Tournament Schedule

6:37 AM – Sunrise

7:00-7:15 AM – Physical Check-In

Anglers MUST check-in within this window. Failure to check-in on-time will result in disqualification. We recommend all anglers unload their gear before and during check-in. Kayaks and gear may be stored on the bank, or near the launch. Be sure to leave room for other people to use the ramp!

Check-In Location: Alder Lake Boat Launch

7:15 AM – Captain’s Meeting & Team Assignments

7:30 AM – Launch: Shotgun Start (Alder Lake Boat Launch)

8:00 AM – Lines In

2:00 PM – Lines Out

3:00 PM – Upload Deadline

  • Cell Service on Water: Poor
  • Cellular service may not be available on the water.

3:30 PM – Weigh-In & Awards Ceremony

  • Competitors must be present at weigh-in location by this time. Competitors who are not present by this time will be disqualified.

Weigh-In Location: Mill Pond Park


Tournament Details

  • Registration Ends: 03/29/2024 11:59 PM
    Late registration is limited and subject to an additional $10 late registration fee
  • Identifier Code Released: 04/05/2024 10:00 PM
  • Off Limits Period: None
  • Official Practice Ends: NA

Check-In Location:

Weigh-In Location:

  • Mill Pond Park
    101 Alder St E, Eatonville, WA 98328
    https://goo.gl/maps/E7TPMQozFvNmvkS66
  • Trailer parking at the park is limited. We recommend trailers park on Mashell Ave S. There is street-side parking there.
  • Attendance is MANDATORY. If you need to leave early, contact the Tournament Director.

Focus on Fun

The Season Kickoff Open promises to be a blast. Come on out to fish and meet other kayak anglers (experienced and newbie alike are welcome).

Kayak Bass Fishing Tournament

This bass fishing tournament is focused on fun and teamwork. If you’ve been thinking about getting involved in competitive kayak fishing, the Season Kickoff Open is a great place to start. We will randomly pair one less-experienced tournament angler with one more-experienced tournament angler, to compete as a two-person team for the tournament. We will be fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. We score fish by length, using the smartphone app TourneyX Pro. We practice CPR (catch, photo, release) to tabulate our scores. We will have measuring boards for sale if you need one. There’s a three fish limit per angler, which means the longest six catches between you and your teammate are combined to tabulate your score. Each angler’s best three fish are counted, which means you both need to catch three fish for the best chance of winning! We also have an optional Big Bass Buy-In, which means the person who catches the largest bass of the day gets the pot (minus fees).

Nearly 100% payout to the top three teams (minus PayPal and TourneyX fees) split 50/50 between teammates.

Special Rules:

  • This is an open tournament, so no KFNW membership is required.
  • No AOY points will be calculated.
  • Electric motors are allowed (within the KFNW Rules Standard).
  • This is a team tournament. The Tournament Director will assign teammates at random, pairing more-experienced tournament anglers with less experienced tournament anglers. Anglers will fish as a team, and scores will be calculated on the best team score (three longest fish per angler, six fish total). If one of the two teammates does not catch three fish, culled fish from the other teammate cannot be counted.
  • There will be a shotgun start for this tournament, with no delay for competitors with electric motors.

Safety Notes:

  • An overhead 360° light is required in low light conditions. A high-visibility flag, vest-type PFD, and sound signaling device (whistle) are required on the water at all times. Failure to utilize any of this safety equipment may result in disqualification.

Launch Locations:

Eligible Water Boundaries:

  • Main water body
  • Connected creeks, rivers, sloughs and tributaries accessible via kayak from the main body of water are in-bounds (conditions permitting for safety and accessibility).
  • Disconnected sloughs and ponds are out-of-bounds.
  • Portaging is not permitted
  • Only public waters are allowed

Tournament Director: