Catfish anglers from several states will travel to the Santee Cooper Lakes at Cross, SC to kick off the 2019 King Kat Tournament Trail presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s. Local and traveling anglers will be vying for cash, prizes, and an opportunity to compete at the 2019 King Kat Classic which will feature a guaranteed payout of $120,000 in cash and prizes.
Anglers in the February, 2019 Event will be testing their catfishing skills against other anglers and whatever Mother Nature has in store. The Santee Cooper Lakes are known for big catfish and plenty are expected at the weigh-in. Local anglers suggest that tournament anglers pay attention to the bait patterns. Determine the depth they are holding and experiment with different cuts of bait. River herring, white perch, and mullet are favorite baits on the popular lakes.
Local anglers also advise competitors to familiarize themselves with the lakes and use caution when navigating. Some good fishing areas contain submerged stumps and the lakes get extremely rough on windy days.
How to Enter
Teams may consist of one or two anglers, with a third allowed if the angler is under the age of 16 or over 65 years of age. Early registration can be accomplished on the King Kat website at https://www.kingkatusa.com/Tournament_Registration.cfm. Teams may also enter by calling (502) 384-5924 or by entering at the mandatory pre-tournament seminar on the night before the tournament begins. Late entries are subject to a $25.00 late fee.
Participating angers must be a member of the King Kat Association (KKA). Membership is $30.00 for adults and $15.00 for spouse and youth memberships. Other membership levels are outlined on the King Kat website. Each membership will include a subscription to the official publication of the King Kat Association, one of the top catfishing fishing publications in the nation.
Registration and Seminar
A pre-tournament seminar will be held the day before the tournament at Black’s Camp & Restaurant, 1370 Black’s Camp Rd., Cross, SC 29436 (843-312-3080).
Sign up will begin at 5:00 pm. The Seminar and National Sponsor Field Test Product Drawing start at 7:00 pm local time. This seminar is open to the public. Those individuals not fishing the event are encouraged to attend and meet top catfish anglers from several different states.
The Weigh-In Site
The tournament weigh-in will be held on Saturday at Black’s Camp & Restaurant,
1370 Black’s Camp Rd., Cross, SC 29436 beginning at 3:00 pm. This is the perfect opportunity for non-competitors to learn how the big ones are caught. Interviews of the top 5 teams are conducted following the weigh-in.
Sponsor and Host Lodging Site
Tournament officials welcome all King Kat anglers and their guests to the area and hope they take the opportunity to enjoy the local attractions.
Host lodging is Black’s Camp & Restaurant, 843-312-3080. The number of rooms in the area may be limited. It is recommended that participants make their reservations early.
The Classic Championship
This year’s Cabela’s King Kat Classic Championship will be held November 01–02, 2019 on the on the Tennessee River (Wheeler Lake) in Decatur, AL. The points race has been upgraded to $30,000 paid to the top 20 places. It features a guaranteed payout of $120,000 in cash and prizes based on the top five finishes.
National Sponsors
The King Kat Tournament Trail presented by Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s is sponsored by: Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s, Excel Boats, Mercury Marine, Mustad Hooks, Humminbird, Minn Kota, B’n’M Poles, Gamma Line, Driftmaster Rod Holders, Ego Nets, Xtreme Bait Systems, Clear Boards, EFX Graphics, Catfish Now, Fin n’ Frames, and Crown Trophy
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 King Kat Facebook Page.