The third edition of the Carolina Classic marked another milestone for North Carolina’s home-based fishing clubs: since 2023, each of the three founding clubs has hosted the event one time. The event has become a staple of our busy state-wide community and the 2025 edition, hosted perfectly by Foothills Kayak Anglers (with an assist from Waterways of Old Fort N.C.) added a memorable chapter in the event’s story.
What will 2025 bring for the Carolina Classic? We shall see!
The Carolina Classic also imparted some definition to the respective CKA Angler of the Year and Rookie of the Year races sponsored by Get Outdoors. More about that below, and what it also means for qualifications, end of season sponsor prizes and more!
Carolina Classic / Lake James
With Smallmouth Bass, Meanmouth Bass and Largemouth Bass, the clear, mountain sourced waters of Lake James offer challenges and opportunities to every style of bass fishing. On Saturday, May 17, anglers hit the lake after a one-hour rain delay to find aggressive fish willing to bite. The top three finishers all caught their winning fish using different lure presentations, and they did so in varied depths and structure types.
After finishing in third place, CKA angler Calvin Keller said “I caught all of my fish on a short stretch of rip rap, at depths between 4’ and 12’. I fished a Carolina rig tipped with a Zoom Craw.”
By contrast, second place finisher Kaleb Davis of Foothills Kayak Anglers fished a fluke in a river channel. His fish came mostly from 2’ to 4’ of water.
Event champion Tad Whitley said “I found a good spinner bait bite, around shallow wood. I caught fish in churned up, shallow water on a Duckett double willow, in chartreuse and white.”
While the top three used specific go-to baits, fourth place finisher Will Lambert alternated his presentation between three different rigs. He fished a 2.5” swimbait, a Texas rig tipped with a Berkley Chigger Craw and also a Wacky Worm. “I caught my fish in the backs of coves or suspended. Sometimes I would throw the bait on the bank and drag it in, and the fish would hit it.”
Mid-Season Points Races
Speaking of Will Lambert and Tad Whitley, if you look at the automated points standings on Fishing Chaos, you will see them in first (lambert) and second (Whitley) places in the overall standings. It’s rare that a Rookie of the Year candidate also challenges for Angler of the Year, but it has happened in the past (see 2020). That season, Charles Crews beat out none other than Ricky Rowland (who would win AOY in 2021). Rowland eventually was named CKA Angler of the decade.
Can Whitley challenge Lambert for the crown this season? Lambert is dominant but no angler is invincible. And with four events remaining, Lambert could be setting up for another down-to-the-wire finish, as he did in 2019 (with CKA) and in 2023 (in CCKF).
Or might we see another angler go on a tear this summer, and rise to the top over the second half of the season to win AOY? Its been done (see Ricky Rowland, above). Who could that be?
As for the Rookie of the Year race, Jamar Hines and Isaiah Stanley are Whitley’s nearest challengers. Either angler could catch fire and make a run, because only the top four scores count in that race.
remember also that much has yet to be determined as we head into the second half of the season. Anglers must have a minimum of six events to be entered in the On the Water Innovations trailer drawing. Additionally, the Broken Twigs Big bass Award remains in contention, too.
Finally, qualification for the Tournament of Champions is open. As it stands, the following anglers have qualified to date:
- Bryan Tsiolkas (Tillery)
- Isaiah Stanley (Harris)
- Will Lambert (Mackintosh)
- Tad Whitley (James)
- Alex Sterling (Kayak Adventure Series)
- Hank Veggian (Kayak Adventure Series)
Roll downs will happen this year but only through anglers who have fished a minimum of five events. It’s unlikely, but if you finish in the top 20 with only four events, you won’t punch a ticket to the TOC.
For complete standings, click here.
Next Up
CKA will return to Stanly County to fish Tuckertown reservoir on June 14th. The lake has a history of producing huge bags in early summer! After that, CKA will work with Hobie Eyewear to clean up Jordan Lake on June 28th, the Reel Heroes charity event on Norman on July 12, and then we resume fishing in late July!
Register here for the Tuckertown tournament: https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/QreqAsMwbYDBBeh7xZS8
Additional Info:
For complete Mackintosh standings, see https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/lknYGwIIyIgBYmxcLAuH
CKA thanks Four Seven Lures, YakAttack, Hobie Eyewear, The Rod Shop and Dakota Lithium.
Special thanks to Chad Hoover and Austin Hoover of Kayak Bass Fishing for judging the tournament entries.
If you have questions, reach out to CKA through our email address.
All content and photos © Carolina Kayak Anglers LLC, 2025.
First Published May 19, 2025.
