2025 KFNW / OKBF Tour Event 5

August 2 | Upper Willamette River, OR

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Upper Willamette River
Upper Willamette River
Upper Willamette River

The Willamette River is the 13th largest river in the United States by volume and flows 187 miles from south of Eugene to it’s confluence with the Columbia River in Portland. We’ll be fishing the upper section of the river, just above Willamette Falls, which is just below the downstream boundary of the tournament. Willamette Falls is the 2nd largest waterfall in the United States by volume (Niagra Falls is the largest).

Our tournament boundaries cover 28 river miles, from Willamette Park in West Linn, to the mouth of the Yamhill River near Dayton (conditions permitting). This section of the river is known for abundant smallmouth, including some 20+ inch monsters. There are largemouth in this section as well, usually in the 15-18 inch range. Water current this time of year should be very mild, with a few small exceptions at pinch points. Anglers should have no problem traversing upstream. You’ll find very different conditions from one mile to the next, including rock walls, submerged stumps, laydowns, overhanging trees, tributary mouths, docks, deep water, and shallow flats. Boat traffic can be heavy this time of year so be aware.

Emergent and submergence aquatic plants are plentiful and usually border the edges of the river, then fall off near the middle of the channel. Native fish species include chinook and coho salmon, white sturgeon, coastal cutthroat trout, steelhead/rainbow trout, bull trout, northern pikeminnow, pacific lamprey, American shad, cascadian sucker, peamouth chub, sculpin and three-spined stickleback. Largemouth and smallmouth bass were stocked here by state fishery managers in the 1920s, along with sunfish, crappie, walleye, catfish, and yellow perch.

Boundaries for this event feature approximately 4,900 acres of water and over 30 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 the Upper Willamette: September 21, 2024

We had 39 anglers and 134 fish were submitted (120 smallmouth, 14 largemouth). Michael Jarvis (Yamhill, OR) took first place with 82.25 inches of all smallmouth, including a 18.25 inch kicker. Brandon Hua (Hillsboro, OR) took second place with 81.25 inches of smallmouth and a 18 inch kicker. Anthony Booth (Bandon, OR) took third place with 75.25 inches of smallmouth, and a 17 inch kicker. Big Bass of the tournament went to Jonathan Bush (Post Falls, ID), with a 19.5 inch largemouth.

KFNW Kayak Bass Classic: October 14–15, 2023

We held the KFNW Kayak Bass Classic on the same section of river in 2023 and for that event, the Willy showed out. We had 22 anglers and 253 fish were submitted (120 smallmouth, 1 largemouth) for the two-day tournament. Champion Mason Meredith (Salem, OR) had 174 inches of all smallmouth (89 inches on Day One and 85 inches on Day Two), with a 19.25 inch kicker on Day Two. Big Bass of the tournament went to Brandon Hua (Hillsboro, OR), with a 20.5 inch monster smallmouth.

Tournament Schedule

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

Off-Limits Period

  • Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 12:00 AM through Friday, July 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM

Official Practice Period

  • Saturday, July 26, 2025 through Friday, August 1, 2025
  • 5:45 AM – Practice Launch / Lines In
  • 2:45 PM – Practice Lines Out / Off the Water

Saturday – August 2, 2025

  • 4:45 AM to 5:15 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.
  • 5:10 AM – Launch (Shotgun Start) | Human-Powered
  • 5:15 AM – Launch (Shotgun Start) | Electric Motors
  • 5:45 AM – Lines In
  • 5:58 AM – Sunrise
  • 1:45:00 PM – Lines Out
  • 2:45:00 PM – Upload Deadline / Off the Water
    • Cell Service on Water: Good/Spotty in some places
    • 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.
  • 3:45 PM – Awards Ceremony and Gear Drawing | Willamette Park – Wetland Shelter (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

    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 is solely the responsibility of the two competitors and no exceptions will be given.

    Location Details

    Eligible Water Boundaries

    • Main body of river.
    • Upstream boundary is mouth of the Yamhill River. Anglers fishing above the Yamhill River mouth will be disqualified.
    • Downstream Boundary Bernert Landing Boat Ramp. Anglers fishing below the immediate ramp area will be disqualified.
    • Connected sloughs and tributaries are in-bounds, as long as they are navigable from the main river via kayak, and within one mile of the mouth of the tributary.
    • Disconnected sloughs and ponds are out-of-bounds.
    • Portaging is not permitted.
    • Only public waters are allowed.

    Designated Launch Locations

    Awards Location

    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