King Kat Fishing Championship Track makes debut in ‘Catfish Capital of the Universe’
The King Kat Tournament Trail National Fishing Tournament host will present its first-ever fishing tournament at Lac Des Allemands September 22-23, with start and stop times from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day of the tournament.
The late fee deadline for entering the tournament will be tomorrow, Friday, September 15th. The Captain’s Meeting – a general meeting open to the public prior to the tournament – will be held on Thursday, September 21 at 6pm at the Holiday Inn Express located at 110 James Drive East in St. Rose.
Currently operating under new ownership, King Kat has run tournaments throughout the United States for over 20 years with a special focus on catfish. Supported by national sponsors like Johnny Morris’s Bass Pro Shops and Cornfield Fishing Gear, King Kat’s current 2023 tournament lineup includes approximately 23 different tournaments in locations such as Weldon, Ill., Dayton, Tenn., Hickory, NC and Ridgeland, Miss.
“It’s all about the catfish — blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish,” King Kat tournament official Scott Peavy said of the King Kat tournament route.
Tournament prizes are expected to range between $5,000 and $7,000 depending on the number of entry fees collected, which amount to $300 per team. One hundred percent of all entry fees will be paid in prizes, Peavy said. The tournament will also guarantee a $1,000 Big Fish prize and a $500 2nd Big Fish prize.
Tournament participants can qualify at this event for the right to later compete in the King Kat National Championship which features a $50,000 prize boat.
Unlike typical bass or crappie tournaments where teams often consist of just two anglers in one bass boat, the King Kat Tournament Trail is known for attracting traveling family teams. A typical King Kat Tournament Trail team might consist of a grandfather, father and son, or a husband, wife and kids, all in the same boat, Peevey explained.
“We have a lot of locals that follow our events, but we also have 15 to 18 teams that travel with us wherever we go across the United States,” Peavy said. “So, we have some bands that — pretty much everything they do — are catfish.”
Another highlight of the King Kat tournament is its companion Kids Fishing Rodeo, which will be held at the Bonnet Carre Spillway at 101 Lower Guide Levee Road in Norco on Saturday, September 23. The rodeo is geared toward children ages 15 and under, who can register for free, and begins at 8:15 a.m., with the hunt taking place between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Participants and their parents or guardians must bring their own fishing equipment to the event.
“We’re going to be giving away a bunch of rods and reels and Bibles and T-shirts, all kinds of stuff,” Peavy said. “It’s not a tournament, it’s just something we want kids to come out and enjoy and get outdoors.”
Although Lac Des Allemands was declared by the Louisiana Legislature as the “Catfish Capital of the World” and later the “Catfish Capital of the Universe,” this will be the first time King Kat has hosted a catfish-focused fishing event In Des Allemands. region. After reminding Peavy of Des Allemands’ nicknames referring to catfish world domination, the tournament official didn’t miss a beat in his response.
“We have some hunters who will be there in a couple of weeks, and they’ll be able to tell you whether or not that’s the truth,” Peavy said in his native Carolina accent, laughing.
For more information or to register for the tournament, visit the King Kat Tournament Trail on the web at www.kingkatusa.com.
