Tag: Kentucky Lake

A Man Among Men

Posted on by Dave Barus

By Larry Whiteley

Kentucky Lake fishing guide, Matt Carter, is busy all year around for good reason – he catches fish. Last week he said, “Between cold fronts and full moons, the bite can be finicky, but we still found a good mess of nice keepers.” The best catch was a 17.5 inch white crappie that came in at 2.9 pounds.

The phrase “A Man Among Men” means an exceptional individual who stands out as admirable among other men, and who possesses outstanding qualities, character traits, or achievements that make them a role model among their peers.

I recently spent some time with a man like that. Elena Blevins of the Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau got us together at the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers Conference they hosted. As a part of it, she planned a day of guided fishing on Kentucky Lake for all the writers. I told her I wanted to be paired with a guide who would be a story in himself. Elena did well. I came away from that fishing trip touched and changed by this man’s story. My hope is that it will also touch and change you.

Here is his story:

Every workday, when the men and women of the McCracken County Sheriff’s office in Paducah, Kentucky, come and go from the office, they pass a sign with this message: BE HUMBLE, BUT CONFIDENT, WALK WITH INTEGRITY. Sheriff Matt Carter put it there several years ago. He hoped this simple message would result in uncompromising service to the community they serve. It has done that.

Matt Carter was born and raised in McCracken County. He loves to fish and hunt. As a teenager, he started his own very successful lawn care business. In high school, he also worked in emergency medical services. When he was 21, he began a law enforcement career as a narcotics unit detective and worked his way up to captain.

Those who know Matt will tell you that he has been a success in everything he has done and is still doing because he is hardworking, humble, confident, and has integrity. That all came from the way he was raised.

Matt Carter is sworn in as sheriff by his father Pastor Wayne Carter.

His father, Wayne Carter, was a Baptist minister. He began at age 17 and served the spiritual needs of many churches in Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois for 46 years. His wife Beverly was always by his side. For 12 years, he was the chaplain and a special deputy for the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office. In 2018, 63-year-old Pastor Wayne Carter went to bed one night and never woke up. God had called His servant home. I would imagine when he got there, he heard these words – Well done thy good and faithful servant. He made a lasting impact on the lives of his sons Matt, Stephen, and Aaron, their wives, his seven grandchildren, and countless others. No one will ever know how many other lives he saved and changed through his Godly work.

Wayne Carter was a humble, confident man who walked with integrity. He was Matt’s biggest cheerleader.

When the previous sheriff, Jon Hayden, retired in 2019, Matt ran for office. Sheriff Hayden said, “I have watched and worked very closely with Matt Carter since he joined the agency many years ago, and I know him to be a hardworking and honest man. I have watched him many times in all sorts of situations and have always seen him do the right thing when he thought no one was watching.”  No one could contradict that statement. No one opposed him.

Sheriff Matt Carter and wife Melanie.

Because Kentucky state audits are mandatory when sheriffs take or leave office, the county incurs a significant cost. Sheriff Hayden decided to retire at the end of June 2018 and appointed Matt to take over the final six months of his term, saving the county the expense of the audit. Matt is most proud of being appointed six months early, as his dad got to see him as sheriff before he went home to heaven.

Matt is not bashful in telling people God is good all the time. He believes God blessed him with his wife, Melanie. His favorite Bible verse is also my favorite verse.  Philippians 4:13 says – I can do all things, through Christ who strengthens me. There have been several times Matt has leaned on his faith to get him through things in life. He believes he should not be here in two of those incidents, but God was watching over him. One of those became an episode on NBC’s Dateline television series.

God was also there when their 20-year-old daughter Emily came down with HLH (Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis), which is a cross between leukemia and blood cancer. It is very rare, with only two places in America that do testing for it. She went through 49 weeks of chemo.  Today, Emily is recently engaged and plans on working in elementary education. Like Matt says, “Sometimes things seem bad but turn out to be good because God is in control.”

Matt retired as sheriff in 2022 after 23 years in law enforcement. Like his predecessor, he also left six months early to save the county money. Part of his retirement letter to the people of the county said – The community support that we receive is overwhelming and much appreciated not only by me but each one of our deputies and staff. You have no idea how much that means to all of us in these trying times. Please continue to stand behind and pray daily for the men and women that protect us day in and day out.”

While still working as sheriff, Matt and Melanie, along with his brother and wife, and his best friend and wife, bought land in the woods surrounding Kentucky Lake and started building what they called Sage Wood Campground (visit them on Facebook or email them at sagewoodcampground@gmail.com). It opened in 2019 and offers 32 annual long-term camping spots, a heated and cooled pavilion, a fishing pond, a playground for the kids, and more. It is also close to Kentucky Lake, where there is great fishing and other water activities. Matt and Melanie are blessed to live there year-round.

The author (left) and his humble Kentucky Lake mentor, Fishing guide Matt Carter, with a nice catch of crappies.

People from all over America visit Kentucky Lake every year. It is the largest lake made by man in the eastern United States.  At the maximum normal operating level, Kentucky Lake covers 160,300 acres. This area offers all kinds of family fun for young and old, including camping, hiking, biking, beaches, boating, golf, and some of the best fishing you will ever experience. My wife liked all the fun things to do for the ladies while the men were off fishing. Go to https://visitkylake.com or email fun@kentuckylake.org if you want more information about coming to this beautiful part of America.

Matt is living his dream after he retired from the sheriff’s office. Besides their Sage Wood Campgrounds, he competes in Major League Bass Fishing Tournaments and is also a well-known and respected fishing guide on Kentucky Lake. If you like fishing, I highly recommend a trip to Kentucky Lake and booking a fishing trip with Matt for your choice of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, striped bass, black and white crappie, sauger, redear sunfish, and more.

You can book a trip on his website, https://www.hookemupguide.com/, and you can also read these words from Matt: “I’ve been a fisherman and have loved this sport for as long as I can remember. It’s impossible to express the enjoyment and escape that the sport of fishing provides from the day-to-day stresses we all frequently encounter.”

After retiring from law enforcement after over two decades of service, I have truly learned and lived what “Striving for Excellence” means. As a fishing guide, I am committed to giving you the ultimate experience you deserve. No one will work harder than I will both before and during your trip to make it the most enjoyable experience while enjoying God’s creation. Whether you’re a novice or an avid fisherman, I take my job as your Kentucky Lake Fishing Guide seriously. Let’s put you on the fish and take a few hours to make some memories!

If that doesn’t hook you, then read all the positive comments on his Facebook page (Matt Carter Fishing) from people who have been on fishing trips with Matt.

He is a humble man, but through asking him questions while reeling in fish, talking with people who know him, and researching, I got to know who he is. He is a man that all of us men should strive to be like.

Matt has said, “If every one of us in our everyday lives would strive to leave things better than we found it, our world would be a much better place.” Matt has done that. His father would be proud of his son and the man he is. Matt Carter is a man among men.

“Living on the Ledge” with Jay Wallen at Kentucky and Barkley lakes

Posted on by Mike Pehanich

Topwater bites early in the morning and on overcast days are “bonus fish” to the versatile Tennessee angler.

 

  • Kayak bass fishing star Jay Wallen provides ledge fishing tips
  • Texas rig and Carolina rig worms and heavy jigs are key deep water tools
  • Foot-controlled Mirage Drive on Hobie Pro Angler aids boat control
Jay Wallen, who competed in the Hobie Fishing World Championship 7 this spring, is a force to be reckoned with wherever he launches his Hobie Pro Angler 14.

By Mike Pehanich

To WIN summer tournaments often means mining big bass from deep-water “ledges.” Here kayak pro Jay Wallen reveals some of the secrets to “living on the ledge.”

Jay Wallen is a force to be reckoned with in kayak fishing wherever he launches his Pro Angler 14.  But nowhere is the Tennessee angler more feared than at the annual Hobie Bass Open held on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes each June.

His stellar kayak bass tournament record had included two third-place finishes in the Hobie Bass Open on Kentucky Lake already before his HBO victory in 2017. This past June, he notched another Top Ten finish at the event, sponsored by Hobie Cat and the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, placing sixth with a 105.25-inch total.

Kentucky and Barkley lakes have tutored him well. Last year’s lessons earned him a $4,000 winner’s purse and a trip to the Hobie Fishing World Championship-7 event, held in April at Lake Vanern in Amal, Sweden.

Wallen is quick to cash in on any hot bite these classic TVA waters might offer, but year-in and year-out, the deep water “ledge” bite on the classic river-bed  and creek-bed structure separates the men from the boys in this tournament competition.

The pattern is familiar on all of the Tennessee River impoundments. Following the spawn – largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass gradually retreat to this prime structure. There they feed on roving schools of shad.

“A lot of guys like to fire up a school with a deep-diving crankbait. A swimbait can go with that, too, because you can control its depth,” says Wallen. “But my favorite ways to catch ledge bass are with a jig or a large worm, Texas-rigged or Carolina-rigged. There’s just something about feeling that bite!”

Texas-rigged and Carolina-rigged worms fished with heavy football jigs are among Jay Wallen’s key baits for ledge bass.

Worms and jigs so rigged give him a shot at bass even when the fish are not in a chasing mood. The beauty is that they will produce during an aggressive bite as well.

At the 2017 Hobie Bass Open championship, Wallen fished a 12-inch Texas-rigged worm behind a ½-ounce bullet sinker on his G. Loomis rods to get his ledge bite going. The bite transitioned to a ¾-ounce football jig with a Zoom Fat Albert soft plastic trailer on Day Two.  For added attraction, he dunked the tail into a garlic flavored Spike-It dip.

“A ½-ounce jig falls more slowly and seems to work better in the 15- to 20-foot range,” says Wallen. “When the sun is up and fish are holding tighter to the bottom, I go to the ¾-ounce jig.”

Kayak fishing has long been associated with shallow water techniques, but anglers like Wallen have brought the kind of deep-water savvy and sophistication to the game generally associated with elite levels of bass boat competition.

Wallen emphasizes the importance of boat control when working the 10- to 30-foot depths common to ledge fishing.  The challenge gets significantly tougher in open water when reservoir wind and current can influence movement of boat and bait. Wallen relies heavily on Hobie’s foot-controlled Mirage Drive for boat control.

“If it weren’t for the Mirage Drive, I wouldn’t be fishing out of a kayak,” he says. “I’ve fished other styles of kayak and drive systems, and I spent too much time controlling my boat and not enough time fishing.”

Back-up plan

Wallen’s strength as a tournament angler stems as much from versatility and ability to adapt, as from mastery of tough techniques.

He looks for secondary ledges along the beds of the Tennessee River tributary creeks when wind and current blow him off favored main lake ledges.

And he is ever ready to cash in on skinny water opportunities in the countless arms and bays of the big impoundments.

“You can’t overlook shallow water opportunities,” he advises, noting that topwater bites early in the morning and on overcast days frequently lead to big fish. “Those are bonus fish. Any fish I can catch shallow in the morning amounts to work I don’t need to do later in the day.”

Topwater bites early in the morning and on overcast days are “bonus fish” to the versatile Tennessee angler.

Jay Wallen Wins Hobie Bass Open on Kentucky Lake

Posted on by Forrest Fisher
  • Kentucky Lake, Kentucky
  • Home of Big Bass

The third time was the charm for Jay Wallen of Lexington, Kentucky. After finishing third the past two years, Wallen has battled through to take the Hobie Bass Open win. This was year four of the tournament that took place on Kentucky Lake in Marshall County, Kentucky, June 10-11, 2017.
“I’m so happy I pulled it off so I can go to the Hobie Worlds 7,” commented Jay. “That’s what this whole thing is about. I just couldn’t be happier.”
Wallen went into the final day of the two-day “CPR” (Catch-Photograph-Release) kayak fishing tournament with a very small, one-inch lead. A crowd of anglers was chasing close behind and he felt the pressure. Changing up from day one, he hunted his fish on a ledge farther north, closer to the dam where he’d finished the first day on a furious flurry. However, on the final day the bite proved to be a grinder. He averaged one fish every two hours, but they were good ones.
Wallen’s three-fish daily limit was anchored by a 20-inch largemouth that he said he probably should not have caught. The jig pulled right at the boat, but he got the net under the fish before it hit the water.
“That’s when I knew I had a chance. I didn’t think I had it won, but I had a chance,” he said.
Wallen fished clean, converting all his bites and it proved essential. With just 30 minutes of fishing time left, he culled an 18-incher, giving him a daily total of 56.75 inches. It was just enough. His two-day total of 115.5 inches narrowly beat his closest challenger.
“The biggest thing about this tournament is you compete against your peers and some of the best kayak anglers out there,” Wallen went on to say. “That’s what makes it special. You do this in front of all your peers and a lot of them are happy for you. We’re all for the most part, friends.”
The win earned Wallen a check for $4,000, but it was the trip to the Hobie Fishing World Championship 7 that has him most excited. The World’s destination is expected to be announced in July. Wallen is ready, wherever it winds up. “You could put it on the moon for all I care! I’m ready to go, to represent team USA,” he said.
Joshua Stewart of Waverly, Tennessee nearly matched Wallen inch-for-inch, but ultimately finished second with a total of 114.25 inches. He fished a jig in shallow water in the New Johnsonville area of Kentucky Lake. Stewart earned $2,500 and an invitation to the Hobie Fishing Worlds 7. “This is the biggest one, the most meaningful finish of my kayak fishing career,” he said.
Drew Russell of Louisville, Kentucky, rounded out the top three. He earned $1,700. “I was shooting for a top ten finish, so I’m thrilled with third. I’ll be back. We’ll get it next year,” he said of just missing the Hobie Worlds. Russell fished worms and jigs on ledges and points.
The Hobie Bass Open paid out to 12th place. There is always a 100% pay out of angler entry fees in this competition. 115 anglers fished the adult division.
The youth division was won by Jaxton Orr, who compiled an impressive two-day total of 102.25 inches. He was followed by Will Stumbo (95.5 inches) and Cole Kleffman (83.75 inches)
Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau and Hobie Worldwide sponsored the 1st place winner to attend the Hobie Worlds. Additional sponsors included lodging host Kentucky Lake Dam Village State Resort Park, the host city of Calvert, Hobie Polarized, Lowrance, YakAttack, Bassin’ Magazine, RAM Mounts, St. Croix, Daiwa, Power-Pole, Mustad and Gerber.
This year there are two new US and Canadian qualifying events for Hobie Fishing World Championship 7: the Shasta Bass Kayak Classic and the 2nd Annual IKE Foundation Celebrity Pro Am Tournament Kayak Division hosted by Hobie’s own Mike “Ike” Iaconelli. Ike’s event will be special. It will be a star-studded occasion contested on the non-tidal sections of the Delaware River and includes dinner on the illustrious battleship, USS New Jersey.
The full Hobie Fishing Worlds “7” North American qualifying event schedule is as follows:
1) The Shasta Bass Kayak Classic, March 25-26 – 1 qualifying spot
2) The Jamaica Bay Kayak Fishing Classic, May 18-21 – 1 qualifying spot
3) The Hobie Bass Open, June 9-11 – 2 qualifying spots
4) The Border City Classic, June 24-25 – 2 qualifying spots
5) The 2nd Annual IKE Foundation Celebrity Pro Am Tournament Kayak Division, July 7-8 – 1 qualifying spot
Since 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and innovative quality products. From their worldwide headquarters in Oceanside, California, Hobie Cat Company manufactures, distributes, and markets an impressive collection of eco-sensitive watercraft, with subsidiaries; Hobie Cat Australasia, in Huskisson, NSW, Australia and Hobie Cat Europe, in Toulon, France and independent distributors; Hobie Kayak Europe and Hobie Cat Brasil. These products include an ever-expanding line of recreation and racing sailboats, pedal-driven and paddle sit-on-top recreation and fishing kayaks, inflatable kayaks, fishing boats, surfboards, stand-up paddleboards and the new Hobie Mirage Eclipse™ Standup pedalboards, plus a complementary array of parts and accessories. www.hobiecat.com
For more info: Contact Ingrid Niehaus, (949) 499-2225, iniehaus@hobiecat.com

Kentucky Lake Hobie Bass Open: June 9-11, 2017

Posted on by Forrest Fisher
  • Open to Public, All Kayak Name Brands are Welcome
  • Anglers Practice CPR on Hot Bass Fishing Water
  • Key on Shallow, Deep, and Ledge Drop-off Hotspots
  • Angler Skills will Feature Plastic Baits, Top-water and Crankbaits

By Forrest Fisher

Anglers will test the Kentucky Lake waters shallow and deep to find the hot bite.  Forrest Fisher Photo

At last year’s Hobie Bass Open, the camaraderie among competitors and respect for each other was a vital surprise to me, a first-time visitor to the Kentucky Lake event.  Ron Champion and Matthew Scotch punched their tickets to the Hobie Fishing World Championship.  They took on different strategies.  One ran long and the other fished local.  They were both winners.  What will it take to grab a hotly contested qualifying spot this year?

Kayak anglers from all around the country will fish nearby, some will venture long distances to their secret fishing places, all in search of big bass for this catch, photograph and release tournament. Forrest Fisher Photo

We’ll find out soon.  The 2017 Hobie Bass Open qualifier for Hobie Fishing Worlds 7 will be held at Kentucky Lake Dam Village State Resort Park near Calvert, Kentucky, June 9-11, with top tournament sponsor, Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).

The Kentucky Lake Hobie Bass Open is part of a series of qualifying events to be held in the U.S. and Canada that will produce six Hobie Fishing World Championship spots on the North American team. First and second place winners will be invited to join Brendan Bayard and two-time Hobie Fishing Worlds champion, Steve Lessard, at the next edition of the Hobie Fishing Worlds competition at a site to be announced later.

Camaraderie and hot competition go hand-in-hand at the Hobie Bass Open. The lake offers shallow and deep embayment fishing, but anglers in recent years have scored fishing near something the lake is famous for, ledge drop-offs.  The results have been world-class fish weigh-ins. The water is big and the fishing options seem wide open.

The Hobie event on Kentucky Lake is a catch, photograph and release (CPR) tournament where anglers measure and photograph their top three bass during each of the two days, to be scored by total aggregate length – using a calibrated measurement board.  Eligible species include largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass caught on human-powered kayaks, canoes or SUPs.

The hot bait in 2017 might be a plastic worm?  Special color?   Sky color, sunshine density, wind direction, water temperature and angler skill will spell the result for success or less. Forrest Fisher Photo

One hundred percent of entry fees will be paid out with a ratio of one place for every 10 entrants. The top prize is $4,000 based on a field of 150 kayak anglers. The first-place finisher will have his/her airfare, accommodations and entry fee to the Hobie Fishing Worlds covered, courtesy of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park and Hobie Worldwide.

There will be raffles and prizes as well as other awards including one for the biggest bass each day. Sponsors include Hobie Polarized, Lowrance, YakAttack, Bassin’ Magazine, RAM Mounts, St. Croix, Daiwa, Power-Pole, Mustad and Gerber.

Anglers will enjoy a BBQ dinner on Saturday and an awards luncheon on Sunday.  To register (or for more information) visit:  https://www.ianglertournament.com/2017-hobie-bass-open-adult-division-fun-festival

The tournament winners circle will feature well-deserved payouts, back slapping conversations of hardships worth the effort and very few tall tales. Forrest Fisher photo

While anglers are vying for big fish all across the long lake, the Hobie Fun Fest is open to the public and will be held simultaneously along the lakeshore in Kentucky Lake State Park Village, near the dam, on Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Hobie invites all competitors to bring their families and friends to join in the festivities.  All will have the opportunity to demo Hobie fishing and recreational kayaks, SUPs and sailboats, as well as Hobie’s Mirage Eclipse stand-up pedalboard.

The 2017 Hobie Fishing World Championship US and Canadian Qualifiers has added two new events this year: the Shasta Bass Kayak Classic and the 2nd Annual IKE Foundation Celebrity Pro Am Tournament Kayak Division hosted by Hobie’s own Micheal “Ike” Iaconelli.  Ike’s event will be special.  It will be a star-studded occasion contested on the non-tidal sections of the Delaware River and includes dinner on the illustrious battleship USS New Jersey.

The full Hobie Fishing Worlds 7 North American qualifying event schedule:

Big fish and small, a 1/4 inch difference can change the standings. Forrest Fisher photo

The Shasta Bass Kayak Classic, March 25-26 – 1 qualifying spot was earned by Naoaki “Uminchu” Ikemiyagi

The Jamaica Bay Kayak Fishing Classic, May 18-21 – 1 qualifying spot

The Hobie Bass Open, June 9-11 – 2 qualifying spots

The Border City Classic, June 24-25 – 1 qualifying spot

The 2nd Annual IKE Foundation Celebrity Pro Am Tournament Kayak Division, July 7-8 – 1 qualifying spot

Since 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and innovative quality products. From their worldwide headquarters in Oceanside, California, Hobie Cat Company manufactures, distributes, and markets an impressive collection of eco-sensitive watercraft, with subsidiaries; Hobie Cat Australasia, in Huskisson, NSW, Australia and Hobie Cat Europe, in Toulon, France and independent distributors; Hobie Kayak Europe and Hobie Cat Brasil. These products include an ever-expanding line of recreation and racing sailboats, pedal-driven and paddle sit-on-top recreation and fishing kayaks, inflatable kayaks, fishing boats, surfboards, stand-up paddleboards and the new Hobie Mirage Eclipse™ Standup pedalboards, plus a complementary array of parts and accessories. www.hobiecat.com

Tournament Fishing for Everyone

Posted on by Forrest Fisher

Hobie Bass Open 2016 at Kentucky Lake
Skilled Kayak Angler Field Growing Quickly

Matthew Scotch, fishing from his personally customized Hobie PA12, uses a jig-worm rig to fool another of several largemouth bass he caught in Kentucky Reservoir during the Hobie Bass Open 2016. Forrest Fisher Photo

Kayak Anglers from over 30 states and Canada gathered at Kentucky Dam Village State Park with the opportunity to test their fishing skills on the legendary reservoir fisheries of Kentucky and Barkley Lakes.  Their goal was to win big cash and prizes, with the top spot also earning an all-expense paid trip to represent Team USA for the 2016 Hobie Fishing Worlds – an event that is moving from China to Louisiana, USA, for 2016.

The 2-day fishing event was held this weekend, June 4-5, 2016, with the official tournament headquarters and weigh-in held at the Kentucky Dam Village (State Park) Lakeview Pavilion, just off U.S. Highway 641 in Gilbertsville, Kentucky.

The tournament protocol for weigh-in does not kill one single fish.  It is a Catch, Photo and Release format of fishing and measurement process.  Called “CPR Fishing” in a trademark name fishing tournament process invented by Mike Christopher, anglers work to catch their 3 largest bass (largemouth, smallmouth or spotted bass are allowed) each day in the Catch Photo and Release system.  Simply said, the angler with the largest total inches over the 2-day event will win the third annual Hobie Bass Open.

Software programming mastermind, Michael C. Christopher, is the inventor of the unique iAnglerProgram that allows Catch, Photo and Release (CPR) fishing to work. CPR fishing is the leading edge for future tournament fishing format and it makes data available for research and conservation studies. Most important, it allows fish to be returned alive on the spot, to the area the fish were caught from. Forrest Fisher Photo

What is unique here is worth mentioning.  None of the fish are needed for a physical weigh-in, as they are released alive, moments after being caught.  Above that, they are released right back to where the angler caught them.  Angler proof is provided on digital records.  No damage to the fishery!  No damage to spawning fish.  No dead fish at the marina weigh-in location.  Fun for all.  Clean system.  Clean process.  Clean rules for sustaining tournament angler events into the plans for a green future.

Many say we should mandate all tournament fishing to this manner of no-kill fishing conservation!  Everyone has fun and the fish live –this is with consideration to tournament fishing.  As many do enjoy an occasional fish fry on those non-tournament days.

Steve Barga, a local Kentucky Lake bass pro, often uses some pretty wild and large artificial baits to catch the biggest of bass in this large inland waterway. Forrest Fisher Photo

 

Why is this important?  Because on a busy and popular waterway, there are as many as three of four tournaments each weekend day.  Hard for the fish populations to survive in that kind of possible continuous live-well habitat.

Also unique, Hobie pays out 100% of entry fees!  The entry fee payout is divided appropriately with one place for every 10 entrants.   There were over 100 entrants in this contest this year.  It is growing quickly from 33 the first year, to 78 the second year to 108 this year, with only a $125 entry fee.

These anglers have formed a brotherhood among themselves, with perhaps the best part of this event, the technique hiding strategies, the sharing of secrets yet to be told and the clamoring applause when someone wins with all of this concentrated talent.

The Hobie fishing tournament format allows ordinary working-class folks to fish for big prizes in kayak rigs made by any manufacturer and let’s face it, anyone can win with a little luck.  After looking at several manufacturer kayaks though, the Hobie stands alone for quality.  They are durable and stable in the water.

Popular rods used included St. Croix, Shimano, Loomis and Daiwa, with reel assortments that included Garcia, Lew’s and Shimano among the popular models observed.  Braided line choices were 20-30 pound text Power Pro, Sufix 832, Seagar Smack-Down and other brands.  Fluorocarbon leader attachment lines in use included Fusion, Berkley Golden and Seagar.  Some anglers used all fluorocarbon or all braid, others were quite simple with straight monofilament of 6 or 8-pound test; get the lines in the water!

Lure choices in the boats included jig/pig rigs, diving crankbaits, plastic worm rigs, floating frogs and simple jig rigs.  Placing the right lure in the right place did the usually expected thing, anglers caught fish.

The early morning bite was shallow on both days, with brighter skies moving the fish offshore to creekbed edges in deeper locations.

Through all the fishing with kayak anglers fishing all along the 100+ mile impoundment, hi-speed bass boats went running by at 60 mph and the fish didn’t seem to mind.  The kayakers use elevated tail flags in hi-visibility colors to assure they are noticed by the anglers in the big rigs.  It seems there is a new kid on the block.

The Hobie Bass Tournament Team includes Tournament Director, A.J. McWhorter (black shirt) – Kevin Nakada (center) and Morgan Promnitz (right) – both tournament administrators, verify angler fish and data submissions for accuracy. Forrest Fisher Photo

The anglers I talked with on the water all seemed to enjoy these two simple things: peace and quiet.  Unlike many other popular bass tournaments we watch on TV, there was no ranting or raving, just simple anticipation, positive tone talk with us on the camera boat circuit, and the anglers even shared what they were using with us.  I found this uncanny and enjoyable.

I found myself secretly pulling for every angler we stopped to talk with.

When it was all over, the 3:00 p.m. tournament ended bell had sounded, anglers needed to be in line to turn in their personal picture puck.  Tournament director, A. J. McWhorter, working with associates, Morgan Promnitz and Kevin Nakada, reviewed the accuracy and status of the considerable data collection submitted by the anglers and organized using the iTournamentAngler.com software created by Michael C. Christopher.  With the winners about to be announced in the Kentucky Dam Lake State Park Pavilion Center, the gentle rumble of good-natured tale-telling quickly turned silent with anticipation.

My heart was hammering at a bit higher rate for one of these lucky anglers.  This was exciting.  There were some wide-eyes across the angler audience, anticipation was higher for some, even youth anglers are part of the mix in a separate youth division.   There was also a few anglers with that savvy, veteran face that reflected many years of long sunshine exposure and much fishing experience.  It is a view that we still call the “confident look,” it exudes proper mental preparation and the knowledge that all is ok, win or not.

Some angler’s fish in this tourney for the pure fun and the enjoyment of being committed to this brand new, leading-edge style of tournament fishing, others are here to do just one thing, fish to win.  Both types get along and there is an obvious air of humility and detailed information sharing in the angler zone when the fishing competition has ended.

The winners are totally humble and gracious. The winner of this tournament event this year was a fine fisherman, his name is Ron Champion.  With 57-1/4 inches on day 1 and 51-1/2 inches on day 2, Champion tallied 109-3/4 points for 1st place cash of $3,500.

Matt Scotch with 108-3/4 points came in second, earning $2,350, while Jay Whalen took third with 106-3/4 inches for $1,500.  Cash payouts went through tenth place to Lucien Gazelle, from Michigan, with 97-3/4 inches for $125.

tournamentfishing5

All of the anglers said they will be back next year.  We are watching the future of modern fishing unfold with these Hobie angler tournaments.

Hobie Bass Open at Kentucky Lake Dam Village

Posted on by Forrest Fisher
Tournament bass anglers no longer need to spend $80,000 for a hi-test fishing rig with the technological advent of sophisticated, lightweight material that has allowed foot-powered fishing boats that fit into the back of your truck or on top of your compact car, to create a brand new world of affordable fishing for bug bucks or simple fun – tournaments too. Photo by Christina Weber

June 3-5, 2016 – Epic Bass Fishing Event

If you are a kayak angler and you fish for big bass, you will want to be sure to check out the third annual Hobie Bass Open.  Presented by Marshall County Kentucky Tourism and Kentucky Dam Village, the classic event will take place at Kentucky Dam Village State Park, June 3-5, 2016.

The Hobie Bass Open will be one of a series of qualifying events in the United States and Canada for the 2016 Hobie Fishing World VI Tournament.  The winner will not only take home the crown, cash and prizes, but will also be invited to join Team USA at the World’s next fall, all expenses paid!

Anglers are invited to register for the event by logging onto iAnglerTournament.com.  There is an adult division and a youth division.

The event is conservation oriented and may be setting the accountability checkpoint pace for the way all bass tournaments might be run someday using catch, photograph and release (CPR) rules.  Tournament anglers measure and photograph their top three bass during each of the two days, to be scored by total aggregate length.  Eligible species include largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass on human-powered kayaks.   No electric motors are permitted in this one.

There are not many tournaments that pay out 100% of the entry fees, but this one does.  That means big bucks for the top anglers.  For non-competitor visitors, there is much to watch and learn from these professional kayak anglers.  Above that, visitors and families will find there is a “Hobie Fun Fest” event held simultaneously from Kentucky Dam Village Beach.  Hobie invites all competitors and the general public to bring their family and friends to join in the festivities that will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5.  The Hobie Fun Fest is FREE and adventurists who enjoy kayaking will discover the incredible opportunity to demo the many forms and sizes of Hobie kayaks, including those cool, new SUP’s (Stand-Up Paddleboards) that you can fish or catch a few comforting sunrays from.  Even elder retirees are saying that these new craft are comforting to them because they offer warm thermal sun ray heat and exercise at the same time.  Check ‘em out here.

There will be raffles and prizes, food and fun, plus media coverage and a look at big fish catching techniques to be shared by onlookers and competitors.  The 1st and 2nd place finishers will qualify for the 6th Hobie Fishing World Championship.  Along with the prize money, the overall winner will collect top prize money plus free airfare, accommodations and entry fee covered courtesy of Kentucky Dam Village and Hobie Cat Company.

Questions about the tournament location and facilities, contact Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Gilbertsville, KY, 42044; phone: (270) 362-4271; web link: http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/ky-dam-village

Competitors with questions can contact Hobie tournament supervisor, Morgan Promnitz, at MPromnitz@hobiecat.com.

Tournament Sponsors include Lowrance, Power-Pole, Ram Mounts, YakAttack, Fugoo, Daiwa, St.Croix Rods, Bassin’ Magazine, Marshall County Kentucky Tourism and Kentucky Dam Village.

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