MAY 17, 2018
On May 12th, members of the Ky-Yak Bass Tournament Trail brought their kayaks and fishing equipment to Yatesville Lake to compete in a “new” type of bass fishing competition – kayak angling.
Many people are familiar with the typical bass tournaments with the big bass boats equipped with 200 hp engines that can get the angler several miles away from the launch area to his favorite fishing spot in a short time period. These boats can have all types of equipment including trolling motors. Kayak tournaments are NOT that kind of tournament!
In a kayak bass tournament, no motors of any type are allowed except for the one in your truck or car which is used to haul the kayak to your favorite public ramp on the lake. Once the angler is in the water, it’s all manpower/womanpower. Kayak bass tournaments also practice CPR but not the CPR that you are probably thinking! CPR in a kayak tournament means CATCH and measure, PHOTOGRAPH and upload onto a website and then RELEASE in the same spot where the fish is caught.
The tournament here at Yatesville brought anglers from Belfry, Prestonsburg, Pikeville, Campton and Louisa, KY, Logan and Huntington, WV and from SE Ohio. Nick McGuire of Prestonsburg placed first with 49.5” and he had big fish at 19”. Tony Hobbs of Campton, KY had second place with 45” and Ryan Davis of Belfry followed close behind for third with 42.5”.
President Ryan Davis of Belfry, KY said that he and a friend Chad Webb started the Tournament Trail to try to expand the sport into eastern Kentucky. The Trail includes lakes and rivers mainly in eastern Kentucky. Their next tournament is June 17th at Cave Run Lake. If you are interested in finding out more about Ky-Yak Tournament Trail contact the group at ky.yakbass@gmail.com or check out their Facebook page Ky-Yak Bass Tournament Trail.
