MLF Announces Lower Entry Fees

MLF’s grassroots circuit enters 2026 season with reduced entry fees and improved payouts setting the stage for the most rewarding season in the league’s 46-year history

BENTON, Ky. – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the 2026 schedule and program details for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine (BFL), featuring lower entry fees, higher payouts at the ramp and more All-American opportunities for boaters and co-anglers, setting the stage for the most rewarding season in the league’s 46-year history. 

Since its inaugural season in 1980, the BFL has provided the foundation for tournament bass fishing on the premise that everyday anglers deserve professional-quality events, held close to their home with low entry fees and quality payouts. Thousands of anglers have gotten their start in the Bass Fishing League over the past 46 years and have risen to national prominence on the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Bass Pro Tour. A total of 1,348 anglers have fished in 100 or more BFL tournaments, and 1,858 anglers have earned 10 or more top-10 finishes in BFL competition. Nearly 200 anglers – 194 total – have earned more than $100,000 in winnings solely through the BFL. 

The 2026 season introduces a new, streamlined payout structure that awards 20% of the field with 29% more money for a win and 25% more money for the last checks in every qualifier, all while reducing entry fees to $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers. That translates to a $4,000 top boater award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $7,750 at 200 boats plus a $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. Co-anglers will earn a $2,000 top award at 100 boats, scaling up to $3,875 at 200 boats.  Twenty percent of the field earns a check of at least $250 for boaters and $125 for co-anglers regardless of field size. 

At Super Tournaments, the top boater award jumps to $6,000 at 100 boats, scaling up to $11,450 at 200 boats – 27% more than 2025 – plus a $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The top co-angler award in Super Tournaments jumps to $3,000 at 100 boats, scaling up to $5,725 at 200 boats – 27% more than 2025. Twenty percent of the field earns a check of at least $400 for boaters and $200 for co-anglers, 33% more than 2025, all while reducing entry fees to $300 for boaters and $150 for co-anglers. 

The 2026 season will also see the return to six Regionals, each awarding a $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro with 200 HP outboard to the winning boater, plus a $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. Co-anglers will compete for a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro with 115 HP outboard, a 67% increase over 2025. Twenty percent of each field will earn a check of at least $450 for boaters and $225 for co-anglers, and the top seven boaters and co-anglers from each Regional will advance to the All-American, which will now feature a 56-boat field – 17% more anglers than 2025. Regional entry fees remain unchanged at $350 for boaters and $175 for co-anglers.

All BFL events will include restricted use of forward-facing and 360-degree sonar technology – limited to three hours of continuous use per day – maintaining a fair and balanced playing field for all anglers while emphasizing skill and strategy.

“The Phoenix Bass Fishing League has always been about opportunity – giving anglers the chance to compete close to home in a professional setting for meaningful prizes,” said MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “With lower entry fees, higher payouts and more ways to win than ever before, the 2026 season represents the most rewarding year yet for our BFL anglers. For more than four decades, this trail has been the foundation of tournament bass fishing, and we’re proud to continue carrying that legacy forward.”

The 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine features:

24 Divisions:

• 4 one-day qualifiers per division – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours
• 1 two-day super tournament per division – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours each day

96 1-Day Qualifying Tournaments:

• $4,000 top boater award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $7,750 at 200 boats – 29% more than 2025
  + $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus in every tournament
• $2,000 top co-angler award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $3,875 at 200 boats – 29% more than 2025
• 20% of field earns a check of at least $250 for boaters and $125 for co-anglers – 25% more than 2025
• Winning boater and co-angler from each Qualifier advance to a Regional
• Saturday tournaments (unless otherwise noted) – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours
• Winners determined by heaviest one-day catch – 5 bass boater limit | 3 bass co-angler limit
• Every angler receives points
• Live weigh-in coverage
• NEW lower entry fee: $200 boater | $100 co-angler

24 2-Day Super Tournaments:

• $6,000 top boater award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $11,450 at 200 boats – 27% more than 2025
  + $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus in every tournament
• $3,000 top co-angler award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $5,725 at 200 boats – 27% more than 2025
• 20% of field earns a check of at least $400 for boaters and $200 for co-anglers – 33% more than 2025
• Winning boater and co-angler from each Super Tournament advance to a Regional
• Saturday/Sunday tournaments: full field day 1, top 20% day 2 – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours each day
• Winners determined by heaviest two-day catch – 5 bass per day boater limit | 3 bass per day co-angler limit
• Every angler receives points
• Live weigh-in coverage
• NEW lower entry fee: $300 boater | $150 co-angler

6 3-Day Regionals:

• $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro with 200 HP outboard top boater award + $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus in every tournament
• $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro with 115 HP outboard top co-angler award – 67% more than 2025
• 20% of field earns a check of at least $450 for boaters and $225 for co-anglers
• Each Regional features anglers from four Divisions – 200 boat max field
  • Winners and top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each Division qualify
• Top 7 boaters and top 7 co-anglers from each Regional advance to the All-American, featuring a NEW larger field of 56 boaters and 56 co-anglers – 17% more than 2025
• Thursday, Friday and Saturday tournaments: full field Days 1 & 2, Top 10 Day 3 – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours each day
• Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch – 5 bass per day boater limit | 3 bass per day co-angler limit
• Live weigh-in coverage
• Unchanged entry fee: $350 boater | $175 co-angler

1 2-Day Wild Card:

• $6,000 top boater award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $11,450 at 200 boats – 91% more than 2025
  + $500 to $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus 
• $3,000 top co-angler award based on a 100-boat field, scaling up to $5,725 at 200 boats – 91% more than 2025
• 20% of field earns a check of at least $400 for boaters and $200 for co-anglers – 100% more than 2025
• Anglers who enter all five events within a division, fish two or more events in the division and are not already advancing to the All-American qualify
• Friday and Saturday tournament: full field both days – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours each day 
• Top 7 boaters and top 7 co-anglers advance to the All-American
• Winners determined by heaviest two-day catch – 5 bass per day boater limit | 3 bass per day co-angler limit
• Live weigh-in coverage
• Entry fee: $300 boater | $150 co-angler

2027 All-American:

• $100,000 top boater award + $20,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus
• $50,000 top co-angler award
• Highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each Regional at the All-American advance to the Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, as a boater and $33,500 as a co-angler. Beat six anglers from your Regional and advance to a second no-entry-fee championship for a shot at one of the sport’s biggest paydays
• All-American boater champion advances to REDCREST for a shot at winning $300,000 and qualifies for priority entry into the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit
• Every boater earns at least $2,000 and every co-angler earns at least $1,000 – 33% more than 2025 
• Thursday, Friday and Saturday tournament: full field of 56 boaters and 56 co-anglers days 1 & 2, top 10 boaters and co-anglers day 3 – Forward-facing/360-degree sonar restricted to 3 hours each day
• Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch – 5 bass per day boater limit | 3 bass per day co-angler limit
• Live weigh-in coverage 
• Live on-the-water coverage on championship day
• Nationally televised on VICE Sports 
• No entry fee

Angler of the Year and Co-angler of the Year Awards:

• $1,000 Angler of the Year award in each Division based on total points from all five tournaments
• $500 Co-angler of the Year award in each Division based on total points from all five tournaments

A Pathway to the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Bass Pro Tour:

• Top 45 boaters and co-anglers based on total points from each Division earn priority entry into the Toyota Series

The entry fee reduction for 2026 marks a return to the lowest entry fees in modern BFL history, helping make tournaments more accessible to more anglers while simultaneously boosting payouts at the ramp. 

With advancement opportunities to the All-American, Toyota Series Championship and REDCREST – for potential top awards of $120,000, $235,000 and $300,000 – the BFL remains the most lucrative and accessible qualifying pathway in the sport. 

The 43rd annual BFL All-American, for qualifiers from the 2025 season, will take place May 28-30, 2026, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

“Capital City/Lake Murray Country is proud to be hosting the BFL All-American in 2026,” said Amy Hoffman, Interim President at Capital City/Lake Murray Country. “Lake Murray has a strong reputation for producing healthy limits of bass and often surprises both anglers and spectators with record-breaking catches. With the tournament taking place during Memorial Day week, visitors have the perfect chance to extend their stay and enjoy our region’s top attractions and outdoor recreation while watching these skilled anglers compete on Lake Murray.” 

For the complete 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League payouts, rules and schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

2026 MLF Phoenix BFL All-American & Regional Tournament Schedule:

Proud sponsors of the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.