2023 Battle on the Border
The Battle on the Border will celebrate its fifth anniversary on October 14, 2023! This year, we have added a new prize and two new clubs to the event. In the first place, Virginia Kayak Anglers Elite!!! [VKAE] has sponsored the new multi-species prize pot: the angler who catches the longest non Black Bass Species will win a guaranteed cash prize! Bring an extra-long Ketch Board, because we all know there are some monsters in that lake!!!
Additionally,Foothills Kayak Anglers, based in the North Carolina Piedmont, has joined the event.Founded in 2021, Foothills Kayak Anglers provides a paddle-pedal only competition format to its members, who fish mostly in the Piedmont area lakes.
The addition of these two new clubs brings the total of actively participating clubs to five for the 2023 event, while two others remain in conversation with the organizing committee.
Carolina Paddle Sports Outfitters has signed on as the event’s title sponsor for 2023. As in previous years, Vance County is co-sponsoring the event. Stay tuned for more updates!
History
In 2019, Carolina Kayak Anglers (CKA) paired with Virginia Kayak Bass Challenge (VKBC) for a friendly rivalry event between Virginia and North Carolina. We called it the Battle on the Border, and nearly 100 kayak anglers fished the event on Kerr Lake in July of that year. The prize? Bragging rights, and a trophy to prove it.
The spirit of camaraderie was strong that day and the two clubs decided to make the event an annual tradition. Additionally, the tournament is open to all kayak anglers regardless of state or club affiliation.
The 2020 Battle on the Border was held again at Kerr Lake but moved to October to become a “last hurrah” at the end of our tournament seasons. The event expanded to include a 3rd organization: Central Carolina Kayak Fishing (CCKF).
The 2021 edition of the tournament was made possible with the generous assistance of the Vance County Tourism Bureau. Additionally, 2 more clubs (Virginia Kayak Trail [VKT] and Bass Cast Kayak Series [BCKS]) from Virginia joined for the 2021 edition, which was held on Kerr lake on October 23rd, 2021.
The 2022 edition of the Battle on the Border was held on October 8, 2022. The participating clubs were CKA, CCKF, VKT and BCKS. Carolina Paddle Sports Outfitters and Dakota Lithium Batteries sponsored the top prizes.
For complete results, click on the years in the list below!
Past Champions
2022: Eric Nelson (NC)
2021: Jason Hensely (VA)
2020: Nathan Green (VA)
2019: Tim Sabella (SC)
About the Lake
Kerr Lake is a massive reservoir located on the Roanoke River on the North Carolina/Virginia border. It is northeast of Falls Lake, minutes from I-85, and scenic nearby towns include Oxford, N.C. The lake is one of the region’s premier Largemouth Bass, Catfish and Striped Bass fisheries. It covers more than 77 surface miles of water. In sum, Kerr is one of the largest impoundments on the Southeast, and will challenge anglers to break down big water. Want to test your skills against a massive lake? This is it.
The lake has dozens of public boat ramps and marinas, as well as affordable camping. If you camp at the lake, be sure your campsite is open to the public and that it allows 24 hour access, so you can get out in the morning to fish.
For a list of park managed launches and NC Wildlife launches, see this link: https://www.ncparks.gov/kerr-lake-state-recreation-area/activities
Please be sure to obtain a valid N.C. fishing license. North Carolina has a license reciprocity agreement with Virginia for Kerr Lake, so you can fish the Virginia side with your N.C. license, and vice-versa.
Event Boundaries and Rules
- The Western boundary on the Dan River is the 360 bridge in South Boston.
- The Northern boundary on the Staunton River is the 360 bridge, too.
- The Eastern boundary is the Kerr dam. No fishing below the dam.
The tournament is a multi-launch event and all public launches are available to anglers.
Competition rules follow those of the KBF Rules Standard.
Affiliated Kayak Organizations
Central Carolina Kayak Fishing (NC)
Bass Cast Kayak Bass Series (VA)
Northern Virginia Kayak Bass Anglers (VA)
