KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2026) – The top 50 professional bass anglers from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will compete for a top prize of up to $135,000, qualification for REDCREST 2027 and the 2026 Pro Circuit Championship trophy next week in Kissimmee, Florida, Sept. 18-20, at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Championship Presented by MillerTech on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
The three-day event, hosted by Experience Kissimmee, will showcase the top 50 professional anglers from the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit season competing in the no-entry-fee event for a share of the $453,000 prize pool.
“Hosting the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Championship in Kissimmee marks another exciting milestone in our growing partnership with Major League Fishing,” said Tyler Weyant, Deputy Director of the Kissimmee Sports Commission. “After kicking off the 2025 season with a record-breaking event – earning the highest livestream viewership in Invitationals history – we’re proud to now welcome the season’s top anglers back for its championship round. This achievement reflects the strength of our collaboration with the City of Kissimmee and our shared commitment to delivering premier outdoor sporting events.”
September will provide a much different look at the Kissimmee Chain than competitors typically see during Florida’s traditional winter and spring tournament season. Lakeland pro Bobby Lane, who has spent a lifetime fishing Central Florida, said an extended drought has left the chain exceptionally low and diminished much of the shallow vegetation that often defines tournaments there. That should push more attention offshore, particularly during the three-hour daily window in which competitors are permitted to use forward-facing and 360-degree sonar.
“I’d say the ‘Scope is going to 100% be a factor during all three days,” Lane said. “But I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you’re not going to be able to win it on just the ‘Scope. And I feel pretty confident saying that.”
Lane believes the eventual champion will likely have to supplement those offshore fish with at least one quality bite each day using another technique.
“I’m pretty confident that you’re going to have to catch at least another 4- to 8-pounder a day doing something else,” he said.
Orlando pro Bobby Bakewell said that he expects the late-summer timing to make the tournament particularly unpredictable.
“September is weird – there’s a lot of things that could be going on, and they’re very scenario-based,” Bakewell said. “We have a longer summer than anywhere else, so a lot of the fish that are where they are have been there a long time. They’re super pressured, but our guys are good enough. We’re still going to be able to trick ‘em into biting.”
Bakewell said choosing between Lake Toho, Lake Kissimmee or one of the chain’s smaller lakes could be one of the biggest decisions competitors make throughout the event. But the weather could dramatically reshape that equation.
Lane said significant rainfall – particularly enough to raise water levels and generate current – would completely change the complexion of the fishery and improve many of the shallow-water patterns Florida is known for. Without that rain, Lane expects anglers to grind through tougher conditions and believes roughly 21 to 24 pounds per day could put someone in position to win. Even then, both Lane and Bakewell know the Kissimmee Chain can change in a hurry.
“It’s got a lot of big fish, it’s really healthy, but it’s fishing – it can be super tough, too,” Bakewell said.
That uncertainty is ultimately what makes the championship so compelling. Whether the winning fish come from offshore brush, grass, shallow cover or some combination of all three, one Florida giant can erase an otherwise difficult day in a single cast.
“That’s the beautiful thing about Florida,” Lane said. “Your next cast could be an 8- to 10-pounder, and it completely changes your day and the outcome of the whole tournament.”
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Big Toho Marina, located at 69 Lakeview Drive in Kissimmee. Weigh-ins will be held at the marina and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and are also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
