Reel Deal: Kayak Anglers Ready to Make a Splash on the Mississippi

(KNSI) – The Kayak Adventure Series Bass Fishing Tournament is casting its line into Central Minnesota for the first time.

Registration is officially open for this inaugural Upper Midwest event on the Mississippi River with the Mississippi BronzeQuest in St. Cloud on July 11th and 12th. Anglers can compete in several divisions with an individual entry at $175, two-person teams are $150 total, and a unique “micro bag” division focusing on the five smallest bass is just $25. The tournament welcomes both kayaks and canoes, with no limit on the number of participants.

Organized by Kayak Adventure Series President and Founder Drew Gregory, a former Bassmaster Angler of the Year, the event promises a “laid back, fun” experience that will still put skills to the test. Now in its second year, Gregory chose the Mississippi River specifically for its reputation as a smallmouth bass hotspot, though largemouth bass also count toward scores.

Gregory admits the location choice was partly personal. Despite fishing worldwide, he’s never tackled the Upper Mississippi. “It’s been on my bucket list, so I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone,” he said, noting he plans to fish the area earlier in the week before the tournament.

The tournament uses a catch, photo, and release method with standard measuring boards to record each angler’s five best bass in inches. Only artificial lures are permitted. No live bait is allowed.

Participants can launch from any public access point within the designated boundaries and fish the river from Crow Wing State Park near Fort Ripley in the north to Ramsey in the south. The area also extends to connected tributaries including the Sauk, Crow, Elk, St. Francis, and Platte Rivers, plus Little Rock and Orono lakes.

“The more the merrier,” Gregory told KNSI News. “Anglers get to fish basically within an hour up and down the river and even the tributaries. There are so many river miles in play that you could have 500 people in this tournament, and no one would feel crowded.”

The prize purse ranges from $5,000 to $6,000, potentially reaching $7,500 or even $10,000 for events where participants submit GoPro footage through the “GoPro Guarantee” program, which also helps validate results. Winners receive cash, custom-forged bronze trophies, and fishing gear.

Beyond the competition, the Kayak Adventure Series supports autism awareness through the Autism Anglers organization and raffles off a custom-designed Crescent Kayak at each event.

Learn more here.

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