LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — For the first time since 2020, the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft heads out West to take on Clear Lake, California’s largest natural reservoir.
Tournament days are scheduled for June 6-7. Competitors will be able to launch from any approved launch on Clear Lake. The Top 5 finishers will punch their ticket to the 2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship, and all anglers will earn points toward the Pro-Guide Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race.
A legendary fishery, Clear Lake has been kicking out monster bass for many years and is always near the top of Bassmaster Magazine’s annual 100 Best Bass Lakes list.
Kayak tournaments have thrived out on Clear Lake, and it usually takes between 98 and 103 inches to win tournaments on the lake. During the 2020 Bassmaster Kayak Series event held in August, Kayak Series hammer Rus Snyders would win the single-day event with a five-fish limit of 100 inches.
A couple of different things are happening on Clear Lake this time of year. The bass are largely in the postspawn or spawning phase. The shad spawn will likely be underway as well, helping anglers achieve quick limits with bladed jigs.
Submergent and emergent vegetation should also be plentiful, allowing competitors to flip, frog and throw a swim jig too. Of course, there will be opportunities to throw big glidebaits and swimbaits as well as drop shots and jigs.
Follow along with all of the action from the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Clear Lake presented by Native Watercraft on Bassmaster.com.
Jackson Family Wines and Trimyc Mechanical, Inc., are hosting this event.