August 27, 2025
Major League Fishing announced today that Table Rock Lake and Springfield, Mo., will play host to the 2026 REDCREST, marking the first time the sprawling reservoir in the Ozark Mountains will host a major championship event. The tournament is scheduled for April 17-19, 2026 with the Outdoor Sports Expo slated to be held at the Bass Pro Shops flagship store in Springfield.
Below is the press release announcing the move:
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Major League Fishing (MLF) today unveiled a long-awaited announcement and one of the most exciting championship destinations in its history – Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2026, the Bass Pro Tour Championship, will take place on Table Rock Lake near Springfield, Missouri, on April 17-19, 2026.
For the first time ever, the premier event will be held near the birthplace of Bass Pro Shops, the original anchor sponsor of Major League Fishing and title sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour since its inception. The prestigious event will showcase 35 of the top bass-fishing professionals in the world competing for the seventh REDCREST Championship trophy and a $300,000 top prize.
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In another first for the championship, the REDCREST 2026 Outdoor Sports Expo will be a three-day, open-air, tented festival staged right in the heart of the Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters campus in Springfield – a setting that embodies the passion, heritage and excitement of the sport. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Ozarks, this vibrant outdoor setting will be filled with top outdoor brands, interactive kids’ activities, casting challenges, live entertainment, food and fun for the whole family.
The competition will feature MLF’s catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with every fish tracked in real-time via SCORETRACKER®. On-the-water action will be streamed live all three days on MLFNOW! ® and MajorLeagueFishing.com while fans shop the Outdoor Sports Expo for great deals from hundreds of exhibitors in what has become the biggest watch party in bass fishing. Onsite fans will have multiple opportunities to take part in MLF pro angler meet & greets, local school visits, lake cleanup efforts and other unique community engagement events throughout the week, including a White River Marine owner’s tournament using SCORETRACKER® LIVE on a nearby lake with recognition of the winners during the REDCREST 2026 postgame show on Championship Sunday.
Although Table Rock Lake has long hosted numerous MLF events over the years – including back-to-back BPT events in 2021 – REDCREST 2026 marks the first time the championship will be held on the legendary fishery. Previous REDCREST champions include three-time winner Dustin Connell (2025, 2024, 2021), Bryan Thrift (2023), Bobby Lane (2022) and Edwin Evers (2019).
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“We’ve been working on this event for a long time, and we’re so proud to finally announce Table Rock Lake as the venue for REDCREST 2026,” said Boyd Duckett, MLF President and CEO. “The Ozarks region is the perfect backdrop for a celebration of everything bass fishing, and REDCREST 2026 will combine the highest level of tournament competition with a dynamic outdoor expo that captures the energy and excitement of the sport. The Bass Pro Shops headquarters will offer an incredible setting for fans to experience the action, meet their favorite pros and enjoy a week filled with fishing, fun and the unmatched beauty of the Ozarks.”
Springfield is home to the “Grandaddy of All Outdoor Stores” – the Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters – and the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, voted “America’s Best Aquarium” an unprecedented seven times, and “America’s Best New Attraction.” This one-of-a-kind destination is home to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and draws millions of visitors each year to experience immersive wildlife galleries, hands-on adventures and the world’s largest wildlife collection.
Bass Pro Shops founder and noted conservationist Johnny Morris has spent decades building experiences that connect people to nature, championing conservation and celebrating the heritage of fishing and the outdoors. His commitment to inspiring new generations to enjoy and protect the resources we share is the perfect complement to MLF’s mission, making the Ozarks the ideal home for REDCREST 2026 and the Outdoor Sports Expo.
“Table Rock Lake is truly one of the crown jewels of America’s fishing waters,” said Johnny Morris. “Hosting the Bass Pro Tour REDCREST 2026 right here, in our home in the Ozarks, with the Outdoor Sports Expo at our national headquarters, is a dream come true for us. We are honored to welcome fishing fans from all over the world to experience the Ozarks and share in the fun, fellowship and excitement of this championship.”
Here are the anglers who have secured berths in REDCREST, as of today:
> Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
