Event #2 is in the books! Huge congrats to Rolando Nandin for securing the win and big bass! Jacob Moeller got 2nd, Ote Shaw got 3rd, and Jesus Reyes got 4th! The south wind made things pretty hairy at the end of the day. We had and angler flip his kayak and was not able to recover it. We ask everyone to get to know your kayak and it’s abilities in rough conditions and as club rules, everyone is required to wear their pfd’s while on the water during a tournament.
The Texas Bass Nation Kayak Division made its way to Bois d’Arc Lake this past weekend, and the up-and-coming North Texas fishery once again proved why it’s quickly becoming one of the most talked-about lakes in the state.
Still considered a relatively new lake to many anglers, Bois d’Arc continues to show out. With its flooded timber, expansive creek arms, and healthy forage base, the lake has been steadily building a reputation — and recently added even more buzz by producing a new bass record. Combine that with late-winter warming trends and stable conditions, and it set the stage for a competitive and high-scoring tournament.
Weather & Lake Conditions
Anglers were greeted with mild morning temperatures, light winds, and a warming afternoon sun — ideal kayak tournament conditions. The water clarity ranged from slightly stained in the creeks to clearer main-lake sections, allowing competitors to mix power fishing with finesse presentations.
Several anglers noted that while Bois d’Arc still fishes “new,” the bass are beginning to establish more predictable seasonal patterns. Shallow cover, transition banks, and submerged timber lines all played key roles throughout the day.
As one angler shared at weigh-in:
“It still feels like you’re unlocking a new lake every trip out here. Every event teaches us something different.”
Knutz Dominates from Start to Finish
Keith Knutz set the tone early and never looked back. Posting a commanding 100.5 inches, Knutz held the top spot for most of the day and sealed the win with a consistent five-fish limit that kept challengers at bay.
Behind him, the leaderboard stayed tight all day, with inches separating multiple positions as anglers made late pushes in the afternoon.
Official Results – Texas Bass Nation Kayak Division
1st – Keith Knutz – 100.5” – $2,125
2nd – Tou Vue – 92.5” – $1,026
• Big Bass – 21.75” – $720
3rd – Michael Hopkins – 91” – $804
4th – Erick Simien – 90.5” – $596
5th – Greg Hurt – 90.5” – $358
6th – Eddie Morris – 89.25” – $202
7th – Taylor LaFountain – 87.75” – $100
The battle for second through fifth was especially tight, with just inches making the difference. That’s kayak competition at its finest — every cast matters.
A Lake on the Rise
Bois d’Arc is quickly transitioning from “new lake curiosity” to a legitimate tournament destination. The combination of healthy bass populations, improving angler knowledge, and record-setting fish has put it squarely on the radar of competitive anglers across Texas.
If this weekend is any indication, the Texas Bass Nation Kayak Division will be back — and the bar has officially been set high.
Congratulations to all anglers who competed and to Keith Knutz on a dominant victory.
Our final regular season event is in the books!
Colletto Creek proved to be a tough bite, but hats off to all the anglers who battled through the heat and managed to put fish in the kayak.
🥇 1st Place – Chris Muniz | $779
🥈 2nd Place – Jacob Moeller | $370
🥉 3rd Place + Big Bass – JR Mocaby | $307
Up next: the Texas B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship on Lake Lewisville, September 13th!
We’ll be posting the full list of qualified anglers soon. Remember — you qualify by finishing Top 3 at any regular event, or by fishing 3 regular season events this year.
Big thanks to our sponsors Native Watercraft and Newport Vessels for supporting the trail!
