BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Young anglers will get the chance to fish some of the country’s most legendary bass fisheries and emerging trophy lakes as B.A.S.S. announces the 2026 Bassmaster College Series, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series and Bassmaster Junior Series schedules. The College Series season will once again feature both the Legends Trail and the Lunkers Trail, spotlighting iconic lakes and big-bass waters while offering a pathway for youth and collegiate anglers to grow within the sport.
The Legends Trail will showcase some of the sport’s most historic venues. Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Fla., has long been considered one of the premier trophy bass lakes in the country, and Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas is a perennial favorite on Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list. The trail will conclude at Kerr Reservoir in Oklahoma, a fishery that rewards versatility with its mix of structure and cover.
Meanwhile, the Lunkers Trail highlights lakes famous for producing giant bass. The season will begin on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, one of the most recognized big-bass factories in the world. Anglers will then head to South Carolina’s Santee Cooper Lakes, which recently ranked No. 7 on Bassmaster’s 2025 100 Best Bass Lakes list, before finishing at Virginia’s James River, a tidal system that adds a unique and challenging element to the season.
The High School and Junior Series will share a four-event schedule that takes competitors from Florida grass lakes to massive Texas reservoirs before heading to Santee Cooper for a springtime slugfest and finally wrapping up at Oklahoma’s Kerr Reservoir. Each stop offers a distinct test of skill, from flipping heavy cover to finessing clear-water smallmouth.
The Bassmaster College, High School and Junior Series continue to spotlight the sport’s brightest young talent while providing unforgettable opportunities on world-class fisheries.
2026 College Series Legends Trail
- Jan. 22-23 — Lake Toho, Kissimmee, Fla.
- Feb. 25-26 — Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper County, Texas
- April 29-30 — Kerr Reservoir, Sallisaw, Okla.
2026 College Series Lunkers Trail
- Jan. 28-29 — Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee, Fla.
- April 8-9 — Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County, S.C.
- May 29-30 — James River, Richmond, Va.
2026 High School/Junior Series Schedule
- Jan. 18 — Lake Toho, Kissimmee, Fla.
- March 1 — Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper County, Texas
- April 12 — Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County, S.C.
- May 3 — Kerr Reservoir, Sallisaw, Okla.
Registration Dates
- Legends Trail — Oct. 28, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT
- Lunkers Trail — Nov. 4, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT
- Single-event entry — Nov. 11, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT
- High School — Dec. 2, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT
- Junior — Dec. 9, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT
2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2025 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Presenting Sponsor: Lew's
2025 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
2025 Bassmaster High School Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2025 Bassmaster High School Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster High School Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster High School Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
2025 Bassmaster High School Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano