OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Feb. 22, 2022) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. is set for an event in Osage Beach, next week, March 1-3, with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Smart Digital. The three-day tournament, hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, is the season-opener for the Toyota Series Plains Division Presented by Outlaw Ordnance.
The tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor, in the co-angler division.
“This tournament is going to be an absolute slugfest,” said Lampe, Missouri pro Eric Olliverson, who has two top-10 finishes on Lake of the Ozarks in MLF competition. “The lake has been fishing incredible. We’re seeing lots of big bags and a lot of big fish. Unlike last year, we haven’t really had any major cold fronts this year. It’s been a consistent winter, with more nice days than cold days. The way everything is setting up, this one should be a lot of fun.”
Olliverson said that he expects the majority of anglers will be throwing just two baits.
“I expect that this one will be a totally dominant Alabama-rig and jerkbait bite,” Olliverson said. “Guys will be targeting secondary points, fish in the creeks, and I expect that brush will be a major factor. Local knowledge could definitely come into play in this event.
“From the (Bagnell) dam, to Gravois, to the mid-lake area – that’s where all of the weight is going to come from,” Olliverson went on to say. “I predict it will take just a little bit more than last year – at least 63 pounds over three days to win this one.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Public Beach No. 2 at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach. Weigh-ins will also be held at the launch and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at 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 $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 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 outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 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 outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2022 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions and finish in the top 25 – or the top 12 from the Wild Card division – will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 cash. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2022 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship will be held Nov. 3-5 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, AFTCO, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Outlaw Ordnance, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF Toyota Series on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.