Overview
Welcome anglers to the 2nd CKA tournament of the 2017 season. The tournament will be held on March 11th on Falls Lake in the NC Triangle. The event will be held in conjunction with a KBF Trail Event. Anglers may fish either the CKA and KBF event separately, or fish both events simultaneously.
The CKA event is a 3 fish limit event and the KBF Trail event is a 5-fish limit event, but an angler’s 3 CKA fish can be cross-posted to the KBF event on Tourney X. Additionally, non-KBF members can compete in the KBF event but we encourage anglers to sign up as KBF members. The Trail event registration cost is lower with KBF membership ($50 for members) and anglers can accumulate KBF AOY points and register for the Bass Bucks program for additional prizes. This informational post is the first of two about this exciting, large and complex event. This post contains
- lake and license information,
- boundaries and rules (and links to complete rules)
- launch and boundary information
- Preliminary schedule
Lake and License Info
Falls Lake is a 12,410 acre reservoir located in Raleigh/Durham North Carolina. Falls Lake extends 28 miles up the Neuse River to its source at the confluence of the Eno and Flat rivers. The lake is practically devoid of shoreline structure and grass. The defined river channels and creek beds will probably allow anglers to discover bass staging on ledges in pre-spawn mode. If the weather plays right, waves of spawning bass may be making their way to river channel flats to spawn. There are many who claim that Falls is a mini-version of Kentucky Lake due to the possibilities of offshore structure fishing, and Falls Lake was rated in 2016 as the 8th best bass fishery in the Southeast by B.A.S.S.
Please be sure to obtain a valid N.C. license, and follow parking regulations at the launches, as this popular lake is closely monitored by NC Wildlife officers. To learn lake rules and find other information, visit the Falls Lake State Recreation Area site at: http://www.ncparks.gov/falls-lake-state-recreation-area
Boundaries and Rules
This joint event will follow KBF rules only, and dismiss any CKA exceptions to the KBF rules made on the CKA rules page. For example, motors are allowed for both events. This means that even an angler who only fishes the CKA event is still responsible for following KBF rules.
Therefore, anglers must be familiar with and follow KBF rules as well as all North Carolina fishing laws and NC State Park regulations as they apply to Falls Lake.
LINK TO KBF RULES: http://www.kayakbassfishing.com/kbf-rules-overview/
CKA has followed KBF rules in establishing the event boundaries. The Eno River and Flat River are allowable to fish but must be accessed by using an eligible ramp listed below (the Eno River Boat Access site is closest). Additionally:
- The Eno River is eligible to fish and bound to the west of the Eno River Access at the confluence of the Little River.
- The Flat River is bound by the base of the Lake Michie Dam
As per KBF rules, portage is permitted as follows:
Portaging is allowed, but ONLY to reach public-access water contiguous to the lakes that can also be reached by floating or paddling. For instance, if a meandering creek loops around so a narrow tongue of land or gravel bar separates two creek sections, and it’s possible to paddle a mile around to reach the same water, getting out and dragging the kayak across the land to reach it faster is permissible. Otherwise, to be eligible any water must be accessible by paddling or floating in one’s kayak. Floating and pulling oneself by hand through a 4-foot culvert under a roadbed to reach backwaters on the other side is permissible. If the water you want to fish cannot be reached by paddling or floating (with you in the boat), then it’s not eligible water.
Additionally, Beaverdam Lake Area is OFF LIMITS. Although it is within the Falls Lake State Recreation area it is separated from Falls Lake by a dam and is not accessible by paddling from other areas of Falls Lake; this technically has it closed off as its own body of water. Any angler who submits fishes at Beaver Dam will be disqualified.
The map below gives a sense of launch points and boundaries:
Launches
The tournament is a multi-launch event, and the listed access areas (below) will be the only eligible locations to launch for the events on Falls Lake. This is because KBF rules require equal access for all anglers. Many of the Falls Lake launches are very large with ample parking, boat lanes and docks to tie off vessels after they are launched. Keep in mind that some launches may also be busy with boat tournaments, so respect fellow boaters and be careful at the marinas.
Of the 7 available launches, four are 24 hour ramps and three other ramps open at 8 a.m. There are no fees this time of year with the only one exception being Rollingview Marina, which has a $3.00 launch fee. Please keep in mind that CKA and KBF do not control access to the ramps, and if a gate is closed or it opens late, there is nothing either series can do to change that fact. The
Eno River Boat Access (24 Hour Access)
40 Rodolphe Rd.
Durham, NC 27712
Hickory Hill (24 Hour Access)
24 hour access
4600 redwood Rd.
Durham, NC 27704
Ledge Rock (24 Hour Access)
24 hour access
2601 Olive Grove Church Rd.
Creedmor, NC 27522
Rolling View Area (Gates Open 8:00am)
4201 Baptist Route
Durham, NC 27703
Rolling View Marina (Gates Open 8:00am, $3.00 launch fee)
3940 Falls Lake Rd,
Durham, NC 27703
Highway 50 Access (Gates Open 8:00am)
13900 Creedmoor Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
Upper Barton (24 Hour Access)
12900 Six Forks Rd,
Wake Forest, NC 27587
A second post will follow in the coming days to specify sign up details and locations of the Captains Meeting and the post-tournament check in place. Note: there will be two Captains meetings, but anglers are required to only attend one of them.
Schedule
Friday, March 10th: Captains Meeting (Time and place t.b.d.)
Saturday March 11: Captains Meeting (Time and place t.b.d.)
Competition Launch Time:
Check-In: 4 pm (Place t.b.d.)
Finally – don’t forget to create a Tourney X angler account for CPR submissions!