Major League Fishing brings three-day national tournament to Columbia, showcasing region as premier bass fishing destination
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Major League Fishing returns to the Midlands May 28–30 for the 43rd annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Murray.
The three-day tournament, hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, will feature 94 of the nation’s top grassroots anglers competing for a boater’s prize of up to $120,000 and a berth in REDCREST 2027, along with $50,000 awarded to the top co-angler.
“The All-American Championship represents the heart of competitive bass fishing as the longest-running championship in professional fishing history,” said Vickie Davis, executive director of CCLMC. “We are proud to welcome anglers and fans to Lake Murray … and showcase why this region continues to be recognized as one of the top fisheries in the nation.”
Although Lake Murray has hosted 66 MLF events over the past three decades, this marks the first time the circuit’s premier championship will be held on the lake. The field includes 25 anglers with prior All-American experience, including defending champion Matteo Turano, and four competitors who have previously won events on Lake Murray.
Past champions include some of the sport’s most recognizable names, such as Shaw Grigsby, Jacob Wheeler, Nick LeBrun, and Turano.
Local Insight: Murphy Eyes Unpredictable Conditions
Local angler Lucas Murphy of West Columbia enters the field with strong experience on Lake Murray, including two BFL wins and multiple Top-10 finishes.
Murphy said this year’s conditions are atypical for late spring, with cooler temperatures and lower water levels extending the spawn.
“There’s big fish doing a little bit of everything,” Murphy said. “Normally the spawn would be completely over, but cooler water and lower lake levels have elongated the process.”
With bass in multiple phases—from spawning to postspawn—Murphy expects anglers to rely on versatility. Herring-driven patterns should dominate, with baits such as fluke-style soft plastics and chrome topwater lures playing a key role. At the same time, shallow patterns around bream beds, along with jigs, shaky heads, and drop-shot rigs, could also produce.
Murphy added that limited use of forward-facing sonar will force anglers to adapt throughout the day, balancing offshore structure with docks and shallow cover.
Weights, Weather, and Strategy
Murphy projects a two-day total of 36–40 pounds to reach the Top 10, with a winning three-day weight likely in the mid-to-upper 60-pound range.
Weather conditions will be a critical factor. Wind and cloud cover typically improve the herring bite, while calm, sunny conditions can make fish more difficult to trigger despite the lake’s clarity.
“Getting those fish to see your bait is not hard—getting them to bite it is incredibly difficult,” Murphy said.
He also noted that Lake Murray’s current level—nearly three feet below normal—has reduced the advantage of local knowledge.
“It’s not fishing super friendly to some of the local expertise. A lot of the places fish are getting aren’t the normal stuff.”
Murphy said success may ultimately come down to timing and capitalizing on a handful of key bites.
“I won’t be surprised to do really well, but I also won’t be surprised to struggle. A few big bites can make or break it.”
Event Details
Anglers will launch daily at 6:30 a.m. from Dreher Island State Park in Prosperity, with weigh-ins beginning at 2:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend all launches and weigh-ins.
The full field of 47 boaters and 47 co-anglers will compete on the first two days, with the Top 10 in each division advancing to Championship Saturday. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight.
The Phoenix BFL circuit features 24 divisions and more than 130 events annually, with anglers advancing through regional competition to reach the All-American Championship.
Television coverage of the event will air this fall on CBS Sports.
Photo from Major League Fishing
