LEESBURG, Fla. (March 18, 2025) – Event No. 2 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern division is scheduled to take place next week, March 27-29, in Leesburg, Florida – the Toyota Series at the Harris Chain of Lakes Presented by Suzuki Marine.

The three-day tournament, hosted by Discover Lake County, Florida, will showcase the region’s top bass-fishing boaters and co-anglers competing for a grand 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.

Pro Tyler Sheppard of Yulee, Florida, knows the Harris Chain well, with seven top-10 finishes – including a BFL win in 2023 and a 6th-place finish in the 2024 Toyota Series event. But this time, Sheppard brings a little extra inspiration – he just became a father, welcoming his newborn son home from the hospital on Monday.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Sheppard said. “He was born on Friday, and it’s been incredible. I’m running on about no sleep, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Hopefully, I can carry some of that ‘dad energy’ into the tournament.”

Sheppard expects this event to showcase a variety of patterns across the Harris Chain, with anglers able to fish to their strengths.

“There are going to be prespawn, spawning, and postspawn fish, so it’s wide open,” he said. “The grass is always a player, and if you find the right group of fish, it can carry you for three days. But there are also plenty of opportunities for big fish on crankbaits or swimbaits, especially in the lower lakes like Apopka.”

The decision to run to Lake Apopka will be critical for some, as it’s known for producing big limits but comes with the risk of limited fishing time.

“It’s a gamble with the locks, but it’s a place where you don’t need long to get right if you can make it work,” Sheppard added.

On his deck, Sheppard plans to keep Florida staples tied on, including a 6th Sense Divine Swim Jig for grass fishing and a bladed jig for targeting bigger bites.

“If there’s a flipping bite for spawners, a 6th Sense Creature bait will also come into play,” he said.

As for what it will take to win, Sheppard believes consistency will be key.

“I’d say 67 to 70 pounds over three days will probably get it done,” he predicted. “It’s Florida, so you’ll need at least one big day, but you also have to back it up with solid limits.”

Anglers will begin each day at 7:30 a.m. ET, launching from the Ski Beach at the Venetian Gardens, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg. Weigh-ins will take place at the same location, starting at 3:30 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. Strike King 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. Strike King 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 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and the 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 2026. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2025 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 6-8 on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, and is hosted by the City of Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network 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.