The NSKA NWA regular season finale was the Ace of Blades Beaver Lake Roadrunner in the annual crucible – August on Beaver Lake! This year has seen some bigger than usual winning totals in the various events for NSKA, but the 80″ mark hadn’t been broken yet in August on the Dead Sea. Would it happen this time around?

Tournament Results

A pretty good turnout of 59 anglers took to the water on the heels of a major change in the weather. Super hot and sunny for a couple of week, the day before lines in brought 3-4 inches of rain and thunderstorms to NW Arkansas. A cloudy tournament day on the heels of the storm definitely changed up the fishing.

John Wofford made his return to NWA for this event and went back to central Arkansas with the 1st place trophy by catching 80.50″ on the day. Justin Brewer finished 2nd with 78″ and Dwain Batey took 3rd with 77.25″. The top ten dropped off quickly after the leaders:

1. John Wofford 80.50″
2. Justin Brewer 78″
3. Dwain Batey 77.25″
4. Cole Sikes 77″
5. Abraham Garcia 77″
6. Christa Hibbs 74″
7. Jacob Webber 73.75″
8. James Haeberle 72.25″
9. James Shumate 72″
10. Ryan Paskiewicz 71.75″

Aly Corp won Big Bass with a 20.25″ Beaver Lake beast.

Angler Roundtable

The top three anglers wrapped up the tourney in this roundtable discussion of how they did it and what happened on the water. Join John Wofford, Justin Brewer and Dwain Batey as they spill the tea:

Where did you go and why?

John – I went to Twin Bridges because I was told fishing was really tough and that is where I feel most comfortable and can fish my strengths. Knowing Beaver in the summer I knew they’d be out suspended or tight in cover so I fished every bit of cover I could get a bait into.

Justin – I chose to put in way up the War Eagle again like in last years’ July Beaver tournament. I chose there because I know there is resident fish in the area and being a more condensed area of water If I keep my head down and fish hard I’ll be able to pick up a few good bites and hopefully more if all goes well.

Dwain – I hadn’t pre-fished but heard it was really tough, thought I would go way up north and try something high-risk with the potential for a high reward.

Any particular baits or patterns that really worked for you?

John – And Xcite baits stick worm with a golden Colorado blade in the tail and my old faithful Xcite baits Xb-1 squarebill in chartreuse black back.

Justin – A Booyah Boss Pop was what did the trick for me. I tried other baits but couldn’t get anything going. The bites were few and far between but if I could trigger one to bite it was a solid fish. No real pattern on the type of structure and cover. A few were just random fish in open water.

Dwain – I was throwing a Skirmish Baits Pendragon topwater all day. I only got a few bites, but I had the opportunity to win the event.

How’d you catch your biggest fish? What’s the story?

John – I was going down a bank picking apart spots when I looked up and saw a tree in the middle-ish of the river and thought to myself there has to be a fish in there. So I bombed a cast with my worm right in the tree and as soon as I pulled it over the first branch she smacked it and wrapped me around a limb, at this point I was questioning whether I had a fish on because it was wrapped up and really stuck. I started pedaling over while keeping my line tight and all of a sudden she popped back around the limb and the fight was on. She went for 18” and then two casts after that I hooked into a 17.5” Smallie, YES a Smallmouth in the White River!

Justin – My biggest which was only 16.75 came real early. I was still throwing a Buzzbait at that time and had one blow up on it but miss it. That’s when I picked up the Boss Pop fired back in the area and two pops later hooked up. I’m assuming it was the same fish but I guess it could have been a different one. That’s also what lead me to start throwing the Boss Pop.

Dwain – My biggest fish was on the Pendragon on my 3rd cast of the morning. I had a hunch about a particular point, and pulled in there instead of my original thoughts for a starting spot, good call on that one.

What’s one useful thing you carry in your yak that most people probably don’t have?

John – I always carry a gallon RTIC jug every time I hit the water. Staying hydrated especially on those hot days is key to staying out there till the last minute is up.

Justin – I don’t carry it all the time but it’s needed when I do and that is a stake out pole. Especially way up a river fish shallow areas it’s great to be able to stake out around a big lay down or log jam and it all apart with out having to keep repositioning or worry about floating too close.

Dwain – I don’t really have anything that stands out as something others wouldn’t have gear wise. I mean I’ve got some really cool storage options from Bass Mafia, like the new Two Bud Bag and Ice Box storage containers, but everyone knows how cool Bass Mafia storage options are. Maybe there are people who don’t think about having a hone to sharpen their hooks? I use the Eagle Claw Deluxe Hook hone to make sure that I keep my hooks sharp despite all the rocks we have trying to dull them constantly. Another one might be the Eagle Claw Wacky Rig Tool for putting O-rings on stick baits?

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Heavy Hitters Champ

Pretty much leading the way wire to wire, Kyle Long smashed the big ones this year to become the second annual Heavy Hitter’s Champion. Kyle got a lead early in the season and hung on to take the title with a 95.5″ total (compared to my mark of 95″ in 2020). We took a minute to ask Kyle his secrets for being the Heavy Hitter of the year.

What’s the key to catching big fish?

There’s a whole lot of luck involved. But I guess there’s something to throwing the right thing in the right place. This year, two of my Heavy Hitter’s fish came on a fluke, one on a spinnerbait, one on a shaky head and one on a jig. I also caught a few more on a jig and spinnerbait that could have been in my final five fish bag had I not caught one even bigger in that same event. And most of them were in super predictable spots…points, channel swings, the last bush in a line of bushes…that kinda stuff.

Some lose big fish when they hook them, what’s the secret to getting a big bass into the yak?

I use as big a line as I can get away with and I get them in the net as fast as I can. If that fish is still in the water it is on his home turf. It has the upper hand. That playing them stuff is for the birds. Get them dudes in the net as fast as you possibly can. And get a net with a handle that can reach out there and get em. One caveat…if I’m using treble hooked baits I’m a little more careful, but I still try and get them in the net as fast as possible.

Congratulations Kyle Long! We’ll be back next season with a new Heavy Hitters race.

AOY Race Update & Classic Field

The regular season and the Top 25 anglers who will make the Classic are set. Was a close race with several good anglers just barely missing the cut. First year rookies Jacob Webber and Josh Landreth made the championship, along with several other first-time qualifiers. Should be a great battle on Lake Fort Smith and Beavertown/Holiday Island. Time to defend the title!

In addition to the Top 25, the AOY race is winding down with some drama, but not much remaining. Really have not done the math, but maybe if there’s a complete collapse from Dwain and good finishes from Justin or Ryan or others then maybe there’s a chance. Really not sure, but most likely Dwain is in the driver’s seat as he has been all season long.

Rank	Angler	Event 8	Classic	Best 6 plus Classic
1	Dwain Batey	98		588
2	Justin Brewer	99		555
3	Ryan Paskiewicz	91		551
4	Tyler Zengerle	88		549
5	Cole Sikes	97		548
6	Kyle Long	73		542
7	Devon Esry	80		529
8	Roy Roberts	0		527
9	Jason Kincy	78		527
10	Josh King	70		519
11	Josh Howard	89		518
12	Craig Wood	90		515
13	Jacob Webber ®	94		509
14	Clay Johnson	66		496
15	Justin Phillips	64		495
16	Justin Wright	69		495
17	Josh Landreth ®	71		495
18	James Shumate	92		487
19	Terrill Standifer	87		487
20	Jason Adams	59		486
21	Jason Fields	72		486
22	Taylor Frizzell	75		484
23	Jason Cowell	79		464
24	Sam McClish	53		462
25	Zeke Stevens	58		462