California Delta Readies to Host Toyota Series Event - Major League Fishing
California Delta Readies to Host Toyota Series Event
2y • MLF • Press Releases
MLF announces launch of new multi-year  sponsorship and licensing partnership with REDCON1
1d • MLF • Bass Pro Tour
Lake Havasu readies to host Toyota Series Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse 
1d • MLF • Press Releases
Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats set to close out Central Division season with event at Lake Chickamauga
2d • MLF • Press Releases
MillerTech renews and expands Major League Fishing sponsorship
3d • MLF • Press Releases
Virginia’s Winebarger earns first career win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at South Holston Lake
4d • MLF • Press Releases
Dickson’s True skips docks to win Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at Tims Ford Lake
4d • MLF • Press Releases
Oxford’s Hodge overcomes high-water conditions to win Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at Grenada Lake
4d • MLF • Press Releases
West Palm Beach’s Terescenko posts second career win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at Lake Okeechobee
4d • MLF • Press Releases
Retired U.S. Air Force Vet Earns First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at DeGray Lake
4d • MLF • Press Releases
Robinson and Davenport tie for the win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at Lake Mitchell
4d • MLF • Press Releases
Alabama’s Andrew Nordbye surges to win Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 3 at Kentucky Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats
5d • MLF • Press Releases
Ebare catches 21 pounds for second consecutive day to take lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 3 at Kentucky Lake Presented by Phoenix Boats
5d • MLF • Press Releases
Lake Eufaula readies for Bass Pro Tour MillerTech Stage Four Presented by REDCON1 
1w • MLF • Press Releases
Local volunteers join MLF pros and Fisheries Management Division to deploy artificial fish habitat into Center Hill Reservoir
1w • MLF • Fisheries Management Division

California Delta Readies to Host Toyota Series Event

Image for California Delta Readies to Host Toyota Series Event
May 10, 2021 • MLF • Press Releases

OAKLEY, Calif. – The Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Western Division will kick off its 2021 season with a tournament this week in Oakley, California, May 13-15, with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at the California Delta. Hosted by the City of Oakley, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.

With two top-10 finishes in Major League Fishing (MLF) competition on the Delta, Toyota Series angler Kyle Grover of Rancho Santa Margarita, California isn’t a local, but he stays in tune with the fishery. 

“It’s like a giant golf course pond – it’s massive and everything looks good,” said Grover. “I’ve been fishing there for eight years now, and I’ve never caught ‘em in the same place twice. It’s always different, every single time – there’s always fish in the lakes, but it changes every year.”

With the tournament being in May, Grover said he expects most of the fish to be done spawning and in postspawn and summer patterns.

“It’s gonna be a mixture of everything for sure,” said Grover. “There hasn’t been a whole lot of rain this year, and we’ve got the full moon going on right now. So, you’re still going to have some spawners, but I think more postspawn. More than likely there was a major flood of fish spawning there last week, so it will be more postspawn, and probably a lot of fish in the main areas of the Delta and places near the main current. They spawn early in the backend sloughs and stuff – now they’ll be closer to more water movement.”

Given the tournament should lean toward a postspawn event, Grover said he thinks a lot of the staple patterns will come into play.

“The same old Delta stuff will be the deal,” said Grover. “Topwater will be a big deal – there will be multiple guys in the top 10 throwing frogs and punching. There’s typically always going to be one or two guys finesse  fishing as well.”

Regardless of the patterns, Grover said he believes it will be a good event.

“It’ll take 18 to 20 pounds a day to make the cut, somewhere in that 38-pound range for two days,” said Grover. “I bet someone will crack a big bag one day at least and follow it up with some 20-pound days to win. This time of year, you’re definitely going to see some mid- to upper-20-pound bags. It’s going to be a really good tournament and some good fishing for sure.”

Grover said flipping and punching baits are a must on the fishery this time of year, as are crankbaits, vibrating jigs and topwaters like a River2Sea Whopper Plopper or a buzzbait.

“I always like to have a lot of margarita mutilator Roboworm Straight Tail Worms in my boat, fishing in the lakes around where they’ve been spawning,” said Grover. “Then, a Snag Proof frog to get better quality bites, and a Paycheck Baits punch skirt with a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver to flip.”  

Anglers will take off daily at 6 a.m. PT from Big Break Marina in Oakley. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 2 p.m. daily. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.

The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.