GUNTERSVILLE, Ala.– The Major League Fishing Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to kick off the Central Division next week with a three-day stop at Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, bringing some of the region’s top bass anglers to one of the South’s most storied fisheries.
Competition runs Feb. 18–20 and is hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports. Pros will compete for a top prize of up to $100,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat powered by a 115-horsepower outboard, plus $5,000 cash.
Lake Guntersville has long been known for producing heavyweight limits, and with warming temperatures moving bass into aggressive feeding patterns, local anglers expect eye-popping numbers.
Grant pro Cal Lane believes the timing could set the stage for one of the strongest events in recent memory.
“I think the weights are going to be incredible,” Lane said. “There’s definitely 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.”
Recent tournaments on the lake have already seen 20-plus-pound bags become common, and Lane said it wouldn’t be surprising to see multiple anglers pushing 25 to 30 pounds per day.
Strategy will also play a major role. Forward-facing sonar use is limited to a single three-hour window each day, meaning competitors must balance technology with traditional techniques.
“I think you’ll definitely have to use it effectively during that period to have a chance to win,” Lane said. “The guys that use both approaches well are going to separate themselves.”
Lane expects a mix of finesse tactics and power fishing to dominate, with staples like lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, chatterbaits and minnow presentations all likely to play key roles.
“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.”
Anglers will launch daily at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Lake Guntersville State Park boat ramp, located at 24 State Campground Road. Weigh-ins begin at 2:30 p.m. each afternoon at the same location. Fans are welcome to attend in person or follow the “MLF Live” weigh-ins and updates online at Major League Fishing’s website.
The 2026 Toyota Series season features five divisions nationwide, with top finishers advancing to the no-entry-fee championship later this year for a shot at a $235,000 payday and qualification to REDCREST 2027.
With big fish, big weights and a stacked field, next week’s stop at Guntersville could deliver some of the most exciting tournament action of the season.
