The final event of 2018 is next up for the Natural State Kayak Anglers (NSKA) as anglers descend on the idyllic setting of Beaver, Arkansas. Beaver Town is the headwaters area where the White River below Beaver Dam runs into Table Rock Lake and will be a challenging backdrop for the season finale and wrap up to the angler of the year race.

Beaver Town Is a Slice of Fishing Heaven

So Beaver Town is one of the most beautiful places in Northwest Arkansas and a personal favorite place to fish. Featuring lots of greenery, rock and wood, this picturesque stretch of water is a great fishing spot in the Ozarks. There are a couple of key features there which really set up as landmarks for the area, an old railroad trestle and the yellow Beaver Bridge.  The rickety yellow bridge crosses over on your way to Holiday Island and eventually Eureka Springs.  The bridge itself was a key feature and backdrop to a movie called Elizabethtown starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst, described as a “romantic tragicomedy.”  This movie is definitely not worth watching. I’m serious, do not watch it, it is terrible. The bridge is by far the best part of the movie. They should have made the movie five minutes long and called it Cool Looking Bridge in Arkansas.

Key Tournament Info

Overall the fishing area is in three key zones. You can launch at Holiday Island Marina and fish that region, or can launch at the Beaver Town campground area featuring the railroad trestle and the bridges, or after launch make your way up the river toward where Butler Creek comes in and further on up the White River. Remember if fishing Holiday Island area, this is near the Missouri border and a Missouri fishing license will be required to fish past the state line.

The launches at Holiday Island Marina and Beaver campground will be shotgun starts and there will be someone there to announce the start. You must take out at the same place you put in. There will be a captain’s meeting the night before at the campground and also a video meeting on Facebook for those who can’t make the in-person.

Make sure to register for the 2018 NSKA Beaver Town event on TourneyX.

Past History of Beaver Town Tournaments

I don’t have scorecards from past Beaver Town tournaments, so don’t have the usual statistics to pull from. In general however, Beavertown has not historically produced huge limits. This time of year fish are in transition, the water levels can be fluctuating and weather can be unpredictable. Of all tournaments this year, Beaver Town can be one of the most challenging to get a decent limit.

This year anglers will be helped out by the decision to let people launch from Beaver campground or down at the Holiday Island marina. This will spread people out and will give them more water to fish. There are some good fish there in this area if you can catch ’em, have seen several 20+ Largemouth caught, but you have to find them among a zillion 10.5″ Spots. Those little Spots are feisty bastards and won’t lay down on the board for nothing. Just when you have them and try to take the photo, they pop their mouth open and flip around like crazy. Bastards.

There is a bit of sizzle in the 2018 Angler of the Year race with several anglers having a legitimate shot at taking the title. These guys are going to be feeling a bit of the pressure as they hit the water, going to be a historically tight  race!

NSKA Beaver Town Angler Previews

NSKA anglers Taylor Frizzel and Tim Hotchkin helped me analyze the upcoming event.

As the season finale, what makes Beavertown a favorite among NSKA anglers?

Tim – When the tournament is at Beavertown there is normally a camp out so it’s more than just a tournament but also a get together and fun hangout. Someone normally has a TV set up and watching the game and the mood is almost like a tailgate party plus fishing.

Taylor – The area is a great place to fish but I think it’s a favorite because of the opportunity to camp and spend some time with fellow NSKA anglers.

Jason – Beaver Town is a cool place and allows everyone to be in close proximity. Many tournaments you may not see a lot of other anglers, but at Beaver Town you will get to interact and will also see each other frequently on the water.

The weather has been cool and we’re heading into fall, what affect will that have on the fishing?

Tim – I think the conditions will change the fishing a lot. Some people may be on the fish and then just a day difference cannot find them anywhere.

Taylor – I think with the temps dropping you will see the fishing get a little better. The bite can get real slow in the dog days of summer down there.

Jason – With rain and cooler weather coming in this weekend, someone who was on fish already better be concerned. It’s going to change on tournament day from what it was just a few days earlier. Those with no clue in pre-fishing may find ’em on the day of the event.

In a last tournament of the season does that change your strategy at all? Just go for broke?

Tim – I think some guys will go all out and just try and win a tournament. Angler of the Year is a close race and those guys will probably go out just trying to finish like they have all year.

Taylor – At this point in the season for me personally it’s just throw the kitchen sink at it and see if something sticks. If I can move up a few spots I’ll be happy with me season.

Jason – Anglers in the AOY race have to avoid falling flat and need to make sure they get a decent limit. A mediocre limit will result in good AOY points in this one.  Those out of the AOY race should just go fish and have fun, that’s going to yield the best result.

Winning overall length and big bass?

Tim – 81″ to win and 20.5″ for Big Bass.

Taylor – Winning length 78.75″ and Big Bass 20.50″

Jason – It will be around 75.5″ to win, with a Big Bass of only 19.75″