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Carver County Big Bass Bash Kayak Fishing Tournament

Carver County Big Bass Bash Kayak Fishing Tournament

Get ready to chase some big bass! The Carver County Big Bass Bash brings kayak bass fishing to the lakes of Carver County, Minnesota, for the final stop in the 2027 MNKFA County Clash Series.

This Minnesota kayak fishing tournament gives anglers the freedom to choose from eligible public waters throughout Carver County as they hunt for the biggest bass they can put on the board. From larger, well-known bass waters to smaller lakes that can produce some serious surprises, Carver County gives kayak anglers plenty of options—and choosing the right lake could make all the difference.

The Carver County Big Bass Bash is the final battle in the three-event 2027 County Clash Series, following the Wright County Rumble and Sherburne County Shootout. Anglers will compete for tournament honors and bragging rights while making one final push for the season-long Top Gun Angler title.

Pick your lake. Find the big ones. Put your best bass on the board.

Welcome to the Carver County Big Bass Bash.

***These rules and schedule may change as needed by the MNKFA board***

Carver CountyDate: September ??, 2027
Location: Carver County, MN

  • Includes all lakes, streams, rivers in the county
  • Includes full lakes partially in the county with one (1) exception
    • NO, Lake Minnetonka NOT allowed
    • YES, Christmas Lake IS allowed
    • YES, Lake Riley IS allowed
    • YES, Parley Lake IS allowed
    • YES, Rice Marsh IS allowed
    • YES, Rice Lake IS allowed
    • YES, Reich Lake IS allowed
    • YES, Campbell Lake IS allowed
  • Includes border waters, if you are on rivers or streams, you can only fish to the Carver County line

Carver County, Minnesota has 115 lakes, according to the county’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Here’s some helpful facts:

  • 115 total lakes in Carver County.
  • 35 lakes larger than 10 acres, according to the Carver County Water Management Organization.
  • 7 lakes are 235 acres or larger.
  • Lake Waconia is the largest in the county at roughly 3,200 acres.

Carver County Big Bass Bash Kayak Fishing Lakes To Consider

Lake Area Bass potential Kayak/event fit Notes
Lake Waconia Waconia ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Big water, lots of habitat, multiple public accesses
Lake Minnewashta Chanhassen ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent kayak size; largemouth are catch-and-release
Steiger Lake Victoria ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Smaller, very kayak-friendly; largemouth are catch-and-release
Lake Bavaria Victoria/Chaska area ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good size for kayaks and county-operated access
Lake Auburn Victoria area ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Smaller water; attractive for a kayak-only field
Lake Pierson Victoria area ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Public ramp; interesting tournament option
Parley Lake Waconia area ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Public ramp and manageable size
Eagle Lake Norwood Young America ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Public access on CR 135 by Baylor Regional Park
Lake Wasserman Victoria ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Public ramp; another strong smaller-water possibility
Lake Susan Chanhassen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Public boat-ramp lake
Lake Ann Chanhassen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Smaller lake that could work well for kayaks
Reitz Lake Waconia area ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Public ramp; small-water option
Lotus Lake Chanhassen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ Public ramp; worth investigating for field capacity
Swede Lake Watertown area ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ Public ramp; less obvious but worth considering
Hydes Lake Carver County ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ Public ramp; probably better for a smaller field

Entry Fee: $??
Scoring Format: 5 Best Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass Culled
Number Of Participants: limited to ?? entrants

***These details, rules and schedule can change if necessary***

Schedule for event

Friday, September ??, 2027, at 5:00 pm: Signup closes. Pre fishing ENDS. No one on tournament lakes rivers or streams. If you are on the water in fishing waters, you will be disqualified! The identifier will be released the night before fishing starts so you can print it out. PLUS, Ron will have identifiers you can pick up from him at the launch he’s using. I’ll send that in an email after pre-fishing has ended.

Saturday, September ??, 2027 at 6:30 am: Have your kayak launched and stay within 200 yards of your launch point. The identifier will be released the night before fishing starts.

Saturday, September ??, 2027 at 6:30 am: Start fishing and submitting your catches on Tourney X.

Saturday, September ??, 2027 at 1:00 pm: Tourney X will stop taking submissions. No whining or complaining about connectivity or any other issues. Submit your fish as you catch them. No submissions will be counted after 1:00 pm!

Saturday, September ??, 2027 ASAP after 1:30 pm: Get to the after fishing party spot, Lake Ann Park in Chanhassen.ASAP after fishing. We understand the fishing area is large, if you finish in the money, you are NOT required to show up and still get your award.

ANY OF THESE DETAILS CAN CHANGE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MNKFA BOARD

Minnesota Kayak Fishing Association Rules (Rules are subject to change)

*Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to tournament officials whose decisions are final. We (MNKFA) reserve the right to change or add rules to ensure the competition is fair and equal to all participants and sponsors. Rules may change prior to event start.

1. Registration: Registration for Kayak Fishing Tournaments will be announced no less than a week prior to opening on the MNKFA facebook page and MNKFA website. Early bird access to registration may be sent to MNKFA Email Insiders as a reward for opting in to email. Registration is open to anyone 18 years of age or above and a valid member of MNKFA. You MUST be 18 to register for a tournament. Minors are allowed, but MUST meet requirements, call for details. (See cancellation policies for cancellations.) Your submission for tournament registration can be denied by MNKFA based on previous rules or behavior violations. These violations include anything you have done online, via social media or in person regarding MNKFA and events.

2. Requirements: MNKFA tournaments are strictly catch and release. A Tournament control image will be supplied prior to the event (Online tournaments will be sent out beforehand). The control image must be in the photo with your catch. Your photo must include a tournament approved measuring device (see measuring requirements). The ruler marks must be easily legible in your photo submission. The Control image must appear in each photo submitted. Failure to include this will disqualify your entry. All submissions MUST conform to current measuring rules for MNKFA on this page: Fish measuring / pic submission rules

3. Scoring: You can upgrade your smallest fish submitted with a larger one at any time during tournament fishing hours. MOUTH CLOSED FOR SCORING FOR BASS TOURNAMENTS. Scoring will be done by the tournament director. Entries will be submitted via Tourney X. ALL fish submitted MUST meet fish measuring requirements.

4. Start and Finish Times: Tournament fishing times that are provided by MNKFA are subject to change by the MNKFA board. Your photos must be submitted to Tourney X by the submission deadline.

5. Event Details: All winning participants MUST be present at the awards ceremony ASAP after the end time of the tournament fishing time. If you win an award or are eligible for a give away and not at the awards ceremony, you forfeit that award or give away.

6. Catch: All fish must be taken with a fishing rod, line and artificial lures on the day of the tournament during tournament fishing hours. You must remain in full compliance of the law in the state which you are fishing. Participants must fish from a kayak or SUP (stand up paddle board), NO OTHER BOAT TYPES ARE ALLOWED. Only ONE person may be in the kayak/SUP. Electric motors are allowed for this tournament. Pedal and paddle kayaks are welcome to participate also. Absolutely no other propulsion method will be permitted. All vessels must be classified as a kayak/SUP from the manufacturer.

7. Safety: We strongly suggest that a PFD be worn and have an audible signaling device. Kayakers must be in accordance with state regulations. Safe Kayaking conduct must be observed at all times. NO alcohol or controlled substance can be used or allowed in the kayak during tournament hours.

8. Sportsmanship: Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation are expected from each angler. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be cause for disqualification. All participants must follow the DNR regulations in effect on the waters they are fishing.

9. Fishing Boundaries: You MUST fish and launch ONLY from the listed lakes and ramps provided by MNKFA. You MUST be back to tournament headquarters by the time frame set by MNKFA. Failure to do so will result in your disqualification from the tournament.

10. Weather: Anglers are to exercise their own best judgment for safety when considering whether to fish or not. The launch may be delayed or cancelled due to unsafe conditions as determined by the tournament director.

11. Cheating Inquiries: YOU MUST SUBMIT WRITTEN NOTICE OF ANY CHEATING WITHIN 2 HOURS OF THE CLOSE OF LISTED TOURNAMENT FISHING TO A BOARD MEMBER!!! Any of these inquiries will be handled by Tournament Officials and a polygraph provider sourced from the Minnesota Polygraph Association. Polygraph tests may be used to settle any disputes. Person(s) bringing allegations assume all costs for any and all polygraph testing. Person(s) making any cheating allegations agree that their name will be made public. MNKFA also may require winners to take a voice stress test and polygraph to confirm the winner followed all the rules. Person(s) bringing allegations also agree to take a polygraph and voice stress analysis. Person(s) bringing allegations agree to prepay MNKFA for all services needed to perform the investigation. MNKFA can launch and pay for a cheating investigation on its own if we suspect foul play by any tournament entrant.

12. Prizes: Prizes will differ from each event, live and online. Major prizes will be announced prior to each event. An IRS 1099 form to major prize winners where appropriate. You are responsible for any sales tax required to register a kayak you win.

13. Board Member Participation: Board members, employees of sponsors or owners of sponsor companies are eligible to register, sign-up and win any prizes and subject to all the same scrutiny as any other entrant. In other words, if they win honestly, honorably and according to the rules and law, they win and deserve the appropriate gains from their investment (entry cost).

14. Waiver: Submitting the entry form and payment is your agreement to the above rules, regulations, terms and conditions, liability acknowledgement, otherwise the angler is ineligible to participate. You MUST be over 18 years of age and show valid identification at any point before, during or after the event to be officially entered in the event. Minors are eligible to participate only if accompanied 100% of the time during this event by a parent who signs a waiver for the minor, call for details on minor participation, 651-639-1947.

15. Ties: All ties are at the tournament directors discretion. Ties will be decided by first fish, biggest fish and/or time submitted.

Tie breaker rules

First (1). Longest judge approved fish on the your score board for the tournament in question is the winner.

Second (2). If number 1 is still a tie, then the time your longest, judge approved fish is submitted to the judge, earlier time is winner. NOT the time the fish was photographed or added to your live well on Tourney X. The time it shows as submitted to the leader board.

Third (3). If number 1 and 2 are still a tie, then the total length of ALL judge approved fish for the tournament in question will determine the winner.

16. Cancellation: If you MUST cancel your signup prior to the tournament: SEE REFUND/CANCELLATION POLICY FOR TOURNAMENTS.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE RULES COULD RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION AND FORFEITURE OF ANY WINNINGS.

Knowledge of these rules is the responsibility of each contestant. Failure to read these rules or ignorance of them is no excuse.

Past Winners

2025 CWO Kayak Bass Fishing Tournament Top 3

Brian Voeltz took first place in the 2025 Clear Waters Outfitting MNKFA Tournament

Kayak Fishing Tournament Winner

Allen Donais took first place in the 2024 Clear Waters Outfitting MNKFA Tournament

First Place 2026 CWO MNKFA Kayak Fishing Tournament

Tsimnuj Hawj took first place in the 2026 Clear Waters Outfitting MNKFA Tournament

Guide To Kayak Bass Fishing In Minnesota

Learn about kayak bass fishing in Minnesota. Read this guide to gear, lakes, techniques and more that will improve your kayak bass fishing results.

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