Kayak Anglers Pan East Tennessee Rivers, Lakes for Gold

HENDERSONVILLE, TN. — For the first time since its inception in 2010, Kayak Bass Fishing (KBF) will hold consecutive, one-day KBF TRAIL Series tournaments on the same bodies of water.

On Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, kayak anglers from the eastern half of the United States will launch on Fort Loudon Reservoir and the Holston and French Broad Rivers. They will be pursuing two 5-bass limits that they can convert to cash, bonuses, and championship qualifications. Elite kayak bass anglers also hope to take advantage of the “two-for” weekend to improve their standings in Angler of the Year races.

Paddlesports in general and kayak bass fishing in particular are healthy, environmentally-friendly sports that comply with current state and CDC restrictions guidelines.

KBF uses a Catch-Photo-Release tournament format that preserves the fishery and provides fishing fans with real-time leader boards. Each bass is photographed on an approved measuring board and then released seconds later in the spot where it was caught. Photos are then uploaded to live leader boards, where friends and fishing fans can track their favorite anglers and get a feel for the quality and number of fish the area has to offer.

Post-event podcast interviews, social media posts, YouTube videos and weekend wrap-ups further highlight anglers’ achievement and point to tactics and presentations that proved most effective in competition.

Competitors in both TRAIL Series events contend for spots on the October 2021 KBF National Championship roster. Widely considered the world’s premier kayak bass fishing competition, bass fishermen paddling plastic boats are capable of cashing a check for over $100,000 at this annual championship.

East Tennessee is blessed with an abundance of scenic, prolific smallmouth bass streams. River kayak specialists hope to achieve twin tournament wins with Holston and French Broad bronzebacks. Kayakers who prefer calm water will key in on Tennessee River largemouth on Fort Loudon Lake’s 379 miles of shoreline and numerous sloughs, backwaters, and feeder creeks—big bass habitat where bass boats can’t venture.

“We’re looking forward to partnering with the Kayak Bass Fishing Trail Series,” said Chad Culver, Director of the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission.  “This virtual event lends itself perfectly to safe physical distancing measures, with anglers enjoying the beautiful waters of the Tennessee River from the Holston & French Broad Rivers down to Loudon Lake.”

East Tennessee offers outstanding fishery opportunities and numerous river and lake public access points facilities. It also has four of the state’s most active kayak bass fishing clubs and circuits that welcome participation by local anglers and enjoy sharing their knowledge with novices. To get started, reach out to any of these groups:

CMKA – Clinch Mountain Kayak Anglers, Directors Scott Bullins & Curtis Perez
https://www.facebook.com/groups/160029334416540
NETKA – Northeast Tennessee Kayak Anglers, Directors Jimmy Davis & Greg Greer
https://www.facebook.com/groups/646425449033841
TCKA – Tri-Cities Kayak Anglers, Directors Brandon Tomlinson & Chris Brumit
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tristatekayakanglers
TNKATT – Tennessee Kayak Anglers Tournament Trail, Directors Brent Long & Jason McCormick
https://www.facebook.com/TNKATT

For more information on the Realtree Fishing KBF TRAIL Series presented by Dee Zee, visit kayakbassfishing.com. click on “Events” and click on “TRAIL Series.”