CKA Recap: Tsiolkas Wins Windy Season Opener at Tillery

Hank
CKA Recap: Tsiolkas Wins Windy Season Opener at Tillery

Tsiolkas Wins, Approaches All Time Record When CKA directors set up the 2025 schedule, we listened to angler suggestions and feedback. And we decided to open the year at Lake Tillery, the southernmost fishery on the Yadkin Chain in North Carolina, and one of the southernmost lakes in our rotation. It was the first time Tillery hosted a CKA season opener, and with two visits to the Yadkin Chain (CKA will fish Tuckertown in June), it made for a nice trip. With the scenic Uwharrie Mountains framing the fishery, anglers…

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CKA 2025 Season Preview

Hank
CKA 2025 Season Preview

CKA enters its twelfth season with the wind at its back. Attendance was steady last year, tournaments produced big bags and CKA payouts topped $35,000. Will Lambert had a historic season, too, winning his second Angler of the Year title in five years, the 20 for 24 Series and the Battle on the Border. The only title he didn’t take was the Tournament of Champions (which Ryan Hayes won). In 2023, it seemed Bryan Tsiolkas could not be stopped. Will Lambert had the same aura of invincibility in 2024. Who…

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CKA 2024-2025 Winter Series Concludes

Hank
CKA 2024-2025 Winter Series Concludes

The CKA Winter Series is a low-stakes series that is ideal for testing new gear, keeping the rust off and exploring new water. This year the CKA Winter Series began on Saturday, December 14th and it will conclude with the third event on February 8th. There will then be a meet & greet at Get: Outdoors on February 22 with seminars, awards and a kick-off for the 2025 regular season. Currently, Will Lambert has a strong lead in the points race. But with two spots in the CKA Tournament of…

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Preview: The Battle on the Border VI

Hank
Preview: The Battle on the Border VI

What is the Battle on the Border? The short answer: it’s a kayak fishing tournament, Virginia versus North Carolina, the Old Dominion versus the Old North State. The longer answer: it’s also when we fish for fun and celebrate our sport at the end of another successful season. The Battle on the Border is a time to camp and relax, compete and catch-up. It’s when anglers from Virginia and North Carolina renew old friendships and make new ones. It’s when our kayak fishing clubs send their crews to one of…

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Gate City Recap: Lambert wins second AOY title in five years, Malena wins ROY

Hank
Gate City Recap: Lambert wins second AOY title in five years, Malena wins ROY

The Gate City Classic saw high pressure, a strong breeze and bluebird skies. Those conditions are the recipe for a tough bite, especially in shallow water. The expected fall pattern was not available as fish backed off from shallow schooling and summer ended and the advantage went to deep-water anglers. They didn’t have it much better, but they found the fish to get the job done. And there were some twists along the way, as anglers battled for top prizes and qualifying spots in the invitation-only Tournament of Champions. Here…

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