As the sport of catfishing grows, so does the anticipation of yearend tournaments. The Cabela’s King Kat Northern Championship will take place on the Cumberland River (Old Hickory Lake) at Gallatin, Tennessee. Qualifying anglers are already planning for the big event.
The Championship is a two-day event on September 22 and 23, 2017. Just as the sport is growing, so are the prizes for wining. This year’s first place winner will take home a Alumacraft 2072 side console boat valued at $25,000.00. The boat is equipped with a 90HP Mercury 4-stroke engine, Minn Kota foot control trolling motor, Humminbird Helix series electronics, Driftmaster Rod Holder package and Cat River Anchor.
Pre Planning
The B’n’M team of Mark Blauvelt and Ryan Lawrence are looking forward to this year’s event. “The Lake is known to have a good mix of flatheads, blues and channels,” reported Blauvelt. “Finding the bigger fish will be the hard part. It’s a beautiful lake with many large homes on it.”
“The lake was built by flooding the Cumberland River,” continued Blauvelt. “So, if you are in the upper half of the lake staying between the channel markers is imperative! Depths can go from 35 feet to 1 foot in a hurry. The navigation channel is narrow with many large pleasure boats creating heavy activity. Anglers can expect to take a beating from all the wakes, all day. The boats are big, and the navigation lanes are heavily used. Always keep your eyes open if your fishing in the channel. Do not cut safety corners on this lake.”
“There are lots of rock and wood to deal, with so bring plenty of tackle,” advised Blauvelt. “What we do on tournament days will depend on conditions. Dragging, anchoring and vertical drifting are all very effective in the right areas. Skipjack and shad are the key baits.”
“I think for a two-day event it will take 165 pounds to win,” added Lawrence. “It’s the toughest fishery I’ve ever fished, but has some nice fish.”
In 2016 the same Cumberland River (Old Hickory Lake) event was the Southern Championship location. Adam Dehner teamed up with Fonzi Malaikham to win the 2016 Gallatin event with 170.88 pounds.
Dehner agrees with Blauvelt on an early strategy. “It’s too early to tell,” offered Dehner. “It all depends on what the current is doing. Last year there was hardly any current. We caught fish all three ways, drifting, dragging, and anchored.”
Registration
Registration will be held Thursday, September 21, the day before competition, at the Gallatin Civic Center, 211 Albert Gallatin Avenue, Gallatin, TN from 5-7 pm. The Captains Meeting/Seminar will follow at 7pm. Anglers must be a member of the King Kat Association to fish this event.
Legal waters for the Northern Championship will be the Cumberland River (Old Hickory Lake) from Cordell Hull Dam, South to the Old Hickory Dam.
Weigh-In Site
The tournament weigh-in will be held both Friday and Saturday at Flipper’s Bait & Tackle, 200 Odom Bend Road, Gallatin, TN. Tournament hours are 6:30 am until 3:00 pm. All anglers must be in the weigh-in line by 4:00 pm. In the interest of conservation only 5 live fish are allowed to be weighed in. All fish will be released after the tournament.
For a complete list of rules visit the website: www.kingkatusa.com or phone Cabela’s King Kat Headquarters at: (502) 384-5924.
Sponsor and Host Lodging for this Event
The Sumner County Convention and Visitors Bureau would like to welcomes all Cabela’s King Kat anglers and their guest to the area and hope they take the opportunity to enjoy the many attractions. For more information please call: (888) 301-7566 or visit their website at: www.visitsumnertn.com.
Host lodging for the event will be the Quality Inn, 1001 Village Green Crossing, Gallatin, TN, (615) 451-4494 and Relax Inn Motel, 179 W. Main Street, Hendersonville, TN, (615) 822-4240. The number of rooms may be limited in some areas so it is recommended that participants make their reservations early.
Free Kids Fishing Rodeo
In conjunction with the tournament the Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail will hold the Cabela’s King Kat Kids event on Saturday, September 23 at Flipper’s Bait & Tackle, 200 Odom Bend Road, Gallatin, TN.
The event is free of charge and open to all youth 12 and younger. Sign up is from 8:00 am till 9:00 am with the Kid’s Fishing Event starting at 9:00 am until 11:00 am. All children will receive a prize just for entering. Bring your favorite rod, reel and bait and show your true fishing ability. All children must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Prizes for winners will be given in two age groups, 0-7 and 8-12. The event is free to all children 12 and under with all participants eligible for a chance to win one of the six, Outdoor Promotions $1,000.00 scholarships.
Outdoor Promotions and their participating anglers have contributed nearly $342,000.00 to the “Kids” Scholarships since 1997. “We are very proud to be a part of the education process for the youngsters who participate in our tournaments as adult/youth teams and those who fish in the Outdoor Promotions Kids Fishing Rodeos,” said a King Kat official.
NATIONAL SPONSORS
Cabela’s, Adventure Products EGO Nets, RigRap, B ‘n’ M Poles, Minn Kota, Mercury Marine, Mustad Hooks, Driftmaster Rodholders, Gamma Line, Humminbird Electronics, World Fishing Network – WFN, Rippin’ Lips, Keep Alive, Cat River Anchors, Sunsect Sunscreen & Insect Repellent, Humminbird Lakemaster Maps, Digital EFX Wraps, Tentology, Crown Trophy, Gill Rainwear, Catfish Now and Whisker Wear.
Next Event
The next King Kat qualifying tournament is Ft. Madison, IA on the Mississippi River (Lake Cooper). It is a two-day Super Event on August 11 and 12, 2017.
Check out the website at: www.kingkatusa.com and like Cabela’s King Kat Facebook Page to stay up to date with their tournament and related activity.
