Tag: Jake Angulas

Todd Brothers Dominates on the Kennebec River!

On September 21, the 2024 Dakota Lithium Elite Kayak Fishing Series, presented by Black Hall Outfitters, wrapped up its fourth and final regular-season event on one of Maine’s hidden gems—the Kennebec River.

The Kennebec offers a diverse fishing experience, with fast-moving waters around rocky ledges that attract smallmouth bass, while its quieter sections and weedy backwater areas are perfect for hunting largemouth. Despite its abundance of fish and stunning scenery, this river remains under the radar compared to some of Maine’s more famous bass fisheries.

When Mike Guarino from Mid-Maine Bass Fishing suggested we host an event on the Kennebec, many were skeptical. But after a short test in 2023, we were convinced—and after this year’s event, so are the anglers.

Most entered the tournament with low expectations, having little experience with the river. However, Khoa Dao pre-fished the week prior, catching a six-pounder and two bass over five pounds. Returning the day before the tournament, he landed another five-pounder. Chris Gomes and Anthony Campbell both reported over 90 inches during their pre-fishing sessions. Even those who didn’t have epic pre-fishing days found themselves with plenty of bites.

But as the week progressed, temperatures dropped, and the fishing conditions toughened for tournament day.

With Jake Angulas aiming for his fourth straight win to sweep the regular season, Todd Brothers put an end to that streak. Todd secured his first Elite Kayak Fishing victory with a combined 91.25 inches of largemouth and smallmouth bass, beating out a very competitive field.

Khoa Dao, in just his second Elite Kayak Fishing event, repeated his strong performance on the St. Lawrence River by taking second place with 88.75 inches, including a 19.75-inch largemouth that broke a tie with Angulas. Angulas finished in third, also with 88.75 inches, narrowly missing his chance at another win.

     

Rey Morales followed closely in fourth with 88.00 inches, and Matt Lee completed the top five with 86.50 inches. The Fresh Baitz Big Bass for the event was a 20-inch largemouth caught by Jon Richardson in the last thirty minutes!

Check out the full results here

Up next is the highly-anticipated two-day championship on Candlewood Lake, taking place October 12–13. See you there!


Jake Angulas Conquers the St. Lawrence River, Dominates Season So Far

On August 17, the 2024 Dakota Lithium Elite Kayak Fishing Series, presented by Black Hall Outfitters, held its third event of the season on the legendary St. Lawrence River, widely regarded as one of the top fisheries in the United States. This scenic stretch of upstate New York also allowed anglers to fish two of its tributaries, the Raquette and Grasse Rivers, which are also known for their excellent bass fishing opportunities.

More well-known of the three rivers, the St. Lawrence is famous for its pristine, crystal-clear waters and varying currents, making it a prime habitat for both smallmouth and largemouth bass. The rocky shoals and underwater structures offer ideal spots for trophy-sized smallmouths, while largemouth bass tend to hide in the river’s calmer, weedy areas, giving anglers a variety of fishing challenges. The beauty of the river and the thrill of battling these bass make it a top-tier destination for competitive and recreational anglers alike.


(Watch our live event broadcast on YouTube)

Tournament day saw intense competition, with anglers battling not just the fish but the challenging river conditions. Jake Angulas once again proved to be a dominant force, claiming his third win of the season with an impressive total of 88.75 inches of bass. Angulas strategically focused on smallmouth bass in the early hours before transitioning to shallow largemouth later in the day. His decision to switch tactics and employ a chatterbait over submerged grass paid off handsomely, securing his place at the top once again.

Khoa Dao made his mark in his first-ever Elite Kayak Fishing event, taking second place with a solid 85 inches of bass, a mix of both smallmouth and largemouth. Dao also captured the Fresh Baitz Big Bass prize with a hefty 18.75-inch largemouth, a highlight in a standout debut.

In third place, Rey Morales hauled in 83.25 inches of smallmouth bass, showcasing yet again that he is one of the best anglers in the Northeast. Close behind was Antoine Desrochers-Gagnon, whose 83 inches earned him a fourth-place finish. Rounding out the top five was Gerard Elias, whose 78.75 inches of bass capped off a strong tournament for all competitors.

Check out the full results here and watch our EKF LIVE recap show with Khoa Dao…

The Kennebec River is up next on September 1. The river may not be so well-known among our anglers today, but it will be after our event. Mark our words! Don’t sleep on this one.


Jake Angulas Gambles Big on Winnipesaukee and It Pays Off

On July 20, the 2024 Dakota Lithium Elite Kayak Fishing Series, presented by Black Hall Outfitters, hosted its second event of the season on one of the Northeast’s greatest fisheries: New Hampshire’s famed Lake Winnipesaukee!

With the scenic backdrop of the White Mountains and the pristine natural environment, forty-one anglers battled wind, waves, an endless parade of pleasure boaters, and aggressive smallmouth.

In contrast to our previous event on Great Sacandaga Lake, the smallmouth on this day weren’t as willing to eat, requiring many anglers to work much harder for their catches—and leaving many others scratching their heads.

Regardless, the tournament was a nail-biting affair, with anglers in the top ten constantly jockeying for position throughout the day. From the morning bite to the final moments, the leaderboard saw continuous movement as competitors reeled in bass after bass. Each hour saw a new contender scratching their way into the top ten, with inches separating the leaders in a fierce contest.


(Watch our live event broadcast on YouTube)

The lake’s diverse habitats and abundance of bass ensured that no angler was ever truly out of the running. As the hours wore on, the relentless back-and-forth battle at the top of the leaderboard highlighted the exhilarating nature of competitive kayak fishing on Lake Winnipesaukee.

In the end, it was New Hampshire native—and our Great Sacandaga Lake winner—Jake Angulas who clinched first place with a total of 93.75 inches of bass, highlighted by a standout 21.50-inch largemouth.

Jake sat atop the leaderboard for much of the morning until Matt Zapala not only took the lead, but increased it. Jake’s decision to swing for the fences and hunt for a kicker largemouth paid off, earning him the Fresh Baitz Big Bass of the event.

Matt Zapala followed closely in second place, amassing an equally impressive 92.75 inches of smallmouth bass.

Steve Hedges secured third place with 90 inches, while the fourth spot went to Todd Dyer, who finished with 89.50 inches, narrowly winning the tie-breaker against Nick Audi.

     

Check out the full results here and watch our EKF LIVE recap show with Todd Dyer and Matt Zapala…

Our next event will be on the St. Lawrence River on August 17! Register here.


Jake Angulas Secures Number Four!

On May 4, the Dakota Lithium Elite Kayak Fishing Series, presented by Black Hall Outfitters, hit Great Sacandaga Lake in New York for the first event of the 2024 season.

This event marked an exciting change for EKF: the debut of EKF LIVE, a live-stream broadcast that brought a hyrbid of live commentary, pre-recorded angler spotlights and interviews, and more. EKF LIVE provided viewers with a “front-row seat” to all the angling action, allowing them to follow the highs and lows of the competition in real-time.

And what a thrilling battle it was!

This was a tournament within a tournament. With an abundance of smallmouth to be caught (no largemouth were submitted), the true challenge for the 56 anglers competing in this event was finding those “Sacandaga unicorns”—a bass over 17 inches long.

In a competition where every quarter inch mattered, the anglers managed to submit an impressive 512 bass (surpassed only by last year’s Cayuga Lake event, which had nearly double the anglers and 518 submissions), but only nine surpassed the elusive 17-inch mark. Jon Richardson hauled in the Fresh Baitz Big Bass of the day—an impressive 20.25-inch smallmouth. A unicorn, indeed!

As with any tournament, it had its twists and turns. Canada’s Antoine Desrocher-Gagnon’s caught the same bass twice, three hours apart on the same spot, which resulted in the latter being denied. This dropped him from fifth to sixth place, allowing Nick Audi to clinch the fifth-place slot. Both Desrocher-Gagnon and Audi finished with 85.75 inches, but Audi’s larger fish was the tiebreaker.

In fourth place was Christopher Nielsen with 86 inches, while Pennsylvania’s Dylan Miller made an impressive EKF debut, securing third place with 86.25 inches and being the only angler to land multiple fish over 17 inches—an 18 and an 18.25.

     

As the tournament neared its end, Benjamin Bornhost seemed poised for victory until a late surge by Jake Angulas catapulted him to the top spot by a mere three-quarters of an inch. Bornhost settled for second place with 87 inches, while Angulas claimed his fourth EKF victory with 87.75 inches.

Angulas’s winning strategy of cycling through seven different rods with seven different jerkbaits (read that again) proved effective in enticing quality smallmouth from Sacandaga’s rocky terrain.

With the excitement of Great Sacandaga Lake behind us, we now look forward to the next event at Pennsylvania’s Raystown Lake on June 22. Register here!


Matthew Zapala Targets Big Smallies for a Big Win at Great Pond

This past Saturday, the final regular-season Elite Kayak Fishing event of the year unfolded against the backdrop of Messalonskee Lake and Great Pond in Maine’s Belgrades Region. With a total of 64 anglers, from as far away as Pennsylvania and Canada, the stakes were high as many of them aimed to secure a coveted spot in the two-day championship event set to take place on Lake George in October.

Snow Pond Center for the Arts once again played host for this event. Situated along the eastern shore of Messalonskee Lake, in perfect view of the sunset (or an evening thunderstorm in the distance, as many saw Thursday night), Snow Pond offers a unique tournament experience for the anglers and their families who choose to stay on campus.

Leading up to the event, the weather was consistent: sunny, hot, with light winds, if any at all. The forecast for Saturday called for a cool morning with cloudy conditions all day, something many anglers, especially those who struggled during practice, were hoping would change their fortune. But as the day dawned and anglers made their way to their starting spots, there wasn’t a cloud in sight.

Under bright blue skies, the strategy adopted by many was to utilize their electronics to pinpoint smallmouth bass congregating around schools of baitfish. What set the top contenders apart was their reliance on the controversial forward-facing sonar technology, which proved to be the linchpin of their success. With the bass constantly on the move chasing schools, this gave those anglers the unique ability to spot fish in real-time, a significant advantage over those relying on traditional 2D sonar and sidescan.

In the end, it was New York’s Matthew Zapala who clinched the top spot, boasting an impressive 95.75 inches of Great Pond smallmouth. No stranger to either Great Pond or Messalonskee Lake (Matt finished third in the KBF Super Trail event there in 2020), he focused on offshore smallmouth, targeting the bigger fish with precision, which ultimately proved to be the winning strategy, producing not only the biggest limit but the biggest bass of the tournament: a 20.25 smallmouth!

Defying the odds once again, Ken Wood targeted largemouth bass as he did at our St. Lawrence River event last month, where he placed second. Ken fished the Belgrade Stream area on the southern end of Messalonskee Lake, power-fishing his way to another second-place finish with 94.50 inches.

The competition for the top spots was fierce, with three other anglers—Ryan Matylewicz, Benjamin Bornhorst, and Nick Audi—also boasting 94.50 inches. Tie-breakers are determined by the anglers biggest bass, which lead to Ryan securing third place, Benjamin taking fourth, and Nick rounding out the top five.

     

Jake Angulas secured the final paying spot with a respectable 93.75 inches, while Stephen Hedges (92.25), Mike Morcone (91.75), John Ferreira (91.50), and Anthony Campbell (91.25) completed the top ten.

Congratulations to all!

With the championship on the horizon, the stage is set for another thrilling showdown on Lake George in October, where the best of the best will vie for the titles of EKF Champion and Angler of the Year.


With 64 anglers, we paid out six spots for nearly $8,000 in cash and more in giveaways! A total of 411 bass were submitted to the National Trade Services Live Leaderboard.


As always, thank you to our elite sponsors, Dakota Lithium Batteries, Three Belles Outfitters, and National Trade Services, without whom we could not run these events.

Please support them whenever you can, as well as our other amazing sponsors: Bending Branches, Crosskix, Catch Co., Fresh Baitz, Harpoon Brewery, Hobie Eyewear, Lunkerhunt, Rogue Gear Co., and YakAttack!

And a big shout-out once again to Snow Pond Center for the Arts for having us back. Thank you!

Our championship event on Lake George is up next! This two-day event will not only determine our 2023 Champion but also our Angler of the Year!


Ryan Matylewicz Secures His First EKF Win!

The world-renowned St. Lawrence River in upstate New York, a haven for smallmouth bass enthusiasts, played host to EKF’s fourth stop on the 2023 trail.

Despite the high expectations set by the river’s legendary smallmouth population, the bass proved to be more elusive than expected. Whether that was due to the conditions or the relentless pressure from bass tournaments and recreation anglers, or a combination of things, we’ll never know. What we do know, is that the river produced far less than most had hoped for.

With dreams of smashing personal best smallmouth records, only 96 smallmouth bass were submitted during the tournament, while a very surprising 134 largemouth crossed the National Trade Services live leaderboard.

In the end, it was Ryan Matylewicz who emerged victorious, securing his first EKF win! Matylewicz adopted an offshore strategy, which should come as no surprise, as his skills at targeting offshore bass have been on display many times before. His approach paid off handsomely, as he managed to reel in an impressive total of 92.75 inches of smallmouth bass.

Ken Wood, on the other hand, took a completely different route to success. Unable to find a quality smallmouth bite during practice, he opted to focus on largemouth bass, flipping a creature bait and throwing a frog in shallow weeds and slop. His ability to abandon the tried-and-true St. Lawrence River smallmouth pattern and focus on what he knows best propelled him to a well-earned second place finish.

Third place went to John Ferreira, whose strategy involved covering a significant amount of water while targeting smallmouth bass, both deep and shallow. Ferreira’s dedication to exploration and his focus on smallmouth paid off, as he recorded a solid 90.25 inches of bass, firmly securing his spot on the podium.

     
(Yeah, yeah, we forgot to bring the checks to the event!)
The competition remained fierce, with Pat Veomett notching 89.75 inches, landing him in fourth place. Pat’s love of chasing big New York smallmouth paid off, earning him his third top ten EKF finish.

In fifth place, Jake Angulas showcased his consistency and experience with 89.5 inches of St. Lawrence River smallmouth, marking his tenth top ten finish in fifteen events — an impressive feat by any standard.

The top ten was rounded out by Matthew Zapala (87.25), Nick Audi (87), Brandon Brylinsky (85.75), Jeff Levesque (83.50), and Ryan Melia (82.75).

Landing the day’s Three Belles Outfitters Big Bass was Nick Audi, with an impressive 20-inch brownback!

Despite the fishing challenges and adverse weather that cut the day short for most, these skilled anglers displayed their determination and professionalism, making the most of what the conditions gave them.

The St. Lawrence River tournament proved to be a true test of skill, adaptability, and perseverance. The unpredictable behavior of the smallmouth bass and the varying strategies adopted by the anglers showcased the depth of talent within the EKF ranks.


Forty-nine anglers turned out for this event, a surprisingly low number for a bucket-list fishery. But with two local events taking place at the same time, plus the Native No Limit Big Bass event going down on the Susquehanna River, anglers were split between four events.

Anglers submitted 230 bass to the National Trade Services Live Leaderboard, which, as noted above, surprisingly consisted of more largemouth than smallmouth.

We paid out over $6,000 in cash, and even more in prizes!


A huge thank-you to our elite sponsors, Dakota Lithium Batteries, Three Belles Outfitters, and National Trade Services, without whom we could not run these events.

Please support them whenever you can, as well as our other amazing sponsors: Bending Branches, Crosskix, Catch Co., Fresh Baitz, Harpoon Brewery, Hobie Eyewear, Lunkerhunt, Rogue Gear Co., and YakAttack!

Our final regular-season event is on the angler-favorite Messalonskee Lake and Great Pond on September 9.

We are once again staying on the Snow Pond Center for the Arts campus, where the majority of anglers will stay. Affordable dorm rooms and cabins are available, and we highly encourage you to stay on campus and experience what has become our favorite event of the season. Join us by booking your room/cabin and meals at this link!

Register for the event here!


Nick Audi Triumphs in a Windy Battle at Lake Champlain

Known for its scenic beauty and abundant fish populations, Lake Champlain provided the backdrop for the second Dakota Lithium Elite Kayak Fishing Series event of the season.

Presented by Three Belles Outfitters, this world-class bass factory produces giant largemouth and smallmouth like few others, and it did not disappoint this weekend.

Leading up to the event, pre-fishing reports were great, but everyone knew the conditions—a sustained north wind in excess of 25 mph—on tournament day would eliminate some of the most productive areas on the lake. Despite the challenging conditions, which transformed the lake into a menacing beast, anglers braved the relentless, dangerous wind, demonstrating their skills and producing impressive limits of both smallmouth and largemouth bass.

Amidst the tumult, it was Nick Audi who emerged as the victor once again, demonstrating his exceptional adaptability and resilience. Not only did he claim the first-place title, but he also secured the Three Belles Outfitters Big Bass with a 20.50-inch smallmouth bass and the Double Down side pot.

Ryan Matylewicz, braving the windy main-lake conditions, secured a commendable second place with a total of 97.75 inches.

Following a top-ten finish at our Cayuga Lake event, and just a fraction behind Ryan at Champlain, Rey Morales claimed third place by putting up 97.50 inches before his spot became too treacherous to continue fishing.

     

The battle for the remaining positions was intense, with Jake Angulas, Mike Morcone, and Chris Gomes showcasing their exceptional angling abilities. Angulas clinched fourth place, amassing an impressive limit of 97.25 inches, while Morcone landed the fifth spot with 97 inches. Chris Gomes rounded out the top six with a noteworthy 96.75 inches.

Nearly the top twenty anglers put up over 90 inches of bass in their quest to win the highly sought-after Elite Kayak Fishing trophy, but in the end it was Nick Audi’s exceptional performance, marked by an impressive total of 99 inches of smallmouth bass, that secured his well-deserved victory.


With 62 anglers, we paid out nearly $7,500 in cash and even more in prizes.

Anglers submitted 139 largemouth and 243 smallmouth bass to the National Trade Services Live Leaderboard.

Check out the full results here.


As always, a big thank-you to everyone who supported this event!

And to Dakota Lithium Batteries, Three Belles Outfitters, and National Trade Services—THANK YOU!

Please support these amazing companies whenever you can, as well as our other sponsors: Bending Branches, Crosskix, Catch Co., Fresh Baitz, Harpoon Brewery, Hobie Eyewear, Lunkerhunt, Rogue Gear Co., and YakAttack!

Our next event is on the Connecticut River and Moore Reservoir on July 8. A relatively unknown fishery compared to Lake Champlain or Cayuga Lake, but we hope to see you there!

Register here!


Nick Audi Does It Again!

The Dakota Lithium Elite Kayak Fishing Series presented by Three Belles Outfitters kicked off its third season this past Saturday on famed Cayuga Lake, one of eleven finger lakes in upstate New York.

A record-breaking 109 anglers turned out for this one, hoping to take home the coveted Elite Kayak Fishing trophy!

Given Cayuga’s reputation to churn out monster bass this time of year, all 109 anglers were undoubtedly anticipating an absolute slugfest. And for many, that’s exactly what it was!

Compared to events in previous years—2017, with Kayak Bass Fishing, and Elite Kayak Fishing in 2021, in particular—this year was a much tougher event, despite the top 15 anglers cracking 90 inches. Colder weather this season meant very little grass/weed growth and colder water temps, which had the bass hunkering down a little deeper than normal.

Anglers who found that offshore structure holding those big pre-spawn bass were rewarded. And of course the famous community holes that always attract the bass—and even more anglers—produced countless giants. The amount of 5- to 7-pound bass caught pre-fishing and during the tournament was staggering. A number of 8-pounders were caught as well, adding to the already long list of anglers breaking their personal best bass records (some more than once).

To say they’re built different in Cayuga Lake is an understatement. It’s football season all year long out there!

The flipside of this story is that a lot of anglers struggled to find those quality bites, or bites at all. Yes, the lake produced an obscene amount of monster bass, but only roughly half the field caught limits, leaving many scratching their heads.


With 109 anglers, we paid out ten spots and nearly $14,000! The top three anglers also earned a Fresh Baitz prize pack!

Anglers submitted an epic 518 bass to the National Trade Services Live Leaderboard, 42 of which were over 19 inches, with 18 of them surpassing the 20-inch mark. Sitting atop the Three Belles Outfitters Big Bass Leaderboard was a 21.50-inch behemoth hauled in by New York’s Brandon Brylinsky.

Again, football season all season.

In tenth place, the last of the money spots, was Stephen Sisto, who put 91.50 inches of Cayuga largemouth on the board. Just ahead of him was Rey Morales with 92.25, followed by 2021 Angler of the Year, Jake Angulas, and Dan Hargrave, both of whom put up 92.50 inches, with Dan’s 20-incher breaking the tie.

Serious Angler Podcast host, Bailey Eigbrett, got away from the northern crowd and headed a bit farther south, deep-cranking his way into sixth place with 94 inches, while Benjamin Bornhorst squeaked past him with a solid 94.25.

With 96 inches, Maine’s Shawn Marston secured fourth place, and Ryan Matylewicz, no stranger to the top of the leaderboard, settled into third on the backs of five bass totaling 96.75 inches.

A last-second—literally last second—19.25-incher pushed big-bass leader Brandon Brylinsky into second place for a big payday.

     

Brandon’s 98.75 was close, but ultimately not enough to dethrone our 2022 Champion and Angler of the Year, Nick Audi, whose 99.25 bested the other 108 anglers. Nick worked subtle, isolated offshore structure with a Z-Man Jackhammer, which had him at the top of the leaderboard for most of the day.

This is Nick’s third win with Elite Kayak Fishing, tying Jake Angulas for the most wins and putting him atop the Elite Kayak Fishing career earnings throne. Nick also took home the winner-takes-all Double Down sidepot, adding to his overall earnings—which totaled nearly $5,000!


Thank you to all the anglers who supported this event. We have come a long way in a short period of time, and our success depends heavily on your support. We salute you!

And to Dakota Lithium Batteries, Three Belles Outfitters, and National Trade Services, without whom we could not do this: THANK YOU!

To Bending Branches, Crosskix, Catch Co., Fresh Baitz, Harpoon Brewery, Hobie Eyewear, Lunkerhunt, Rogue Gear Co., and YakAttack, we thank you for the support!

Please support these amazing companies whenever you can!

Special thanks to Justin Hausner and New York Kayak Bass Fishing for their support and willingness to work with us.

New York Kayak Bass Fishing hosted their own club event, with 93 anglers competing. There was some double-dipping between groups, but it’s safe to say 150 kayak anglers, if not more, were out there on this day. All went as smooth as could be expected, and that is a testament to Justin and the New York Kayak Bass Fishing anglers. Thanks again!

Check out the full results here.

Up next is Lake Champlain on June 3. We’ll see you there!