Kayak Bass Connection
by Jered Shofner
Let's talk bass fishing. We interview experienced anglers to share their knowledge and guide newcomers in the kayak fishing community. Never stop learning! We are the official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club Tournament Trail.
Episodes
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New winner at Newton Lake!
Walt McCree claims his first win in a kayak and doesn't even use sonar! Kevin Cox and Jonathan Kessler claim second and third in a tournament where deep water played a major factor. Listen for the full recap of the last regular season tournament for Southern Illinois Kayak Club Bass Tournament...
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IL. BASS Kayak Champs! Ep 58
The Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series Champion Jonathan Kessler and Angler of the Year Cody Wenger discuss the season finale at Crab Orchard Lake, the dynamics of 2 days kayak tournaments, and look back at the full IBNKS season. We also hear from Kevin Cox, the runner up in the championship…
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Cedar Lake Roundup
The kayak bass anglers of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club Tournament Trail visited the legendary Cedar Lake and sit down with us to discuss the event. Is it still the land of giant bass? Find out how the top 3 finishers cash checks in a competitive field.
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Sangchris Lake SIKC Tournament
Sangchris Lake handed the anglers of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club a real challenge during the 4th stop of their tournament trail. Dalton Williams did what he does best, catch bass! Join the winning anglers as they talk about unique strategies that caught big bass when others struggled.
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Coffeen Lake Bass Tournament Recap
Winning anglers from the Southern Illinois Kayak Club Bass Tournament Trail recap the event and drop great tips for other kayak anglers! The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and their bass tournament trail at www.sikcfishing.org
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Crab Orchard Lake Ep. 52
Kayak bass fishing tournament winners from the Southern Illinois Kayak Club Tournament trail discuss the latest tournament, the skills they used to catch bass, and explore the challenges of tournament fishing. The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and…
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Kincaid Lake Champs
This kayak bass tournament proved that winners never give up and keep competing until the last second. Listen as the top finishers in the Southern Illinois Kayak Club Tournament on Kincaid Lake lay down some great advice. Every minute counts! The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak...
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Banner Marsh Battle 2026
In this episode of the Kayak Bass Connection Podcast, we break down the 2026 SIKC Classic kayak bass fishing tournament with the top three finishers, diving deep into winning strategies, cold‑weather adjustments, and what it takes to consistently contend at the highest level of kayak bass...
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Big Fish Max
Meet Max Lee. a humble California kayak angler that has quietly developed a reputation for catching big bass, including a recent 16lb largemouth! Max works hard for those big fish and shares great insight into what it takes to find the biggest fish in the lake. We discuss the differences between...
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Kayak Livescope 101
How does forward-facing sonar change your kayak fishing? Can it be an unfair advantage? Experienced users and a championship angler with no FFS experience weigh in on this controversial technology. The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and their bass...
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Mental Management Resource for Winners
Your mindset can win or lose kayak bass tournaments long before your first cast. 🧠🎣 Mental preparation is more important than any rod, reel, or lure. But what if you had a proven manual for controlling your mental state under pressure? In this video, we introduce Troy Bassham’s book…
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Flipped at Toledo Bend!
Too many kayak anglers find themselves in life-threatening situations. This is the first in a series of interviews with anglers who had close calls on the water. This episode tells a scary story about an angler who flipped his kayak on a huge reservoir far from home, and far from help. The…
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The Winner's Playbook
What have we learned from interviewing the top 3 finishers in 17 different Kayak Bass Tournaments since 2023? Our hosts looks back at the big lessons. The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and their bass tournament trail at www.sikcfishing.org
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2026 SIKC Schedule Release
Southern Illinois Kayak Club Tournament Director Jonathan Kessler releases the tournament schedule for next year! Check out the new website at www.sikcfishing.org The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and their bass tournament trail at www.sikcfishing.org
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2026 Season Preview - Big Changes
🎣 Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Kayak Bass Connection Podcast! We’re diving into all the exciting changes coming to the Illinois kayak bass scene in 2026 — new rules, new leadership, and maybe even a new tournament series 👀 👇 Drop a comment below: What do you think of the new…
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Talent Rises at Newton Lake
Kayak Bass Tournament Anglers recap the final event of the 2025 Southern Illinois Kayak Club (SIKC) Tournament Trail at Newton Lake. This episode is packed with talented anglers sharing their bass fishing know-how. The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC…
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Strip Pit Success at Pyramid State Park
The SiKC kayak bass tournament at Pyramid State Park was a test of skill, endurance, and strategy. With over 40 strip pits to choose from, triple-digit heat, and tough bites, only 10 anglers posted a limit. We talk to Darren Hemker, Dalton Williams, and Kevin Cox about their winning tactics, big...
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Dalton Williams' 3rd win in a row! Hot action at Cedar Lake.
🔥 Bass Battle at Cedar Lake! 🔥 Witness kayak fishing history as SIKC Angler of the Year Dalton Williams continues his unstoppable run on the 2025 kayak bass tournament trail! Meanwhile, Jerry and Nick Bryson make waves as the first father-son duo to place in the Top 3, rewriting the record…
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Low Cost Kayak Tournaments in 2026
Can't fish on Saturday? No problem. Mike Husar discusses plans to bring back flexible, low cost options for kayak bass tournaments in Illinois. The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and their bass tournament trail at www.sikcfishing.org
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B.A.S.S. Kayak Fishing Series in Illinois!
The Illinois B.A.S.S. Nation is expanding to include a kayak division! Mike Husar and Susie Roloff provide an update on their efforts to get the B.A.S.S. Kayak Series launched in Illinois. Very exciting news for all anglers! The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more…
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Sangchris Lake Tournament
Top finishers from the Kayak Bass Tournament at Sangchris Lake, Illinois discuss their success AND whether or not Darren should skip his brother's wedding to fish a tournament. What do you think? The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and their bass...
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Pedaling to Victory at Otter Lake - Ep. 36
The top three anglers analyze a super tough kayak bass tournament and discuss how their pedal-drive kayaks offer them a competitive edge over those using motorized kayaks. We are the official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club Bass Tournament Series. The official podcast of the Southern...
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Breaking records at Coffeen Lake - Ep.35
The Southern Illinois Kayak Club kicked off their 2025 tournament trail with a bang! Record attendance, record payouts, and big bass. We welcome the top 3 kayak anglers from this kayak bass tournament to talk about their great performance! The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club....
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2025 SIKC Classic Bass Tournament
Susie Roloff out fished some the best kayak anglers in the midwest to win the 2025 SIKC Classic Championship on Cedar Lake. Listen in as the the top 4 anglers in contest talk about the challenging conditions, life as a kayak bass angler, and mastering the mental aspect of the sport. Kayak Bass...
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Meet the Anglers of SIKC - Ep. 33
In this video, kayak anglers Scott Gyon, Jeff Shere, and Lee Van Hoose sit down with the Southern Illinois Kayak Club to talk about the upcoming fishing tournament season. Lee shares valuable tips on the most common catch, photo, and release mistakes that can hurt your tournament results....
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Travel Friendly Fishing Kayaks - Ep. 30
A travel-friendly fishing kayak is great for campers, travelers, and anyone pressed for space. We interview representatives from experts from Wilderness Systems, Bonifide, Old Town, Native Watercraft, and Hobie in search of the perfect mobile fishing machine! Subscribe to catch Part 2, with even...
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20 Kayak Tournament Tips in 10 minutes!
Join two new kayak tournament anglers as they learn tips on what to expect in their first season. Keep a notebook handy for this one! The Kayak Bass Connection is proud to be the official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club Tournament Trail. The official podcast of the Southern Illinois...
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The most versatile bait in bass fishing?
A deep dive into using the soft jerk bait, also known as the fluke. Find out why you should have this rigged and ready! Oh ya, what is a donkey rig anyway? Find out in this episode. The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and their bass tournament trail at...
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40 Kayak Tournament Tips
Over 40 tips in less than an hour! Former Angler Of The Year Dustin Siegle answers questions from 2 novice kayak tournament anglers. A goldmine of good advice to get started fishing from a kayak. Full video at: https://youtube.com/@kayakbassconnection?si=wxpdFD4LPlaQ-mNF The official podcast of…
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Tying Bass & Crappie Jigs for Beginners
We caught up with SIKC angler Kendall Mezo as he gave a beginners' tutorial on crafting custom jigs and chatted about the upcoming tournament season. The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and their bass tournament trail at www.sikcfishing.org
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2025 SIKC Kayak Bass Schedule Drop
The 2025 Tournament schedule for the Southern Illinois Kayak Club is announced first here! Kayak Bass Anglers from Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana should mark their calendars now! The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and their bass tournament trail at...
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Harassing the Angler of the Year Ep.23
This episode has it all! Topics include fishing in teams, harassing the angler of the year, crossroads classic recap, dinning recommendations, Kayak Bass League, and the 2025 SIKC season. This episode features Dalton Williams, Dustin Seigle, Susy Roloff, and Darren Hemker. Sit back and take it…
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Ep. 22 Coffeen Lake Bass Battle
Rece Schneider recaps his impressive tournament win and 3 winning anglers discuss the importance of having fun on the water. Find out how Nick Chabarria nearly won the tournament on a standup paddle board! Tournament director Joshua Lincoln gives a glimpse of what it's like to run the show and...
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Kincaid Lake - 2024 SIKC Classic Tournament
The Southern Illinois Kayak Club Tournament Trail kicked off their 2024 season by inviting the top 20 anglers from last year to compete at Kincaid Lake. The top 3 finishers join us to discuss their struggles and successes. Great lessons here! The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak...
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Managing Illinois Bass - Part 2 Ep.16
llinois Fisheries Biologist Tad Locher visits the Kayak Bass Connection to discuss the state of several public lakes, including Coffeen, Sangchris, Taylorville, and Banner Marsh. Find out why Arygyle Lake would be a great place for a kayak bass tournament! The official podcast of the Southern...
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Ep 15. - The Road to Success - Angler Interviews
Experienced kayak anglers Larry Horne and Nick Tipton discuss lessons learned during tournaments, offer advice to other anglers, and reveal their goals for the upcoming season. Full video on You Tube: https://youtu.be/X1xr6Zj_P8o The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn…
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The Open Book Episode - Interview with AOY Darren Hemker
2023 AOY Darren Hemker has smashed records in kayak bass tournaments and developed a reputation for helping fellow anglers succeed. Darren describes himself as an "Open Book" willing to help others. We sit down with Darren and talk about his strategies, favorite baits, and mental approach to...
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Managing Public Bass - Ep.13
What are the top largemouth bass lakes in Illinois? IDNR Biologist Shawn Hurst visits the podcast and uses his 29 years of experience to offer his expert opinion. We talk largemouth bass, striped bass, musky, forage species, and the impact of catch, photo, release tournaments. He drops a ton of...
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Tips for Your Rookie Season - Ep. 12
New kayak tournament angler? This episode is full of tips for success in your rookie year. Tournament Director Joshua Lincoln co-hosts a conversation with three anglers that completed their rookie tournament last year. From mental preparation to gear and planning, we have tips for it all!...
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Tube Jig Tanks! Featuring Kevin Cox - Ep. 11
The classic tube jig flat out catches fish! Tournament Angler Kevin Cox his figured out an effective way to rig tubes for consistent hook-ups and consistent paychecks. In this episode, he describes why the hook makes all the difference. Good stuff! Featured baits:...
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Ep. 10 - Offshore Jig Masterclass
SIKC Championship Bass Angler Jonathan Michael Kessler returns to the podcast to present an amazing seminar on using a jig in water away from the bank. You do not want to miss this! The official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Learn more about SIKC and their bass tournament trail at...
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Ep 9 - Thanksgiving with SIKC Anglers
Thankful anglers are highlighted in this special thanksgiving episode. We talk about supportive family, bass fishing in the mid-western winter, culture of a club, growth of the sport, and why YOU should be fishing from a kayak! Thanks to all my guests! The official podcast of the Southern…
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Records SMASHED at Crossroads Classic Kayak Bass Team Championship
30 of the best kayak anglers in the Midwest faced off in the 2023 Crossroads Classic Kayak Bass Team Championship on September 30th. At the end of the 2 day event, the 5 team members from the Southern Illinois Kayak Club (SIKC) won the team trophy and SMASHED historic records. Join all 5 team...
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100" of Bass! Pre-game for the Crossroads Tournament
The Crossroads Kayak Bass Team Tournament will bring 35 of the best kayak anglers in the Midwest to Cedar Lake in Southern Illinois on Sept 30th and October 1st, 2023. Members of the Southern IL. Kayak Club (SIKC) discuss the potential for more 100 inch daily limits and their concerns over the...
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Rookie to Champ! Ep. 6
Three Rookie of the Year winners open up about starting, persisting, and winning in kayak bass tournaments. They shatter myths about equipment and discuss the mental side of competition. Beginner kayak anglers or boat anglers considering dipping their toes into the plastic boat world will be...
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Ep. 5 James Faught Midwest Kayak Company
Angler and entrepreneur James Faught joins the Kayak Bass Connection Podcast to talk life and fishing. We discuss learning from others, freshwater and saltwater fishing, and his new business, The Midwest Kayak Company. This episode contains great tips for beginning kayak anglers and those looking...
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Ep 4. Devils Kitchen Lake
In this episode, we continue coverage of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club (SIKC) tournament trail. Devils Kitchen lake was the 5th of 6 regular season events for the club. Anglers battled weather conditions and a tough bite on this unique lake. Listen for great tips on fishing, equipment choice,...
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Ep. 3 Overcoming Adversity - David Brooke
Tournament Angler David Brooke shares his thoughts on overcoming adversity on the water, explains his Ketch Photo Release (KPR) Tournament Series, drops great beginner advice, and much more! See more of Dave's content on the Average Dave Outdoors Facebook page. Suggestions for future episodes?...
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Ep. 2 Banner Marsh SIKC Tournament Coverage
What does it take to win? During this winners' circle segment, we interview top finishers from the Southern Illinois Kayak Club (SIKC) tournament at Banner Marsh State Fish and Wildlife Area. This episode has back to back tournament winner Jonathan Kessler, 2022 rookie of the year Dalton…
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Ep. 1 Coffeen Lake, IL. Winner's Circle Interview
Tournament winners Jonathan Kessler and Jake Schultz join us to talk about what goes into a win. This premier episode has some great insight into the fellowship of kayak fisherman in the grassroots bass trails, along with great tips for beginners. For more information about the trail series...
About this show
Let's talk bass fishing. We interview experienced anglers to share their knowledge and guide newcomers in the kayak fishing community. Never stop learning!
We are the official podcast of the Southern Illinois Kayak Club Tournament Trail.
Hosted by
Jered Shofner
Categories