May 31 | Columbia River (Lake Umatilla), OR / WA


KFNW Tour Event 2 - Columbia River - Top 3 and Big Bass
Brandon Hua – 3rd Place, Chris Williams – 1st Place, and Corey Carlile – 2nd Place

Final Standings

Columbia River (Lake Umatilla): In Like a Lamb, Out Like a Rampaging Beast!

May 31st, 2025 — Columbia River, OR / WA
The mighty Columbia transformed into a coliseum of chaos as 91 fearless kayak anglers launched into battle, chasing glory, bragging rights, and bass the size of legends. What began as calm waters turned into an all-out slugfest.

Before the sun had even peeked over the horizon, the action EXPLODED on water as smooth as glass and not a whiff of wind — but that was destined to change.

4:48 AMBOOM! Braden Allison fired the opening salvo with a fierce 19.75″ largemouth.
4:51 AMBANG! Brandon Hua threw down the gauntlet with a monster 20.25″ smallmouth.
4:58 AMWHAM! Corey Carlile roared to the front with a jaw-dropping 22.5″ tank of a largemouth that would prove crucial in the day’s final reckoning.

The 21 Inch Triumvirate
5:36 AM
– Eric Sherrill kept the hammer down with a powerful 21″ largemouth.
6:21 AM – Dan Zimmerschied brought the thunder with another 21″ largemouth, upping the ante yet again.
8:07 AM – The youngest warrior in the arena, Tyler Hittenberger, announced his arrival with a beastly 21″ smallmouth, his first scorable fish of the day.

The scoreboard was a battlefield. Rods bent. Nets flew. Heartbeats thundered.

When the final lines came out of the water and the digital dust began to settle, it was a three-way tie at the top—96.5 inches apiece! But in the end, it came down to pixels and ounces. Chris Williams nailed the win with an improved photo upload that nudged him into the top slot.

Corey Carlile and Brandon Hua stood toe-to-toe in second, but Carlile’s 22.5-inch leviathan shattered the tie and secured the silver.

You say windy?

In a bold call of battlefield strategy, tournament directors pushed the start time forward by 45 minutes two days before, anticipating a monster wind forecast that threatened to derail the entire showdown. And folks—it was the right call.

As the final hour ticked down, the Columbia unleashed fury.

Six-foot whitecaps came charging in like stampeding bulls, forcing even the saltiest anglers to abandon open water and retreat to the safety of shoreline cover and wind-protected pockets. Rods were strapped, paddles were white-knuckled, and those last precious casts became a fight for balance, safety, and hope.

It wasn’t just a battle for bass—it became a battle for survival. And only the toughest endured to upload their final catches before the river slammed the gates shut.

Timing. Strategy. Grit. It was a finale for the ages.

Podium Finishes:

  1. 🥇 Chris Williams had 97 inches and won $4,178
  2. 🥈 Corey Carlile had 96.5 inches and won $1,694
  3. 🥉 Brandon Hua had 96.5 inches and won $1,280

The Columbia roared, the fish bit, and legends were made. See you at the next battle. This war is far from over.

Big Bass Buy-In (80 Anglers)

  • Corey Calile netted a 22.5 inch largemouth for $1,298 ($1,098 in cash and $200 from Three Rivers Tackle)
KFNW Tour Event 2 - Columbia River - 2nd Place and Big Bass- Corel carlile

Tourney Trivia

  • Totals: 631 fish were submitted and accepted by 91 total anglers, that’s 6.93 fish per angler
  • Where From: Oregon: 36 | Washington: 42 | Idaho: 11 | British Columbia: 2
  • Citation Bass: 20 Smallmouth (19+ inches) and 5 Largemouth (20+ inches)
  • First Fish of the Day: Jakob Jarvis at 4:28 AM (thirteen minutes after lines in)
  • Final Fish of the Day: Derek Sjogren at 12:13 PM (two minutes before lines out) and Jakob Jarvis came close to catching the first and last fish of the day with a last minute fish that was photographed 34 seconds too late to count.

KFNW Kayak Bass Classic Qualified Anglers

KFNW Tour Event 2: Columbia River - West Coast Championship Qualifiers
Ten anglers qualified for the KFNW Kayak Bass Classic on October 11-12 at Potholes Reservoir. Left to right: Joshua Dugger, Shaun Soul, Dan Walker, Colin Sutton, Devn Brown, Chris Williams, Brandon Hua, Geoff Linson, Andrew Janke, Cory Carlile

Full Final Standings

We paid out $8,266 to the top 9 anglers with a 91% payout rate, plus $1,098 for Big Bass.

RankCity, StateEarningsQualifiedFish 1Fish 2Fish 3Fish 4Fish 5TOTAL
1Williams, ChrisOlympia, WA$4,178KBC20.7520.0019.7518.2518.2597.00
2Carlile, CoreySpokane, WA$1,694KBC22.5019.0018.7518.2518.0096.50
3Hua, BrandonHillsboro, OR$1,280KBC20.5020.2518.7518.5018.5096.50
4Brown, DevnTigard, OR$287KBC20.0018.7518.7518.5017.7593.75
5Sutton, ColinBend, OR$204KBC19.2519.2518.5018.5018.0093.50
6Soule, ShaunYelm, WA$171KBC18.7518.5018.5018.2517.7591.75
7Janke, AndrewScappoose, OR$162KBC21.5018.0017.0016.0016.0088.50
8Linson, GeoffShelton, WA$154KBC19.0017.7517.7517.2516.7588.50
9Dugger, JoshuaBonney Lake, WA$146KBC19.2519.0017.5016.0015.7587.50
10Walker, DanSeattle, WAKBC19.7517.7516.7516.2516.0086.50
11Reorowicz, OzzyNampa, ID20.5018.5016.5015.5015.2586.25
12Harris, LeoScappoose, OR20.0018.2517.0016.2514.7586.25
13Zimmerschied, DanNampa, ID21.0017.2516.2516.0015.2585.75
14Larson, AndrewDonald, OR18.2517.2517.2516.5016.2585.50
15Bush, JonathanPost Falls, ID18.5018.5018.2516.0014.0085.25
16Osojnicki, TjBoise, ID18.2517.2516.7516.5016.2585.00
17Jarvis, JakobYamhill, OR19.0017.0016.5016.0015.5084.00
18Dugger, LaceyWenatchee, WA17.5017.0016.7516.5016.2584.00
19Potts, TreyWaitsburg, WA18.7517.7516.5015.5015.2583.75
20Loveall, GageWhite city, OR18.0017.7517.0015.5015.5083.75
21Moore, PatBellingham, WA17.5017.5017.0016.0015.7583.75
22McClure, JasonEugene, OR19.5017.5016.2516.2514.0083.50
23Miller, TroyBoise, ID18.7517.7516.5015.7514.7583.50
24French, EddieCamas, WA18.2517.5016.2516.0015.5083.50
25Sapp, MetheaSpokane, WA17.5017.5016.7516.2515.5083.50
26Sherrill, EricSalem, OR21.0018.5014.2514.2514.0082.00
27Cruz, IvanOtis Orchards, WA17.0017.0016.7515.2515.0081.00
28Cary, JimSpokane, WA17.5017.5017.0016.0012.2580.25
29Brummett, JesseRidgefield, WA16.5016.0016.0016.0015.7580.25
30Wong, KevinReno, NV17.5015.7515.7515.5015.5080.00
31Kelly, RickGrants pass, OR17.7517.2516.5014.7513.5079.75
32DePeel, MikeRichland, WA19.5017.7515.2514.5012.2579.25
33Leonard, JohnGraham, WA18.2518.0016.0014.5012.5079.25
34Eschliman, WilliamRoseburg, OR16.7516.7516.5015.0014.0079.00
35Rodriguez, MarcoMilton Freewater, OR17.0016.7515.7514.7514.5078.75
36Curtin, DavidGraham, WA18.0017.7515.0014.0013.2578.00
37Colpron, JonEmmett, ID17.7517.5015.2514.0013.5078.00
38Foil, TandiPost Falls, ID15.7515.7515.7515.5014.0076.75
39Watkins, PrestonTroutdale, OR19.5014.7514.5014.2513.5076.50
40Treptow, RileyVancouver, WA18.0016.2515.0014.7512.2576.25
41Jarvis, MichaelYamhill, OR16.0015.7515.0015.0014.5076.25
42Motherwell, RobertSeattle, WA16.7516.5016.0013.7513.0076.00
43Dugger, JordanEphrata, WA17.0016.2515.5013.7513.2575.75
44Dugger, JeffWenatchee, WA16.7515.2514.7514.7514.2575.75
45Mao, CithaKirkland, WA15.7515.5015.5014.5014.5075.75
46Comer, RyanMedford, OR18.5016.5014.0013.2513.0075.25
47Booth, AnthonyBandon, OR16.7515.7514.5014.2514.0075.25
48Kelly, PatrickEnumclaw, WA16.0016.0016.0013.7513.2575.00
49Marshall, GreggMeridian, ID17.2516.0014.2513.7513.0074.25
50Prom, ThornSeattle, WA17.7515.2514.7513.7512.5074.00
51Milsap, TomCamas, WA19.2515.2513.7513.0012.5073.75
52Watkins, ParkerVancouver, WA16.2515.5015.2514.0012.5073.50
53Hahn, ZachLa Center, WA17.2514.7513.5013.5013.5072.50
54Oles, BrianKennewick, WA16.5014.5014.0014.0013.2572.25
55Childs, RichardAlbany, OR15.0015.0014.2514.0013.7572.00
56Pankratz, KeganBeaverton, OR15.5014.2514.0014.0012.7570.50
57Henning, BrandonSpanaway, WA16.7514.2512.5012.5012.2568.25
58Irwin, DavidMadras, OR16.2514.0013.0012.7512.2568.25
59Dickson, KyleRoseburg, OR14.2513.7513.2513.2513.0067.50
60Prasad, ShaileshEugene, OR17.0013.0012.5012.5012.2567.25
61D Middleton, MarkPortland, OR15.0014.0013.0012.7512.5067.25
62Dowson, HaydenOsoyoos, BC18.0018.0017.5013.00066.50
63Allison, BradenSalem, OR19.7519.0014.7512.75066.25
64Toms, EricEagle, ID14.0013.7513.5012.5012.2566.00
65Glover, ChrisPoulsbo, WA18.0017.2515.5014.00064.75
66Mallett, KyleMoscow, ID19.0015.0014.5014.25062.75
67Sjogren, DerekEugene, OR12.7512.5012.2512.0012.0061.50
68Frank, KevinSeabeck, WA15.7514.7514.7514.50059.75
69Roberts, DarrinRichland, WA17.0012.7512.5012.00054.25
70Avila, SteveStanfield, OR14.5013.5012.7512.00052.75
71Eubanks, StanPasco, WA13.5013.2513.2512.75052.75
72Collins, KindraClackamas, OR14.2512.5012.2512.00051.00
73Carlson, JasonBonney Lake, WA17.7516.2516.250050.25
74Tarshis, DavidHappyvalley, OR15.5014.0012.750042.25
75Mays, BryanTerrebonne, OR13.7513.2512.250039.25
76Hittenberger, TylerEugene, OR21.0016.7500037.75
77Gaudet, ParkerOsoyoos, BC17.0013.7500030.75
78Hylton, RichBeaverton, OR14.0013.2500027.25
79Burdick, MatthewAlbany, OR13.5012.2500025.75
80Zarate, JuniorWenatchee, WA12.2512.0000024.25
81Hittenberger, ShawnEugene, OR17.75000017.75
82Payne, IsaiahPortland, OR17.50000017.50
83Kraan, JustinKlamath Falls, OR14.50000014.50
84Doll, ShereeCoupeville, WA000000
85Hill, Bartshelton, WA000000
86Vargas, CarlosChelan, WA000000

Five anglers did not complete the event or attend the awards and were removed from the standings.


KFNW Tour Event 2 - Lake Umatilla

Columbia River (Lake Umatilla)
The Columbia River at the mouth of the Umatilla River in Umatilla, Oregon.

The “Big C” is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest and the fourth-largest river in the United States (in terms of amount of water). For this Tour Event, we’ll be focusing on the Lake Umatilla Pool, in-between the McNary and John Day Dams. This section of the river is nicknamed the big fish factory of the Pacific Northwest and runs about 110 river miles! Big, angry smallmouth are what this area is known for but don’t be too surprised to find big largemouth in certain locations.

The river in this section has current but since it is between two dams, current is typically mild to moderate. Some areas can have swifter current and eddies, so be careful and aware. Depth is variable throughout this pool, with a maximum depth of about 276 feet. Rock is the primary structure. Cover consists of rock, willows, reeds, and occasional wood laydowns. Forage includes crayfish, american shad, black and white crappie, sunfish, brown bullhead, channel catfish, northern pikeminnow, rainbow trout, and yellow perch.

Boundaries for this event feature approximately 48,737 acres of water and over 220 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 Lake Umatilla: September 9, 2023

We had 80 anglers and 500 fish were submitted. Joshua Dugger (Bonney Lake, WA) took first place with 95.25 inches of all smallmouth, including a 23 inch kicker. William Eschliman (Roseburg, OR) took second place with 91.75 inches of smallmouth and a 19.75 inch kicker. Will Harris (Scappoose, OR) took third place with 89 inches of smallmouth, and a 19 inch kicker. Big Bass of the day went to Joshua Dugger (Bonney Lake, WA), with a 23 inch smallmouth, the longest smallmouth in KFNW history at the time.


Tournament Schedule

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

Off-Limits Period

  • Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 12:00 AM through Friday, May 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM

Registration Deadline

  • Friday, May 23, 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, May 24, 2025 through Friday, May 30, 2025
  • 5:00 AM – Practice Launch / Lines In
  • 2:00 PM – Practice Lines Out / Off the Water

Friday – May 30, 2025

  • 6:30 PM – Pre-Event Briefing | Three Rivers Tackle
  • 10:00 PM – Identifier Code Released

Saturday – May 31, 2025

  • 3:30 AM to 4:00 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.
  • 3:55 AM – Launch (Designated Launches) | Human-Powered
  • 4:00 AM – Launch (Designated Launches) | Electric Motors
  • 4:15 AM – Lines In
  • 5:11 AM – Sunrise
  • 12:15:00 PM – Lines Out
  • 1:15:00 PM – Upload Deadline / Off the Water
    • Cell Service on Water: Spotty
    • 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.
  • 2:15 PM – Awards Ceremony and Gear Drawing | Umatilla Marina 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 (download below).
  • Electric Motor Inspection form is required for all competitors with a motor for the season or whenever a motor is added or equipment changed (download below). Once the form is completed, KFNW staff will determine if an inspection is necessary.
  • 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.

Downloads

Oregon and Washington Reciprocity

  • The Lake Umatilla Pool of the Columbia River borders Oregon and Washington.
  • A Washington or an Oregon fishing license is suitable in the main stem of the Columbia River (temporary or annual).
  • Competitors may launch from either side with either state license.
  • A Washington fishing license is required to fish in any creeks, rivers, sloughs, or tributaries on the Washington side.
  • An Oregon fishing license is required to fish in any creeks, rivers, sloughs, or tributaries on the Oregon side.
  • An Oregon Waterway Access Permit is required for residents and non-residents.

Oregon Regulations and Links

  • An Oregon fishing license is required (temporary or annual) – Visit ODFW
    • Columbia River Basin Endorsement is not needed for bass in Oregon
    • Salmon/Steelhead Harvest Card is not needed for bass in Oregon
  • Watercraft registration is required for motorized watercraft (residents only) – Visit OSMB
  • Waterway Access Permit is required for non-motorized watercraft 10 feet or longer (residents and non-residents) – Visit OSMB
  • For motorized watercraft (residents), AIS Permit is included in your watercraft registration.
  • For motorized watercraft (non-residents), Out-of-State Motorized AIS Permit is required – Visit OSMB

Washington Regulations and Links

  • A Washington fishing license is required (temporary or annual) – Visit WDFW
  • Motorized watercraft registered in another country, or state (except Oregon or Idaho) must purchase an aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention permit before placing or operating the watercraft in any water body in the state – Visit WDFW

Eligible Water Boundaries

  • Downstream Boundary: John Day Dam
  • Upstream Boundary: McNary Dam
  • Connected creeks, rivers, sloughs and tributaries accessible via kayak from the main body of water are in-bounds (conditions permitting for safety and accessibility)
  • John Day River is in-bounds from the mouth at the confluence with the Columbia River, upstream to the Narrows rapids, just below Tumwater Falls
  • 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


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