KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The first Major League Fishing Invitational tournament of the 2025 season kicks off this week at Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Competition days are Thursday through Sunday.
The three-day tournament will feature a field of pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000. Anglers will take to the water to catch their five biggest bass each day, and the winner will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative total.
Although Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain have played host to dozens of MLF tournaments over the years – including four Bass Pro Tour events since 2019 – this event marks the first time since 2019 that a professional-level MLF tournament with the five-fish weigh-in format will be held.
Known for its sprawling waterways and healthy bass populations, the Kissimmee Chain should offer anglers the chance to catch fish in all phases of the spawn, setting the stage for an extremely competitive tournament, according to Blake Smith of Lakeland, Florida, who will be among the competitors.
“Since December, we’ve already seen a few waves of fish spawning,” Smith said. “Guys are going to be able to catch some prespawn, some spawning, and some postspawn fish in this one.”
Smith said that he expects Lake Toho, where the tournament launches, to remain the most popular destination on the chain for anglers, but he predicts that some anglers may venture farther due to the dense vegetation.
“Toho is always pretty good, even though right now it is a little choked out,” Smith explained. “There’s a lot of topped-out vegetation, so it’s really going to be a pick-your-poison kind of deal. You can fish Toho and punch and flip grass, or head to the other lakes like Kissimmee, Cypress or Hatchineha. Those lakes absolutely will play in this one, especially for the guys that don’t like flipping.”
Recent weather fluctuations have added another layer of complexity.
“We’ve had some crazy weather in Florida this year,” Smith said. “It’s not been taking tons of weight to win tournaments lately, but somebody is usually in the mid-20s for the top bag.”
When it comes to bait choices, Smith shared some standout picks.
“The first thing I’ll throw, without a doubt, is a Yamamoto Senko – it’s a staple here,” he said. “I think we’ll see a lot more of the bigger glide baits playing as well. They’re getting to be pretty popular down here. I’ll have a Bucca Trick Shad tied on. And I think the traditional Florida favorites like ChatterBaits, swim baits, and (Yamamoto) Speed Senkos will all come into play.”
Smith said he expects the winner to average about 25 pounds per day.
“If you can get to 20 pounds a day, you’re going to be in good shape,” Smith went on to say.
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each day from Big Toho Marina, located at 69 Lakeview Drive in Kissimmee. Weigh-ins will be held at the marina and will begin at 3 p.m.
In Invitational competition, the full field competes in the two-day opening round on Days 1 and 2 in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the Top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round.
New this season, forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar is limited to only Days 1 and 3 of competition. No forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar will be allowed on Day 2.
