Bass Tournament Watch: Pro Circuit Title Looms at Kissimmee
It was a quiet week on the water, and we'll say so plainly: no premier bass tournament was completed in the past seven days. Both major pro circuits have wrapped their 2026 regular seasons — MLF's Bass Pro Tour finished back in August at Lake Erie, and the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series has already moved into the offseason, with anglers writing their season reflections and B.A.S.S. releasing its 2027 Elite schedule. So instead of a winner's recap, here's your Angler-of-the-Year and standings watch, plus a look at the one big event now sitting on the horizon.
The Next Big Thing: MLF Pro Circuit Championship at Kissimmee
The headline story for tournament fans this week isn't a result — it's a countdown. Major League Fishing's Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Championship, Presented by MillerTech, is set to get underway Sept. 18 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in central Florida. MLF confirmed Kissimmee as the host venue in an announcement earlier this week, and the tour's official event listing pegs the start for Sept. 18.
The Kissimmee Chain is a classic Florida grass-and-vegetation fishery, the kind of shallow, hydrilla- and hyacinth-laced system where flipping and pitching heavy cover, punching mats, and working frogs and swim jigs typically decide who lifts the trophy. It's a fitting stage for a season finale: the Pro Circuit's top performers will be chasing the championship, a payday, and — for those still in the hunt — a pathway toward REDCREST 2027. Expect the usual Florida chess match between anglers committed to the biggest-bite areas and those spreading out to grind consistent limits away from the crowds.
Photo by Tyler Brinks / Major League Fishing, used by permission
We'll have a full recap once the trophy is handed out. For now, it's the marquee date circled on the calendar.
AOY Watch: Two Champions Crowned
On the MLF side, the 2026 Bass Pro Tour season closed at Stage 7 on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, in early August. According to MLF's official postgame coverage, Zack Birge captured the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title — the season-long consistency crown that reflects a full campaign of top finishes across a demanding schedule of diverse fisheries, from Guntersville in January to the smallmouth factory of Lake Erie in August.
Over on the B.A.S.S. side, Trey McKinney ended a nerve-wracking chase by belting the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year award. As Bassmaster's own coverage detailed, McKinney had finished agonizingly close in the AOY race in each of the two previous seasons, and the pressure of a possible third straight near-miss weighed on him before he finally sealed the title. It's a breakthrough season-long achievement for one of the sport's fastest-rising young stars.
With both AOY races settled and the Elite season in the books, the sport's competitive spotlight now shifts squarely to Kissimmee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there a bass tournament this past week? No premier event was completed in the last seven days. The MLF Bass Pro Tour finished its 2026 season in August, and the Bassmaster Elite Series has moved into the offseason. This week is a standings-and-preview window rather than a results week.
When and where is the MLF Pro Circuit Championship? The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Championship, Presented by MillerTech, is scheduled to begin Sept. 18 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Florida, per MLF's event listing and this week's host-venue announcement.
Who won the 2026 MLF Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year? MLF's official postgame coverage from the Stage 7 finale at Lake Erie reported that Zack Birge won the 2026 Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title.
Who won the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year? Trey McKinney claimed the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster AOY, breaking through after two consecutive close calls in the race.
What should I watch for at Kissimmee? Florida grass-fishing patterns — flipping and punching heavy vegetation, frogs, and swim jigs — usually decide these events. Watch whether the leaders commit to prime big-bite zones or spread out to protect steady limits.
That's the watch for this week. We'll be back with a full breakdown once the Pro Circuit Championship wraps at Kissimmee — tight lines until then. — BassFishing.World