June Kayak Tournaments See Quantity Over Quality

June saw the state’s kayak clubs return to some of their favorite waters as the fishing heated up across the state—and over into Alabama. The Ocmulgee, the Coosa, the Flint and Bama’s Lake Guntersville were all trail stops for the anglers vying for a spot in this year’s state championship. Speaking of this year’s championship, details have been finalized and announced.

This year’s championship will again be a two-day event, held Oct. 13-14, with anglers fishing West Point Lake one day and the Chattahoochee River the other. I’ll have more details right here as they become available, so be sure to check back monthly.

On June 1,  Reel Krazy Kayak Tournament Fishing (RKKTF) anglers joined up with the Tennessee Valley Kayak Anglers of Chattanooga for a big event on Lake Guntersville. With 49 anglers between the two clubs, the Big G was bound to put forth some good fish. This was a three-fish event, and it took nearly 50 inches just to crack the top 20. At measure in, it was a two-horse race, with Bubba Jones edging out Chris Odom for the win at 60.5 inches to 60.25 inches. Bubba was the big-fish winner with a 21-inch largemouth. Randall Wallace came in third with 55.75 inches.

Also on June 1, the  Peach State Kayak Anglers (PSKA) fished, but they competed on the Ocmulgee River. It took 93.25 inches for Dylan Lowery to secure the win, beating out Coleman Fowler (90 inches) and Rok Ly (86.5 inches). Big-bass honors on the day went to David Hampton with a 21.5-inch shoal bass.

Jamie Dabbs won the latest CKA tournament with 77 inches.

On June 15, Chattahoochee Kayak Anglers hit the Coosa River. While anglers found numbers of fish, the big fish were hard to come by. In a rarity, the top two anglers, Jamie Dabbs and Lance Coley, turned in the same length of fish—77 inches. The win went to Jamie for the bigger fish. He had a 16.5-incher, while Lance’s biggest fish was 16.25 inches. Nick Dyer finished in third with 75 inches, anchored by the big bass of the tournament, an 18-inch spot.

Travis Dockins was victorious in a multi-club event on the Flint River on June 29. He finished with a 78.75-inch stringer.

The final event of the month happened on June 29, when PSKA and East Central Georgia Kayak Anglers (ECGKA) partnered up for a tournament on the Flint River. All total, 47 anglers spread out on the Flint from its headwaters down to Highway 19. When anglers met at Sprewell Bluff Park for measure-in, the chatter was the same as the CKA event on the Coosa—quantity, not quality. More than three-quarters of the field turned in full stringers, but it was Travis Dockins who was victorious with a 78.75-inch stringer. Jamie Dabbs finished second with 78 inches (and had big-bass honors at 18.5 inches), and Gage Coley rounded out the top three with 77.25 inches.

Upcoming Tournament Schedule
July 13-14: Terrapin Creek and Neely Henry, Alabama, RKKTF
July 20: Chattahoochee River (West Point to Blanton Creek), CKA
July 27: Savannah River, ECGKA
Aug. 3: Etowah River, PSKA