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Carp Classic Tournament Comes To Kings Mountain
  For the first time in its history, the Carp Anglers Group (CAG) is bringing its annual CAG Carp Classic tournament to the south.  This year’s tournament will take place at Midway II Lake in Kings Mountain during the weekend of September 24-26.

Originally known as the Chicago Carp Classic (CCC) and held in the Chicago area, the event has travelled to several other North American locations in recent years, including Washington DC, Indianapolis, and Hamilton, Ontario.  


The CAG’s website says of the tournament to be held in Kings Mountain: “For many of our members, this will be their first trip to the area where Southern carp fishing, known as ‘paylaking,’ got its start.”  


Tom Brooks of Kings Mountain, a former director of CAG and a local liaison for the event, states that in the rest of the world, carp angling is a wild-water event.  “Paylaking,” Brooks explains, “goes back generations in Cleveland County.  In fact, we have probably been specifically carp fishing here longer than any place in the US.  So we have a perspective on the sport that is unparalleled in the world.”   


He adds that this is a heritage that has to be recognized and respected.  Brooks, a fourth generation carp angler, has competed nationally and internationally, and a grandson and granddaughter have won national junior tournaments.  


Louis Cook of Philadelphia, the president of the CAG, says that he is personally very excited about coming south for the Classic. And he adds, “Our members can also finally see what the paylake scene is really like.”    Cook admits that something like sibling rivalry exists between those who fish in the traditional English or European style and those who fish in the paylake style, with European-style anglers greatly outnumbering paylakers in the CAG membership. 


Brooks also looks forward to the tournament, seeing it as a time for CAG carp anglers to bring the European style and gear to the area.  “There are things to learn on both sides,” he adds.   Cook agrees, explaining that most anglers now use a blend of both methods.


Entrants must be members of CAG to participate in the tournament.  The public is cordially invited to observe the tournament at no charge. 


When asked about the number of anglers fishing in the Classic, CAG President Cook estimates that at least 40-50 anglers should be on hand.


The CAG Carp Classic tournament will take place all day Saturday, September 25.  There will be hourly paylake-style cash payouts for the biggest fish.  At the end of the day’s activities, the CAG will award the prestigious National Carp King title and trophy buckle to the angler with the biggest fish of the day.


The weekend’s events will also include a BBQ on Friday and Saturday nights, September 24 and 25. Kings Cooking Inc. of Kings Mountain, a prize-winning BBQ team headed by Paul Goforth, will provide the meals for the anglers.  Brooks says that “while we’re showing off the world’s best carp anglers, we thought we’d show them the world’s finest BBQ as well.”


A Bivvy camp will be set up beside the lake for the anglers.  “Bivvies are a cross between a tent and an umbrella and are typical of European tournaments,” Brooks explains.


The event is being brought to Cleveland County with the help of the Cleveland County Sports Commission.  Executive Director Jay Rhodes states, “The Sports Commission exists to promote sports in Cleveland County, and that is exactly what we are doing in partnering with the Carp Anglers Group to assist them in having a successful event so that they will return to our area with future events.”


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