MANCHESTER, Tenn. (Major League Fishing) — Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, continues the 2026 Starlink Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops season this week, with the Toyota Heritage Cup Presented by OFF!® Deep Woods® Repellents, Sunday, Oct. 18, through Friday, Oct. 23 in Manchester, Tennessee.
Hosted by Experience Tennessee, in partnership with Manchester, TN, Winchester, TN, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, Bill Dance Signature Lakes and Fish Tennessee, the Heritage Cup will bring MLF’s Team Series competition to Manchester’s Middle Tennessee community where outdoor adventure, rich history and a celebrated music culture come together. Home to Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park and surrounded by the scenic rivers, lakes and rolling landscape that define the region, Manchester provides a natural setting for an event built around competition, camaraderie and the outdoor traditions that have long been part of Tennessee’s heritage.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Major League Fishing and the Heritage Cup to Manchester and Middle Tennessee,” said Dennis Tumlin, Chief Customer Officer of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. “Tennessee’s incredible waterways, natural beauty, and deep-rooted outdoor traditions make our state an ideal destination for an event of this caliber. The Heritage Cup is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Manchester and the surrounding region to a national audience while highlighting the world-class fishing and outdoor experiences that make Tennessee such a special place to visit.”
“Hosting the Major League Fishing Heritage Cup gives Manchester and Middle Tennessee an opportunity to turn national attention into lasting discovery,” said Ryan French, Executive Director and CEO of the South Central Tennessee Tourism Association. “Fishing may bring people here, but it also opens the door to our small towns, local restaurants, live music, and Tennessee hospitality. We want viewers to see these waters and imagine their own trip here, then come experience the communities and people that make southern middle Tennessee special.”
In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols, all fishable waters within 60 miles of Manchester, Tennessee, have been off limits to competing anglers since the location was revealed to them in early September. The competition waters for each day are top-secret and only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. The RFD-TV+ live broadcast begins on the water at 9 a.m. CT.
The Starlink Team Series features four Cup events in 2026 – the Patriot, Heritage, Challenge and Summit Cups – each showcasing 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money across all four events.
Fans can follow all six days of competition live on RFD-TV+, with coverage capturing every hookset, strategic decision, and on-the-water adjustment as teams break down unfamiliar fisheries in real time. RFD-TV will carry the final hour of competition live each day from 4-5 p.m. ET, and stream each event starting at 10 AM ET on RFD-TV+
The 12 teams competing in the Toyota Heritage Cup OFF!® Deep Woods® Repellents in Manchester, Tennessee are:
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Nick LeBrun, Benton, La.
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Team Lucas Oil:
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Team BUBBA:
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark.
Team MillerTech:
Jacob Wheeler, Birchwood, Tenn.
Adrian Avena, Marmora, N.J.
Team Ferguson:
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
Team O’Reilly Auto Parts:
Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn.
Dustin Smith, Trussville, Ala.
Team Knighten Industries:
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va.
Team OFF! Deep Woods:
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
Team Kubota:
Jesse Wiggins, Logan, Ala.
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Team Star brite:
Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala.
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Team Lowrance:
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Team YETI:
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Stream the Major League Fishing Team Series Heritage Cup LIVE from Manchester, Tenn., on RFD-TV+, starting Sunday, October 18 at 10 AM ET, with hosts Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney breaking down every minute of the action. Fans can also catch the final round of competition LIVE each day at 4:00 PM ET only on RFD-TV.
