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 will step up in 2025?
Let’s survey the field of play, because there are big changes and some even bigger announcements that will affect how the tournaments and points races unfold.
2025 Schedule
CKA will fish a complete schedule of events in central North Carolina, with Lake James being the exception. The first three regular season events feature two classic Piedmont lakes (Harris and Mack) and a Yadkin chain visit to Tillery to open the season. We visit James for the Carolina Classic, and then we return to the Yadkin Chain/Asheboro area with events at Tuckertown and Reese/Lucas. We finish with Falls Lake and the Gate City Classic.
That’s a balanced schedule with a good mix of different lakes. And then we have some bonus events….
First, CKA will provide extra prizes for the CKA team that has the best finish at the Kayak Adventure Series event on May 3-4th.
Second, CKA will be fundraising for the Reel Heroes Inc. charity event at Lake Norman on July 12. We will be announcing some prizes for that soon, too.
And finally, we will defend North Carolina’s title at the seventh Battle on the Border event.
That’s eight regular season events, three non-points bonus events, plus the CKA Tournament of Champions. Whether you like big lakes, small lakes or out of the way fisheries, that’s a full schedule, a balanced schedule, and a schedule with something to attract any angler.
And there’s one more event we have to mention…
Sponsors
Scheduled for June 28th, CKA is partnering with Hobie Eyewear and Bassmaster Elite angler Carl Jocumsen’s “Fear my Heart” foundation for a cleanup event at Jordan Lake. We will have some big news on this soon, but Hobie Eyewear has stepped up as a CKA sponsor for 2025, and we will be giving away their product at select events.
Additionally, CKA anglers will enjoy prizes from local companies such as Get Outdoors Pedal and Paddle, On the Water Innovations, Carolina Waters, Four-Seven Lure Company and The Rod Shop, to name a few.
Dakota Lithium returns, and so does Kayak Kushion and Yak Attack!
Rules Changes
CKA directors solicit angler feedback at the end of every season and make adjustments to rules, policies and more. In recent years, we have received a lot of comments about pre-fishing rules. After considerable discussion and debate (as well as a bit of research on how other clubs have handled the matter), we decided to institute a major change.
Beginning in 2025, anglers will not be permitted to fish tournament water on the weekdays immediately prior to the event. What that means is that pre-fishing ends at sundown (or when the lake closes) on the Sunday prior to the tournament. Any angler caught fishing tournament water between Monday and Friday will be disqualified.
The reasons for the change are several. They include making the tournament day less predictable, incentivizing anglers who lack weekday pre-fishing options and easing pressure on our fisheries. But the most important reason is that both anglers and directors felt it was time for a change.
There is a second major change. Anglers must fish a minimum of five events to qualify for the CKA Tournament of Champions.
Finally, something of a major non-change. CKA has decided to maintain the “No touching the tail” rule. Other clubs and series have eliminated that rule. CKA has not.
Please review CKA rules, and if you have questions, ask a director!
Additional Info
To see the complete 2025 schedule, click here.
To become a member, visit FishingChaos.com
If you have questions, reach out to CKA through our Facebook page or through our email address.
All content and photos © Carolina Kayak Anglers LLC, 2025.
First Published February 22, 2025.
