Grab your boat and paddle out of storage — Kayak Bass Fishing returns to Lake Murray this February as its second stop on the 2023 Trail Series. The event has become a regional favorite over the years. Whether you’re on the boat or an onlooker, this year’s tournament is sure to make a big splash.
Before dipping in the water, participants must register for the competition. The Early Bird is a $350-value special deal for only $325. It covers both days and enrolls the registrant into the DL Double Up side pot, which ends on February 12 at midnight (CST). All other participants registering have until midnight (CST) on February 24, and entry costs $125 per day.
Lake Murray hosted Kayak Bass Fishing Trail events in the past, and they’re back again. Trail Series I will be held on February 25, and Trail Series II will be held on February 26. On each day, participating boats launch at 6:00 am, and the event begins promptly at 6:30 am. The eight-hour stretch ends at 2:30 pm, and judges calculate points following final submissions and protests at 3:30 pm.
In many fishing competitions, it’s typical to score fish based on weight, but Kayak Bass Fishing scores fish based on length. The Kayak Bass Fishing members practice another CPR: Catch, Photo, and Release. As anglers catch their fish, they lay them on authorized measuring boards with the head facing left. Anglers measure fish by increments of 1/4 inch, and the fish’s caudal fin — tail fin — cannot hang and must touch the board. At this point, anglers are required to photograph the fish. There are many rules and regulations about taking a photo, and failure to comply can result in removal or an outright ban.
At the end of the competition, judges review photographs of angler’s fish and add up the aggregate length of fish caught. The most that an angler can win at any Trail event is 600 points, and sequential placements will receive points at a decrement of six points per competitor — first place receives 600 points, second place receives 594 points, third place receives 588 points, and so on. Scores go toward competition for KBF’s Angler of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
The top five winners each day share a pot of $4000. First place brings home $1000, second place $500, third place $250, fourth place $150, and fifth place $100 in a single day. Additionally, KBF will have a “Big Bass” event where the top three participants with the biggest bass will receive cash payouts, and, in descending order, they will win $500, $300, and $200.
Veteran-owned Kayak Bass Fishing was founded in 2009 and is leading the industry and revolutionizing the sport of kayak fishing. It is the foremost contributor to kayak bass fishing. KBF arranged the first national championship for kayak bass fishing in 2016, and competitors flock to their events from Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
