Kayak fishing tournament
The first-ever Kayak Bass Fishing tournament in Bella Vista drew 35 anglers from eight states to compete on five lakes for a $1,000 prize Saturday afternoon and evening.
Bentonville Resident Jason Adams, part of the Ozark Mountain Trading Company pro staff, worked with Fish It Forward and KBF to help organize this event. Fishing, which started at 4 p.m., went on until the weigh-in at 12:30 a.m.
“The popularity of kayak fishing is exploding,” he said.
This is a national-level event, he said. Bella Vista was chosen in part because it provides a scenic venue that isn’t typically open to the general public.
Kayak-fishing tournaments, he said, score based on the length of fish rather than weight. Contestants use a measuring board to determine their catch’s size, then upload a photo of the fish on the board, then immediately release the fish. Anglers, he said, had a five-fish limit, meaning they are scored on their best five catches.
This, he said, helps reduce the mortality rate for caught fish.
Moreover, this scoring method means one can participate in multiple tournaments at once, he said. So in addition to the five lakes — all Bella Vista lakes, excluding Lake Windsor and Loch Lomond — one could be competing in a regional or statewide tournament with the same fish.
Nearby, a handful of anglers were making friendly conversation and sharing advice before they intended to compete against each another.
Malvern resident Marcus Coats went through lures, discarding a few and occasionally discussing color preferences with his associates, Springdale resident Chris Connolley and Aurora, Mo., resident Shawn Willock.
Coats made clear that he had not jinxed himself, known in this circle as putting a banana in the boat — a nod to the misfortune often brought by bananas in cartoons.
“You don’t put a banana in a boat, man, it’s bad luck,” he said.
Electronics, including lights and fish finders, are mostly down to personal preference, he said. Aside from a required 360-degree light for night fishing, he said, everyone uses what they like and what fits their style.
Willock said that lighting is extremely important. In addition to the required light, he said, many anglers use a head lamp, and a bright hand-held flashlight is very helpful.
“Most people don’t think about it, but safety should be the most important thing in anything you’re doing,” he said. “You get a barbed hook in your leg or your hand and you’re alone in a boat, one, it’s painful and they don’t come out easy.”
In addition to lighting, Coats has a fish finder, he said, but he also researches the lake.
“I could be over a bunch of fish and not know it ’til I start fishing,” he said.
Coats said this was his first time fishing in Bella Vista. He had an expert take a look at the lake and identify some potential spots, he said. He was hoping that would help.
He made adjustments to his boat and went through his various electronics with a bit of help from his fellow anglers.
Connolley said this was standard practice. While this particular group is not a team, he said, there is some degree of collaboration.
“Kayak fishing is a pretty tight group,” he said. “Everybody tries to get along with everybody.”
Connolley said his strategy was to hit the five-fish limit quickly, then start going for bigger fish. Swapping out smaller catches for bigger fish, he said, in a process referred to as culling.
It started raining, he said, right as everyone took to the lakes. While this might not make for the most pleasant fishing, he said, the fish were eager to bite until the rain stopped. Then he went about two hours without a bite.
“You start rethinking everything and doubting yourself,” he said. “That kind of happens in any sport, though.”
The bites picked up again, he said, when the sun went down.
“I ended up coming in 17th, it was actually a fairly tough day,” he said.
But the venue, he said, was excellent. He fished on Lake Avalon, he said, which proved to be his ideal size for kayaking, and the lack of powerboat traffic made for good fishing.
Moreover, he said, the walls were an interesting feature, and the lake was easy on the eyes.
“It was pretty good,” he said. “Could’ve been better (fishing), but I had fun anyway.”
Willock agreed that it was a tough day.
“The rain sucked,” he said. “Not knowing the water, not knowing the layout of the lake and all that, with the rain and all — it was extremely tough.”