CKA Anglers place at the 2022 NC BASS Kayak Nation State Championship

When B.A.S.S. announced its Bassmaster Nation Kayak Series in 2019, the American kayak tournament fishing scene was booming. For context: Kayak Bass Fishing had recently partnered in the first tournament with a major bass fishing trail (the FLW Cup), CKA and its partner KBF had already brought several large KBF Trail events to the state, and Hobie B.O.S., still a young trail, was making strides and growing into a major nation series (Hobie would hold an event at Lake Norman the following year). It seemed as though there would be little room for a new trail entity in North Carolina.

Fortunately, there was room after all. The NC chapter of B.A.S.S. organized a proper Bassmaster Kayak Nation chapter in 2022, after several fits, starts and failed attempts. The result was that over the course of the current season, the three established clubs (CKA, CCKF and QCKBF) provided their members with a path to qualification for a first-ever multi-club state championship event. The qualification path was clear and registration simplified: the top 25 anglers in the points standings of each cub (after seven events) would be invited to fish the event.

Of the 75 anglers who qualified, 63 attended the inaugural multi-club NC B.A.S.S. State Championship. The event was held on the lakes of the Yadkin River Chain (High Rock, Tuckertown, Tillery and Badin). Anglers were permitted to launch for the historic event from a list of public ramps on the sunny, late summer morning of September 17, 2022.

20 of 25 anglers who qualified through CKA fished the tournament. They encountered a tough bite on pressured waters. In the final standings, only 14 competitors in a field of 63 submitted a 5-fish limit, and 9 competitors did not submit a single catch.

With 6 qualifying spots for the Bass Master Classic on the line, CKA competitors managed to take one-third of them, placing two anglers (Bruce Deel, 3^rd place) and Justin Faircloth (6^th place) in the top of the standings. Joey Sullivan, who is a long time CKA angler (and co-founder of Carolina Yakfish, North Carolina’s original kayak bass fishing club), placed 7^th. To hear about their days on the water, watch the live Facebook video from the awards at this link. In the final standings, CKA anglers took 4 of the top 10 spots.

The ultimate champion was an old friend of CKA: Austin Vang won the championship after qualifying through his current club, Queen City Kayak Bass Fishing. He was applauded by everyone for his outstanding finish and deserved win.

Join us in congratulating the anglers who placed and who qualified for the 2023 Bassmaster Classic and follow them on social media.

Looking Ahead

North Carolina’s kayak tournament fishing scene continues to grow. And with a new club (Foothills Kayak Anglers) now growing in the western part of the state, we should eventually have a true state championship for all of the state’s kayak bass tournament trails.

CKA will complete its season with the following events:

The Gate City Classic on Sept. 24
The Battle on the Border on Oct 8^th
The CKA Tournament of Champions on Nov.

Additionally, teams will represent CKA at the Kayak Bass Fishing national Championship (Oct 19-21) on Kentucky lake and at the KBF AmBASSador Series Championship on Veterans Day Weekend, in Alabama.