MLF Announces 2027 Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Series Schedule, Rules and Entry Dates
Complete 2027 details released as excitement builds around historic new Team/Solo format and expanded All-American Championships, each offering a $120,000 top award with no entry fee
BENTON, Ky. (Sept. 2, 2026) – Major League Fishing announced today that the complete 2027 schedule, rules and entry dates for the Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Series Presented by T-H Marine are now set, giving anglers an earlier-than-usual opportunity to plan for one of the most anticipated seasons in Bass Fishing League history.
Following the recently announced transformation of the BFL into a new Team/Solo format, anglers can now review the full 2027 tournament schedule, select their divisions and teammates and prepare to enter when registration opens in September.
Entries for all divisions will open at 8 a.m. CT on Sept. 23, 2026. Phoenix boat owners with a current registration or confirmed boat order who will compete from their Phoenix boat will receive an early-entry window beginning Sept. 21. Anglers who enter all five tournaments in a division (Team or Solo) by the first balance deadline will receive priority. Anglers who miss out on the field of 225 boats in each division will be placed on a waiting list. Teams and solo competitors can enter at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000.
“The response to the 2027 changes has been incredibly exciting, and we wanted to get the schedule, rules and entry information into anglers’ hands as early as possible,” said Robert Evans, Director of Tournament Operations for the Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Series. “Now anglers can look at the lakes they want to fish, find a teammate if they want one and start planning their 2027 season, which will be more rewarding and more fun than ever before.”
Payouts for the season top 100 percent of entry fees, including Phoenix MLF Bonuses, at a field size of 150 boats, including a first-place award of $22,000 in every tournament.
The 2027 Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Series will feature 20 divisions and 100 qualifying tournaments, with five events in each division and four divisions in each of five regions. Anglers may compete solo or as a two-person team, with a $500 entry fee per boat. Teams must fish at least three events together to remain eligible for All-American qualification, while either member may compete alone in up to two events without breaking up the team.
The full 2027 schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
2027 Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Series All-American Tournament Schedule:
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 Southwestern All-American at Lake Dardanelle
(East Texas, Mississippi, Missouri & Oklahoma Divisions)
Lake Dardanelle State Park
Hosted by Russellville Tourism & Visitors Center
Oct. 7-9
(East Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio & Virginia Divisions)
Nutbush North
Hosted by Vance County Tourism Development Authority
Oct. 14-16 Central All-American at Pickwick Lake Counce, Tenn.
(Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky-Barkley & Kentucky/Tennessee Divisions)
Pickwick Landing State Park
Hosted by Explore Pickwick Lake-Hardin County Tourism & Bill Dance Signature Lakes
Oct. 21-23 Southeastern All-American at West Point Lake LaGrange, Ga.
(Alabama, Florida, Georgia & South Carolina Divisions)
Pyne Road Park Mega Ramp
Hosted by Visit LaGrange
Oct. 28-30 North Central All-American at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes Calvert City, Ky.
(Guntersville, Michigan, Southern Illinois & Wisconsin Divisions)
Kentucky Dam Marina
Hosted by Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau
The winning team at each All-American will receive an exclusive $120,000 All-American limited-edition Phoenix powered by a 250-horsepower outboard – the ultimate tournament-fishing rig. The winning Team Captain will advance to REDCREST 2028, while the winning teammate will advance to the 2027 Toyota Series Championship. A solo All-American champion will earn advancement to both championships.
The 2027 format will also feature unrestricted forward-facing and 360-degree sonar during practice and competition, along with a five-bass-per-boat daily limit.
The BFL has long served as the foundation of tournament bass fishing, providing close-to-home competition and a pathway into the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and the Bass Pro Tour. The new Team/Solo format provides a more familiar pathway for advancement from High School Fishing and College Fishing where young anglers fish with teammates and are mentored by coaches and boat captains.
Complete 2027 Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Series schedules, rules, payouts and entry information are available at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2027 Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Series presented by T-H Marine features:
- New Team/Solo Format
- $29,000 1st Place, including $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, @ 225 Boats
- $22,000 1st Place, including $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, @ 150 Boats
- $10,000+ Guaranteed 1st Place regardless of field size or bonuses
- 5 NEW All-Americans | $120,000 to winners of each
- REDCREST & Toyota Series Championship advancement for All-American winners
- Unrestricted Forward-Facing/360-Degree Sonar
- Current Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, NPFL and Elite Series Pros are not eligible
- Military Friendly | If deployed during a Championship, qualification carries over to next season
- $500 per boat entry fee
- 101% total season payout, including Phoenix MLF Bonuses, @ 150 Boats
- 91% total season payout, regardless of bonuses, @ 150 Boats
100 1-Day Qualifying Tournaments: 5 Events per Division x 20 Divisions | 4 Divisions Per Region | 5 Regions
- $22,000 top award, including $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, based on a 150-boat field, scaling up to $29,000 at a maximum field of 225 boats
- $10,000+ guaranteed 1st-place award regardless of field size or bonuses
- 20% of the field wins at least $700, guaranteed
- Tournament winners, who fish 3 or more events in the division, advance to a NO-ENTRY-FEE All-American
- Saturday tournaments (unless otherwise noted)
- Winners determined by heaviest one-day catch – 5 bass limit
- Every team receives points
- Live weigh-in coverage
- Entry fee: $500 per boat
5 3-Day, NO-ENTRY-FEE All-American Championships – 1 Per Region:
- $120,000 All-American limited-edition Phoenix powered by a 250 HP outboard top award plus $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified teams
- Team captain advances to REDCREST 2028 to compete for $300,000
- Teammate (if not fishing solo) advances to the 2027 Toyota Series Championship to compete for up to $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus
- SOLO winners advance to both REDCREST and the Toyota Series Championship
- $20,000 second-place award
- $15,000 third-place award
- 20% of the field wins at least $1,000, guaranteed
- Each All-American Championship features teams from four divisions – 140-boat max field
- Tournament winners, who fish 3 or more events in the division, and top 30 teams from each division qualify
- Thursday/Friday/Saturday tournament: Full field Days 1 & 2 | Top 20% Day 3
- Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch – 5 bass per day limit
- Live weigh-in coverage
- No entry fee
Team of the Year Awards:
- $2,500 Team of the Year in each of 20 divisions based on total points
- Must fish all five tournaments to be eligible
Your Pathway from High School and College to the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Bass Pro Tour:
- Tournament winners, who fish 3 or more events in the division, and the top 30 teams, based on total points, from each of 20 divisions, earn priority entry into the Toyota Series
Qualifying Events – 225 Boat Field:
Place Team/Solo
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26-35 800
36-45 700
Berkley Big Bass 500
Total $94,240
Entry Fee $500
Payback scales, based on the number of anglers fishing, to maintain awards to 20% of the field.
$10,000+ 1st-place guaranteed regardless of field size or bonus.
Qualifying Events – 150 Boat Field:
Place Team/Solo
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11-20 800
21-30 700
Berkley Big Bass 500
Total $64,400
Entry Fee $500
Payback scales, based on the number of anglers fishing, to maintain awards to 20% of the field.
$10,000+ 1st-place guaranteed regardless of field size or bonus.
All-American Championships – 140 Boat Max Field:
Place Team/Solo
1 $127,000 * + REDCREST 2028 qualification for team captain and 2027 Toyota Series Championship qualification for teammate (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11-28 1,000
Berkley Big Bass 750
Total $208,250
Entry Fee None
*1st place receives a $120,000 All-American limited-edition Phoenix powered by a 250-horsepower outboard. Team captain advances to REDCREST 2028 to compete for $300,000. Teammate (if not fishing solo) advances to the 2027 Toyota Series Championship to compete for up to $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Solo winners advance to both REDCREST and the Toyota Series Championship.
Proud sponsors of the Phoenix BFL Team/Solo Series Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Buffalo, Berkley, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Gemini, Grizzly Nicotine Pouches, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PiranhO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV and Game & Fish TV, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
