PORT HURON, Mich. – Major League Fishing, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that the 2025 MLF Team Series will kick off with the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup, held Aug. 24–29 in Port Huron on Michigan’s Thumbcoast – a premier smallmouth destination nestled on the shores of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River.
Hosted by Discover the Blue Michigan’s Thumbcoast, the location revealed today marks the earliest public announcement of a Team Series host city in league history, part of a new strategy to expand promotion and build fan excitement around each event.
The MLF Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops will feature four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money.
Each six-day event will be streamed live on MLFNOW!, with every catch, cast, and strategic decision unfolding in real-time as teams break down unfamiliar waters and adapt together on the fly.
The 12 teams competing in the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup were selected through an angler draft during Stage 5 of the Bass Pro Tour. Among the field are household names and powerhouse pairings, such as Edwin Evers and Skeet Reese, Michael Neal and Andy Morgan, and the father-son duo of Alton Jones Jr. and Alton Jones.
The 12 teams that will compete in the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup at Port Huron on Michigan’s Thumbcoast, Aug. 24-29, are:
Team BUBBA:
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.
Team StarTron:
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Team 7Brew:
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
Team Lucas Oil:
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.
Team Ferguson:
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Team O’Reilly Auto Parts:
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va.
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas
Team Smokey Mountain:
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.
Team Knighten:
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn.
Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
Team YETI:
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.
Team Fishing Clash:
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo.
Team Kubota:
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
The Heritage Cup will be held from September 14 to 19, and a second draft will take place during Stage 7 of the Bass Pro Tour to determine teams for the Patriot Cup (October 22–27) and Summit Cup (November 16–21).
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Team Series, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news, and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup presented by 5-hour ENERGY
From Junior Heifer Shows to Mustang Magic competitions, the 23-day event brings together 4-H and FFA participants, livestock enthusiasts, and families to celebrate North Texas’ rich Western heritage.
