Scott and Emily Cress claim top honors at Paducah, KY with a two-day total weight of 219.83 pounds.
Catfish anglers from eleven states traveled to the Ohio River for a Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail Super Event. Thirty-seven teams gathered at Paducah, KY to test their catfishing skills against other anglers and Mother Nature.
Day one produced some nice fish as anglers braved their way through a rainy weigh-in. Competitors were vying for $11,000 in cash and prizes, and an opportunity to qualify for the $110,000 Classic Championship to be held September 14 and 15, 2018, on the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Day one ended with the Ohio team of Carl Morris Jr and Rob Parsons in the lead with 121.50 pounds. Jeff Dodd and Cedric Poyner claimed Big Kat honors on day-one with a 64.15-pound Ohio River blue cat.
The day-two weigh-in looked completely different with blue skies and sunshine greeting the anglers. A prettier day did not result in a better bite. Most anglers experienced fewer bites on the second day due mostly to increasing winds and less current.
Results for the Top Catfish Teams
After holding the second-place spot on day one, the B’n’M Poles team of Scott and Emily Cress claimed top honors at Paducah with a two-day weight of 219.83 pounds. They were the first team to weigh on the final day. The early weight held up all day as they sweated it out in the hot seat.
The Covington, KY team earned a first-place check for $4,600 and added the Driftmaster Rod Holder bonus of $350.
Team Cress fished downriver from Paducah towards the Olmstead Dam on the Ohio River. They targeted fish in 20 to 40 feet of water. They were suspend drifting with the new B’n’M prototype rods that will be on the market soon.
“The current slowed on Friday from what it was during prefishing,” reported Scott. “Because of the slower current, we had to find new fish. We were lucky enough to get the right bites suspend fishing in 2.0 mph current.”
“On day two the water dropped about a foot overnight,” continued Scott. “The wind rose as the day went on. We got three good bites early before the waves really picked up. Then we found a spot to catch a couple small fish to fill the limit and decided to head for the scales and let the chips fall where they may.”
The team landed nine catfish on the first day, flowed by only five on windy day two. They used small chunks of skipjack for bait.
Second place went to the Georgia team of Lonnie and Donnie Fountain. Lonnie, from Ranger, GA, and Donnie from Jasper, GA, had a two-day weight of 182.19 pounds to earn $2,200.
When the team of brothers arrived at Paducah they were not sure where to fish but had noticed several boats straight across the river from the boat ramp. They spot-locked on day one to catch 15 fish on skipjack. The wind made it more difficult on day two when they managed nine fish.
“We headed in that direction to try our luck,” said Donnie. “We figured with that many folks fishing that area they must know something. We caught our first fish within about 20 minutes and caught fish pretty much all day in the rain. We had two good fish but knew we needed a big fish. We had a huge one hooked at about two o’clock. He came plum up to the boat where he came off and swam away.”
With 107 pounds on day one and setting in third place, the twin brothers were encouraged to go back to the same area.
“On day two we went back to the same area tried again,” continued Donnie. “The bite was slow all day long. It wasn’t raining any but it was a little windy. It wasn’t bad enough where we were fishing to effect our fishing, but it was hot.”
The team found their five catfish fish limit by 11:00 am but it only included one good fish and they knew they needed another one.
“We had a good one on about two o’clock,” said Donnie. “We had to pry the rod from the rod holder. He stayed on about one minute and came loose without ever getting him off the bottom of the river.”
“We ended up with 76 pounds on the second day and a two-day total of 182 pounds to put us in second place. But we lost two grown ones, both days around two o’clock,” lamented Donnie.
“We were lucky to have won second place, but we are very blessed to have been able to come out here and enjoy all of the Lord’s great outdoors,” echoed Team Fountain.
Filling the third-place spot at Paducah was Carl Morris Jr. from Johnstown, OH and clean shaving Robert A. Parsons from Mr. Vernon, OH. They had a two-day weight of 172.35 pounds to earn a check for $1,600.
“We had a great first day with everything working right,” reported Morris. “There was decent current and the rain didn’t bother the fish at all. We caught our first-day fish suspending in 25-37 feet of water.”
Day two was a little tougher bite, most likely caused by the high winds and slower current. The team continued to fish upriver from Paducah using skipjack for bait while suspending over structure.
“Saturday the current was softer and the wind picked up making it tough to stay on the fish,” said Morris. “We just could not get the big bite. We managed six fish, all suspended.”
“We got another top 3 finish,” offered Morris. “Now Rob has to keep the beard off. The deal with his wife is that if we finish 3rd or better the beard has to stay off. If our calculations are correct we should gain the lead back in Angler of the Year.”
“We would also like to thank my wife Amanda for taking care of us and making sure we are always ready to head to the next tournament,” concluded Morris. “Also, a big thank you to our sponsors, Fatboy Custom Rods and Monster Rod Holders.”
Jerry, Noah, and Hannah Ishcomer claimed the fourth spot at Paducah. They weighed a two-day total of 153.63 to earn $725.
“Prefishing was good,” according to Jerry. “We tried three places and decided that below Lock and Dam 52 was where we were going to fish both days of the tournament. There was no shortage of fish caught.”
The Jasper, Tx team said the rain on Friday did not make any difference in the bite. They caught 72 pounds on the first day to land them in eighth place. They reported a good bite on day two, catching multiple fish again in the same area. Their weigh-in fish went 82 pounds.
“We bumped hard both days below the dam,” offered Jerry. “We were targeting 30 to 50 feet of water using skipjack for bait. The bite was consistent for us both days. The last part of the second day the wind got up and was making things difficult, but we stayed with it and pulled out 81pounds for day two and a total weight of 153 for a fourth-place finish.”
“If it wasn’t for Jesus, none of it would be possible,” concluded Jerry. “As always, he is the one who produces for me.”
The top five was rounded out by Greg Edwards and Dale Kerns from Norris City, IL. They weighed 150.9 pounds in two days of fishing to earn a check for $500.
The team found their fish below Lock and Dam 52. They also reported a slower bite on day two. They were suspending skipjack in 60 feet of water targeting structure and current seams.
Big Kat honors at Paducah was claimed by the Excel Boats and B’n’M Poles team of Jeff Dodd and Cedric Poyner. They boated a monster 64.15-pound blue catfish on day one. The weight held through both days to give the Trenton, TN team braggin’ rights and a check for $740.
“This was the first tournament out of the StormCat 230,” said Dodd. “Man did it perform well. Thanks to Excel Boats for the opportunity to fish out of such an awesome boat. The big cat came on a B’n’M Bumping Rod prototype that I have been using. That new bumping rod is showing out. It will be coming out on the market soon. I also want to thank Driftmaster Rod Holders and Bass Pro Shops for their support.”
The Remaining Top Catfish Teams
6th Place – Tim Mulvihill and RJ Giles – 150.25
7th Place – Chris Souders and Nick Conaway – 143.9
8th Place – Glynn Grogan and Clay Cannon – 129.40
9th Place – Adam Dehner and Clyde Caldwell – 128.13
10 Place – Wayne, Jennifer, and Conner King – 128.05
Epilogue
Tournament director, Jeremy Coe thanked the Paducah/McCracken County CVB for hosting the 2018 event and for scheduling a 2019 tournament as well.
“We are always excited to come to Paducah and the lower stretch of the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee Rivers,” said Coe. The weights were up from last year which is always good.”
“We would also like to thank Kentucky Fish and Wildlife for assisting with the catfish and getting them back to the water. Thanks also to the crew from Murray State University that came out to assist on day two.
National Sponsors
Cabela’s King Kat Tournament Trail sponsors include: 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, Cat River Anchors, Sunsect Sunscreen & Insect Repellent, Humminbird Lakemaster Maps, Digital EFX Wraps, Tentology, Gill Rainwear, CatfishNow Digital Magazine, Whisker Wear Apparel, The Original Clearboard, Extreme Bait Systems, Katfish Clothing, and Excel Boats.
For more information on the championship and other King Kat activities visit their website at www.kingkatusa.com. Anglers can also follow the trail on the Cabela’s King Kat Facebook Page.
