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Lancy Coley wins Alabama Kayak Fishing Classic

Lance Coley wins the 2018 Alabama Kayak Fishing Classic

(Wetumpka, AL) Lance Coley is your 2018 Alabama State Champion after posting an 58.00 inch three-fish stringer at the Alabama Kayak Fishing Classic held at the Coosa Outdoor Center in Wetumpka, Alabama. Coley, a prolific river fisherman, is no stranger to the Coosa and once again put up another impressive performance with three Alabama bass measuring 19.00, 19.50, and 19.50 inches. Coley won $540 for his solid finish. Congrats!

After Coley, a three-way tie ensued for second through fourth place with all anglers posting stringers of 52.25 inches. Anthony George took second place with his tie breaking 19.00 fish which netted him $250.Sloan Finnerty placed third ($110) with his 18.50 fish and Matt Delaplaneplaced fourth ($60) with his 17.75 bass.

The NuCanoe Flint fishing kayak was awarded to Jeremy Bowling. The kayak was to be given to the angler who scored the longest black bass. Bowling scored a monster 21.50” Alabama bass. Bowling finished in fifth place with a total of 51.75 inches.

The Classic’s Open Division was won by Eric Atkins. Atkins had a 47.75 inch stringer anchored by a 17.25 inch stringer which won him $260. “I spent two hours fishing around the dam with nothing but a 15” bass. I needed a change of scenery” said Atkins. “I caught all my scoring fish on a River2Sea Whopper Plopper at various places on the float.” Scott Arnold scored a 46.25 inch stringer and won $130. Chattahoochee Kayak Angler (CKA) Jamie Dabbs finished third with a 45.25” stringer. CKA angler Nick Dyer hooked up with a 15.25 spot on a large topwater spook just before the takeout to finish in fourth place.

A first this year, Jordan Lake was open to competitors. Reports from the lake were bleak. Several anglers reported challenging fishing conditions to include massive white caps and rolling waves. A steady north-to-south wind was persistent throughout the day and the orientation of the lake made for unfriendly boating conditions.

Few anglers went home empty-handed thanks to our wondering sponsors. Topping the list was, of course, the new NuCanoe Flint from NuCanoe. NRS Fishing provided NRS Chinook PFDs and the Pilot Knifes along with a pair of NRS Crush shoes. Anchor Wizard provided a kayak anchoring system and apparel. Bending Branches, Orion Coolers, Nocqua Adventure Gear, and YakAttack added several more hundred dollars’ worth of gear which was all given away in random drawing. Big Wills Outfitters sponsored this year’s trophies for the Championship and Open Divisions.

Dennis Jay Jones Jr. proved to be a master of wieners cooking a personal best 96 hotdogs for the hungry field. “It’s just what I do. I cook good food and look good doing it” said Jones. Jones caught the longest fish off the day after wrestling with a four-foot longnose gar. He also caught the longest night of sleep after getting started fishing around 10:30 in the morning.

Lunch (with cake!), campgrounds, and amazing hospitality were once again provided by the gracious Coosa Outdoor Center. “Lonnie and Karen are just amazing people” said Josh Tidwell. “We enjoyed everyone and extend an invitation to each participant to visit us again soon” said Karen Newton.

“Me and Charlotte Smallwood had a great time hanging out with an awesome group yesterday!” said Jamie Dabbs. “The Coosa Outdoor Center is the perfect place to have such an event! Food was great! We will definitely be coming back!”

Brandon Ellis of the Iron City Kayak Anglers served as the Tournament Director for this year’s event. He hosted captain’s meetings on Friday night at 6PM and Saturday morning at 5AM while also scoring all the fish submitted by 4:30PM on Saturday.

Like last year, this year’s event was co-hosted by the kayak fishing clubs of Alabama. The North Alabama Kayak Anglers, Coosa River Kayak Anglers, and Iron City Kayak Anglers each sent 10 anglers to compete in the Championship division. Anglers representing Montgomery-area River Region Kayak Anglers and Chattahoochee Kayak Anglers were also in the Open field. Anglers from each of the clubs present gave a quick note on what to expect from each club in 2019.

Clubs and organizations in Alabama wishing to participate in the 2019 Alabama Kayak Fishing Classic should contact the Alabama Kayak Anglers on Facebook to be included in the event planning for 2019. The location and date of the 2019 event is to be determined.

The kayak fishing anglers of Alabama wish to thank:
NuCanoe
Bending Branches
NRS Fishing
Nocqua
YakAttack
Anchor Wizard
Orion Coolers
Big Will’s Outfitters
Coosa Outdoor Center

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
News

NAKA Starts Youth Trail. April 7th First Event.

The North Alabama Kayak Anglers have started a kayak fishing trail for youth.  The trail is built to allow anglers 16 years of age and younger to fish in a competitive environment.  The youth anglers will work towards winning cash and fishing gear throughout the year.


YakAttack, NRS, Duckett Fishing, and 412 Bait Company are just a few of the companies sponsoring this year’s trail.

The first event of the youth trail starts on April 7th at Forrest Ingram Lake.  Click the links below to learn more about the events.

The Three Event NAKA Youth Trail:

April 7 – NAKA Youth Trail Open  Forrest Ingram Lake · Cullman
July 14 – NAKA Youth Trail – Cypress Cypress Creek · Florence
Sep 8 – NAKA Youth Trail “Finale on the Flint”  Flint River · Huntsville

 

News, Tournament

TVKA Guntersville Results

The Tennessee Valley Kayak Anglers, a kayak fishing club from the Chattanooga area, held an event on Lake Guntersville this past weekend.  We show it as the first kayak bass fishing event of 2018 in Alabama.   So, 2018 is underway.

Garrett Campbell’s big bass

And the TVKA anglers caught some fish.  13 of the 33 anglers caught more than 50-inches on their three fish stringer.  Garrett Campbell won the event with a 59-inch three-fish stringer which included a 23.25-inch long largemouth bass.

Bubba Jones with a 7.2-pound personal best bass

Bubba Jones was the top angler from Alabama placing in third place with 57.25-inches anchored by a 22.75-inch seven-pounder, a personal best.  At least five 20-inch fish were caught in the event.  Maybe Guntersville is on the upswing?

TVKA #3 Guntersville Payouts:
1. Garrett Campbell (Now known as Big Bank Hank) 59″ $412
2. Adam Gorrell 57.5″ $247
3. Bubba Jones 57.25″ $165
Biggest Bass Hog Farmer Bait Company Winner: Garrett Campbell $155

Full Results from the event:

TVKA #3 Guntersville ResultsCheck out more kayak fishing tournaments and events in Alabama on our tracker.

News

West Alabama Kayak Anglers announce 2018 schedule

The West Alabama Kayak Anglers have announced their 2018 kayak fishing tournament schedule via their Facebook Group page.  WAKA will hold six events in western north Alabama as well as a Classic.  See below.

March 3rd- Pickwick Lake
April 14th- Wilson Lake
May 12th- Cedar Lake 
June 9th- Pickwick Lake
July 7th- Wilson Lake
August 4th- Wheeler Lake
September 15th- Classic TBD

We are now tracking over 60 kayak fishing events in Alabama for the 2018 year.  Wow.

News

NAKA Tackle Swap This Saturday

The North Alabama Kayak Anglers are holding their annual winter Tackle Swap at noon this Saturday, February 10th, 2018, at the Priceville High School gymnasium.

The event will have dozens of anglers selling new and used gear.  There will also be representation from local clubs and organizations such as the Tennessee Valley Fly Fishers and Floating Features Kayak Fishing School.

This is great time to pick up new accessories for your kayak, trailer, and garage.

Event details and a preview of some items for sale can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/778123392388020/

 

 

News

New Cullman Club Announces Tournament Trail

The upstart Cullman Kayak Anglers have announced their Cullman Kayak Anglers Tournament trail for 2018.  Their expansive trail covers most of the major large bodies of water in north Alabama from Cullman to Florence and Guntersville.

The new club plans to hold tournaments about every two weeks from late February through July.  Smith, Guntersville, Wheeler, Pickwick, and Catoma are some of the lakes that will see multiple stops on their trail.  Even Lay Lake gets a nod.

Cullman Kayak Anglers 2018 Schedule

Be sure to follow their Facebook group page for more information about their club and their tournaments.

With the addition of the Cullman club’s tournament dates, we are now tracking over 50 kayak fishing events in Alabama to be held this year:  http://alabamakayakanglers.com/events/2018-alabama-kay…ament-and-events/

News

Birmingham Kayak Fishing Club Announces 2018 Schedule

The Iron City Kayak Anglers have announced their 2018 schedule.

ICKA will host five tournament events between April and September.  There are several new changes that should make participating in ICKA events even more accessible to any angler.  Captains Meetings will be conducted via Facebook Live the night prior to the event and they are no longer requiring you to fish with a partner.

Like last year, ICKA will be holding an Angler of the Year race.  Tournament winners and the top AOTY anglers will qualify for the 2018 Alabama Kayak Fishing Classic to be held at the end of the year.   The Classic is a year-end boondoggle co-hosted by the kayak fishing clubs of Alabama.

See this post on the ICKA Facebook page to look at their updated rules and to find other details about their 2018 season.  Please consider supporting ICKA’s sponsors as they help clubs do what they do.

We are now tracking 34 kayak fishing events in Alabama in 2018.  See this page for the list: http://alabamakayakanglers.com/events/2018-alabama-kayak-fishing-tournament-and-events/

Events, News

Alabama Kayak Fishing Classic is October 21st!

Kayak fishing clubs, outfitters, and organizations from around the state of Alabama are coming together to put on a “end of the year” celebration and gathering in Wetumpka, Alabama on the banks of the Coosa River.

The event is open to the public.  There will be a public fishing division and a “qualifier” division where anglers who have fished in Alabama kayak fishing club trails this year have qualified.

REGISTER HERE:
http://coosakayakfishing.com/?p=1160

RULES: http://coosakayakfishing.com/?page_id=1164

ELIGIBLE WATER: The Coosa River from below Jordan Dam to the start of the Alabama River.

Measuring your fish:  A Hawg Trough measuring board is required to score your fish!

Camping:  Free camping at the Coosa Outdoor Center has been covered by the Coosa Riverkeepers.

For more details, please see our Alabama Kayak Fishing Classic event page on this website and see the Facebook event page.