42nd annual grassroots championship to be held in Hot Springs for seventh time – most in MLF history
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (Aug. 8, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced Thursday that the 42nd annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) All-American will take place in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on Lake Hamilton. The no entry-fee tournament, scheduled for May 29-31, 2025, will showcase the nation’s best grassroots weekend anglers and offer a top prize of up to $120,000 cash to the winner.
The three-day tournament is hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. This event will mark the seventh All-American to be held in Hot Springs, and the sixth on Lake Hamilton – both MLF records for the most times a city and fishery have hosted the event. The championship was previously held on Lake Hamilton in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2022, and on DeGray Lake in 2010.
“Hot Springs is pleased beyond words to bring the Phoenix BFL All-American Championship back to our city for the seventh time,” said Steve Arrison, Visit Hot Springs CEO. “The last Championship we hosted was in 2022, and we can’t wait to welcome these world-class weekend bass anglers back to Hot Springs. Our city knows how to show competitors a great time on Lake Hamilton and a great time in their off-the-lake hours, too.
“Our thanks go out to the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism for their assistance in bringing the All-American back to Hot Springs,” Arrison continued. “The Championship will focus national attention on the unrivaled outdoor recreation we enjoy here in Hot Springs and The Natural State. We’re already starting to get ready, and we’re excited to welcome them in May 2025.”
“We’re thrilled to announce our return to Hot Springs and Lake Hamilton in 2025 for the biggest grassroots bass-fishing championship in the world,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice president and General Manager. “We’ve held numerous major events in Hot Springs, and it’s an ideal location for us. From the fishery, to our partners at Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, to the incredible fan support that we always receive there – we’re so excited and can’t wait to see everyone again in 2025.”
Since it’s humble beginnings in 1983, the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine circuit is widely credited with opening competitive bass fishing to the masses. It serves as a steppingstone for anglers who wish to advance to the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour. Former All-American champions who currently compete on the Bass Pro Tour and the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include Shaw Grigsby (1984), Stephen Browning (1996), Jacob Wheeler (2011), Jeremy Lawyer (2016), Nick LeBrun (2018) and Connor Cunningham (2022).
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season and five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
The complete schedule and rules for the 2025 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine season will be announced this fall.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.