2025 KFNW / WKBF Tour Event 4

July 19 | Lake Whatcom, WA

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Lake Whatcom
Lake Whatcom
Lake Whatcom near Bellingham, Washington

Lake Whatcom is the seventh largest lake in Washington state and it’s known for big smallmouth. Whatcom is a long, slender lake, about ten miles, and only one mile wide at its widest point. There are three main basins in the lake. The northernmost, Silver Beach Basin, is the deepest, reaching up to 100 feet. The Geneva Basin, located in the middle, is where Bellingham gets its drinking water. It’s the shallowest, with a depth of around 40 to 60 feet. The southernmost basin, Basin 3, is the most remote and the deepest, at 328 feet. This basin holds about 96% of the lake’s total water. The lake gets its water from nine annual streams and approximately 25 smaller creeks and tributaries, making up 23 sub-watersheds — it drains into Bellingham Bay through Whatcom Creek.

Whatcom features a variety of cover, like docks, wood laydowns, and plant life including Eurasian Milfoil and lily pads. Native fish species include kokanee salmon, coastal cutthroat trout, longnose sucker, peamouth chub, sculpin and three-spined stickleback. Smallmouth were stocked here by WDFW, along with bluegill and rainbow trout. Largemouth bass have been illegally stocked in the lake, along with brown bullhead, pumpkinseed 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 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 time we visited Lake Whatcom: May 5, 2024

We had 44 anglers and 58 fish were submitted. Garrett Harrison (Post Falls,ID) took first place with 85 inches of all smallmouth, including a 18.75 inch kicker. Dan Walker (Seattle, WA) took second place with 71.25 inches of smallmouth and a 17 inch kicker. Kevin Frank (Seabeck, WA) took third place with 58.75 inches of smallmouth, and a 20.75 inch kicker. Big Bass of the day went to Kevin Frank (Bonney Lake, WA), with a 20.75 inch smallmouth. Garrett also won at Whatcom on June 3, 2023 with 94.5 inches and a 19.75″ kicker, so Garrett May be the angler to beat!

Lake Whatcom Special Requirements

ALL kayaks must be inspected at Check-In. EVERY angler must click on this link and complete the seven-question course.

AIS Awareness Course >

Once you complete this form, you will be in the Lake Whatcom database. The morning of the event they will have your name listed.

IF YOUR NAME IS NOT ON THIS LIST YOU WILL BE DENIED ENTRY TO THE LAKE!

Inspections

  • The inside of your kayak MUST BE DRY AND CLEAN. If it has so much as a drop of liquid they will deny you access. Please make sure it’s dry. It is YOUR responsibility to wipe the kayak down inside and out, until it is dry, before inspections begin. They won’t allow wipe downs during inspection because it takes too long and there will likely only be one to two inspectors. If the park denies you there is nothing that I can do about it. Please make sure your kayak is clean and dry.

Permit Fees

  • If you are in a paddle kayak or a pedal kayak there are no additional fees. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PAY ONLINE!
  • IF YOU HAVE A MOTOR: YOU WILL NEED TO PAY $5 CASH BEFORE INSPECTION, OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE YOUR MOTOR. Marvin make one payment for everyone to the Lake Whatcom inspection folks after inspection. THEY WILL NOT LET YOU PAY THEM DIRECTLY!
  • There are wristbands given that show the patrol you have been inspected. Jim will have control of these bands for everyone. NO BAND, NO ENTRY! You don’t get your band until we get that $5 for motors. The inspectors will be tracking who has a motor and who does not have a motor. IF YOU GET CAUGHT WITH OUT A BAND ON THE WATER IT WILL BE A $250 FINE!
  • THERE IS AN EXCEPTION TO ALL OF THIS: If you already have an annual permit for the year for Lake Whatcom, you have already paid and you already have your wristband. But you still MUST to do the boat inspection.
  • THEY WILL NOT BE ISSUING ANNUAL PERMITS THE MORNING OF THE EVENT! If you want an annual permit, you need to order yours in advance of the event.
  • If you have any questions at all, ask Jim Davis, Tournament Director.

Tournament Schedule

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

Off-Limits Period

  • Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 12:00 AM through Friday, July 11, 2025 at 11:59 PM

Official Practice Period

  • Saturday, July 12, 2025 through Friday, July 18, 2025
  • 5:00 AM – Practice Launch / Lines In
  • 2:00 PM – Practice Lines Out / Off the Water

Friday – July 18, 2025

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

Saturday – July 19, 2025

  • 4:30 AM to 5:00 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.
  • 5:10 AM – Launch (Shotgun Start) | Human-Powered
  • 5:15 AM – Launch (Shotgun Start) | Electric Motors
  • 5:15 AM – Sunrise
  • 5:45 AM – Lines In
  • 1:45:00 PM – Lines Out
  • 2:45:00 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.
  • 3:45 PM – Awards Ceremony and Gear Drawing | Bloedel Donovan Park (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 lake body of Lake Whatcom
  • 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

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