| MLF Toyota Series Set to Visit Lake Guntersville |
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GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Feb. 9, 2026) –The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats will launch the first event of the central division next week, Feb. 18-20, at Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama – the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Guntersville. The three-day tournament, hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports, 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. Lake Guntersville has long carried a reputation for producing heavyweight limits, but next week it could flex even harder. With a warming trend settling over North Alabama and bass transitioning into aggressive feeding patterns, local pro Cal Lane of Grant believes anglers could be staring at one of the most productive events in recent memory. “I think the weights are going to be incredible,” Lane said. “There’s definitely a record potential out there. The top weights are going to be really high, and with this warming trend coming, I think they’re going to be biting really well.” That optimism is shared across the field, as recent tournament reports have hinted at 20-plus-pound days becoming the norm rather than the exception. Lane said it would not surprise him to see numerous bags pushing 25 pounds a day or better and that he expects some anglers could stack multiple days in the 25- to 30-pound range. Strategy will be just as important as location. With forward-facing sonar limited to a single three-hour window each competition day, Lane expects contenders to make those hours count. “I think you’ll definitely have to use it effectively during that period to have a chance to win,” he said. “There’s a slim chance you can find the right group of fish without it, but the guys that use both approaches well are going to separate themselves.” He predicts a mix of technology-driven precision and old-school power fishing will define the cut line. Lane pointed to staples like lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, ChatterBaits and finesse minnow presentations as key players. “You can Rat-L-Trap your way to the cut,” he said with a laugh, “But the guys who can shake a minnow one minute and then pick up a chatterbait or jerkbait the next are going to be tough to beat. “I’m looking forward to those hours without the scope,” he said. “Just locking a Rat-L-Trap or a chatterbait in your hand and going fishing. That’s fun fishing. And on this lake, you can really catch some big ones doing it that way.” Anglers will take off each day at 6:30 a.m. CT, launching from the Lake Guntersville State Park Boat Ramp, located at 24 State Campground Road in Guntersville. Weigh-ins will take place at the State Park Boat Ramp, starting at 2:30 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. |