Times change, and so does our sport. One decade ago, the dominant anglers in CKA had names that ended with Hawj, Rowland and Swisher. Our club regularly attracted 75 anglers or more per event, directors checked your photos manually at the ramp and Ketch boards were not yet available. Over the course of the decade that followed, many CKA anglers earned national reputations, sponsorships and money fishing the Kayak Bass Fishing Trail.
Starting in 2019-2020, our sport diversified at the local and national level. Multiple national trails emerged, creating more opportunities for kayak tournament anglers. Locally, our state also saw multiple clubs emerge. technology changed, too: for years, CKA was the only club in North Carolina that allowed anglers to use motors. Now, nearly all of them do.
Anglers have more choices today than ever before. In addition to there being more clubs in North Carolina, there are also regional team-based series, more on-line events and more hybrid (salt/fresh) options available.
But while the names change and the sport grows, one thing remains the same: CKA continues to be a club that produces top-level kayak fishing talent.
So let’s take a moment and recognize two names at the top of the most recent CKA standings, and honor the bass fishing talent they have put on display in recent years…..
CKA Reese/Lucas
The most recent CKA tournament was a multi-lake event in the Asheboro area-lakes presented by Carolina Waters. The lakes were two: Reese is an old regular on the CKA trail (we first fished it in 2014), while Lucas has only been available twice to anglers, both times in multi-lake events.
At the end of the day, Will Lambert and Bryan Tsiolkas finished first and second in the standings. It’s not an uncommon sight – each angler had one win already in 2025, and they regularly place in the money.
Both anglers came to CKA by different paths. Tsiolkas won his first event during CKA’s first season, in 2014. It was at Lake Randleman. Tsiolkas took a break for a while to raise a family, then returned later in the decade. Starting in 2022, he began stacking wins. He added another two in 2023, plus a win in 2025, bringing his total to seven wins overall. That number tied Tsiolkas this season with Ricky Rowland, who won the angler of the decade award for his seven wins between 2014-2023.
Will Lambert’s story with CKA is a shorter one, but no less worthy of recognition. In 2019, Lambert found himself in a vicious race for the Angler of the Year title, pitted against no less a competitor than Joey Sullivan. Sullivan is as experienced an angler as any in the state, having won across multiple trails in waters both fresh and salty.
Sullivan had the AOY lead after winning at High rock, and Lambert closed the gap after a win at Randleman. They battled to the last cast at the Gate City Classic, with Lambert emerging victorious by mere points.
In retrospect, it was a changing of the guard. We didn’t see it then but a new generation of anglers was coming into the sport. In 2018, names like Rowland, Hawj and Dainton dominated the standings. In 2019, it was Wilson, Lambert and McGee. The trend continued as Stanley, Olshefski and others became regulars.
Lambert’s name has since emerged as a dominant one. With his win at Reese/Lucas last week, he now has compiled eight CKA wins in seven years. Seven of those wins have come since 2023. Add to that victories with other clubs (CCKF, QCKBF), an NCKAR title and victories at regional events (he won the Battle on the Border two years ago), it is fair to say that Lambert is the top CKA angler and one of the best in the state. The latter can be said for Tsiolkas, too, who has won across clubs and events on a regular basis.
And while their competitive streaks are strong, so is their mutual respect for one another and other anglers. Winning – and losing – with honor is a hallmark of CKA history. Good sportsmanship is a value the club celebrates. Anglers like Tsiolkas and Lambert embody it.
CKA entered its second decade in 2024. Now in its twelfth season, our club has another eight plus years before the next Angler of the Decade title is decided. Since the new decade clock started counting in 2024, Tsiolkas and Lambert have multiple had the inside track to that title.
But I have been around for a while, and have seen many anglers come and go. As both a competitor and as a director, I’ve watched the points races and even had a chance to win a few. And I know this: you never know what will happen on the water. Sometimes, the fish win.
What happens on land is more predictable. Given the character of our club’s anglers, I can say that I look forward to watching Tsiolkas and Lambert duke it out. I look forward to competing against them, too, because the challenge inspires me to be better.
In the end, the example of their sportsmanship and talent lifts us all.
Up Next
Falls Lake is a regular stop on the CKA schedule, but we rarely hold tournaments there late in the year.
Get ready for it on August 23! To register, click here: https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/l0LFRLvgdWrdHKioE4KX
Additional Info
For complete Reese/Lucas standings, see https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/CJJ05zb9CTNUCQgDyYYM
CKA thanks Four Seven Lures, YakAttack, Hobie Eyewear, The Rod Shop and Dakota Lithium Batteries.
Special thanks to Carolina Waters.
If you have questions, reach out to CKA through our email address.
