Major League Fishing announced today the schedule, rules, payouts and entry dates for the 2021 Bass Fishing League. The eastern U.S. tournament circuit offers opportunities to advance to nine no-entry-fee championships, including the All-American and Championship, for a shot at winning top boater awards of $120,000 and $235,000, respectively.
Each qualifying tournament offers a top boater award of $13,000, including the MLF BIG5 Bonus, and a top co-angler award of $3,000. Top awards jump to $16,000 for boaters, including the MLF BIG5 Bonus, and $4,500 for co-anglers in super tournaments. MLF BIG5 Bonuses enhance payouts $500 to $7,000 for Phoenix boat owners in every qualifier, super tournament and regional championship, an additional $20,000 in the All-American, and $35,000 in the Championship.
- The top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in each division advance to Regional Championships.
- Enter all five events in a division, fish at least two and automatically advance to the Wild Card Regional if you don’t qualify for a Regional Championship.
- The top six boaters and co-anglers from each Regional Championship and the Wild Card Regional advance to the All-American.
- The highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each Regional Championship and the Wild Card Regional at the All-American advance to the Championship – you only have to beat five anglers to advance.
The Bass Fishing League gives weekend anglers a clear path to the Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
“We pride ourselves on providing the absolute best tournaments for the lowest cost of participation available anywhere,” said MLF BIG5 Senior Director of Tournament Operations Daniel Fennel. “The Bass Fishing League has a rich history of providing a competitive outlet for weekend bass anglers and launching professional careers. That tradition is stronger than ever as we enter the 2021 season with more than $8.3 million in awards on the line for Bass Fishing League anglers.”
Registration dates
Anglers can register for the 2021 Bass Fishing League season at FLWFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CDT on the dates listed below:
- December 7, 2020 – Cowboy, Gator, Hoosier and Music City.
- December 8, 2020 – Bulldog, Bama, Illini, Mississippi and Volunteer.
- December 9, 2020 – Buckeye, Choo Choo, Great Lakes, Mountain and Ozark.
- December 10, 2020 – Arkie, LBL, North Carolina, Northeast and Okie.
- December 11, 2020 – Michigan, Piedmont, Savannah River, Shenandoah and South Carolina.
Entry fees
The entry fees for the 2021 Bass Fishing League are unchanged from 2020. Entry fees for qualifying events are $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers. Entry fees for Super Tournaments are $300 for boaters and $150 for co-anglers.
2021 BASS FISHING LEAGUE SCHEDULE
Arkie Division
Feb. 13 – Ouachita – Mountain Harbor Marina
March 6 – Hamilton – Hulsey Hatchery Access
April 24 – Greers Ferry – Devil's Fork
May 16* – Dardanelle – Lake Dardanelle State Park
Sept. 18-19 – Hamilton – Hulsey Hatchery Access
Bama Division
Jan. 30 – Eufaula – Lakepoint Resort State Park
March 6 – Mitchell – Higgins Ferry Park
May 1 – Lewis Smith – Smith Lake Dam Access
June 26 – Neely Henry – Coosa Landing
Sept. 11-12 – Lay – Beeswax Landing
Buckeye Division
May 15 – Ohio River-Tanners Creek – Lawrenceburg Ramp
June 26 – Grand Lake-St. Marys – West Bank Ramp
July 24 – Mosquito – Mosquito Lake State Park
Aug. 14 – Ohio River-Tanners Creek – Lawrenceburg Ramp
Sept. 11-12 – Erie – Shelby Street Boat Launch
Bulldog Division
Feb. 13 – Lanier – Laurel Park
March 13 – Oconee – Sugar Creek Marina
April 10 – Sinclair – Dennis Station Access
May 22 – Eufaula – Lakepoint Resort State Park
Sept. 25-26 – Lanier – Laurel Park
Choo Choo Division
Feb. 13 – Guntersville – The Bait, Tackle & Grill at Goose Pond
March 27 – Pickwick – McFarland Park
April 24 – Wheeler – Joe Wheeler State Park
May 8 – Chickamauga – Dayton Boat Dock
Oct. 2-3 – Guntersville – The Bait, Tackle & Grill at Goose Pond
Cowboy Division
Jan. 2 – Sam Rayburn – Umphrey Family Pavilion
Feb. 13 – Toledo Bend – San Miguel Park
March 6 – Sam Rayburn – Umphrey Family Pavilion
April 10 – Lake of the Pines – Lakeside Park
Sept. 18-19 – Sam Rayburn – Umphrey Family Pavilion
Gator Division
Jan. 9 – Harris Chain – Venetian Gardens - Ski Beach
Feb. 20 – Harris Chain – Venetian Gardens - Ski Beach
March 13 – Toho – Big Toho Marina
April 10 – Okeechobee – Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina
Sept. 18-19 – Okeechobee – C. Scott Driver Park
Great Lakes Division
April 17 – Mississippi River-La Crosse – W. Copeland & Clinton
June 12 – Wolf River Chain – Winneconne Waterfront Park
July 17 – Mississippi River-La Crosse – W. Copeland & Clinton
Aug. 7 – Mississippi River-Prairie du Chein – Washington Street Ramp
Oct. 2-3 – Mississippi River-La Crosse – W. Copeland & Clinton
Hoosier Division
April 17 – Monroe – Cutright Ramp
May 8 – Patoka – Newton Stewart South Ramp
July 10 – Monroe – Cutright Ramp
Aug. 7 – Ohio River-Rocky Point – Rocky Point Marina
Aug. 28-29 – Ohio River-Tanners Creek – Lawrenceburg Ramp
Illini Division
May 22 – Rend – Wayne Fitzgerrell Sailboat Landing
June 19 – Shelbyville – 9th Street Ramp
July 17 – Rend – Wayne Fitzgerrell Sailboat Landing
Aug. 14 – Ohio River-Golconda – Golconda Marina
Sept. 11-12 – Shelbyville – 9th Street Ramp
LBL Division
March 6 – Kentucky-Barkley – Kentucky Dam Marina
March 27 – Kentucky-Barkley – Moors Resort & Marina
May 1 – Kentucky-Barkley – Kentucky Dam Marina
June 12 – Kentucky-Barkley – Moors Resort & Marina
Sept. 11-12 – Kentucky-Barkley – Paris Landing State Park
Michigan Division
June 26 – St. Clair – Harley Ensign Boat Launch
July 10 – St. Clair – Harley Ensign Boat Launch
July 31 – Detroit River – Elizabeth Park Marina
Aug. 28 – Detroit River – Elizabeth Park Marina
Sept. 18-19 – Detroit River – Elizabeth Park Marina
Mississippi Division
Feb. 20 – Ross Barnett – Tommy's Trading Post
March 27 – Columbus Pool – Columbus Marina
April 17 – Grenada – Grenada Landing
May 15 – Ferguson – Greenville Waterfront Park
Oct. 2-3 – Pickwick – JP Coleman State Park
Mountain Division
March 6 – Dale Hollow – Star Point Marina
April 10 – Dale Hollow – Star Point Marina
May 8 – Cumberland – Conley Bottom Resort
June 12 – Cherokee – TVA Dam Boat Launch
Sept. 25-26 – Cumberland – Conley Bottom Resort
Music City Division
March 20 – Dale Hollow – Star Point Marina
April 3 – Percy Priest – Fate Sanders Marina
May 15 – Center Hill – Ragland Bottom Recreation Area
June 19 – Old Hickory – Bulls Creek Access (Flippers)
Sept. 18-19 – Old Hickory – Bulls Creek Access (Flippers)
North Carolina Division
Feb. 21* – Norman – Pinnacle Access Area
March 13 – Kerr – Nutbush North
May 9* – Kerr – Nutbush North
June 19 – High Rock – Tamarac Marina & Campground
Sept. 25-26 – Wylie – Buster Boyd's Landing
Northeast Division
April 17 – Chesapeake Bay – Anchor Marina
May 22 – Chesapeake Bay – Anchor Marina
July 10 – Champlain – Plattsburgh City Marina
Aug. 7 – Cayuga – Frontenac Park
Sept. 11-12 – St. Lawrence River – Massena Intake Launch
Okie Division
March 20 – Grand – Wolf Creek Park
April 24 – Arkansas River – Three Forks Harbor
May 15 – Eufaula – Eufaula Cove (North Point)
June 19 – Arkansas River – Three Forks Harbor
Sept. 18-19 – Grand – Wolf Creek Park
Ozark Division
Feb. 20 – Table Rock – Port of Kimberling Marina & Resort
March 13 – Lake of the Ozarks – Public Beach #2
April 17 – Table Rock – Port of Kimberling Marina & Resort
June 12 – Truman – Long Shoal Marina
Sept. 25-26 – Lake of the Ozarks – Public Beach #2
Piedmont Division
April 10 – Smith Mountain – Parkway Marina
May 2* – Kerr – Nutbush North
June 26 – High Rock – Tamarac Marina & Campground
July 31 – James River – Osborne Landing
Oct. 2-3 – Kerr – Nutbush North
Savannah River Division
Feb. 6 – Keowee – South Cove County Park
April 17 – Clarks Hill – Wildwood Park
May 8 – Hartwell – Green Pond Landing
June 12 – Clarks Hill – Wildwood Park
Sept. 11-12 – Hartwell – Tugaloo State Park
Shenandoah Division
March 27 – Kerr – Nutbush North
April 24 – Smith Mountain – Parkway Marina
May 15 – Potomac River – Smallwood State Park
July 24 – James River – Osborne Landing
Sept. 25-26 – Potomac River – Smallwood State Park
South Carolina Division
Feb. 13 – Murray – Dreher Island State Park
March 27 – Santee Cooper – John C. Land III Landing
May 1 – Hartwell – Tugaloo State Park
June 19 – Clarks Hill – Dorn Fishing Facility
Sept. 25-26 – Murray – Dreher Island State Park
Volunteer Division
Jan. 30 – Chickamauga – Dayton Boat Dock
March 13 – Cherokee – TVA Dam Boat Launch
May 1 – Douglas – Dandridge Ramp
May 22 – South Holston – Observation Knob Park
Oct. 2-3 – Watts Bar – Tom Fuller Park
* Sunday
2021 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Oct. 7-9 – Norfork – Buzzard Roost Marina
Divisions: Arkie, Illini, LBL and Ozark
Oct. 7-9 – Wheeler – Ingalls Harbor Pavilion
Divisions: Bama, Hoosier, Mountain and Music City
Oct. 14-16 – Murray – Dreher Island State Park
Divisions: North Carolina, Savannah River, Shenandoah and Volunteer
Oct. 14-16 – Potomac – Smallwood State Park
Divisions: Buckeye, Michigan, Northeast and Piedmont
Oct. 21-23 – St. Johns – Palatka Riverfront Park
Divisions: Bulldog, Choo Choo, Gator and South Carolina
Oct. 21-23 – Ouachita – Mountain Harbor Marina
Divisions: Cowboy, Great Lakes, Mississippi and Okie
Nov. 5-6 – Wild Card – TBA