June 20-21 | Dworshak Reservoir, ID

DWORSHAK RESERVOIR: A TRUE TEST OF SKILL AND ENDURANCE

KFNW Tour Event 3 brought 63 anglers to the deep, winding waters of Dworshak Reservoir, famed or it’s trophy smallmouth, but this wasn’t your average summer shootout. A sudden 20-degree cold front crashed in on day one, flipping the script and shaking up the bite. The bass got finicky, the dinks came out in force, and the hunt for quality fish became a grind.

Still, a few anglers rose to the challenge.

On day one, Jon Colpron found the right rhythm early, landing a solid 87.25 inches to take the top spot. Brandon Hua and Corey Carlile stayed hot on his heels, setting the stage for a tight finish. Carlile landed a 22.5″ smallmouth on day one, the big bass winner for both days.

Then came day two—and the bite shifted again. That’s when Montana’s Calvin Dee made his move, putting together a dominant 91.75-inch bag, the largest of the tournament. His performance earned him the day two win in dramatic fashion. Jason McClure and Jonathan Bush also surged after tough day-one outings, rounding out the top three with strong Sunday showings.

But through all the shakeups and surprises, two names stayed steady as stone:
🔥 Corey Carlile and 🔥 Brandon Hua—the only anglers to land a full five-fish limit both days.

Their consistency was no fluke—and their performances earned them first and second place overall, respectively. More importantly, it sets the stage for an epic showdown in the race for Angler of the Year. With three events remaining, the leaderboard is wide open—but if this weekend was any indication, Carlile and Hua are the ones to watch.

Dworshak demanded focus, resilience, and heart. And the best rose to meet it.

🏆 Podium Finishes – Overall

1. 🥇 Corey Carlile (WA) had 166.5 inches and won $3,101
2. 🥈 Brandon Hua (OR) had 163.25 inches and won $1,289
3. 🥉 TJ Osojnicki (ID) had 144.5 inches and won $987

🥇 Day One Standouts

1. Jon Colpron – 87.25 inches
2. Brandon Hua – 85 inches
3. Corey Carlile – 82.25 inches

🥇 Day Two Standouts

1. Calvin Dee – 91.75 inches
2. Jason McClure – 87 inches
3. Jonathan Bush – 84.5 inches

Big Bass Buy-In (57 Anglers)

• Corel Carlile netted a 21.5 inch smallmouth to win $884 ($664 in cash and $200 from Three Rivers Tackle)

Tourney Trivia

• Totals: 233 fish were submitted and accepted by 63 total anglers, that’s 3.69 fish per angler
• Where From: Washington: 24 | Idaho: 21 | Oregon: 16 | British Columbia: 1 | Montana: 1
• Citation Bass: 15 Smallmouth (19+ inches)
• Day One: First Fish of the Day: Andrew Larson at 4:50 AM (five minutes after lines in)
• Day Two: First Fish of the Day: Luke Loper at 4:51 AM (six minutes after lines in)
• Day One: Final Fish of the Day: Michael Loper at 12:44:55 PM (five seconds before lines out)
• Day Two: Final Fish of the Day: TJ Osojnicki at 11:20 PM (25 minutes before lines out)

KFNW Kayak Bass Classic Qualified Anglers

West Coast Championship Qualified Anglers

Full Final Standings

We paid out $6,019 to the top 6 anglers with a 96% payout rate, plus $664 for Big Bass.

Eight anglers were DQed, did not complete the event, or did not attend the awards and were removed from the standings

Pre-Tournament Details

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

• Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 12:00 AM through Friday, June 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM

Registration Deadline

• Friday, June 13, 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, June 14, 2025 through Thursday, June 19, 2025
• 4:45 AM – Practice Launch / Lines In
• 1:45 PM – Practice Lines Out / Off the Water

Thursday – June 19, 2025

• 6:30 PM – Pre-Event Briefing | Pink House Recreation Site
• 10:00 PM – Identifier Code Released

Friday – June 20, 2025

• 3:45 AM to 4:15 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.
• 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 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

• 3:45 AM to 4:15 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.
• 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 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
  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 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

• Waiver and Release of Liability Agreement (Adult)
• Waiver and Release of Liability Agreement (Minor and Adult)
• Electric Motor Inspection

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 (confirmed)
• 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.

KFNW Membership

• KFNW Membership is required to participate in this event. You can register at https://kayakfishingnorthwest.com/product/2025-kfnw-member-registration/

Tournament Directors

Links

KAYAK FISHING NORTHWEST IS PRESENTED BY:

Camping and Lodging

Please check availability and make sure they will be open during the event.

Campgrounds

• Canyon Creek Campground 
• Clearwater Crossing RV Park
• Dent Acres Campground
• Dworshak State Park
• Freeman Creek Campground
• Hidden Village RV Park
• Pink House Recreation Site (first-come, first-served)

Hotels, Motels and Inns

• Best Western Lodge at River’s Edge
• Helgeson Place Hotel Suites
• The High Country Inn
• Konkolville Motel
• White Pine Motel