he inaugural season of the Indiana Kayak Bass Nation (INKBN) series is officially locked in. INKBN President Merlin Hammer III confirmed on Tuesday, January 12, that all pending permits for the 2026 season and beyond have been approved, making the 2026 schedule official.
The season will kick off on April 11 in southern Indiana at Patoka Lake. Known for producing both quality largemouth and smallmouth bass, this event falls right in the pre-spawn to spawn window, setting the stage for what should be an exciting opener with serious trophy potential.
From there, the trail moves to Lake Monroe in central Indiana as anglers continue to chase the spawn. While Monroe has long been a love-hate fishery for many competitors, this event hits the lake at its prime. Anglers will have opportunities to target largemouth, spotted bass, and even smallmouth, all in varying stages of the spawn — a recipe that could change a few minds about this iconic reservoir.
Next, INKBN heads west to Raccoon Lake on June 13, a favorite destination within the kayak fishing community, especially during the post-spawn and bluegill spawn period. Historically, Raccoon has produced strong numbers and big bags during GRBY events, making it a natural fit for the series during one of its most productive windows.
The regular season will conclude with the fourth event on July 11 at Lake Wawasee and Syracuse Lake in northern Indiana — the state’s largest natural lake system. This fishery presents a very different challenge than the first three events and is expected to bring the Angler of the Year race to a dramatic finish.
The 2026 INKBN State Championship will take place at Brookville Lake, Indiana’s easternmost fishery on the schedule. Here, anglers will battle not only for the state title, but also for coveted qualifications to the Bass Nation Kayak Series National Championship.
With the Bass Nation Kayak National Championship held in October, all Nation clubs are required to submit their qualified anglers by September 1. For that reason, the INKBN season must conclude in August to meet national deadlines.
Looking ahead, INKBN is excited to confirm that approval extends to 2027 and beyond. The 2027 season will begin this fall, with two events scheduled during the 2026 calendar year — one in October and one in November. Additional details on these fall events will be announced soon. The remainder of the 2027 season will take place during the 2027 calendar year, once again spanning regions across the state from April through July and concluding with the State Championship in August.
More details on the 2026 format and the full 2027 schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
