The Idaho and Montana Bass Federations came together September 19–20, 2026, at Dworshak Reservoir in Orofino, Idaho, for the District 19 National Semifinal. The two-day competition brought together some of the top anglers from both states, with coveted spots in the 2027 TBF Federation National Championship on the line.
While the weather cooperated with mostly sunny skies and light winds throughout the weekend, Dworshak Reservoir wasn’t nearly as accommodating. The bite proved extremely stingy, and simply putting keeper bass in the boat was a challenge for much of the field. Despite the tough fishing, a handful of anglers were able to unlock the puzzle and bring some impressive bags to the scales.
The weekend kicked off Friday evening with a successful banquet, where anglers from Idaho and Montana had the opportunity to enjoy a great meal, catch up with old friends, meet new competitors and prepare for the two days of competition ahead.
Moua Dominates Boater Division
Montana’s Yeej Moua put together an outstanding two days on Dworshak, claiming the boater division victory with a commanding 49.37 pounds.
Moua’s performance was highlighted by a massive 7.85-pound smallmouth bass on Day 1, which earned honors as the biggest bass caught by any angler during the tournament. On a weekend when keeper bites were difficult to come by, Moua’s ability to consistently find quality fish separated him from the field.
Idaho’s Andrew Myers finished second with a two-day total of 31.99 pounds, followed by Lee Lambrecht in third with 25.90 pounds. Kobe Cox claimed fourth with 23.56 pounds, while Miles Klein rounded out the top five with 20.63 pounds.
Elmore Takes Co-Angler Title
The co-angler division came down to a much tighter battle.
Idaho’s Cody Elmore came out on top with a two-day total of 13.78 pounds. A 4.82-pound smallmouth on Day 2 provided the kicker Elmore needed to secure the victory.
Dallon Ruffing finished just 0.27 pounds behind Elmore with 13.51 pounds, while Brandon Harris took third with 12.23 pounds. Molly Miyaji finished fourth with 9.47 pounds, and Melvin Cromwell rounded out the top five with 9.46 pounds.
Four Anglers Punch Their Tickets to the 2027 National Championship
Beyond the trophies and bragging rights, the District 19 National Semifinal provided anglers with the opportunity to earn a spot on one of bass fishing’s biggest Federation stages.
Four anglers earned the opportunity to represent their respective states at the 2027 TBF Federation National Championship, scheduled for March 28–April 2, 2027. The championship location has not yet been announced.
Representing Montana will be boater Yeej Moua and co-angler Wyatt Marlow.
Representing Idaho will be boater Andrew Myers and co-angler Cody Elmore.
These four anglers, along with the state champions from Idaho and Montana, will represent their respective states at the 2027 Federation National Championship.
Congratulations to all of the anglers who competed in this year’s District 19 National Semifinal, and thank you to everyone who helped make the weekend a success. Tough fishing tested every competitor on Dworshak Reservoir, but the anglers who were able to put the pieces together showed exactly why they earned their place at the top of the standings.
Best of luck to our Idaho and Montana qualifiers as they prepare to represent their states on the national stage in 2027!
