BENTON, Ky. – Major League Fishing announced today the entry dates for the 2025 Invitationals, Toyota Series, BFLs, College Fishing and High School Fishing.
Invitationals
With national coverage on CBS Sports, daily livestreams on MLFNOW!, a top prize of $115,000 (including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus) at each qualifier, $50,000 Angler of the Year award and a new no-entry-fee championship, the Invitationals serve as a high-stakes platform for anglers who aspire to compete on the Bass Pro Tour in 2026. This week, invitations were sent to the following anglers:
> The Top 75 pros from the 2024 Invitational Angler of the Year standings;
> The Top 5 pros from each U.S. division of the 2024 Toyota Series;
> The 2024 BFL All-American champion;
> The 2024 TBF National Championship boater-division winner;
> The highest-finishing pro from the International division at the 2023 Toyota Series Championship;
> Bass Pro Tour anglers who did not requalify for the 2025 BPT season.
The entry deadline for these anglers to secure their invitation is Nov. 4.
Entries from 2024 Invitational anglers outside the Top 75 will be accepted Nov. 5, followed by entries from 2025 BPT anglers on Nov. 6, and entries from the Top 25 pros from each U.S. division of the 2024 Toyota Series on Nov. 7.
Anglers must enter all six 2025 Invitationals and pay deposits by 5 p.m. CDT on their assigned entry date in order to secure their invitation to compete. Any remaining spots will be filled by open invitation to MLF members beginning Nov. 8, with priority given to anglers fishing all six Invitationals. All other priority is based on time and date of entry. Entries must be made by calling MLF at (270) 252-1000.
The complete 2025 Invitational schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Toyota Series
The Toyota Series offers the largest payouts for the lowest entry fees of any national tournament trail. Anglers have the opportunity to fish close to home for sizable awards and advancement to the nationally televised and livestreamed Toyota Series Championship, where pros fish for a top prize of $235,000, including a lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and co-anglers compete for a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat powered by a 115-horsepower outboard.
The winning pro at the 2025 Toyota Series Championship qualifies for REDCREST 2026 for the chance to win $300,000, and the highest-finishing pro from each division (including the Wild Card) at the Toyota Series Championship receives a $10,000 bonus.
The 2025 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 6-8 at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Grove, Okla. The championship field will feature the Top 25 pros and co-anglers from each of the five U.S. Toyota Series divisions and the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six BFL Regionals and the top-finishing boater from the BFL All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; the High School Fishing National Champions; the TBF National Champions; and up to three pros and co-anglers from each MLF International country.
Every Toyota Series tournament will feature livestreamed weigh-in coverage and the Toyota Series Championship will be nationally televised on CBS Sports with a full day of MLFNOW! livestreaming on the last day of competition.
The Top 5 from each U.S. division in Angler of the Year standings earn priority entry for the MLF Invitationals. If a Top-5 pro declines his or her bid or earns qualification through the Invitationals or Bass Pro Tour, the next eligible pro qualifies. This process continues through the Top 10 pros in each division.
Entry fees are unchanged for 2025 at $1,700 per tournament for pros and $550 per tournament for co-anglers. Anglers can register for the 2025 Toyota Series at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling (270) 252-1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CDT on the dates listed below:
> Entries from the Top 25 pros and co-anglers and tournament winners from each division of the 2024 Toyota Series and the Top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division of the 2024 BFLS – plus the winner of each 2024 BFL tournament (who paid an entry fee for all five tournaments in a division and fished at least two tournaments in the same division) and the Top 10 anglers from the 2024 College Fishing National Championship – will be accepted beginning Nov. 11. These anglers have until November 25 to secure their priority entry position.
> Phoenix boat owners with current registrations or confirmation of a boat order who will use their Phoenix boat in Toyota Series competition may enter beginning Nov. 26.
> Anglers who fished a full division of the 2024 Toyota Series or a full division of the 2024 BFLs may enter beginning Nov. 27.
> TBF members may enter beginning Dec. 2.
> All other entries will be accepted beginning Dec. 3.
The complete 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
BFLs
The BFLs are the sport’s premier grassroots tournament circuit for weekend anglers, maintaining the best payouts and advancement opportunities for the lowest entry fees available in the sport.
MLF added six Regionals to the BFL schedule to ensure anglers can fish closer to home. The league also doubled the number of prize boats in the boater division from six to 12, giving boaters twice the opportunities to win a $50,000 Phoenix boat powered by a 200-horsepower outboard. For co-anglers, each Regional features a new $20,000 first-place cash award. Doubling the number of Regionals allows 65 boaters and co-anglers to qualify from each division – up from 50 in 2024 – while simultaneously reducing the field size in each Regional from 200 to 130 boats.
New in 2025, MLF has limited the use of forward-facing and 360-degree sonar transducers to two per boat to help level the playing field. MLF has also eliminated boat-on-boat draws by giving boaters and co-anglers priority for entering together. Unlike years past, MLF will not confirm anglers beyond a balanced field.
For co-anglers, MLF also leveled the playing field with a new three-fish limit to make everyone more competitive.
The Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency award will continue for the 2025 season, enhancing payouts from $500 to $7,000 for registered Phoenix boat owners in every qualifier, Super Tournament and Regional, an additional $20,000 in the All-American, and $35,000 in the Toyota Series Championship.
Each qualifying tournament will continue to offer a top boater award of up to $13,000, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a top co-angler award of $3,000. Top awards jump to $16,000 for boaters, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and $4,500 for co-anglers in super tournaments.
Entry fees will largely remain the same in 2025 – $220 per boater and $110 per co-angler for one-day qualifying tournaments, $330 per boater and $165 per co-angler in two-day Super Tournaments, and $350 per boater and $175 per co-angler in Regional events.
The Wild Card will maintain its $13,000 top boater award, including Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a top co-angler award of $3,000. Anglers who enter all five events in a division, fish two or more events in the division and are not already advancing to the All-American qualify for the Wild Card. The top three boaters and co-anglers from each Regional and the Wild Card advance to the All-American.
Anglers can register for the 2025 BFLs at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling (270) 252-1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CDT on the dates listed below:
Nov. 29 – Phoenix boat owner and TBF priority registration (all divisions).
Dec. 2 – Bama, Choo Choo, Cowboy, Gator and Savannah River.
Dec. 3 – Arkie, Bulldog, North Carolina, South Carolina and Volunteer.
Dec. 4 – LBL, Mississippi, Okie, Ozark and Piedmont.
Dec. 5 – Great Lakes, Hoosier, Mountain, Music City and Shenandoah.
Dec. 6 – Buckeye, Illini, Michigan and Northeast.
The complete 2025 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
College Fishing
The winning team at the 2025 College Fishing National Championship will receive $43,500, including a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-horsepower outboard and $10,000. The winning team also advances to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot at winning as much as $235,000. The highest-finishing team member at the Toyota Series Championship advances to REDCREST 2026. The runner-up at the 2025 College Fishing National Championship will receive a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-horsepower outboard. That team will also advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros. Third place at the 2025 National Championship will receive $4,000 and advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for the chance to win a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-horsepower outboard. Fourth and fifth place will receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively, with sixth through 10th receiving $1,000 each.
Each angler finishing in the Top 10 at the 2025 College Fishing National Championship will receive priority entry into the 2026 Toyota Series. Every tournament will feature livestreamed weigh-in coverage and the National Championship will receive national television coverage on CBS Sports while the final day streams live on MLFNOW!.
College Fishing teams can compete in up to six qualifying tournaments around the country. The top 15 percent of teams from each event will advance to the following year’s College Fishing National Championship.
Registration for the 2025 season opens at 8 a.m. CDT on Dec. 9. Fields are capped at 250 boats per tournament, so teams are encouraged to enter at their earliest opportunity. Teams can register at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling (270) 252-1000. The entry fee is unchanged at $100 per team.
The complete 2025 College Fishing schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2025 MLF High School Fishing circuit will feature teams competing in five Opens held in conjunction with College Fishing events so students and parents can network with prospective college teams and coaches during college weigh-ins. MLF High School Fishing Opens are two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF)-affiliated high school club in the United States. The top 10 percent of teams in each tournament advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. Tournaments held on or before March 29, 2025, advance teams to the 2025 National Championship. Tournaments held after March 29, 2025, advance teams to the 2026 National Championship.
Both members of the winning team at the 2025 High School Fishing National Championship, held simultaneously with the TBF High School Fishing World Finals, are guaranteed $5,000 scholarships to the school of their choice, plus the opportunity to compete for a share of more than $3 million in scholarships and prizes. The 2025 High School Fishing National Champions will also advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers on for a Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-horsepower outboard.
Registration for the 2025 MLF High School Fishing Opens will begin at 8 a.m. CDT on Dec. 9. Teams can register at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling (270) 252-1000. There is no entry fee for high school anglers to compete in any MLF or TBF High School Fishing tournament. Both anglers must, however, be a member of the Student Angler Federation (SAF). There is no limit to the number of teams accepted into a tournament from each school or club, but the maximum field size is 250 boats. Teams are encouraged to enter at their earliest opportunity.
The complete 2025 Abu Garcia High School Fishing schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
MLF High School Fishing Camp
The MLF High School Fishing Camp for students and parents will be held June 25-28, 2025 at Murray State University in Murray, Ky, in conjunction with the Bass Pro Tour event on Kentucky Lake. The three-day camp experience immerses passionate young anglers and coaches into the world of bass fishing. Students and coaches learn techniques from top MLF pros in small groups and receive a glimpse into the inner workings of the fishing industry through interaction with MLF staff and special guests. Registration for the 2025 MLF High School Fishing Camp will begin at 8 a.m. CT on Nov. 18. Visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/camp for details and registration.
