News

NAKA season finale. Watson wins national trails on Guntersville.

Several major kayak fishing tournaments took place over the weekend and a familiar name walked away with a nice payday.

North Alabama Kayak Anglers Classic and Anglers of the  Year

Nate Mayfield with his NAKA Classic check

Alabama’s largest club, the North Alabama Kayak Anglers, held their season finale NAKA Classic on Pickwick and Wilson lakes in the Shoals area of North Alabama.  Near 100 anglers competed on the NAKA Trail all season long for a chance to earn entry into this 5-fish black bass event.  23 anglers ended up qualifying for this event.

NAKA Angler of the Year, Jason Lack

Nate Mayfield walked away as the Classic champion while Jason Lack was crowned NAKA Angler of the Year (AOTY details).   Mayfield scored a 86.25″ inch 5-fish stringer edging out John Tayler by three inches.  Mayfield also had the biggest fish of the event, a 19″ largemouth bass.  Over $1100 in cash was handed out to the field along with over $1000 in prizes.  A recap of the event and details about sponsors of the NAKA Trail can be found here.

NAKA Youth Angler of the Year Riley Johnston with NAKA HKAIC Nate Mayfield

The NAKA Youth Angler of the Year was Riley Johnston.  His consistent top youth performances earned him the Youth AOTY prize, a 2017 Skipper fishing kayak from Jackson Kayak.  Details.

Watson wins two national trail stops

Randy Howell, pro B.A.S.S. angler, handing the check to Watson

The story of the weekend was how Brandon Watson won both the Kayak Bass Series and Kayak Bass Fishing events held on Lake Guntersville.  Since both events were hosted on the same eligible bodies of water, Watson was able to fish both events and coordinate weigh-in times for both.

Watson with his Kayak Bass Series check

Watson caught large stringers on fish on both days.  With a 97-inch 5-fish stringer he won the KBF Trail event by over 10″ and earned a $2,250 check.  His 81-inch Day 1 and 98.75-inch Day 2 during the KBS Classic gave him a 29″ win over the second place angler.  Incredible fishing against the sport’s top kayak anglers.

There are only a few fishing events on the calendar for the rest of the year.  Click here to get a look at what is to come.  And everyone is invited to come get introduced to kayak fishing at the first annual Alabama Kayak Fishing Classic in late October.  That event is hosted by the major kayak fishing clubs of Alabama and is billed to be a fun time for kayak anglers of all skill levels.