BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2027 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series will take anglers from some of the most storied largemouth fisheries in the South to premier smallmouth destinations in the North as B.A.S.S. unveils a nine-event regular-season schedule built to test versatility from start to finish.

The season will open Feb. 11-14 on Lake Okeechobee in Okeechobee, Fla., before moving one week later to the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee. From there, the Elite field will head west and work through a mix of tidal rivers, legendary reservoirs and complex river systems before closing the season with northern stops on Lake St. Clair and the Mississippi River.

In the middle of the schedule, bass fishing’s biggest stage will return to Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina, for the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, March 19-21. Hartwell has repeatedly delivered memorable Classic moments, including Jordan Lee’s comeback to claim a second consecutive Classic in 2018 and Jason Christie’s redemption in 2022, when he won with 54 pounds — the highest Classic-winning weight recorded on Hartwell.

“The 2027 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series schedule represents exactly what we want this tour to be, a true test of the most versatile anglers in professional bass fishing,” said Phillip Johnson, B.A.S.S. Chief Operating Officer. “We’re going from iconic Florida fisheries and massive Texas reservoirs to challenging river systems and some of the best smallmouth fishing anywhere in the country. Every stop requires something different from our anglers, and that variety is what makes the Elite Series so compelling.”

The season-opening swing through Florida will provide an immediate test. Lake Okeechobee’s shallow grass, spawning habitat and trophy largemouth population have long made “The Big O” one of the most recognizable bass fisheries in the country. Its B.A.S.S. history stretches back to 1980, when Roland Martin won the first B.A.S.S. event held there. Ish Monroe later joined the Century Club at Okeechobee in 2012 with 108 pounds, 5 ounces, fueled by two 30-pound limits. The Elite Series most recently visited Okeechobee in 2025, when Brandon Palaniuk won with 95 pounds, 4 ounces.

The Kissimmee Chain or Lakes follows Feb. 18-21, giving anglers another week to contend with expansive vegetation, interconnected lakes and changing Florida conditions. The fishery has produced some of the most remarkable performances in B.A.S.S. history, including Dean Rojas’ record 45-pound, 2-ounce five-bass limit in 2001. Cody Stahl dominated the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open presented by Battery Tender with 74 pounds, 6 ounces and a 22-pound, 1-ounce winning margin, which is the largest in Bassmaster Opens history.

Following the Bassmaster Classic at Lake Hartwell, the regular season resumes April 8-11 on the Sabine River in Orange, Texas. The sprawling tidal system is known for making every keeper matter and has also produced some of the strongest fan support in Elite Series history. The inaugural Sabine River Elite event in 2013 drew 33,650 fans over four days, establishing an Elite Series attendance record. Greg Hackney went wire to wire there in 2018, and Brock Mosley earned his first top-level B.A.S.S. victory on the Sabine in 2023 after five previous runner-up finishes.

Two weeks later, Lake Fork takes center stage April 22-25, bringing the Elite field to a legendary big-bass destination where 100-pound totals have become a familiar sight. Brandon Cobb amassed 114 pounds there in 2019, including a 37-15 semifinal-round limit with an 11-1 giant. Patrick Walters followed in 2020 with 104-12 and a 29-10 margin of victory, the largest in Elite Series history. In 2024, Trey McKinney became the youngest Elite Series champion at age 19, topping 30 pounds every day and finishing with 130-15, the fourth-heaviest winning total in B.A.S.S. history at the time. All 10 finalists exceeded 100 pounds in that event.

The schedule then turns east to Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Ga., May 6-9. With its vegetation, river influences and mixture of shallow and offshore habitat, Seminole gives anglers multiple ways to build a winning pattern. Shaw Grigsby won B.A.S.S. events there in 1993 and 2000, while Brett Hite captured his Elite Series debut on Seminole in 2014 with 97-10. Joey Cifuentes added another memorable chapter in 2023, earning his first Elite Series blue trophy with 85-2 during a rookie season in which he would win twice.

From there, the field moves to Santee Cooper Lakes in S.C., May 20-23. Lakes Marion and Moultrie are known for trophy largemouth, cypress-filled backwaters and the potential for dramatic swings in weight. Drew Cook showcased the fishery’s shallow-water potential in 2022 when he earned his first Elite victory with 105-5 and a Century Club belt. Most recently, Chris Johnston ran away from the field in 2026, accumulating 113-12 and winning by 19-12 for his second blue trophy and first Elite victory targeting Southern largemouth.

The final Southern stop before the summer break comes June 17-20 on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Columbus, Miss. The Tenn-Tom offers current, backwaters, locks and long-run decisions across a massive playing field. The waterway has a long B.A.S.S. history, including Mississippi legend Paul Elias’ 2004 victory on the Tombigbee. Trey Schroeder won a dramatic 2025 Bassmaster Open there by just 8 ounces before Jason Christie emerged from a tightly packed leaderboard in 2026 to claim the first Elite Series event on the Tenn-Tom with 58 pounds, 2 ounces, earning his ninth B.A.S.S. title.

After the break, the Elite Series heads north to Lake St. Clair in Macomb County, Mich., Aug. 5-8. One of the premier smallmouth fisheries in the Great Lakes region, St. Clair consistently produces both numbers and quality and was named the best bass lake in America in Bassmaster Magazine’s 2013 100 Best Bass Lakes rankings. Todd Faircloth won there in 2015 with 84-7 as Aaron Martens secured his third Bassmaster Angler of the Year title, and Joey Cifuentes won with 91-8 in 2023, when every member of the Top 10 exceeded 80 pounds.

The 2027 regular season concludes Aug. 19-22 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis. The river’s current, vegetation, backwaters and abundance of both largemouth and smallmouth bass create a fitting final test. Rick Clunn won the first La Crosse B.A.S.S. event in 1983, while Bryan Schmitt captured a four-ounce thriller there in 2022. Wisconsin native Pat Schlapper won close to home in 2025 with 66-5, the heaviest winning weight recorded in a Mississippi River Elite event at La Crosse.

The La Crosse finale will also determine the season-long Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year, placing added significance on every decision and every fish as anglers battle for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles and qualification opportunities for the Bassmaster Classic.

2027 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series schedule

Feb. 11-14, Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee, Fla.
Feb. 18-21, Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee, Fla.
March 19-21, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.
April 8-11, Sabine River, Orange, Texas
April 22-25, Lake Fork, Yantis, Texas
May 6-9, Lake Seminole, Bainbridge, Ga.
May 20-23, Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County, S.C.
June 17-20, Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Columbus, Miss.
Aug. 5-8, Lake St. Clair, Macomb County, Mich.
Aug. 19-22, Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.

Fans can follow all nine Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series regular-season events through coverage on Bassmaster.com, including Bassmaster LIVE, real-time leaderboards, photo galleries and tournament analysis.

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Title Sponsor: Progressive

2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Mountain Dew, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew’s, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama

 

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.