GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (April 1, 2026) –The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to visit Gilbertsville, Kentucky, next week, April 9-11, for the second event of the Plains division – the  Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Kentucky Lake.

The three-day tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.

Shelbyville, Kentucky pro John Hunter said he expects Kentucky Lake to showcase a mix of traditional springtime patterns and evolving strategies as anglers adjust to the 2026 forward-facing sonar limitations during the upcoming Toyota Series event.

“Everything I’m hearing is that the lake has been fishing really well all spring,” said Hunter. “It should be getting right around that spawning window, which always makes things interesting.”

With spawning smallmouth historically dominating April events on Kentucky Lake, Hunter believes this year’s format adjustments could open the door for a more balanced approach.

“In the past, smallmouth have really carried events this time of year,” Hunter said. “But with limited forward-facing sonar, I think you’re going to see more patterns come into play. Smallmouth will still be the key player, but I really think largemouth could show up strong and play a bigger role than they have in recent years.”

Hunter noted that Kentucky Lake continues to rebound as a fishery, with strong showings in recent seasons reinforcing its upward trend.

“The fish are really healthy right now, and the lake has been on the comeback for a few years,” Hunter said. “We saw that last year when we were there for Bass Pro Tour Stage 5, and it shows every spring. It’s definitely exciting to think about the kind of weights we could see.”

While conditions will ultimately dictate how the event unfolds, Hunter expects a wide range of techniques to be in play – from offshore finesse approaches to power fishing along the bank.

“You’re going to see a little bit of everything,” Hunter said. “Some guys will still utilize forward-facing sonar when they can, and others will be winding down the bank targeting largemouth. It really just depends on how the fish set up with water levels and temperatures.”

Hunter said he expects to see a mix of classic springtime baits and typical forward-facing sonar baits, and he anticipates strong weights over the three-day event.

“I think it’s going to take around 20 pounds a day to be competitive,” Hunter said. “You’re probably looking at 60 pounds or more to have a shot at the win.”

Anglers will begin each day at 6:30 a.m. CT, launching from Moors Resort & Marina at 570 Moors Road in Gilbertsville. Weigh-ins will take place at the marina, starting at 2:30 p.m. daily. Fans are invited to attend in person and can also stay connected by following the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily updates on MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.

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. Anglers who fish in any of the five divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2027. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2026 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 5-7 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by Explore Pickwick Lake & Hardin County Tourism.

Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, 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, 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.