MLF Moves Bass Pro Tour Opener to Kissimmee, Starts Jan. 12

Major League Fishing (MLF) has moved the opening event of the 2027 Bass Pro Tour to the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida. Stage 1 now runs Jan. 12-15, and MLF attributed the change to “unforeseen circumstances” without giving further detail.

The tournament starts the 2027 regular season. It was originally scheduled for Jan. 14-17 on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, so it moves two days earlier and to a different fishery.

Who is hosting the new Stage 1

Experience Kissimmee, the Osceola County Department of Tourism, will host the rescheduled event. MLF said the full updated schedule is posted on MajorLeagueFishing.com.

How a Bass Pro Tour event is run

Every regular-season stop uses the same four-day structure, according to MLF. The full field fishes the Qualifying Round on Days 1 and 2. The Knockout Round follows on Day 3, and the Championship Round closes the event on Day 4.

MLF’s catch-weigh-release format means fish are weighed and released during competition. Scores appear in real time on the SCORETRACKER leaderboard, and MLF provides live coverage throughout each competition day.

What else is on the 2027 calendar

The season features 50 of the world’s top professional anglers. They compete for the largest payouts in the sport, Fishing Clash Angler of the Year honors and a place in REDCREST 2028, which MLF calls its most prestigious championship event.

• Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2027, the Bass Pro Tour championship, is set for April 16-18 on Logan Martin Lake near Birmingham, Alabama. The top prize is $300,000.
• The Kubota Heavy Hitters all-star event is scheduled for May 22-27 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Calvert City, Kentucky. It focuses on the Tour’s top big-fish performers, and multiple Big Bass Awards go to the heaviest bass caught during competition.

Why it matters for fans and Florida anglers

Anyone who planned to follow Stage 1 in person or on the water around Palatka will find the event in a different part of Florida, on a different set of lakes, and two days earlier on the calendar. The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is the new venue for the season opener, and the new dates start Jan. 12.

The change affects only Stage 1 as described in the announcement. The dates and locations MLF listed for REDCREST 2027 and the Kubota Heavy Hitters are unchanged in the same release.

About the organization

MLF describes itself as the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization. It produces more than 250 events a year and is headquartered in Benton, Kentucky. Its roster includes more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. MLF was founded in 2011, and its broadcasts air on outlets that include CBS, Discovery and Outdoor Channel, with on-demand viewing through MyOutdoorTV.

Sources: Anglers Channel, Major League Fishing