DAYTON, Tenn. (April 24, 2024) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to return to the Dayton Boat Dock in Dayton, Tennessee, next week, May 2-4, for the third and final event of the 2024 Central division – the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Chickamauga.
The three-day competition, hosted by Fish Dayton and the Rhea Economic & Tourism Council, will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King 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.
“I’ve been looking forward to this one for some time,” said local pro Seth Davis of Dayton, Tennessee, who finished second in this tournament in two of the last three Toyota Series visits to Lake Chickamauga. “I’ve got a lot going on in my life – we just got done building a house, we’re having a baby next month – but I’ve told my wife for the past few weeks, I am working for this one. I am thirsty, and I want to win! Map study, graphing, looking, finding grass, just staying in tune with the lake. I may not catch a keeper on Day 1, but I’m doing everything I can to give myself a shot.”
Davis said that this tournament, like most, will be largely weather dependent. The water levels on Lake Chickamauga are down a little bit, and with the TVA in the process of raising the lake, he doesn’t expect much current to be generated.
“The majority of the fish will be in spawn and postspawn patterns,” Davis said. “We’ve already had a wave or two spawn, so there potentially could be some fish already offshore. It would not surprise me one bit if this tournament is won either completely dedicated deep or dedicated shallow.
“The sleeper this year is that there are some areas with pretty good grass,” Davis continued. “It’s pretty healthy right now, and if a guy finds the right patch or two he could definitely catch some big bass just dragging stuff around the grass. It’s Lake Chickamauga and there are giants that live here.”
Davis said that he expects the three-day winner to bring three limits of bass to the scale in the mid-50-pound range.
“It’s still one of the best lakes in the country, but it’s fishing just a little finicky right now. Local tournaments are taking in the low 20s to win right now, so I’m going to be surprised if it takes more than 60 pounds. I think if a guy hits the mid-50s, he’ll be right there at the end with a shot to win.”
Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. CT each day from the Dayton Boat Dock, located at 175 Lakeshore Drive in Dayton. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Dayton Boat Dock and will begin at 2:30 p.m. each day. 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 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 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six 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 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters, 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.
