panoramic-bend-in-the-wisconsin-river-at-ferry-bluff-wisconsin.jpeg

"Wisconsin Riverfest"presented by Feelfree Kayaks

Sept 6-7th, 2024

Sauk Prairie, WI

@ Bonham Theater

Cheese curds, quality beer, the Packers, and quite frankly some of the best fishing in the country are all things that Wisconsin is known for. The hardest part about planning a tournament in the state is picking "where." However, if you're going to start somewhere it has to be the state's main river vein - the Wisconsin River - which has numerous lengthy free flowing sections and is also dammed to form some incredible lake fisheries.

While it's no secret smallmouth will be the main target for the free flowing river anglers, don't overlook how big the greenies get in those vegetation rich lakes or river backwaters. As with many other KAS events, this will be a battle between two species of black bass, and which species strategy ends up prevailing. No matter which way you go this event will show our anglers a good time, with over 90 river-lake miles to choose from, good numbers of bass will caught during what's typically "hot" and "tough" fishing for the rest of the country. Come cool off in Sauk Prairie with us!

Sauk Prairie lies centrally located on the river system and has incredible restaurants, facilities and attractions all within 45 minutes. The Bonham Theater, site of our Closing Ceremony Awards Show, is literally on the river so beach your kayak, hit up concessions, walk inside and sit back enjoy the Closing Ceremony Awards Show to cheer on all the winners!

Wisconsin Riverfest

One great river forming numerous lake sections and over 90 miles of free flowing water to choose from

"Wisconsin Riverfest" Basic Event Information (scroll down for hour by hour itinerary & more detailed info)

Tournament Dates: September 6 & 7th Official Kayak Sponsor of the Wisconsin Riverfest

Tournament Week: September 1-8th

Host City/ies: Sauk Prairie, WI - saukprairie.com

River/Lakes: Lake Wisconsin {} Wisconsin River {} Baraboo River {} Lemonweir River & all their free flowing tributaries

--- Scroll down this page for detailed map w/ boundaries & preview video.

Registration/Divisions: (Scoring powered by the "Realtree Fishing Realtime Leaderboard powered by TourneyX)

Individual Angler Division presented by Torqeedo {} $150 per angler {} Learn More {}
X2 Team Division presented by X-2 Power {} $150 per team ($75 an angler) {} Learn More {}
Crescent Kids by 5-Star Heating & Air {} $75 per angler (enters them in Individual Division) {} 16 & under {}
Z-MAN's "Micro Finesse" Micro Bag division {} 5 Smallest bass (min 5-inches){}$25 per angler{} Learn More {}
Batteries Plus+ Sunday Side Pot Tournament {} $25 per angler {} Learn More {}

Other Awards (ways to win):

Badger State Kayak Fishing Championship joint event -
Boonedox Big Bass: longest bass award receives the KAS Big Bass Bling trophy...just wait.
GoPro's Epic Edit Award: Best edit of the previous KAS tournament to be shown on the theater big screen as a "preview" before awards
Crosskix Century Belt: All anglers who catch 100+ inches at a tournament will receive a century belt award on stage at that event13 Fishing's $13,000 Bass Bounty: Seriously, 13K in tagged bass w/ different bounties on them - "Make your own luck"
"Tackle for Trash": Angler who picks up the most unique trash item while on the water wins $100 gift card to TBD
Raffle Kayak/s: Proceeds going towards our supporting riverkeepers, and Pediatric Cancer through the PUNT Foundation.
Day 2 Darkhorse: presented by, who else, Darkhorse Tackle: Angler who jumps the most places from Day 1 to Day 2
Crescent Kids Kayak: The top youth at each event will win a Crescent kayak, thanks to 5 Star Heating & Air & Crescent Kayaks

Opening Ceremonies: Vintage Brewing @ 600 Water St, Sauk City, WI & Riviera Bowl & Pizzeria next door

Closing Ceremonies Social (Yard Games, Kayak Demos, Food etc): Vintage Brewing @ 600 Water St, Sauk City, WI

Closing Ceremonies (Awards Show): Bonham Theater @ 564 Water St, Prairie Du Sac, WI

Closing Ceremonies (Afterparty): Vintage Brewing @ 600 Water St, Sauk City, WI

Recommended Fishing/Kayak Retailers: Wilderness Fish & Game {} Rutabaga Paddlesports {} Rocktown Adventures (Rockford, IL)

Recommended Non-fishing Activities / Sites to see: Devils Lake State Park {} Riverview Adventure Company (bike & river tubing rentals) {} Sauk City Riverfront Park (splashpad, playground, walking trails, river access, beach) {} Merrimac Ferry (free ferry across lake Wisconsin) {} Wisconsin Scenic Byway 60 {} Parfrey's Glenn State Natural Area (trails w/ rock formations & gorge) {} Natural Bridge State Park {} Ferry Bluff Natural Area

Non-fishing KAS Sanctioned Event (open to all friends & family): TDB

Kayak Demos: Saturday 2pm-5:30pm @ beach behind Vintage Brewing

Bass U Brunch, presented by Bass University: 10:00am-12:00 @ Bonham Theater (downstairs theaters)

10:00-10:45am - TBD
10:50-11:35am- TBD
11:40-12:25pm- TBD

Kayak Fishing Faith Fellowship: Saturday, 5:30pm @ Bonham Theater

Supporting Riverkeepers: Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance

Supporting Charity: Pediatric Cancer through PUNT Foundation

Historic Bonham Theater

Location of the Closing Ceremony Awards Show

"Wisconsin Riverfest" Detailed Itinerary

February 7th ---

February 7th -----

Aug 23rd - Sep 5th

Sept 1st ----------

Sept 2nd ----------

Sept 5th ---------

Sept 6th --------

Sept 7th ---------

Sept 8th ---------

Early registration begins

Official Preview Livestream/Podcast on the Kayak Adventure Series YouTube Channel (11am est)

Pre-fishing window begins (max of 4 days on the water within this 2-week window)

Early registration ends

Late Registration begins (ends Aug 5th). Increased entry fee, no sponsors gift bag ($100 value)
Thursday - Opening Ceremony Social @ Vintage Brewing

4:00pm - Check in & late registration begins

4:00pm - Merch tents & yard games open, food & drinks begin

5:30pm - Pre-fishing ends (must be off water)

6:00pm - Live Music begins

6:30pm - Check in & late Registration ends

7:00pm - 7:30pm - Optional Rules Q&A Session (inside Vintage Brewing)

7:30pm - whenever - Food, drinks, music, games - HAVE FUN!

Friday - "Afternoon Sesh" 4-hour afternoon sesh to get the tournament started

AM: Rigging, shuttling, exploring, scouting etc all allowed - NO LAUNCHING or FISHING

10:00am - Bass U Brunch @ Bonham Theater (see speakers & times above in "basic event info")

2:30pm - Launching, paddling, pedaling, motoring allowed (no fishing). "Check in" on TourneyX app

3:00pm - Your "Afternoon Sesh" lines in; tournament weekend officially begins

7:00pm - Lines out; day 1 fishing ends

8:15pm - All fish submission photos due

8:15pm - 8:30pm - LIVE Day 1 recap & Day 2 ID released

Saturday - "Send it Saturday" presented by Uncle Larry's Outdoors #neverendthesend

6:00am - Launching, paddling, pedaling, motoring allowed (no fishing)

6:30am - Lines in; tournament day 2 officially begins

9:30am - Official family, friends & fans activity/meetup (TBD)

2:00pm - Food trucks, Merch tents & yard games open @ Vintage Brewing/Riviera Pizza & Bowl parking lot/yard

3:00pm - Lines out, day 2 fishing ends

3:00pm - 4:00pm - Don't forget to check out on Tourney X

4:15pm - All fish submission photos due

5:30pm - Closing Ceremony Festival ends; head to Bonham Theater for Closing Ceremony Awards

5:30pm - Fisherman's Faith Fellowship (open to all) @ Bonham Theater

6:00-7:00pm - Closing Ceremony Awards @ Bonham Theater

7:00pm - Winner/s photos on stage

7:15pm - Winners press conference/livestream
7:30pm - whenever - Afterparty @ Riviera Pizza & Bowl (KAS has rented out entire bowling alley)

Batteries Plus+ Sunday Side Pot Tournament (6 hours fishing from your "check in" time on TourneyX)

Lines in @ your "check in" time on TourneyX
Lines out 6 hours after your "check in"

Photos due by 8pm, winners & results posted on KAS Socials

- Travel Safe...see you at the next adventure

Official Preview Video

All you need to know about the Wisconsin Riverfest

Vintage Brewing Co.

Location of the Opening & Closing Ceremony Socials

Wisconsin Riverfest "Adventure Course"

Sauk Prairie, WI

Eligible water, hard boundaries, launch boundaries, opening and closing ceremonies etc

Interactive Adventure Course Map >>>>

Eligible Core Bodies of Water **

Wisconsin River {} Lake Wisconsin {} Baraboo River {} Lemonweir River {} Kilbourn Flowage Lake Section

** including any and all free flowing canals, creeks & rivers feeding them. When scouting (online or in person) track all tributaries upstream until you hit any of the following man-made obstacles - solid or earthen dam, or road, culvert or pipe etc that you cannot kayak under/over. Any of these are hard KAS boundaries. A "spillway" or "lowhead" type dam is legal in KAS and anglers can fish & access above & below them. They are just "running the river" and are different from "solid or earthen" dams that have water flowing under the dam via a pipe or drain (think neighborhood or farm ponds, private lakes etc) or through larger outflows or turbines on larger public lake dams. If the water above in a larger public lake is legal in KAS it will be marked and listed as one of your "core" bodies of water on this page/map. If not, then it is not legal for the event.

Anglers must access "legally" and "publicly." If you find any water, or access, you feel may not be covered by the interactive map, preview video, or rules standards please contact the KAS Tournament Director prior to the event for clarification or risk being DQ'd if it is later deemed to be not eligible. For help determining "public" access you can also refer to the official Farwide Flowchart

ELIGIBLE WATER PREVIEW VIDEO

Click play to take a tour of the eligible water for the "Wisconsin Riverfest"" This is just a general preview of the eligible water to get you excited about the waters you're about to explore! Refer to the map above for a more precise and interactive experience

showing all core bodies of water and any boundaries.

The Wisconsin River is a true gem within the state. The upper portion is vastly different than the lower portion which really makes anglers think about what area to narrow down. Of course, it isn't just that simple, either, because Lake Wisconsin, Lake Mendota and Redstone Lake are in play as well. If you're a lake angler who likes docks and manmade structure, you'll find it. If you're a lake angler who likes shallow vegetation, you'll find it as well. The Wisconsin Riverfest has it all so let's see which water type and bass species come out on top!

Riviera Pizza & Bowl

Saturday afterparty location after awards - pizza, beer and bowling the night away!

Wilderness Fish & Game

Stock up with all the best tackle at Wilderness Fish & Game