An increasingly popular sport in Lexington County just added two more international events that will bring hundreds of people to the area. 

Lake Murray was recently announced as the host for the 2024 USA Kayak Fishing Team Qualifier and Pan American Kayak Fishing Championship. The events are set to take place in April and September with collaboration between the organizing groups occurring often. 

“Right now with the USA Kayak directors and presidents, we are speaking biweekly to make this event the best possible event, run smoothly and get it out to the nation,” said Vickie Davis, the vice president of Funding and Events at Capital City/Lake Murray Country, the region’s travel bureau.

The USA Kayak Fishing Team Qualifier will take place from April 25-28 and will feature some of the best kayak fishers the country has to offer. The Pan American Kayak Fishing Championship will take place from Sept. 26-29 where Team USA will attempt to defend its gold medal. 

The lake has become a hot spot for tournament fishing in recent years, with the area playing host to both professional and collegiate fishing competitions. 

Lake Murray hosted the 2022 Black Bass World Championship, which featured competitors from 25 different nations. In 2023, the lake hosted a major league fishing tournament and is set to host a collegiate Bassmaster tournament later this month. 

Part of the draw has been the success competitors have seen while on the lake. Fish have been abundant no matter what time of year it is. 

“Lake Murray’s on fire right now,” said Craig Storms, the president of the USA Kayak Fishing Program at USAngling. “Lake Murray right now is just at the peak of its cycle, and  I’ve been there with the Bassmaster Elites, I’ve been there with the Bassmaster Kayak Series, I’ve been there with the KBF Kayak Series, and in the last couple years, it has just been on fire, no matter what time of the year you go.”

Storms has been to Lake Murray a few other times and has enjoyed each visit. The effort made by the region’s travel bureau is what keeps him and the competition coming back.

Capital City/Lake Murray Country has been very aggressive in its attempts to attract these fishing tournaments, Storms said. The team at the travel bureau commits to getting an event, if they see the benefits it can bring. 

“It’s always the travel bureaus that want us,” Storms said. “Lake Murray right now, with Vicky and her team, they are the most aggressive travel team that wants you to come to their area to fish.  So, they really put a premium on the amount of traffic that we can bring to a given area for a tournament.”

The travel bureau’s aggressive pursuit of fishing tournaments goes beyond wanting fun events to host on the lake. There is strong consideration put into how these tournaments will benefit the overall economy of the surrounding area.

“These anglers are coming and staying for at least a week,” Davis said. “They’re staying in our accommodations, eating at our restaurants, purchasing our gas, whether it is for their vehicles or their boats.”

To make sure they are enjoying their stay Davis’ team goes the extra mile to make sure the anglers make the most of their time. The team even puts together visitor guides and information packets for the contestants. 

“They are doing the activities and all the attractions that we have to offer,” Davis said. 

The money that we are providing to our economy is extremely helpful when it comes to helping those that live here, that tax burden, and then we can reinvest that money into the region.”

It’s not just competitors these competitions bring in. Fans and families of the fishermen also travel to the region, pumping even more money into the economy. 

“This Bassmaster fishing event at the end of January, we have 500 college college anglers,” Davis said. “Do you know who comes with them? Their parents, their grandparents, their siblings, their significant others. So yes, it’s 500 anglers, which is amazing, but it’s easily four more people per angler coming with them.”

Davis and Storms are excited about the potential of these events. The work put in and the proper conditions have made Lake Murray one of the most successful spots for competitive fishing. 

“Lake Murray has become a destination spot for tournament series because of the coordination by the travel bureau, the quality of the lake, consistency of catches and the amenities around the area that the anglers can go.”