LCKF Tournament Results 2012

  By yakangler | May 18, 2012 - 3:05 am | News
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LCKF Tournament Results 2012

The Third Annual Lake Cumberland Kayak Fishing Tournament (LCKFT) launched Saturday, May 12, from Lee’s Ford Marina in Nancy, KY.

For the first time since the inception of the LCKFT, the day was beautiful and the weather was spectacular! Keep in mind that launch time the first year was an icy 28°F, and the second event’s temperature hovered around the mid-90s with somewhere around 100% humidity. The returning anglers were quite grateful for the overcast morning, afternoon sun, and better than 70°F temperatures.

Two of the tourney sponsors, Canoe Kentucky and Quest Outdoors, were set up waterside, with many kayaks available for visitors to check out as well as take to the water for a demo paddle. Other sponsors at the tournament were The Energy Guy, YakDaddy.net Kayak Rigging Supplies, and Fat Man’s Barbecue (who also provided the post-tournament meal).

The winners of the LCKFT were:

  • 1st Place: TJ Strong- 37.5″ winner of a Jackson Coosa
  • 2nd Place: John Walters – 32.5″
  • 3rd Place: Chris Hays “Sriperyak” – 32″

TJ Strong

As with the first two tournaments, Susan Powell of Somerset, KY organized this year’s tournament and paddlefest. Participation has continued to grow, with 33 anglers fishing this year. Susan dedicated this year’s tournament to Heroes on the Water (HOW), and the profit of close to $2,000 is going to their cause. Great job, Susan!

I’m sure all of the Kentucky Yak Anglers will be anxiously waiting for the date of next year’s tournament. I know I will be!

A time for reflection – click HERE

  By jimhendrick | May 18, 2012 - 3:01 am | News
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So its the ‘closed season’ again. May 15th – June 15th and I’m closed. This year its a little different though – on reading the Draft National Bass Policy one of the amendments might be in relation to this ‘closed season’ if it passes. Closed for spawning over an optimal time its a good idea and does force us to think a little.

Thing is, that optimal spawning time moves in relation to the influences – fish don’t use schedules. Many years fish have spawned before or sometimes spawn after the dates, so the policy is correct to suggest a re-interpretation.

Respecting the close of the season empowers you (even if you may have questions) as an angler to pursue the ownership, the protection, and to challenge and to contribute to the changes that are necessary now more than ever to protect and develop this fishery – like a broken record I’m saying it again – we have something that the world wants – these words are taken from a post made two years ago HERE and now maybe something is changing after all.

Time to to think about what it is as anglers that we don’t know. Areas in which we fish, when we fish and how we fish, HERE in this post is another reason as to maybe why we should consider areas of conservation for specific times – we don’t know much really, we are not well informed!

This blog is loaded with similar thoughts as to those expressed in the Bass policy plan, its logical as to why that might happen. Common sense I guess. HERE is an expression of ‘socio’ benefits, HERE antagonistic questions as to why not, HERE a sample among hundreds of economic benefits, HERE the experiences, HERE the first post made on this site, the work goes on like it has done for the past five years on this site and will continue to do so. HERE and HERE……….

The fishing is closely tied to all the experiences good and bad – sometimes HERE is just too damn close.

While our politicians debate bass fishing in the Dail as seen from the post below HERE , it might be no harm to take time out and remind them of your bass angling activity in this country and the special status of the fish – click below for a change!

mick.wallace@oireachtas.ie or simon.coveney@oir.ie

A little bit of fishing in your day – Jim

Test Jax Kayak Fishing Classic 2012 Results

  By yakangler | May 17, 2012 - 4:26 am | News
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Test Jax Kayak Fishing Classic 2012 Results

The 2012 Columbia Sportswear Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic was another huge success, raising approximately $35,000 for the Down’s Syndrome Association of Jacksonville and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

There were approximately 400 kayakers of all ages fishing this year. The bait shops had lines forming in the early hours of the morning, with anglers trying to get on the water first. Fishing began at safe light, and check-in ended at 4:00 pm. The weather was nice this year, except for the 15-20 mph wind. Many fishing reporters talked of white caps on the creeks, and how they’d hate to be a kayaker that day. However, many nice fish were caught, and the leader board posted some nice numbers.

The flounder bite seemed to be on fire for many. Anything less than 20″ left you out of the top 10.Trout ranged from 20″ to 26.5″. Some big redfish were caught, too, with the top fish a solid 34″.

There were 15 slams checked in for the day.

  • Eddie Cabler of Jacksonville, FL checked in a slam of 62.8″, and took home an Ocean Kayak “Trident Ultra 4.3” Kayak w/Ice Box Dry Storage.
  • Kevin Fox of Rockledge, FL checked in a 34″ redfish for first place in the redfish division, for which he took home a Freedom Hawk “Pathfinder”.
  • Bart Swab of St. Augustine, FL checked in a 26.5″ trout for first place in the trout division, and brought home a Jackson “Cuda”.
  • Kevin Lairsey of Callahan, FL took first place in the flounder division, checking in a 22.1″fish and taking home a Native “Mariner 12.5 Propel”.

With over $80,000 in prizes and gifts, and almost $35,000 in funds raised, everyone was a winner this year.

 About the Author:  Brandon is a native of Jacksonville, FL and began kayak fishing in December of 2010. He had fished a little here and there, but didn’t take it up seriously until this same time. With kayak in hand he began fishing the creeks of Jacksonville, and his addiction began.