The 4th annual edition of the Battle on the Border was a year of firsts. At the check-in, for example, former Carolina Kayak Anglers (CKA) director Wayne Butler showed anglers a photo of a Smallmouth Bass he caught that day. It was the first one caught in our four years of kayak fishing competition at Kerr Lake.
It wasn’t the only first of the day. When it was over, North Carolina finally won its first ever Battle on the Border trophy (the trophies for the first 3 events all went to other states). This season, however, North Carolina delivered some payback to its primary rival, Virginia.
Last year, it was Virginia anglers who swept the top 3 money spots. This year, it was North Carolina anglers in the top 3 spots – another first in the tournament’s history.
Third place saw angler Peter Eley, who grew up in the vicinity of the lake, take home his first big payday of the season. A top 10 finisher in the 2021 edition of the tournament, Eley is a regular with Central Carolina Kayak Fishing (CCKF). Eley also won the Big Bass prize for the day, taking home over $900 for a good day’s work.
Second place went to CKA angler Will Lambert. Lambert led the event through much of the tournament, but late flurries by Eley and Nelson threatened his lead, and he was ultimately surpassed.
The event champion was a local angler and tournament director who had been having a quiet season in 2022. CKA’s Eric Nelson brought the trophy to Carolina for the first time with a late rush to the top of the leaderboard. It happened as the clouds broke and the sun warmed the water on a breezy afternoon at Kerr Lake.
In Nelson’s words:
“I started the day off fishing an area I’ve fished in the past but had no time to practice this week. The planned spots were empty of life and I was only able to get 2 bites in the general area with the water lower than expected. From there it was putting the Lowrance to good use finding some off the bank cover. Found tree trunks laying in 8’ and picked off a bass and a catfish that had me around a log and feeling like a big bass. Got it eventually to come out and to the boat only to be bummed.
I found a point with life on it and gave up with the wind making it too tough to fish. After the wind settled down I immediately headed back there and landed the bigger one, and another disappointing catfish. I missed some short strikes but it all changed when the lake went completely calm and couldn’t get bit from then on.
With a few minutes left I fired a trick worm under a dock and nothing. Cranking it back to make another cast and whack! Fish #5.
The leaderboard was down and I didn’t look until it was time to get the event underway and was shocked to see I was in first! It’s an honor to win this trophy with lost fellow angler Charles Crews name on it. It is also the first time NC got to take the win and bragging rights for the year. This will be a memory that will last a while for sure!”
Nelson took home more than $1,000 in winnings and a new kayak courtesy of Carolina Paddle Sports Outfitters.
Credits
Click here for Complete Standings
The Battle on the Border is only made possible because clubs from VA and NC make it a reality. This year, it was CKA, CCKF and Virginia Kayak Trail who carried the load.
The tournament received generous support from Carolina Paddle Sports Outfitters, Vance County Tourism Bureau Department, Dakota Lithium Batteries and North Carolina State Parks.
Custom Trophies were made by Ketch Products and Ross Myers/Custom Bass Trophies.
2023 will be the 5th anniversary of this annual event. Follow the Battle on the Border Group Page on Facebook for more some big news about it in the coming months!
