CKA Recap: Tsiolkas Wins Windy Season Opener at Tillery

CKA Recap: Tsiolkas Wins Windy Season Opener at Tillery

Tsiolkas Wins, Approaches All Time Record When CKA directors set up the 2025 schedule, we listened to angler suggestions and feedback. And we decided to open the year at Lake Tillery, the southernmost fishery on the Yadkin Chain in North Carolina, and one of the southernmost lakes in our rotation. It was the first time Tillery hosted a CKA season opener, and with two visits to the Yadkin Chain (CKA will fish Tuckertown in June), it made for a nice trip. With the scenic Uwharrie Mountains framing the fishery, anglers…

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CKA 2025 Season Preview

CKA 2025 Season Preview

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…

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Preview: The Battle on the Border VI

Preview: The Battle on the Border VI

What is the Battle on the Border? The short answer: it’s a kayak fishing tournament, Virginia versus North Carolina, the Old Dominion versus the Old North State. The longer answer: it’s also when we fish for fun and celebrate our sport at the end of another successful season. The Battle on the Border is a time to camp and relax, compete and catch-up. It’s when anglers from Virginia and North Carolina renew old friendships and make new ones. It’s when our kayak fishing clubs send their crews to one of…

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Lanier, Gearhart, and Lambert take top 20 for 24 spots

Lanier, Gearhart, and Lambert take top 20 for 24 spots

When CKA expanded its portfolio of tournament offerings in 2023, we finally added a friendly, low-stakes on-line series for anglers to enjoy. And we added a little extra incentive: the anglers in the top two places would qualify for the CKA Tournament of Champions In this way, an angler who missed an event or two, or had a work schedule that conflicted with the main trail schedule could still qualify by another route. And that is precisely what Will Lambert did in 2023. After missing some events, he was in…

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Faircloth wins at Mayo, Gate City Classic is Next

Faircloth wins at Mayo, Gate City Classic is Next

Another fun season is winding down and CKA celebrates another year of kayak fishing tournaments. The “regular season” closed at Mayo; the eight and final tournament will be the Gate City Classic on September 21, 2024. Many things have yet to be decided, as spots in the Tournament of Champions will be determined (that’s the top 15% of membership). We have an interesting points race to finish between Will Lambert and Justin Faircloth, who have battled hard all season, the Rookie of the Year race, Duff Digital Big Bass and…

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