Introducing the SIKC Fall Team Series

A limited-entry, team-format fall trail for active SIKC members.

Register Your Team (Opens August 1)

Limited to 6 teams. First paid, first in.

What Is The Fall Team Series?

The 2026 SIKC Fall Team Series is a new, limited-entry post-season trail introducing team competition to the Southern Illinois Kayak Club. Designed for small, three-angler teams (plus one designated alternate), the series offers a fresh format that emphasizes teamwork, consistency, and strategy across multiple fall events.

This inaugural season will feature four tournaments, exclusive to active SIKC members, culminating in the crowning of the first Team of the Year (TOY) champions. Teams will compete under an adapted version of SIKC’s standard tournament rules, with adjustments for team scoring, payouts, and participation requirements.

Important Note:
The 2026 Fall Team Series is currently in the final review and approval stage. Official rules have not yet been ratified by the SIKC Executive Board. All information presented on this page — including event dates, fees, and scoring details — is preliminary and subject to change prior to final publication.

How the Series Works

The 2026 SIKC Fall Team Series introduces a fresh, team-based format to the Southern Illinois Kayak Club — a small-field, high-competition trail built around collaboration, consistency, and precision.

Unlike standard SIKC events, this post-season series is limited to six teams, each made up of three primary anglers with the option to designate one alternate. Teams will battle through four fall tournaments, competing for individual event payouts and the overall Team of the Year (TOY) title.

Each stop in the series follows the Catch-Photo-Release (CPR) format familiar to SIKC anglers. Teams fish the same lakes and launch areas under standard SIKC rules, with special scoring and payout adjustments outlined below.

Format at a Glance

  • Three registered anglers plus one alternate (must be an active SIKC member). Alternates may only substitute once per event.

  • Six total teams. Registration closes once the field is full.

  • Four total (September–November 2026). Each team fishes all events for overall points.

  • $720 per team for the entire series, paid in two $360 installments.

  • 100% payback: 18% per event, 18% to Team of the Year, 10% to state fees/trophies.

  • Best 10 fish per team per event (max 5 from any one angler).

  • 12 inches.

  • Factory-produced kayaks, including inflatables, modular kayaks, and SUPs. Length 9–18 feet. No homemade kayaks.

  • Lines in at first safe light (:00 or :30 mark); lines out eight hours later. Submissions due 30 minutes after lines out.

Scoring and Points

Each team’s 10 longest verified fish (no more than 5 per angler) determine its event total.
Teams earn Team of the Year points based on event finish order:

  • 1st = 100 pts

  • 2nd =95 pts

  • 3rd = 90 pts

  • 4th = 75 pts

  • 5th = 60 pts

  • 6th = 55 pts

  • No-show = 0 pts

To qualify for Team of the Year, a team must fish at least two events. Ties are broken by the longest fish in the final event, then total combined series length, then earliest submission time.

We designed the SIKC points system — 100, 95, 90, 75, 60, and 55 — to reward both winning and consistency. The small gaps among the top three spots keep the race competitive deep into the season, while the sharper drop after 3rd place ensures that finishing near the bottom really hurts. This balance lets dominant anglers separate themselves but still keeps every team motivated to perform in every event.

Payout Structure

With a full six-team field, the total series purse is $4,320, distributed as follows:

Allocation

%

Amount

Event #1 Winner

Event #2 Winner

Event #3 Winner

$777.60

18%

18%

18%

$777.60

$777.60

Event #4 Winner

18%

$777.60

Team of the Year

18%

$777.60

Trophies / Fees

10%

$432.00

Total

100%

$4,320.00

Event Management

All events will be hosted through TourneyX, following SIKC’s photo-submission standards. Anglers must catch, land, photograph, and submit their own fish; no shared catches or submissions are allowed.

Event communications, standings, and updates will be posted through official SIKC channels.

Tentative 2026 Schedule

Event

Location

Date

Dates and venues are subject to adjustment pending final permits, access, and hunting-season restrictions.

All other rules, scoring procedures, and eligibility standards are governed by the 2026 SIKC Fall Team Series Official Rules.

Lake of Egypt

Newton Lake

Stop 2

Stop 3

Cedar Lake

Stop 1

Sangchris Lake

September 26

October 10

October 24

Stop 4

November 7

View Preliminary Rules