BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bassmaster has announced the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship scored by TourneyX will be held on Lake Fork in Yantis, Texas, as part of the festivities surrounding the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors in Fort Worth.
The championship at Lake Fork will be a two-day event, March 19-20, 2025. The awards ceremony will be held on the Bassmaster Classic stage at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth March 21 prior to the Day 1 Classic weigh-in.
“I would like to express how Wood County is beyond thrilled to welcome the 2025 Bassmaster Kayak Championship to Lake Fork in Yantis, Texas, next spring,” said Wood County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Christine Thomas. “This event provides an incredible opportunity to not only showcase Lake Fork’s status as a world-renowned bass fishing lake and its breathtaking natural beauty, but also to bring together passionate anglers from across the country. We’ve seen a growing interest in kayaking on Lake Fork, and it’s a privilege to host the nation’s top kayak anglers here in the spirit of competition. We look forward to sharing this experience with our community and visitors alike.”
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, Lake Fork boasts more than 27,000 acres of prime largemouth water, made possible by a combination of restrictive harvest regulations, the stocking of Florida strain largemouth and abundant habitat. More than 65% of the Texas Top 50 largest bass (including the current state record) and more than half of those entered in the Toyota ShareLunker Program were caught from Lake Fork.
“When it was time for us to start planning the upcoming championship in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, for me, it was obvious that the place to go would be Lake Fork,” said Bassmaster Kayak Series Tournament Director Steve Owens. “The Texas Parks and Wildlife management do an amazing job at keeping these bodies of water healthy. This will be the fourth time the Bassmaster Kayak Series makes a stop there, and we expect our anglers to have the best experience the Kayak Series and Lake Fork can provide.”
In 2022, the last time the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX visited Lake Fork, Arkansas’ Garrett Morgan tallied a two-day total of 201.75 inches and was the only competitor in the field to break the 200-inch mark. 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship scored by TourneyX winner Rus Snyders (730 points), Casey Reed (717 points) and Derek Brundle (707 points) hold the top three spots in the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year standings heading into the last tournament of the regular season.
Anglers will take to the waters of Louisiana’s Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau October 19-20 for one last chance to qualify for the championship. Competitors can register for the event through Oct. 16.
The Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship scored by TourneyX is being hosted by the Wood County Economic Development Commission.
For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/kayak.
2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Title Sponsor: Yamaha Rightwaters
2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Partner: MotorGuide, YakGear
2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Dakota Lithium
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.
