Major League Fishing revealed its 2026 Bass Pro Tour lineup, marking the start of an exciting new season for the sport’s top professional circuit. Fifty-one of the world’s best anglers will compete across some of America’s most dynamic fisheries, chasing record payouts, the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title, and spots in both REDCREST 2027 and the MLF Heavy Hitters showcase.
The season opens Jan. 15 on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville and then travels through South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma and Ohio. Several fresh locations are on the schedule, along with consecutive dual-lake tournaments designed to test every pro at the highest level.
2026 Major League Fishing Changes
One of the major narratives heading into the 2026 season is the Bass Pro Tour’s shift to a 51-angler roster — the concluding phase of a two-year, carefully designed overhaul of the league’s competitive structure. This updated format aims to create a more efficient and sustainable system that highlights each pro, enhances fan and sponsor engagement through stronger storytelling, and supports the league’s growing digital broadcast strategy.
In a statement made by Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive VP and General Manager, “Our 2026 schedule showcases everything we love about the Bass Pro Tour – challenging new waters, high-stakes competition, and a roster of the most accomplished anglers in the sport.”
Kathy continued by saying, “We’re especially excited about several new stops on the Tour next season, and working on some exciting developments for REDCREST 2026, which we’ll be announcing soon. There’s never been a better time to be a fan of the sport of professional bass fishing.”
What Stays The Same For The 2026 MFL BPT
Just like in 2025, each Bass Pro Tour stop will include the entire roster fishing the Qualifying Round on Days 1 and 2, then the Knockout Round on Day 3, and the Championship Round on Day 4. The tour’s catch-weigh-release system continues to provide top-tier fish care and nonstop action for viewers, with every catch recorded and broadcast live on MLFNOW! through the MLF app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), Rumble, and MajorLeagueFishing.com.
With new destinations on the schedule and the planet’s top anglers primed to leave their mark, the 2026 Bass Pro Tour is shaping up to deliver unmatched excitement, unexpected twists, and countless giant-bass highlights.
2026 MLF Bass Pro Tour Schedule
| Dates | Stage / Event | Location |
|
Jan. 15–18
|
Stage 1 at Lake Guntersville | Guntersville, Ala. |
|
Feb. 19–22
|
Stage 2 at Lake Hartwell |
Oconee County, S.C. |
|
March 5–8
|
Stage 3 at Lake Whitney (Days 1–2) & Lake Waco (Days 3–4) | Waco, Texas |
|
March 26–29
|
Stage 4 at O.H. Ivie Lake (Days 1–2) & Lake Brownwood (Days 3–4) |
Early, Texas |
|
April 16–19
|
REDCREST 2026 at Table Rock Lake |
Springfield, Missouri |
|
April 30 – May 3
|
Stage 5 at Beaver Lake |
Northwest Ark. |
|
May 16–21
|
MLF Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake |
Ocala, Fla. |
|
June 18–21
|
Stage 6 at Grand Lake |
Grove, Okla. |
|
Aug. 6–9
|
Stage 7 at Lake Erie |
Sandusky, Ohio |
2026 Major League Bass Pro Tour Roster
Who is fishing in the 2026 MFL BPT? We provide you with all 51 anglers below.
- Casey Ashley
- Adrian Avena
- Matt Becker
- Zack Birge
- Keith Carson
- Brent Chapman
- Dustin Connell
- Justin Cooper
- Mark Daniels Jr.
- Mark Davis
- Ott DeFoe
- David Dudley
- Brent Ehrler
- James Elam
- Edwin Evers
- Todd Faircloth
- Cole Floyd
- Anthony Gagliardi
- Drew Gill
- Nick Hatfield
- Dylan Hays
- Marshall Hughes
- John Hunter
- Alton Jones
- Alton Jones Jr.
- Bobby Lane
- Chris Lane
- Jake Lawrence
- Nick LeBrun
- Justin Lucas
- Colby Miller
- Andy Montgomery
- Michael Neal
- Ron Nelson
- Takahiro Omori
- *Mitchell Robinson
- Dean Rojas
- Mark Rose
- Bradley Roy
- *Banks Shaw
- Fletcher Shryock
- Spencer Shuffield
- *Dustin Smith
- Jeff Sprague
- Wesley Strader
- Bryan Thrift
- Greg Vinson
- *Jacob Walker
- Jacob Wall
- Jacob Wheeler
- Jesse Wiggins
* Denotes 2026 Bass Pro Tour Rookie
Major League Fishing fans can expect a thrilling and refreshed 2026 season packed with high-stakes competition, new fisheries, and the sport’s most talented pros pushing their limits. With the tour now streamlined to a 51-angler field, every event will feel tighter and more intense, giving fans more fishing news to follow and more opportunities to watch their favorite anglers shine.
The schedule brings a strong mix of iconic lakes and brand-new destinations, including dual-lake formats that promise unpredictable drama and big-bass moments. REDCREST heads to Table Rock Lake in Springfield, Missouri, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated championships in MLF history. Add in live catch-weigh-release action on MLFNOW!
