The 2026 Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 7 Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches began on Lake Erie out of Sandusky, Ohio, with 51 pro anglers chasing a $125,000 top prize and a share of a $600,000 purse.
The four-day event runs August 6-9, and the first two days matter most for the size of the cut. Every angler starts in the Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday, but only the heaviest two-day total goes straight to Sunday’s Championship Round. Those who finish 2nd through 25th move on to Saturday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed again before the field is narrowed to the final 10 anglers for a one-day shootout on Lake Erie.
That format makes every bass count from the opening cast. One lead after Friday can spare an angler the extra round, but a single weak period can push even a strong fisherman into the middle of the field and force another day of work. The top prize goes to the highest one-day total in Sunday’s Championship Round, so no one carries a cushion into the finale once the weights reset.
Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney are handling the MLFNOW! live coverage, with breakdowns running from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET all four days on MyOutdoorTV.com. The event is also part of the race for Fishing Clash Angler of the Year points, which carry weight beyond Lake Erie because they factor into qualification hopes for REDCREST 2027 and the Kubota Heavy Hitters all-star event.
For the 51 anglers, that makes Stage 7 more than a stop on the calendar. It is the wrap-up of the 2026 Bass Pro Tour season, and the path out of it is tight: one direct berth to Sunday, 24 more to Saturday, and everyone else fighting just to stay alive. By Sunday afternoon, the last cast will decide both the stage winner and how much momentum carries into the next chase.
