2025 KFNW / IKBF Tour Event 3

June 20-21 | Dworshak Reservoir, ID

Dworshak Reservoir in northern Idaho is the undisputed heavyweight champ for smallmouth bass in the Pacific Northwest. At 54 miles long, it’s the largest reservoir in Idaho, and the fourth-largest reservoir in the Pacific Northwest. Dworshak Dam was completed in 1973 on the North Fork of the Clearwater River and at 717 feet tall, is the third tallest dam in the United States. Smallmouth bass are the only black bass species present. Native fish here included steelhead, chinook and coho salmon, cutthoat trout, bull trout, and mountain whitefish. Smallmouth, kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon), sunfish, crappie and bullhead were planted in the reservoir after it was completed. Kokanee are the key to the big smallmouth here, providing an abundant, high quality food source for the smallmouth, especially once they get big enough to consume most of the kokanee. The state record for smallmouth has been set here multiple times. Joey Walton most-recently broke the catch-and-release record in December of 2022, catching a 23.75 inch smallmouth. The state’s weight record is 9.72 lbs from Dan Steiger‘s 2006 fish, which was also 23.75 inches. KFNW angler Rick Thanstrom knocked on the door of these records with a 23.5 inch smallmouth caught here in 2024 during an online tournament, the longest in KFNW history at the time of this publication.

Depth is variable throughout the reservoir, with a maximum depth of about 650 feet. Rock is the primary structure. Cover consists of rock, weeds, and wood laydowns. Forage includes crayfish, kokanee salmon, crappie, sunfish, brown bullhead, cutthoat trout, and rainbow trout.

Boundaries for this event feature approximately 8,960 acres of water and over 71 miles of shoreline.

Qualifier for the KFNW Kayak Bass Classic and the West Coast Championship

Top 10% of the field qualifies for the KFNW Kayak Bass Classic on October 11-12 at Potholes Reservoir.
Top 25% of the field qualifies for the West Coast Championship on August 22-23.

Last times we visited Dworshak Reservoir: July 29, 2023

We actually held the Kayak Bass Classic here in October of 2024, but the Tour Event on July 29, 2023 is probably a more relevant comparison. We had 32 anglers and 66 fish were submitted. Will Harris (Scappoose, Oregon) took first place with 77.25 inches of smallmouth, including a 16.5 inch kicker. Garrett Harrison (Post Falls, Idaho) took second place with 75.5 inches of smallmouth and a 17 inch kicker. Michael Mumford (Nampa, ID) took third place with 74.75 inches of smallmouth and an 18 inch kicker. Big Bass of the day went to Michael Mumford (Nampa, ID) with an 18 inch smallmouth.

Tournament Schedule

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

Off-Limits Period

Monday, June 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM through Thursday, Jun 19, 2025 at 4:44 AM

Thursday – June 19, 2025

4:45 AM – Practice Launch / Lines In
11:00 AM – Practice Lines Out / Off the Water
6:30 PM – Pre-Event Briefing | Pink House Recreation Site (tentative)
10:00 PM – Identifier Code Released

Friday – June 20, 2025

4:00 AM to 4:30 AM – Virtual Check-In and Selfie Anglers are required to check-in on TourneyX (cell service permitting) and take a selfie at their launch, within this window. Failure to display a selfie when requested by tournament officials at the Awards may result in disqualification.
4:10 AM – Launch (Designated Launches) | Human-Powered
4:15 AM – Launch (Designated Launches) | Electric Motors
4:45 AM – Lines In
4:52 AM – Sunrise
12:45:00 PM – Lines Out
1:45:00 PM – Upload Deadline / Off the Water Cell Service on Water: Poor
Cellular service may not be available on the water. It is the competitor’s responsibility to find service and upload their fish before the Upload Deadline.

Saturday – June 21, 2025

4:00 AM to 4:30 AM – Virtual Check-In and Selfie Anglers are required to check-in on TourneyX (cell service permitting) and take a selfie at their launch, within this window. Failure to display a selfie when requested by tournament officials at the Awards may result in disqualification.
4:10 AM – Launch (Designated Launches) | Human-Powered
4:15 AM – Launch (Designated Launches) | Electric Motors
4:45 AM – Lines In
4:52 AM – Sunrise
11:45:00 PM – Lines Out
12:45:00 PM – Upload Deadline / Off the Water Cell Service on Water: Poor
Cellular service may not be available on the water. It is the competitor’s responsibility to find service and upload their fish before the Upload Deadline.
1:45 PM – Awards Ceremony and Gear Drawing | Pink House Recreation Site (tentative)
Competitors MUST be present at Awards ceremony location by this time. Competitors who are not present by this time will be disqualified.

Pre-Event Briefing

Pre-Event Briefing Location

Pink House Recreation Site
4815 US-12, Orofino, ID 83544
https://goo.gl/maps/QzRoEeVd6Ux1zb839

Pre-Event Briefing Details

Before the Pre-Event Briefing, a video will be published to go over specific details for this Tour Event. Certain rules may be discussed, but we will not review all the rules. It is the competitor’s responsibility to read and know all rules as published in the Rules Standard.
A signed hard copy of the Liability Release is required by all competitors for the season. A new Liability Release must be provided if any of the competitor’s information has changed (e.g. address, kayak, vehicle, license plate). You can download the Liability Release in advance and bring the completed form.
Certified bump board is required and board check will be performed. Boards should be clean and dry.
Competitors will have the opportunity to ask any questions before the meeting is adjourned.
Attendance at the Pre-Event Briefing is mandatory. If you can’t attend the meeting due to work or an unavoidable obligation, another angler can bring your Liability Release and bump board on your behalf. This solely the responsibility of the two competitors and no exceptions will be given.

Location Details

Eligible Water Boundaries

Dworshak Reservoir (main body of water).
Dent Bridge is the upstream boundary
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

Designated Launch Locations

Google Maps Link >
Big Eddy Recreation Site and Launch Area (improved)
Bruce’s Eddy Recreation Area and Boat Launch Site (improved)
Canyon Creek Boat Launch (improved)
Dent Acres Campground (improved)
Dworshak State Park and Freeman Creek Campground (improved)
No other launches are allowed

Awards Location

Pink House Recreation Site
4815 US-12, Orofino, ID 83544
https://goo.gl/maps/QzRoEeVd6Ux1zb839

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.