SHREVEPORT, La. — For the second year in a row, Tennessee’s Rus Snyders has won the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title, accumulating 730 points throughout the five-event season. Along with a customized trophy, Snyders earned a prize of $5,000.
It is the first time in Kayak Series history an angler has repeated as Angler of the Year.
“I’m just grateful to do what I love,” Snyders said. “We had big-time attendance at all of the events this year. I’m guessing there were an average of 200 anglers this year. Most of the top kayak anglers committed to the Kayak Series this year. It was the most talent we’ve had in these tournaments.”
Virginia’s Casey Reed finished second with 717 points, Ohio’s Jason Isaacs finished third with 711 points, Mississippi’s Clint Pippen was fourth with 709 points and Massachusetts’ Derek Brundle was fifth with 707 points.
“I respect Casey a lot,” Snyders said. “He is a great angler and very respectful. There have been a number of times where we have shared water, and he is a guy that I know will treat others the way he wants to be treated.”
As a Dakota Lithium angler, Snyders has watched the company grow over the last couple of years and has been grateful for the support they have given him and the kayak industry as a whole.
“Dakota Lithium has been a big supporter of kayak fishing for a number of years now. It is how they got their foot in the door and have evolved into working with Bassmaster not only in the Kayak Series, but (with their) bass boat series too. They are a huge supporter of kayak fishing, and they take care of their pro staff. They put a lot into helping us with a number of different things, and their support means a lot to me.”
Fishing out of his Bonafide PWR 129 with a Torqeedo motor, Snyders wanted to make sure he fished consistently all year long, and he certainly accomplished that goal by cashing checks in four of the five events. The one tournament that he didn’t cash a check in — the final event of the season on Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau — he missed out by only two places.
“I only had one Top 5, but I had the consistency of being able to cash a check. That was a big part of my goal. I played it safe a few times just to make sure I got a limit and solid fish rather than swing for the fences.
“I couldn’t have picked a better schedule,” he added.
As a shallow-water power angler, the 2024 schedule set up perfectly for Snyders. However, a variety of different strategies came into play this year for the California native who currently resides in Tennessee, including several finesse presentations. But a squarebill crankbait was what he used whenever he needed to get a quality bite.
Just like in past years, Snyders made winning Angler of the Year a priority, and he set the tone for the season with a 12th-place finish at Lake Murray. One big catch in particular late on the second day propelled him into check range and gave him positive momentum for the following events.
“Within the last half hour of that second day, I caught a 22-incher,” he explained. “Getting a last-minute big bass like that is always something that stands out. It gave me that positive energy and momentum (and that) can really carry on into the next tournament.”
Then came a weather-shortened Possum Kingdom event where Snyders veered slightly out of his comfort zone to notch a fourth-place finish in central Texas.
“There were some giant bass caught. I caught one that was nearly 10 pounds in practice,” he said. “It was one of the few tournaments where I ended up using my electronics a little more. I used LiveScope and worked a shaky head and Texas-rigged worms in brushpiles that were in 5 to 12 feet of water.”
Two of his favorite fisheries were next on the schedule, a May event at Lake Guntersville and a July event at the Susquehanna River. He finished ninth and 10th respectively in those events but used very different techniques to earn checks. On Guntersville, the crankbait shined, while a weightless Senko was his primary presentation at the Susquehanna.
“I had a little more of a finesse approach at the Susky,” he said. “I let the Senko drift with the current. I had to find as many ambush points as I could in practice and hit as many waypoints as I could.”
He then sealed the title with a 21st-place finish at Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau, where he mined the vast cypress swamps for quality keepers.
“I’m not sure there is a better place to fish in the fall,” he said. “I really love fishing cypress trees. It is one of my favorite things to do.”
2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Title Sponsor: Yamaha Rightwaters
2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Partner: MotorGuide, YakGear
2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Dakota Lithium
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