BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft will kick off the 2025 season by heading out West. Anglers will take on Lake Havasu in western Arizona at a time when the bass will be schooled up in their winter patterns, according to Arizona local and Arizona B.A.S.S. Nation kayak angler Bradley Kuhlin.
Tournament days are scheduled for Jan. 18-19. Anglers will launch from any public access on Lake Havasu in this catch-measure-release-style tournament. The top finishers will punch their ticket to the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship presented by Native Watercraft, and all anglers will earn points toward the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race.
It’s been several years since B.A.S.S. has visited the Colorado River impoundment. The 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional was held on Lake Havasu, a weather-shortened event won by Taylor Smith in early February.
Both smallmouth and largemouth inhabit these waters, and both could factor into this tournament, although Kuhlin believes largemouth will ultimately be the dominant species. Competitors should be able to take advantage of the entire lake, although wind will determine just how far anglers can venture.
“The current up at the north end is a lot stronger than it is everywhere else,” the two-time Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship qualifier said. “But the whole lake is in play. There are 20-inch smallmouth in this lake and a bunch of big largemouth. It will be very spot-dependent on the smallmouth.”
When kayak anglers arrive in Arizona, Kuhlin believes the bass will still be in a winter pattern, setting up in schools in 20 to 30 feet of water. Main-lake points will be an important player in this tournament. Bigger rocks and chunk rock will be the main cover, while man-made cover like cages will also hold bass.
“There’s thousands of man-made structures in all depths of water,” Kuhlin said. “Especially during the winter, those will hold plenty of bass.”
While there is healthy grass in the summer, Kuhlin doesn’t anticipate that coming into play in this tournament. Tule lines are also prominent, but those lines don’t factor until the prespawn and spawn.
“It should be pretty cool for Arizona that time of year,” he said. “You’ll be looking offshore at some super-slow fishing. There will be a lot of LiveScoping in that event, I can almost guarantee it.”
Drop shots, jerkbaits and jigs will be popular choices amongst anglers. If the waters warm enough and the bass start moving toward their prespawn areas, a lipless crankbait will also come into play.
The event is being hosted by Go Lake Havasu.
