Torqeedo Sponsors Inaugural Kayak Fishing Championship

Torqeedo North America president Steve Trkla (left) congratulates Matt Ball.

The inaugural Kayak Bass Fishing National Championship was held on March 19 and 20 on Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee. Sponsored by Torqeedo, a long-time advocate of small boat fishing, the winner of the event took home $32,000.

Over 200 anglers gathered from across the United States to participate. Competitors persevered through two days of cold weather and high winds to compete for the highest payout ever recorded for a kayak bass fishing event. Matt Ball, part of the Mountain State Kayak Anglers group from West Virginia, brought home the grand prize totaling over $32,000 for his five-fish stringer.

Kayak angling has become the second fastest-growing outdoor sport, and is now generating competitions on a national level. Chad Hoover, popular TV host and kayak angling superstar, organized the championship and helped local clubs with qualifying events. This identified anglers who would move on to compete for the national title.