Decatur, Wheeler Lake reel in Major League Fishing tournament

DECATUR – The world’s top anglers will make a return to the River City next year, Major League Fishing announced.

Decatur and Wheeler Lake will play host to Stop 3 of the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals season, March 19-21.

Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism, the event will spotlight professional anglers competing over three days for a top award of up to $115,000 and valuable points to qualify for the no-entry-fee Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship and qualification into the Bass Pro Tour.

“Decatur Morgan County Tourism is excited to welcome Major League Fishing (MLF) back to the River City in 2026!” said Don Dukemineer, director of sports development for Decatur Morgan County Tourism. “We are a fishing destination and can’t wait for another unbelievable event in partnership with MLF when we host a Tackle Warehouse Invitational next spring.

“Through our ongoing partnership with MLF, we will experience the excitement of watching the competitors battle it out on Wheeler Lake, while also showcasing all of the capabilities our community offers to visitors who travel to our region.”

Every day of competition will stream live on MLFNOW! at MajorLeagueFishing.com and through the MLF app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble. All six invitationals and the championship will also be televised nationally.

Invitations for the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will be issued to qualifying anglers this fall.

“No other circuit prepares professional anglers for the next step in their career like the Invitationals,” said MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “That makes the Invitationals popular among veteran and up-and-coming pros alike, and this season fans responded to our format, which restricts the use of forward facing and 360-degree sonar to half the qualifying days, with record MLFNOW! viewership at every stop.

“We’re looking forward to carrying that momentum into the 2026 season as we visit some outstanding fisheries.”