OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (March 3, 2026) –The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to visit Osage Beach, Missouri, next week, March 10-12, for the first event of the Plains division – the  Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake of the Ozarks.

The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Osage Beach, 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.

Local pro Brad Jelinek of Lincoln, Missouri, said Lake of the Ozarks is shaping up to fish well, but he believes the conditions – and the strategic use of forward-facing sonar under the new rule – will ultimately determine how the event unfolds.

“It’s definitely fishing solid,” said Jelinek. “The weights at the last Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament were pretty good, and I definitely think the new format is going to be a big player. I know it’s going to be a player for me. It’s going to add another strategic decision into our game, on when to use our forward-facing sonar and when not to, and which areas to fish. That’s going to play a big role in the weights for sure.”

According to Jelinek, water temperature will be the biggest factor in determining how strong the bite is throughout the three-day tournament.

“If the lake is really cold, like it was last year, the weights are going to be pretty dang low compared to what you generally see,” Jelinek said. “But if it’s a warming trend and the lake’s got decent color – not dirty or super clear – then the weights are going to be really good. It all depends on whether that water temp is below or above 40 degrees. From the weather that we’ve had and some warmer rain, I’m guessing it’s going to be warmer, and fishing should be really good.”

As for what it will take to contend for the win, Jelinek expects stout bags will be necessary.

“If you’ve got 18 pounds a day, you’re going to be sitting really pretty,” he said. “It could take upwards of 19½ to 20 pounds a day to win – I just don’t know with the new forward-facing sonar rule. But if I have 18 to 19 pounds per day, I’m going to like where I’m at.”

When it comes to patterns, Jelinek expects classic Lake of the Ozarks staples to dominate.

“Definitely just typical Ozarks stuff,” Jelinek said. “Lake of the Ozarks really isn’t known for being a minnow lake like what you’d expect in the springtime in other places, but a lot of guys are going to catch them on Alabama rigs and jerkbaits. I expect to see some type of jig and crankbait bite as well and if the water’s dirty and it’s warming up, there are going to be some guys catching big ones on spinnerbaits. That’ll be something to watch for.”

A self-described fan of the late-winter/early-spring bite, Jelinek said he’s eager for competition to begin.

“This is one of my favorite times of the year to fish,” Jelinek added. “It’s the best time here to catch a great big fish and a big bag.”

Anglers will begin each day at 7:30 a.m. CT, launching from Public Beach #2 at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach. 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. 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 Presented by Phoenix Boats include: 7 Brew, 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, CBS Sports Network, 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.