2026 KFNW Tour Event 1

April 25 | Potholes Reservoir, WA

Potholes Reservoir sits at 1,042 feet elevation in Grant County, about 17 miles south of Moses Lake in central Washington. At full pool it spans roughly 28,000 surface acres, though water levels fluctuate significantly throughout the season as the reservoir serves as a collection and redistribution point for the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, formed by O’Sullivan Dam. The northern and western portions of the reservoir are defined by flooded sand dunes — a landscape carved by catastrophic Glacial Lake Missoula floods thousands of years ago — which created roughly 1,000 micro-islands and a maze of shallow channels, submerged structure, and of course, potholes. The southern end near the dam features basalt outcroppings and riprap. The reservoir is fed by Crab Creek, Lind Coulee, and the Winchester and Frenchman Hills wasteways.

Potholes offers a wide variety of cover and structure, including willow-lined islands, cattail marshes, beaver huts, sand dune faces, rocky riprap, and flooded timber. The dunes vary in depth from just a few inches to around 30 feet. Fish species in the reservoir include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, rainbow trout, lake whitefish, black crappie, yellow perch, bluegill, and common carp. Rainbow trout are stocked through a cooperative net pen program between WDFW and MarDon Resort. Largemouth bass over 9 lbs have been reported, and Bassmaster Magazine has ranked Potholes among the top bass fishing destinations in the western United States.

Boundaries for this event feature approximately 4,900 acres of water and over 30 miles of shoreline.

Last time we visited Potholes: October 10-11, 2025

3rd and Big Bass: Shaun Soule, 1st: Dan Walker, 2nd: Brandon Hua

This is our first Tour Event ever on Potholes but we did host the Native Watercraft No Limit Big Bass Power Hour here back in 2022. We also held last year’s KFNW Kayak Bass Classic at Potholes, when it was a VERY different body of water than it will be for Tour Event 1, but let’s take a look.

We had 21 anglers and 325 fish were submitted. Dan Walker (Seattle, WA) took first place with 177.75 inches of all largemouth, including a 20.25 inch kicker. 2025 AOY Brandon Hua (Hillsboro, OR) took second place with 172.75 inches of all largemouth and a 18.75 inch kicker. Shaun Soule (Yelm, WA) took third place with 172 inches of both species, ,including a 20.5 inch kicker that was Big Bass of the tournament.

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 3-4, 2026 on Lake Bonneville (Columbia River).
Top 25% of the field qualifies for the West Coast Championship on August 21-22, 2026.

Tournament Schedule

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

Off-Limits Period

Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 12:00 AM through Friday, April 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Registration Deadline

Friday, April 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM
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, April 18, 2026 through Friday, April 24, 2026
5:45 AM – Practice Launch / Lines In
1:45 PM – Practice Lines Out / Off the Water

Friday – April 24, 2026

6:30 PM – Pre-Event Briefing | TBA
10:00 PM – Identifier Code Released

Saturday – April 25, 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
5:51 AM – Sunrise
1:00:00 PM – Lines Out
2:00 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.
3:00 PM – Awards Ceremony and Gear Drawing | TBA
Competitors MUST be present at Awards ceremony location by this time. Competitors who are not present by this time will be disqualified.

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

Location Details

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.
Motor Inspection for Live Tournaments: Competitors using OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or commercially-manufactured motor mounts with common motors (such as those listed in Sections 5.D and 5.E) do not require inspection. Competitors using DIY (do-it-yourself) motor mounts or custom installations must have their motor system inspected and approved by Tournament Officials before competition begins.
Certified bump board is required and board check will be performed. Boards should be clean and dry.
Questions will be answered before the meeting is adjourned.
Attendance at the Pre-Event Briefing is mandatory.

Eligible Water Boundaries

Main lake body of Potholes Reservoir
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 >
Blythe Public Access (improved)
Crab Creek Public Access (unimproved)
Lind Coulee Public Fishing Access (improved)
Mardon Resort Boat Ramp (improved)
Potholes State Park Boat Ramp (improved)
Sampsons Pit Public Access (improved)
No other launches are allowed

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.