Nearly 400 bass anglers set to compete for top prize of up to $235,000 + REDCREST qualification in 2026 Toyota Series finale

COUNCE, Tenn.  (Oct. 27, 2026) – The stage is set for the 2026 Toyota Series Championship at Pickwick Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats , where the nation’s top Toyota Series pros and international qualifiers will convene on Counce, Tennessee, Nov. 5-7, to compete for a top cash award of up to $235,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a coveted invitation to REDCREST 2027 – Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event.

Hosted by Explore Pickwick Lake – Hardin County Tourism and Bill Dance Signature Lakes , the three-day, no-entry-fee showdown caps off the 2026 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season, a five-division circuit that launches anglers toward the 2027 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.

“We’re excited to welcome Major League Fishing and the Toyota Series Championship back to Tennessee for an outstanding week of competition on Pickwick Lake,” said Dennis Tumlin, Chief Customer Officer of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “Pickwick is one of the Southeast’s premier bass fisheries, and this championship is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Tennessee’s world-class fishing, warm hospitality and outdoor recreation. Events like this bring anglers, families and fans into our communities, supporting local businesses and introducing visitors to everything Tennessee has to offer. We’re proud to partner with Major League Fishing and look forward to welcoming the nation’s top Toyota Series anglers to Pickwick Lake.”

In addition to a top prize of up to $235,000, the signature fall championship will award five-figure payouts to the highest finishers in each division and welcome international qualifiers who have earned the opportunity to compete on U.S. waters. The winner of the International Division and the top-finishing member of the College National Championship winning team of Matthew Knopp and Logan Russell will also earn a berth to REDCREST 2027.

“Once again, we are grateful to Major League Fishing for their continued partnership in bringing this event to Pickwick Lake,” said Beth Pippin, Explore Pickwick Lake/Hardin County Tourism Director. “We look forward to welcoming the anglers, staff, sponsors and fans. This event allows us to showcase our area while generating a significant economic impact for our community.”

One of the larger reservoirs along the Tennessee River, Pickwick Lake stretches between Kentucky Lake to the north and Wilson Lake to the south. Anglers will also have the option to venture into Bay Springs Lake, located farther south along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Bay Springs has produced notable tournament victories, including Hayden O’Barr’s win at April’s Toyota Series event earlier this year and Mark Rose’s victory at the 2009 FLW Series Championship. Despite that history, most competitors are expected to focus their efforts on Pickwick Lake.

Jimmy Washam, who is a guide on Pickwick Lake, won Angler of the Year in the Central Division in 2021, and said he’s itching to get back on the water on his home fishery. Washam said he is expecting to see a diverse event with a lot of possibilities.

“This time of year on Pickwick Lake is probably going to produce a mixed bag of largemouth and smallmouth, which is not unusual for this fishery,” said the veteran pro. “I don’t know that someone can catch 15 largemouth the size that they need, so I really anticipate smallmouth will be a big player.”

In addition to targeting a variety of species, Washam said he is planning to implement multiple baits and patterns throughout the event.

“I think there will be a lot of shallow fish and the typical Tennessee River fish orienting on current in the mid-depth range down the lake,” he added. “And depending on how fast the cooldown happens, you’re going to have a lot of fish in that pelagic mood, chasing bait that is hovering in creeks.

“The last time we were here, it was about the tailrace, but you weren’t combating the big bites that could be generated with forward-facing sonar,” Washam said. “There’s also the opportunity for anglers to find a school of shallow fish, and if you can stay on them day to day, anglers could do really well without forward-facing sonar.”

However, Washam cautioned that finding and staying on those schools throughout the three-day competition could prove challenging.

“I just don’t know if there will be enough fish congregated to get a solid forward-facing sonar bite going,” Washam continued. “At that time of year, I’m not sure anyone can consistently make that pattern work within the three-hour window for three consecutive days. I think it’s going to be a necessity for someone to institute some other pattern. I feel like the guy who wins will have to add to his weight outside of the three hours. But that’s what I’ll be looking for, and the younger anglers that are so good with technology generally surprise me.”

Washam said he predicts a three-day total in the mid-60-pound range could be enough to take home the win. In April, Hayden O’Barr won with 76-10, and Donny Beck caught current-related fish for 67-10 to take home second place. This fall, Beck earned the win in the Mississippi Division Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Pickwick Lake with 39-12 over two days – perhaps an indication of what to expect in this event.

The 2026 Toyota Series Championship will also mark a significant milestone in the circuit’s history, serving as the final championship to feature co-anglers and the last to utilize the three-hour forward-facing sonar format. The event will close out the 2026 season while marking the end of an era as the Toyota Series prepares for significant format changes in 2027 that will allow pros to qualify for the championship based on their strength in either forward-facing sonar events, events without the technology or some combination of both.

Anglers will take off daily at 6:30 a.m. CT from Pickwick Landing State Park, located at 120 Playground Loop, in Counce. Weigh-ins will be held at the park and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the daily takeoffs and weigh-ins and also follow the action online through daily “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Final round on-the-water action will also be broadcast live on MLFNOW! from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. CT and streamed to MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble. The 2026 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Phoenix Boats will air on VICE Sports Dec. 13, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET.

The full field of anglers will compete on Days 1 and 2, with the top 25 pros and top 25 co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2026 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.

Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros. The winning co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.

The 2026 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.

The 2026 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the five U.S. Toyota Series divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Canada, China, Eswatini, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly Nicotine Pouches, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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, CBS Sports Network, 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.