishing in Arkansas. Guess which one came in last? You guessed it! AUGUST How would the field fare on a very hot day in the dog days of summer?

Austin’s Big Bass winner from Lincoln Lake – Source: TourneyX

Tournament Results

Overall, it was a decent effort by the kayak anglers on the water, facing upper 90s and high humidity. Forty eight anglers entered the event and did a pretty solid job overall with a 4.81 FPA and 42% of the field submitting a 10 fish limit. Getting a limit was job one, second to that was getting a bigger than average size to push up the total. Austin Nims crushed it with 204.25″ on the day, likely a record that may not be broken in future road runners. His limit included an insane seven 20+ bass, which is by far the most 20s included in an NSKA tournament limit. Justin Brewer took a strong second place with 170.00″ on the day, followed by Tony Sorluangsana in third with a solid 169.75″ for the event. A mammoth total of 18 bass over 20″ were caught on the day, an amazing number of giants for one day! Big Bass was won in a tiebreaker by Austin Nims with a 22.00″ Lincoln Lake largemouth. Justin Brewer also had a 22.00″ giant in his bag, also from Lincoln.

Jeff Mallott won the smallest gap between the largest and smallest fish side pot, and John Hall took home the trash fish prize with a 23″ channel cat!

Top 10 anglers:

  1. Austin Nims 204.25
  2. Justin Brewer 170.00
  3. Tony Sorluangsana 169.75
  4. Jason Kincy 165.75
  5. Levi Schneider 165.00
  6. Brian Lookadoo 162.25
  7. Andrew Newsom 154.25
  8. Will Atchison 153.50
  9. Dexter Scott 153.50
  10. John Evans 150.75

Angler Roundtable

The top three Road Runner finishers share how they did it on a super hot August day. These guys did a great job with these thoughts and recaps. Here’s the tea from Austin, Tony, and Justin!

What lake did you choose and why?

Austin – I chose to fish Lincoln Lake because my main goal in the Road Runner was to finally catch a bass over 20 inches in a tourney. And after getting skunked at the Eucha/Spavinaw tourney i just wanted to fish something small I was comfortable with.

Tony – I chose to fish Elmdale but I didn’t make that decision until Friday evening. Table Rock was my pick up until that moment.

Justin – By now everyone should know if it’s a road runner I’m going to Lincoln lake. It’s a very hit or miss lake but in previous years if it’s on I’ll be able to finish at the top. If it’s not I am prepared to be at the bottom.

Were there major patterns or techniques that played into your success?

Austin – I started the first three hours of the tourney throwing a small jighead minnow and caught zero fish. The bait and bass were up high making anything hard to see on sonar. So i begain blind casting a Minnesota Mullet hair jig through the bait. I was slow rolling it with fast twitches like a spinnerbait just a few feet under the surface and the big girls loved it.

Tony – I tried to force a reaction bite in the morning, but realize fish was tight to offshore cover, I threw various styles and size of worms to get dialed in and started brush pile hunting the rest of the day.

Justin – There is really no technique for me that out does the other at Lincoln. I just bring every rod I own and try not to get locked into one technique. It’s usually a rotation that catches my fish. It’s a frustrating way to fish and mindset to have but it’s what has to be done.

Austin shows his hair jig that caught a giant bag in the Road Runner!

What was the key catch for the day that was critical to your finish?

Austin – I finally hooked up with a 22 inch fish that struck the hair jig seconds after it hit the water at the end of a long cast. She gave me a couple of big jumps but I managed to keep her pinned. When I got her in the net I knew I had a chance at Big Bass.

Tony – The first fish of the day. It was caught 45 minutes in and confirmed what I was seeing on the graphs.

Justin – I’d say my 22” fish. It didn’t lead me on to anything, it was just late in the day and I was running out of confidence and time. I still had a few 10” fish in my limit so a 20” fish goes a long way in that case. It just let me know there was still a chance. It was a confidence booster fish. I proceeded to catch my 21 and 19.75 after that.

August is a very difficult month to fish, what advice do you have for other anglers?

Austin – August is a rough one and generally doesn’t end with a huge bag when you leave. The fish are hit or miss. Sometimes fired up or dead sluggish. Just try new things they haven’t seen a bunch and keep changing your cadence till you find what they want that day, even if it takes a few hours of being out of your comfort zone.

Tony – August can be tough but fish can still be caught with a variety of lures, fish your strengths and don’t overthink it. September, on the other hand, is horrible!

Justin – Usually I would say fish early and fish late because that is the best times to fish but surprisingly enough my four biggest fish were caught from around 1:00-3:00pm. With that being said, the advice would be don’t ever think the heat will make you not catch fish. There are always fish to be caught.

Angler of the Year Race

The AOY race is coming into focus, with Levi Schneider in the lead as he has been the entire season. He’s still the favorite, but it is possible for anglers like Tony, Christa, Justin, and John Hall to have a terrific finish and catch up. Don’t forget the classic is worth double – that could make all the difference! Levi is the favorite if he continues to fish well.

Heavy Hitters

The Heavy Hitters race almost took a dramatic turn in this event, but Levi saved himself with a late 20.50″ – otherwise, Justin Brewer would be in the lead. Looking at the numbers at this point, there appears to be five or six anglers who still have a chance to overtake Levi in the final event if he doesn’t upgrade. Justin would need an 18.50″ to tie, while Josh and Jason need a 21.00″ to tie. This is going to the wire!

Next Event

The next event is the annual Crucible on the Dead Sea (a.k.a. Beaver Lake). This is the yearly event that really tests the mettle of anglers and sets the tone for the upcoming Classic Championship!

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