BENTON, Ky. (Dec. 23, 2020) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the roster for the 2021 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit presented by Bad Boy Mowers. Kicking off its 26th season of professional competition and the second year since the acquisition by MLF, the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit roster will showcase a field of 165 of the top professional anglers in the world.
“We are extremely excited about the combined star power of the anglers on the 2021 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit roster,” said Daniel Fennel, MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations. “Combining Bass Pro Tour pros with seasoned Pro Circuit veterans and a fantastic class of rookies from across the country, we expect 2021 to be one of the most highly competitive seasons in our 26-year history.”
The 2021 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit roster features a solid field of tournament veterans, including the return of bass-fishing legend Larry Nixon – after recovering from shoulder surgery – and multiple former FLW Cup champions including Darrel Robertson (1999), Dion Hibdon (2000), Anthony Gagliardi (2014) and Brad Knight (2015). They will be joined by John Cox, the 2016 FLW Cup champion who recently accepted his invitation to the MLF Bass Pro Tour, and 19 other Bass Pro Tour anglers who are taking advantage of the opportunity to fish upwards of 20 pro-level events between the two circuits.
Legendary Pro Larry Nixon Returns to Join 20 MLF Bass Pro Tour Anglers, Numerous FLW Cup and AOY Winners to Compete for $6.5 million over 2021 Season
The 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will also showcase numerous former Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) winners, including Ron Nelson (2020), Anthony Gagliardi (2006), Shin Fukae (2004) and David Walker (1999). The roster will include 28 rookies from around the world, including Italy’s Jacopo Gallelli, Cal Lane – son of Bass Pro Tour pro Chris Lane – and Cody Huff, a standout Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI angler from Bethel University.
The field will be showcased throughout six regular-season tournaments, with competition kicking off on Lake Okeechobee, Feb. 11-14, in Clewiston, Florida, and culminating with the 2021 MLF Tackle Warehouse TITLE championship on the Mississippi River, Aug. 17-22, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The top award at each regular-season tournament is up to $135,000, with $235,000 going to the 2021 MLF Tackle Warehouse TITLE champion, including the lucrative $35,000 MLF BIG5 Phoenix Bonus for qualified anglers.
“It’s going to be fun getting back with many of my old friends and going tournament fishing again,” said Nixon, who is returning in 2021 for his 43rd year of fishing professionally. “I had surgery on January 6th last year and thought I’d be able to come back after six months and fish in the last tournament or two of the season, but that didn’t work out. I really missed my friends and the competition and am looking forward to a great year. I’m excited to go back to Lake Okeechobee, Smith and Murray – this is a stellar tournament schedule all the way around.”
The 2021 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will have 154 two-hour airings on network television, in a run that includes 24 airings on Outdoor Channel and 130 airings on Sportsman Channel, for a total of 308 hours of television programming. Traditional weigh-in livestream coverage will be combined with live-on-the-water coverage across 11 cameras on each of the final two days of each regular-season competition and all six days of the Tackle Warehouse TITLE. Fans can catch 108 hours of live action as it unfolds on MajorLeagueFishing.com.
“I’m really excited about the 2021 schedule,” said Gagliardi, MLF Bass Pro Tour angler and one of a few anglers who has won both an FLW Cup and AOY title. “I’ve always liked starting out the year on Lake Okeechobee in Florida – so many of us have history and familiarity there. Smith Lake is also a fun tournament lake and one I’ve had good success on. The opportunity to fish my home lake, Lake Murray, was a big factor in my choice to fish the Pro Circuit in addition to the Bass Pro Tour.
“I’ve never fished two pro tours consecutively, so it will be a lot of fishing for me, but I feel like this is a great opportunity. I think both tours create a great schedule all the way around, and I’m looking forward to getting after it in 2021.”
For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
2021 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Anglers
*Shannon Abbott Oceanside, Calif.
Jason Abram Piney Flats, Tenn.
Barron Adams Mineral Bluff, Ga.
Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C.
Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, Okla.
*Tai Au Glendale, Ariz.
Adrian Avena Vineland, N.J.
Evan Barnes Hot Springs, Ark.
Clayton Batts Butler, Ga.
Bradford Beavers Summerville, S.C.
Matt Becker Finleyville, Pa.
Zack Birge Blanchard, Okla.
Daryl Biron South Windsor, Conn.
*Jason Blair West Palm Beach, Fla.
*Mark Blevins Palatka, Fla.
Greg Bohannan Bentonville, Ark.
Terry Bolton Benton, Ky.
*Josh Bragg Jacksonville, Ala.
Christopher Brasher Longview, Texas
Aaron Britt Yuba City, Calif.
Grae Buck Green Lane, Pa.
Miles Burghoff Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.
*Josh Butler Hayden, Ala.
Jon Canada Helena, Ala.
*Michael Caruso Peoria, Ariz.
Joey Cifuentes Clinton, Ark.
Ramie Colson, Jr. Cadiz, Ky.
*Justin O’Brian Cooper Zwolle, La.
Kyle Cortiana Coweta, Okla.
John Cox DeBary, Fla.
Mitch Crane Columbus, Miss.
Lance Crawford Broken Bow, Okla.
Ryan Davidson Branchland, W.V.
Alex Davis Albertville, Ala.
Darrell Davis Dover, Fla.
Randy Despino Colfax, La.
Tommy Dickerson Orange, Texas
Scott Dobson Clarkston, Mich.
Bradley Dortch Atmore, Ala.
Josh Douglas Isle, Minn.
Kurt Dove Del Rio, Texas
Dakota Ebare Denham Springs, La.
Jon Englund Farwell, Minn.
Ron Farrow Rock Hill, S.C.
Mark Fisher Wauconda, Ill.
*Trevor Fitzgerald Belleview, Fla.
Cole Floyd Leesburg, Ohio
Tim Frederick Leesburg, Fla.
Shinichi Fukae Palestine, Texas
Anthony Gagliardi Prosperity, S.C.
Nick Gainey Charleston, S.C.
*Jacopo Gallelli Florence, Italy
*Grant Galloway Houlka, Miss.
Kyle Gelles Pingree, Ind.
Matt Greenblatt Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, Minn.
Kyle Hall Granbury, Texas
Dylan Hays Hot Springs, Ark.
Dion Hibdon Versailles, Mo.
*Lawson Hibdon Versailles, Mo.
Billy Hines Vacaville, Calif.
Brett Hite Phoenix, Ariz.
Jamie Horton Centerville, Ala.
Miles Howe San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
*Cody Huff Ava, Mo.
John Hunter Shelbyville, Ky.
*Clabion Johns Social Circle, Ga.
Danny Kirk Bartow, Ga.
Brad Knight Lancing, Tenn.
*Takayuki Koike Ōtsu, Japan
Jason Lambert Michie, Tenn.
Bobby Lane Lakeland, Fla.
*Cal Lane Guntersville, Ala.
Christopher Lane Guntersville, Ala.
Brian Latimer Belton, S.C.
Jeremy Lawyer Sarcoxie, Mo.
Nick Lebrun Bossier City, La.
*Jason Lieblong Conway, Ark.
Richard Lowitzki Hampshire, Ill.
Justin Lucas Guntersville, Ala.
Terry Luedtke Burton, Texas
Erik Luzak Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada
Kevin Martin Crown City, Ohio
Lendell Martin, Jr. Nacogdoches, Texas
Michael Matthee Centurion, South Africa
Mike McClelland Blue Eye, Mo.
Bill McDonald Greenwood, Ind.
Brandon McMillan Clewiston, Fla.
Jared McMillan Belle Glade, Fla.
Kevin Meeks Smyrna, Tenn.
Cody Meyer Star, Ind.
Colby Miller Elmer, La.
Kerry Milner Fisher, Ark.
Kurt Mitchell Milford, Del.
Tom Monsoor La Crosse, Wis.
Troy Morrow Eastanollee, Ga.
Brandon Mosley Choctaw, Okla.
Jim Moynagh Shakopee, Minn.
Robert Nakatomi Sacramento, Calif.
Michael Neal Dayton, Tenn.
Chris Neau New Orleans, La.
Corey Neece Bristol, Tenn.
*Jim Neece, Jr. Bristol, Tenn.
Ron Nelson Berrien Springs, Mich.
Dicky Newberry Houston, Texas
Cody Nichols Fayette, Ala.
James Niggemeyer Van, Texas
Larry Nixon Quitman, Ark.
Lane Olson Sherwood, Ore.
Jake Ormond Sterlington, La.
Jordan Osborne Longview, Texas
Dave Parsons Yantis, Texas
*Cody Pike Powhatan, Va.
Keith Poche Pike Road, Ala.
Pete Ponds Madison, Miss.
Randy Ramsey Burlington, Mich.
Tom Redington Royse City, Texas
Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas
Clark Reehm Elm Grove, La.
Jimmy Reese Witter Springs, Calif.
Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif.
Jason Reyes Huffman, Texas
*Kevin Riney Jonesboro, Ark.
Darrel Robertson Jay, Okla.
*Ricky Robinson Greenback, Tenn.
Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas
Rusty Salewske Alpine, Calif.
Ryan Salzman Huntsville, Ala.
Casey Scanlon Eldon, Mo.
Colby Schrumpf Highland, Ill.
*Chase Serafin White Lake, Mich.
Braxton Setzer Wetumpka, Ala.
Spencer Shuffield Hot Springs, Ark.
Charles Sim Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada
Blake Smith Lakeland, Fla.
Derrick Snavely Piney Flats, Tenn.
Matthew Stefan Junction City, Wis.
Tyler Steward West Monroe, La.
*Troy Stokes Brownstown, Mich.
Wesley Strader Spring City, Tenn.
Laramy Strickland Bushnell, Fla.
Mike Surman Boca Raton, Fla.
*Scott Towry Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
Rusty Trancygier Hahira, Ga.
J. Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga.
Jim Tutt Longview, Texas
Jason Vance Battle Ground, Ind.
John Voyles Petersburg, Ind.
David Walker Sevierville, Tenn.
Jacob Wall New Hope, Ala.
*Todd Walters Kernersville, N. C.
Chad Warren Sand Springs, Okla.
Jimmy Washam Covington, Tenn.
Joshua Weaver Macon, Ga.
Joseph Webster Winfield, Ala.
Kyle Weisenburger Columbus Grove, Ohio
*Joe Wieberg Freeburg, Mo.
Jesse Wiggins Logan, Ala.
Scott Wiley Bay Minette, Ala.
David Williams Maiden, N.C.
*Jason Wilson Lincolnton, N.C.
Tyler Woolcott Port Orange, Fla.
Gary Yamamoto Palestine, Texas
*Steve York Bronson, Mich.
*denotes MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Rookie
About MLF BIG5
MLF BIG5 is part of MLF, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization. It provides anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money across five tournament circuits featuring a five-biggest-fish format.
Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with offices in Benton, Kentucky, MLF and its partners conduct more than 290 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.
MLF tournaments are broadcast on Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, MyOutdoorTV, Discovery and CBS Sports while MLF Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros to the world’s most avid bass anglers.
