Major League Fishing (MLF) is bringing its premier Bass Pro Tour back to Beaver Lake in 2026 marking the circuit’s first return to the historic Northwest Arkansas fishery since 2017.
Stage 5 of the 2026 season will take place April 30 through May 3 and will feature 51 of the world’s top professional bass anglers competing for $150,000 in top prize money, plus valuable season-long points in the Angler of the Year race and qualification toward REDCREST 2027.
“We’re excited about several new stops on the Tour next season but also looking forward to returning to some of our most successful venues from the past, including Beaver Lake and Northwest Arkansas,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President & General Manager.
The event marks a full-circle moment for Major League Fishing. Before FLW was acquired by MLF in 2019, Beaver Lake had been an annual tour stop for years.
“We’ve got so much history on that fishery,” Joe Opager with MLF said. “Being an annual stop for, you know, dozens of years. We're looking forward to seeing some old friends, some old faces, and returning to the fantastic fishery that is Beaver Lake.”
Opager noted how the lake’s quality has evolved over time. “When we first started coming to Beaver Lake… we were seeing an average fish size of 1.5 to 2 pounds… by the end of that era in 2017, we saw the average fish getting up to 3, 3.5, 4 pounds, and we were regularly seeing 20+ pound five-bass limits.”
The Bass Pro Tour will feature a 51-angler field in 2026, part of a two-year restructuring effort by the league to elevate the visibility of the sport’s top talent and enhance the digital broadcast experience for fans. The tour’s unique catch-weigh-release format allows each fish to be immediately logged and released — with real-time scoring available via the MLF app, website, and MLFNOW! streaming.
Because fish are not brought back to shore for weigh-ins, MLF will host family-friendly "watch parties" during the event.
“The circus now has giant big screens that are showing the competition and what’s going on on the water in real time,” Opager explained. “After the game, the anglers return to the stage, talk about what just happened, talk about their day, and meet and greet the fans.”
With fans, anglers, officials, and staff descending on Rogers next spring, the event is also expected to deliver a significant economic boost to the region.
“Everybody’s going to be staying in your hotel, eating at the restaurant, buying your gasoline,” Opager said. “That’s a huge economic impact when the Bass Pro Tour comes to town.”
J.R. Shaw, Executive Director of Destination Rogers, echoed that sentiment in the official announcement.
“Outdoor recreation in Arkansas fuels our state’s economy, and events like this support small businesses and bring great awareness to Rogers and Northwest Arkansas as a premier outdoor recreation destination.”
Beaver Lake will join other 2026 Bass Pro Tour venues including Lake Guntersville (AL), Lake Hartwell (SC), and Lake Erie (OH), as well as REDCREST 2026 and MLF Heavy Hitters.
Locals can expect to see anglers begin pre-practicing in the region months in advance of the tournament before the lake goes off-limits. The competition window itself — April 30 to May 3 — will conclude with a championship round on Sunday and the largest crowds expected that weekend.
“By April next year we’re gonna have the top 50 best anglers in the world… competing on Beaver Lake,” Opager said. “It’s so exciting, and we know that the fans in Rogers are gonna love it.”
For more information on the 2026 Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
