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Kayak anglers launch before dawn on Bartlett Lake
A specialty bass tournament sends paddlers across Bartlett Lake for catch-photo-release competition, summer-series points, and an immersive destination fishing weekend.
Event details
Arizona Kayak Summer Slam opens its season at Bartlett Lake, one of the state’s scenic desert reservoirs, where competitors launch before sunrise and fish a soft-plastics-only format in pursuit of series points, plaques, big-bass honors, and a share of the money division. Catch-photo-release entries keep the format fast-paced and conservation-minded from the first cast of the morning through the final weigh-in.
This opening stop rewards families willing to embrace an early start: the 4 a.m. launch means arriving the previous afternoon to scout access and rig boats, turning tournament morning into a genuine sunrise experience on the water rather than a rushed dash to the marina before dawn breaks over the reservoir.
The remote launch makes nearby lodging or camping highly practical for competitors and companions alike. While anglers chase the soft-plastics format on the water, non-competing family members can enjoy boating, shoreline scenery, and the quiet desert recreation that Bartlett Lake offers well beyond the tournament’s early-morning window, making the whole trip worthwhile even for those not fishing that particular weekend.
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