The wait is over, West Coast. For the first time in five years, the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft is rolling back into California, and it's landing on one of the most legendary bass factories in the country. June 6–7, the trail takes on Clear Lake out of Lake County, the largest natural lake in California and a fishery that has earned a permanent home near the top of Bassmaster Magazine's annual 100 Best Bass Lakes list.
Make no mistake, this one feels like a homecoming. Northern California is Newport's home turf, and the series is showing up riding a serious wave of momentum.
Newport is on a Tear in 2026
If you've been following the season, you already know the Newport banner has been hanging over some of the biggest moments in kayak fishing this year.
It started at the top. In Knoxville, Nick Dyer hoisted the blue trophy at the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship, grinding out a two-day total of 200.75 inches across Chickamauga and Nickajack to claim the national title and a $20,000 payday.
Then came Santee Cooper. Tennessee's Ewing Minor, one of the brightest young talents on any Bassmaster circuit, put up 106.75 inches on Day 1 and never looked back, taking the win in a weather-shortened event after officials wisely cancelled Day 2 for dangerous winds. The 24-year-old's victory banked him $10,550 and punched his ticket to the Championship, capping a run of finishes that have made him one of the most consistent names on the water in 2026.
Two stops, two statement wins. Now the series brings that energy West.
Clear Lake: Where it Takes Giants to Win
Clear Lake doesn't hand out trophies. It's been kicking out monster bass for decades, and the numbers tell the story: historically, it takes somewhere between 98 and 103 inches to win a kayak tournament here. Back in 2020, the last time the series visited, Kayak Series hammer Rus Snyders sealed the single-day win with a five-fish limit of an even 100 inches. That's the bar. That's what anglers are chasing this week.
The timing sets up a fascinating event. Early June the shad spawn will likely be firing off and giving anglers a shot at quick limits on bladed jigs at first light. From there, the playbook opens wide: thick submerged and emergent vegetation means competitors can flip, punch, frog and run a swim jig, while Clear Lake's famous big-bass potential keeps glidebaits and swimbaits firmly in the rotation. There are a dozen ways to win here, and that's exactly what makes it electric.
Greg Blanchard: Newport's Own, Fishing in His Backyard
Every great event needs a local hero, and Clear Lake has one in Greg Blanchard.
A Northern California angler through and through, Blanchard is one of Newport's own, and he arrives with the kind of home-water edge that money can't buy. Originally from a small town in upstate New York, where he started fishing at age four alongside his grandfather, Greg found kayak fishing on a whim back in 2012 and never looked back. These days he runs a fully rigged Native Watercraft Titan and brings a deep, hands-on knowledge of California water to the launch.
When a national trail rolls into a local's backyard, the local pays attention. Expect Blanchard to be dialed in. If there's a sleeper pick to make a run at the top of the leaderboard, the hometown favorite is it.
What's on the line
This isn't just another stop, it's a launching pad. Here's what's riding on two days at Clear Lake:
- Championship berths: The Top 5 finishers punch their ticket straight to the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship.
- AOY points: Every angler in the field earns points toward the Angler of the Year race.
- Bragging rights on a legend: A win at Clear Lake isn't just a win. It's a win on one of the best bass lakes in America.