High water, a 5 to 6 mph current and floating debris challenged anglers at the May 13, 2017 Cabela’s King Lat Tournament at Gallipolis, OH. Early morning fog with temperatures in the 50’s cleared to sunny skies, temperatures in the 70’s and North winds at 5 to 10 mph as anglers fished the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers.
The challenge was accepted by more than 100 anglers from 5 different states. They were competing for $8,600.00 in cash and prizes. Anglers also had the opportunity to qualify for the 2017 Cabela’s King Kat Northern and Southern Championships. This year’s Northern Championship will be held September 22 and 23, 2017 at the Cumberland River (Old Hickory Lake), Gallatin, Tennessee. The Southern Championship will be held October 6 and October 7, 2017 at Lake Wateree, Camden, South Carolina.
Results for the Top Teams
Rodney Harrison, Kim Bailey and Sam Thompson, all of Eleanor, West Virginia took first place, weighing in 97.68 pounds and earning $3,400.00. The team fished in the Leon, West Virginia area, 15 miles north of Gallipolis. The team anchored and targeted structure in 15 – 20 feet of water. They used a variety of bait from skipjack to bluegill to land 7 fish for the day. The team also caught the 2nd place Big Kat which weigh 50.78 pounds.
Taking second place were Chris Rhodes of Scott Depot, West Virginia and Chris Hatfield of Hurricane, West Virginia. Their weight of 74.14 pounds earned $1,700.00, plus an additional $1,000.00 for Big Fish of the event. Their Big Kat of the tournament weighed 53.22 pounds.
The team fished in the Ravenswood area in the pool above Gallipolis. Rhodes and Harfield fished on the rope targeting ledges in 17 feet of water. They used both mooneye and shad for bait to catch 4 fish for the day.
Chad Ord and Jeff Rous, both of Letart, West Virginia, took third place. They weighed in 68.04 pounds and earned $900.00. The team fished 2 miles upriver from the weigh-in site. They targeted structure out of the current in 14 feet of water. The team used both shad and skipjack for bait, stating that the heads worked best to land their 3 fish that all came out of the same hole.
Fourth place went to Willie Smith and Nick Anderson, both of Frankfort, Ohio. They weighed in 61.74 pounds to earn $650.00. The team joined other anglers fishing the Ravenswood area. They targeted fish in shallow water, out of the current. They caught 14 fish for the day using shad for bait.
Joey Eddy of Clarksburg, West Virginia and John Barnett of Follansbee, West Virginia took fifth place with a total weight of 59.90 pounds and earned $450.00. The team fished the Ravenswood area, anchored to land 2 fish for the day. One fish was caught in the mouth of a creek near the bank in 3 feet of water on skipjack. Their other fish came from structure in 19 feet of water on shad.
Sixth place went to Steve Collins and Kevin Tindle. They weighed 50.76 pounds and earned $300.
Chris Souders and Nick Conaway claimed the seventh-place spot. They weighed 47.40 pounds and earned $200.00.
King Kat organizers sent special thanks to Amanda Crouse and staff with the Gallia County CVB for hosting the event and to Bob Evans Farm for the use of the farm pond for the Kid’s Rodeo. They also thank the Super 8 Motel for their hospitality towards the anglers and the King Kat staff.
KING KAT NATIONAL SPONSORS:
Cabela’s The World’s Foremost Outfitter, Alumacraft, 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, Whisker Wear and Allen Company.
For full results, photos and future tournaments visit the King Kat website or like them on Facebook.
Cabela’s King Kat travels next to Mt. Vernon, IN to fish the Ohio and Wabash River on May 20, 2017.
