By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—You’ll be seeing a lot more kayaks than usual in our area this weekend, as the 2018 Kayak Bass Fishing National Championship begins Friday on Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.
Some 774 anglers from all over the United States will be competing for the grand prize of $100,000 in the top freshwater kayak fishing tournament in the world. According to tournament officials, this year’s event
will have the largest payout, most bonuses, and the stiffest national-level competition in the Kayak Bass Fishing nation.
The competitors and their families have already arrived and are making a major impact on the local economy.
Headquarters for the tournament is the Henry County Fairgrounds, where competitors will begin gathering today for registration. This afternoon, the Expo opening at the Enoch Building at 2 p.m. and a Tailgate Gear Swap will be held in the parking lot at the fairgrounds beginning at 4 p.m.
Local food trucks will be on site at the fairgrounds Thursday, Friday and Saturday and they will include Heather’s Street Food, Cash’s Wood Fired Pizza and Mom’s Kitchen.
Here is the schedule of events for the tournament:
Thursday, 3/22
- 11:00 a.m.: Registration/Sign-in begins on screened porch of Tournament HQ (west building at Henry County Fairground).
- 2:00 p.m.: KBFNC Expo Opens in Building E (Enoch Building) at Henry County Fairgrounds
- 2:00 p.m.: Food trucks begin on-site service
- 4:00 p.m.: Tailgate Gear Swap begins in parking lot.
- 4:00 p.m.: Prefishing on Eligible Water ends.
- 6:30 p.m.: Registration/Sign-in closes until after Captains Meeting
- 6:30 p.m.: Gear Swap ends
- 7:00 p.m.: Mandatory Captains Meeting at Tournament HQ
- 8:00 p.m.: Late Registration Sign-in resumes following Captains Meeting.
Friday 3/23
- 5:30 a.m.: Late arrival Registration/Sign-in, Quality Inn lobby, 1510 E Wood St, Paris, TN 38242
- 5:30 a.m.: Earliest Launch Time. Anglers may arrive and prepare their gear earlier but may not launch onto the water before this time.
- 6:30 a.m.: Competition Start Time/Lines-in.
- 2:00 p.m.: Photo Assistance desk opens at Tourney HQ (Competitors seeking photo submission assistance must have their cell phones, camera, or digital media with all necessary cords or cables)
2:00 p.m.: KBFNC Expo opens - 2:00 p.m.: Food trucks on-site will operate until 8:00 p.m. (or later if there’s demand and food supplies hold out)
- 3:00 p.m.: Deadline to be in Photo Assistance Line (screened porch, Tournament HQ)
- 3:00 p.m.: Photo submission deadline.
- 3:00 p.m.: Competition End Time/Lines-out
- 4:00 p.m.: Friday Check-in line opens. Competitors may be selected to take polygraph tests for cause, by ranking, or at random.
- 5:30 p.m.: Deadline to be in Check-in line (screened porch, Tournament HQ). Late arrivals’ photos for the day are all disqualified.
- 6:00 p.m.: Night of Champions/Captains Meeting
Saturday 3/24
- 5:30 a.m.: Earliest Launch Time.
- 6:30 a.m.: Competition Start Time/Lines-in.
- 2:00 p.m.: Photo Assistance desk opens at Tourney HQ (Competitors seeking photo submission assistance must have their cell phones, camera, or digital media with all necessary cords or cables)
2:00 p.m.: KBFNC Expo Opens - 2:00 p.m.: Food trucks on-site will operate until 8:00 p.m. (or later if there’s demand and food supplies hold out)
- 3:00 p.m.: Competition End Time/Lines-out and Photo submission deadline. Also deadline to be in Photo Assistance Line for on-site upload of photos.
- 4:00 p.m.: Check-in line opens. Competitors may be selected to take polygraph tests for cause, by ranking, or at random.
- 5:30 p.m.: Deadline to be in Check-inline
Sunday, 3/25
- 9:00 a.m.: Awards Ceremony and Door Prizes. Competitors are required to be present to win door prizes but are not required to be present for KBFNC Prizes