The three-day tournament, hosted by Discover Lake County Florida, will feature professional bass anglers competing for a top prize of up to $135,000. Anglers will take to the Harris Chain to catch their five biggest bass each day, and the winner will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative total.

The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech launches the 2026 season with a renewed identity, including enhanced payouts and a refined structure designed to strengthen its role as the premier pathway to the MLF Bass Pro Tour. Returning under the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit banner, the six-event season features a $135,000 first-place prizes at every stop – including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers – a $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro powered by a 200 horsepower outboard for the 7 Brew Angler of the Year (AOY) and direct qualification to REDCREST 2027 for the winner of each stop and the championship. Anglers will also be competing with newly implemented forward-facing sonar and 360 imaging usage limits that restrict the technology to three consecutive hours per day, helping to promote competitive balance and a broader mix of techniques.

“The Major League Fishing Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit represents exactly the type of high-impact event we strive to attract,” said Kirby Smith, Lake County Commissioner & Tourist Development Council Chairman. “This tournament will drive overnight visitation, support local businesses and elevate Lake County’s profile on a national stage. We’re proud to support this partnership and continue investing in events that strengthen our economy and showcase Lake County as a premier destination for outdoor recreation.”

A consistent field of 150 top professional anglers is set to compete in all six stops this season. The field features a blend of established veterans and an impressive rookie class eager to make their mark. Past Pro Circuit winners including Matt Becker, Drew Gill and Banks Shaw headline the roster, while several first-year competitors arrive with strong résumés from the Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League and collegiate circuits. With early AOY points and REDCREST 2027 qualification on the line, Stop 1 offers an immediate proving ground for both seasoned stars and rising newcomers.

This event will mark the 50th MLF tournament on the Harris Chain, providing a storied history on what the chain can produce over multiple days of competition. In 2025, pro Bobby Lane won Bass Pro Tour Stage 2 on the fishery, making the trek to Apopka Lake and catching 19 scorable bass for 56 pounds, 5 ounces on the final day. Then, in March, Dylan Quilatan boated 83-8 over three days in the Toyota Series event – the heaviest weight ever for a three-day Toyota Series event in Florida.

Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro Bobby Bakewell of Orlando, Florida , said weather is expected to play a major role in how Stop 1 on the Harris Chain unfolds. With unseasonably cold temperatures forecast in the days leading up to competition, Bakewell said the event could hinge on whether the bass are able to complete their spawning transition or remain in a prespawn holding pattern.

“This tournament is really going to depend on the weather,” said Bakewell. “We’ve got several consistent days in the 30s, which just doesn’t happen very often in Florida. The bass are trying to spawn, but that steady cold really affects it. If the water temperatures get high enough, it could be a spawning tournament. If not, it’ll be as prespawn as they can get.”

Bakewell explained that a warming trend would open up more of the Harris Chain, with anglers targeting fish on the banks and around spawning cover.

“If it’s a spawning event, everybody’s going to be up shallow,” continued Bakewell. “There will be a lot of flipping and winding ChatterBaits around the scattered vegetation. When the bass pull up to spawn, it opens up more of the chain and gives anglers more places to catch them.”

If cold conditions persist, Bakewell said he expects a completely different approach.

“If it stays cold, it’ll be a mix of guys catching prespawn fish offshore during their three-hour forward-facing sonar window or targeting fish that are staging on their way in,” he said. “Typical prespawn baits like big worms, jerkbaits and minnow-style presentations will definitely come into play.”

Navigation across the sprawling Harris Chain could also influence strategy. With the Griffin Lock closed, access to Lake Griffin is cut off, and long runs to Apopka carry added risk.

“That run can be absolutely hellacious,” Bakewell said. “Sometimes guys don’t make it back in time for the weigh-in. It’s high risk, high reward. If you can find them without making the run, that’s probably the way to go.”

As for weights, Bakewell said he expects 68 to 70 pounds to win the event.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Ski Beach at Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg, Florida. Weigh-ins will be held at the same location and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at  MajorLeagueFishing.com.

On Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6-7, from 3-5 p.m., MLF invites fans of all ages to the Ski Beach Park, located at 109 E. Dixie Ave. in Leesburg, for the MLF Fishing Show. Fans can watch Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit anglers at the live weigh in, enjoy free food for the first 100 fans each day, enter hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite anglers. Youth of all ages can take part in a fishing derby (gear and bait provided, weather permitting) and casting contest, and the first 50 kids ages 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel combo each day.

The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech features a total purse of $4.5 million and valuable AOY points to qualify for the Pro Circuit Championship, hosted by Experience Kissimmee, set for Sept. 18-20 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida, as well as REDCREST 2027 qualification and a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the sport’s premier circuit.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech competition, the full field competes in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $135,000.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Stop 1 at the Harris Chain Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Sunday, Sept. 6 on VICE TV.

Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Bubba, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, 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.