Emory, Texas Set for B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by MillerTech
Hosted by Rains County, the Challenge Cup will bring MLF’s Team Series competition to Emory, Texas, a welcoming East Texas community surrounded by some of the Lone Star State’s most celebrated bass fishing waters. Known for its scenic countryside, small-town charm and rich agricultural heritage, Rains County offers an ideal setting for an event that showcases the region’s deep-rooted fishing traditions and the camaraderie that defines the sport.
“On behalf of Rains County, I am pleased to express our interest in supporting Major League Fishing,” said Brent Hilliard, Rains County Judge. “Rains County is proud of its fishing heritage, outdoor recreation opportunities and community hospitality. With some of the state’s most renowned bass fisheries in our backyard, we believe hosting an MLF event is an excellent opportunity to showcase our area and generate positive economic activity for local businesses. We look forward to working with MLF to build a successful partnership that benefits the tournament as well as the citizens and businesses of Rains County.”
In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols all fishable waters within 60 miles of Emory, Texas, have been off limits to competing anglers since the location was revealed to them in early October. The competition waters for each day are top secret and only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. The MLFNOW! live broadcast begins on the water at 9 a.m. CT.
The Starlink Team Series features four Cup events in 2026 – the Patriot, Heritage, Challenge and Summit Cups – each showcasing 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money across all four events.
Fans can follow all six days of competition live on MLFNOW!, with coverage capturing every hookset, strategic decision and on-the-water adjustment as teams break down unfamiliar fisheries in real time. RFD-TV will carry the final hour of competition live each day from 4-5 p.m. ET, and each event will also be showcased across six original, two-hour episodes on Outdoor Channel, scheduled to premiere in the first quarter of 2027.
The 12 teams competing in the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by MillerTech in Emory, Texas are:
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va.
Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark.
Team BUBBA:
Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas
Alton Jones Sr., Lorena, Texas
Team Ferguson:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
Team Knighten Industries:
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Team Kubota:
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn.
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark.
Team Lowrance:
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Team Lucas Oil:
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn.
Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn.
Team MillerTech:
Nick LeBrun, Benton, La.,
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Team O’Reilly Auto Parts:
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.
Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas
Team OFF! Deep Woods:
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
Team Star brite:
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La.
Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
Team YETI:
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Fletcher Shryock, Cleveland, Tenn.
Fans can follow the action live on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps and Rumble, with hosts Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney breaking down every minute of competition on MLFNOW!.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Starlink Team Series include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Bass Force, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Grizzly Nicotine Pouches, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Starlink, Toyota, YETI, Yuengling and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Starlink Team Series, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, 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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
