By MLF Communications Staff
The first event of the 2024 Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Team Series will premiere Sunday, with every minute of competition livestreamed from Erie, Pa.
The event, which will run through Friday, features two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour pros competing from the same boat and working together to claim a piece of a season purse of more than $720,000. It's the first of a four-event series
For the first time ever, the Team Series will be livestreamed daily, meaning every cast and every catch will be covered live and fans can watch teammates work together to break down a new body of water in real time. The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will call the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps and on Rumble.
In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols, Erie was not revealed to Team Series anglers until 30 days prior to the start of the tournament. All fishable waters within 60 miles of Erie then went off limits to anglers, and the competitors will discover exactly where they’re competing only after arriving at the boat ramp on the morning of competition.
“After a successful transition from the extremely popular MLF Cup events to the (Team Series) in 2022, it has been exciting to watch our Bass Pro Tour anglers strategize and work together to find and catch the winning bass,” said Kathy Fennell, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “With the dynamic of two-man teams fishing from the same boat, and livestream coverage of every moment, we’re thrilled to offer fans a never-before-seen front-row seat to the action and drama that the General Tire Team Series creates.”
Fans will have an inside look as teammates like 2022 Team Series champion Jacob Wheeler and two-time REDCREST Champion Dustin Connell join forces on Team Kubota to compete against Team Star Tron, comprised of pro Jacob Wall and 2022 REDCREST Champion Bobby Lane, or Team Knighten Industries, made up of pros Wesley Strader and Scott Suggs – two-thirds of the winning team from the 2023 Team Series.
“This type of team event is the most relatable way to fish,” said three-time BPT Angler of the Year Jacob Wheeler, who'll team with good pal and two-time REDCREST champion Dustin Connell. “Team tournaments are literally what got me started in bass fishing, just those weeknight tournaments with your buddies. That’s some of the most fun fishing.
“Out of everyone in the field, I’ve had the most experience fishing with Dustin, so we’re looking forward to working together,” Wheeler continued. “There will definitely be some shenanigans, but it’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m beyond excited.”
Here are the 12 teams that will compete at Erie:
Team 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.
Team B&W Trailer Hitches
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn.
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark.
Team Builders FirstSource
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Team Coign
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Matt Stefan, Junction City, Wis.
Team Ferguson
Nick Lebrun, Bossier City, La.
Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La.
Team Knighten Industries
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark.
Team Kubota
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.
Team REDCON1
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.
Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.
Team Star Tron
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Team U.S. Air Force
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
Team WIX Filters
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
