After two events on the 2020 Bass Pro Tour, the first group of qualifiers for the first MLF Cup event of 2021 has been identified. These 30 anglers were the Top 30 point-earners through Stage One in Eufaula, Alabama and Stage Two in Okeechobee, Florida, and will compete in the 2021 Challenge Cup.
The qualifiers are as follows:
The most unique aspect of the MLF Cup events is the “no practice/no information” policy. The anglers are given no information about what body of water they will be fishing for the day until they arrive at the boat ramp. While that may seem like a tall task, it’s actually some of the anglers’ favorite part of Cup competition.
“I’ve always liked the no-information rule because it is the purest form of the sport,” said Greg Hackney, the 2018 General Tire World Champion. “Most of the time we go fish somewhere that we’ve never been before. I think the people new to the Cup format will adjust quicker than I did because they’ve really studied it over the years. Watching all the episodes from your couch and then fishing in the Bass Pro Tour I think will equip these guys to handle the pressure.”
There will be two new pros making their MLF Cup debut in the 2021 Challenge Cup: David Dudley and Britt Myers. Dudley, in his first season on the Bass Pro Tour after a storied career with FLW, earned a spot in the Top 30 thanks to 22nd– and a 40th-place finishes in the first two Stages.
After a difficult year in his first season fishing the MLF format in 2019, Myers is happy to get a shot at his first Cup event thanks to two solid finishes—a 12th place and a 26th—to start the 2020 season.
“I’m absolutely stoked,” Myers said. “I’ve always wanted to fish Cup events. That fact that you get no information about where you’re fishing until you show up to the ramp is one of the most interesting things in our sport. I’ve seen all the episodes and have watched the ones airing on Outdoor Channel right now. It shows you who the real instinctual anglers are, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”
The point totals will “reset” for 2021 Heritage Cup qualification starting with General Tire Stage Three Presented by TrueTimber at Lake Fork, Texas. The Top 30 anglers in points will qualify for the 2021 Heritage Cup based on their finishes in Stages Three and Four.