2025 KFNW / IKBF Tour Event 6

September 6 | CJ Strike Reservoir, ID

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CJ Strike Reservoir

CJ Strike Reservoir is a 7,500-acre impoundment of the Snake and Bruneau Rivers, located in southwestern Idaho near the town of Grand View. This high-desert reservoir was created by the construction of CJ Strike Dam, and it stretches roughly 25 miles from upstream of the Bruneau River mouth to downstream near the dam on the Snake. The mix of two distinct river systems gives the lake a unique diversity in structure, water conditions, and fish habitat.

Tournament boundaries for this event will include both arms of the reservoir—Snake and Bruneau—giving anglers a wide variety of water to explore. The Snake River arm offers expansive flats, rocky shorelines, and scattered islands, while the Bruneau arm is narrower and more river-like, with submerged trees, steep canyon walls, and hidden backwaters. Expect wind to be a factor here, especially in the main basin, so plan accordingly.

CJ Strike is known for its strong populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Largemouth tend to dominate the weedy coves and backwater sloughs, while smallmouth are more common along rocky shorelines and current seams, especially near the dam and the river mouths. Bass over 20 inches are not uncommon here, and both species grow fast thanks to a forage-rich environment.

Water clarity can vary depending on wind, recent weather, and runoff from the Bruneau, but visibility is typically moderate. Aquatic vegetation, including milfoil and pondweed, is abundant along shallower stretches and can be a major key to locating fish. Other cover includes chunk rock, tules, submerged timber, and man-made structures like bridges and old pilings.

CJ Strike also supports a broad range of other species including crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, channel catfish, sturgeon, and kokanee salmon. Bass were introduced to the system decades ago and have since established a healthy, self-sustaining population.

Whether you favor power fishing rocky points or finesse tactics in grass-filled backwaters, CJ Strike offers something for every style. Bring your A-game—this is big fish country.

Boundaries for this event feature approximately 10,000 acres of water and over 60 miles of shoreline.

Qualifier for the KFNW Kayak Bass Classic

  • Top 10% of the field qualifies for the KFNW Kayak Bass Classic on October 11-12 at Potholes Reservoir.

Last time we visited CJ Strike: August 26, 2023

We had 22 anglers and 102 fish were accepted (95 smallmouth, 7 largemouth). Kyle Zemke (Heyburn, ID) took first place with 82.5 inches of smallmouth and largemouth, including two 18 inch largemouth kickers. Ozzy Reorowicz (Nampa, ID) took second place with 82.25 inches of smallmouth and a 17 inch kicker. Michael Mumford (Nampa, ID) took third place with 81 inches of smallmouth, and a 17.25 inch kicker. Big Bass of the tournament went to Kyle Zemke (Heyburn, ID), with those two 18 inch largemouth.

Tournament Schedule

All times are Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)

Off-Limits Period

  • Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM through Friday, August 29, 2025 at 11:59 PM

Registration Deadline

  • Friday, August 29, 2025 – Registration Deadline
  • Late registration is available on a limited basis, and is first-come, first-served. There is a $10 service fee for late registration.

Official Practice Period

  • Saturday, August 30, 2025 through Friday, September 5, 2025
  • 7:00 AM – Practice Launch / Lines In
  • 3:00 PM – Practice Lines Out / Off the Water

Friday – September 5, 2025

  • 6:30 PM – Pre-Event Briefing | East Side Park
  • 10:00 PM – Identifier Code Released

Saturday – September 6, 2025

  • 6:00 AM to 6:30 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.
  • 6:25 AM – Launch | Human-Powered
  • 6:30 AM – Launch | Electric Motors
  • 7:00 AM – Lines In
  • 7:13 AM – Sunrise
  • 3:00:00 PM – Lines Out
  • 4:30 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.
  • 5:00 PM – Awards Ceremony and Gear Drawing | East Side Park
    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

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 each Event. 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

Idaho Regulations and Links

  • An Idaho fishing license is required (temporary or annual) – Visit IDFG
  • Watercraft registration is required for motorized watercraft (residents only) – Visit Idaho Parks & Rec
  • Watercraft (residents and non-residents) need an Invasive Species Sticker – Visit Idaho Parks & Rec or a Participating Vendor
  • To be exempt, watercraft need to meet ALL of the following criteria:
    • Less than 10ft in length
    • Non-motorized
    • Inflatable

Eligible Water Boundaries

  • Main body of CJ Strike Reservoir, from Bruneau Arm to the eastern point of Wilkins Island. Wilkins Island is just east of the Loveridge Bridge (51).
  • Connected sloughs and tributaries are in-bounds, as long as they are navigable from the main body of water via kayak, and within boundaries on the map above.
  • Disconnected sloughs and ponds are out-of-bounds.
  • Portaging is not permitted.
  • Only public waters are allowed.

Designated Launch Locations

Awards Location

This location is 30-40 minutes from the launches. Be sure to give yourself ample time to get here.

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.

KFNW Membership

Tournament Directors

Links

KFNW Membership
Liability Release
Rules Standard
Identifier Card

KAYAK FISHING NORTHWEST IS PRESENTED BY:

Diamond Parking
Diamond Self Storage
Native Watercraft
Snake River Manufacturing