The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to visit Eufaula this week ,May 1-3, for the third and final regular-season event of the 2025 season in the Toyota Series Southwestern division – the Toyota Series at Lake Eufaula.
The three-day bass tournament, hosted by Vision Eufaula, will showcase the region’s top bass-fishing boaters and co-anglers competing for a grand prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.
With recent heavy rains flooding the system, anglers can expect a much different Lake Eufaula than in years past. For pro Eli Brumnett of Wagoner, Oklahoma – last year’s runner-up at this event – next week is all about redemption.
“We’ve had eight inches of rain this past week and we’re getting more (this) week,” Brumnett said. “The lake’s already four and a half feet up, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it hit five and a half or six by the time the tournament starts.”
With water in the bushes across the lake and spawning activity still underway, Brumnett expects a strong flipping bite to take center stage.
“Some of the fish are still on beds, but a lot of those big pre-spawners are hanging around that original bank line,” he explained. “That’s where a flipping pattern or even a spinnerbait could really shine. It’s gonna fish totally different than last year.”
In 2024, the lake was two feet lower, limiting the productive shallow areas.
“Last year, you really had to hunt for water in the bushes. This time, you’ll find it just about everywhere.”
Brumnett’s go-to baits for the event include a black and blue creature bait for flipping, a 6th Sense Divine Spinnerbait, and possibly a 6th Sense Crush squarebill if fish are positioned just outside of shallow cover.
“If the water levels stay consistent and don’t fluctuate too much, I think we’ll see some really solid weights,” he predicted. “You might see a couple 20-pound bags, but I think 16 to 18 pounds a day could win, and you’ll probably need at least 13 pounds a day to make the cut.”
Anglers will begin each day at 6:30 a.m. CT, launching from the Nichols Point Boat Ramp, located at 400 Lakeshore Drive in Eufaula. Weigh-ins will take place at the boat ramp, starting at 2:30 p.m. daily. Fans are invited to attend in person and can also stay connected by following the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily updates on MajorLeague-Fishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular- season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500).
With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Co-anglers compete for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.
The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and the Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions.
Anglers who fish in any of the five divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2026. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2025 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 6-8 on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, and is hosted by the City of Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau.
Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeague-Fishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
