A few years ago I had a thought or a vision about expanding Queen City Kayak Bass Fishing across the Carolinas, or maybe into other states. Giving anglers at home the feel of the National scene. The bright lights, the stage, the big money, the podcasts, the hardware, the pro-staff opportunities, etc.

In 2023 with the help of some amazing sponsors I was able to bring that thought to life. I had many phone calls with Ryan Hulsey about my plan, and how we were going to track it and keep up with it all, and when we finally figured it all out, I started the process. I was able to find two amazing companies to sponsor the new division’s. BIG Adventures for the West, and Boonedox for the South. I was able to lock up an aspiring director in Blaine Upton who wanted to run and grow the South. I am able to work with amazing companies to keep boosting your payouts across all 3 series. Its all a great plan, on paper, but its not real until you hit the water. We set goals for each series before the season opener on Norman. 120 for the Main, 60 for the South and 30 for the West. Realistic? Maybe. I thought so anyway. We opened the main on Lake Norman with 131, followed on the Yolo with 120. We opened the west with a huge 55 on Keowee, and today was the season opener for the South. Would we hit the 60? Would we break 100? We had no idea. Blaine was getting thrown into the director life 100% today, that’s all we really knew. Well, at 10pm last night when we locked the event on TourneyX.com we were sitting at 64. I think Blaine took a sigh of relief, and honestly I did as well. I wasn’t exactly greeted with open arms right away as we announced the Southern division. Anglers were used to certain things, motors being the main one. Would they fish QC? Would they boycott these events? We really didn’t know. I think the questions were answered today and before I continue I want to thank every single angler who came and supported the Southern opener today on Lake Murray. I want to thank Southern Pride Softwash LLC and Todd Erickson not only for sponsoring this event, but for coming to the venue, and also coming to the expo, and joining us on the “this is not a podcast” show. I need to thank Matthew Rollins for having the faith in me and QC to pull this new division off. I need to thank Vickie with Lake Murray Country for working with us and treating us so amazing. The venue was awesome. I look forward to the next event already! Blaine did a great job directing his first QC event today. I haven’t heard of any issues with anything today. Smooth and efficient is what we were today.

So, the fishing. Yea, that’s what this really is what its all about isn’t it? Well, wow!! Lake Murray. March is your month clearly. We had an epic and record setting day on the water today. We had 13 anglers post limits of over 70 inches! We had 235 fish come across the board, and that’s with half the size field we are used to having. We had 17 fish over 20 inches come across the board today!! Over half the field limited, and only 10 anglers skunked. All around EPIC! But, who won it all!?

We paid out 7 cash spots today, plus 3 prize packages.

In 10th place with 71.25 Ryan Washington took home a A Squared baits prize pack and a framed certificate.

In 9th place with 71.50, Scott Simmons took home a prize pack and a framed certificate. Scott also won the Groovy T Bar from Boonedox!!

In 8th place with 71.75, Chad Walden went home with a prize pack and a framed certificate, and like 3 pies of pizza.

In 7th place, with 74 inches, Steven Stockinger takes home his best QC finish. Going home with the smooth $100 and a framed certificate.

In 6th place with 74.75, Alfredo Mendoza takes home $146 and a framed certificate.

In 5th place with 77.50, Nick Huddleston takes home $220 and a framed certificate.

In 4th place, Ryan Hulsey drops another solid limit of 78.25 and also takes home the The Realm Of Fear Custom Baits Elite victory. He took home a total of $1075.

In 3rd place, Jared Stanley drops 78.50 and but loses the tie breaker for $550 and a fancy piece of hardware.

In 2nd place, Pastor Mike MikeandNiki Hicks slaps 78.5 on the board, wins the tie breaker and takes home $918!!

Your big winner today is Mr. Tou Yang with 80.50 inches, including the @Big Bass Brand Big Bass at 22 inches, giving him a total of $1735!!! Not a bad day on the water!! Tou also goes home with a brand new Gas House Custom Rods!!!

Ian Oldham sneaks into the money today with his LC Angler’s Paddle Sports small bass of 9.75inches, earning him $145.

Today was amazing. This club is amazing. Only two weeks and we are back at it on Santee Cooper with the huge Hobie BOS – Bass Open Series. Jump in both events and lets have some fun! If you have any questions feel free to reach out! See you all on Jurassic Park!