The TuffMan Series Schedule has moved from its September opener into a fall-winter run that gives Texas bass teams a clear sequence of tournament dates, formats, and electronics rules. As of September 28, 2026, Event 1 at Lake Limestone had already been completed on September 13, 2026, while the next stop at Stillhouse Hollow Lake was set for October 4, 2026, according to the official TUFF-Man Series site. That timing matters for anglers because the series is not only moving across different Central Texas fisheries; it is also alternating between forward-facing sonar events and NON-FFS events.
TuffMan Series Schedule At A Glance
The fall-winter slate is built around five regular events and a two-day championship. The regular schedule runs from September 13, 2026, through January 10, 2027, before the championship on February 6-7, 2027, at Lake Waco. The structure gives teams a steady monthly rhythm, but it also forces them to prepare for two different tournament identities: events where forward-facing sonar is allowed and events where it is not.
TuffMan Series Schedule Status By Date
Because September 28, 2026, is the date of this preview, Lake Limestone belongs in the results column rather than the preview column. The rest of the published dates remain ahead on the calendar.
| Event | Location | Date | Format | Status On September 28, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event 1 | Lake Limestone | September 13, 2026 | FFS | Concluded |
| Event 2 | Stillhouse Hollow Lake | October 4, 2026 | NON-FFS | Upcoming |
| Event 3 | Richland Chambers | November 8, 2026 | FFS | Upcoming |
| Event 4 | Lake Whitney | December 13, 2026 | NON-FFS | Upcoming |
| Event 5 | Lake Belton | January 10, 2027 | FFS | Upcoming |
| Championship | Lake Waco | February 6-7, 2027 | Day 1 FFS, Day 2 NON-FFS | Upcoming |
The TuffMan Series Schedule gives teams enough time between most stops to reset equipment, review local rules, and decide how they want to practice. The biggest adjustment is not simply the next lake. It is the next format.
What Lake Limestone Already Told The Field
Event 1 at Lake Limestone gave the series a strong competitive baseline. The opener drew 83 teams, and those teams weighed a total of 857.92 pounds. Cris Tatum and Justin Tatum won with a five-fish limit of 26.65 pounds, and they also had the event’s Big Bass at 7.82 pounds. Those are the confirmed marks from the first stop, and they set a measurable standard before the series turns to Stillhouse Hollow Lake.
Event 1 Set A High Bar
The Lake Limestone results also included 291 fish weighed and 275 released, a release rate of about 95 percent. For a community series, that number carries weight because it connects competition with fish care. Tournament bass fishing asks teams to produce under pressure, but the best events also protect the fishery that makes the schedule possible.
The Tatum team’s 26.65-pound winning bag gives the rest of the field a real target, but it should not be treated as a direct projection for the remaining lakes. The research provided for this preview confirms the weights and dates, but it does not include lake conditions, weather patterns, field lists for future stops, or practice reports. That means the Lake Limestone result is best used as a competition marker rather than a forecast.
Format Split Puts Electronics Decisions In Play
The TuffMan Series Schedule is especially interesting because of its FFS and NON-FFS split. Lake Limestone was an FFS event. Stillhouse Hollow Lake on October 4, 2026, is listed as NON-FFS. Richland Chambers on November 8, 2026, returns to FFS. Lake Whitney on December 13, 2026, is NON-FFS. Lake Belton on January 10, 2027, is FFS. The Lake Waco championship then uses both formats: Day 1 FFS and Day 2 NON-FFS.
How NON-FFS Changes The Prep Week
For NON-FFS events, the stated rule note says forward-facing sonar equipment such as Garmin LiveScope and Lowrance ActiveTarget is prohibited, with utility rules that include lock-out requirements during competition and inspections. That makes preparation more than a fishing decision. Teams have to make sure their electronics setup matches the format before they reach takeoff.
The off-limits note also matters. Each lake opens for off-limits scouting starting at midnight the Sunday before the event and remains off-limits until the official launch time. That creates a defined practice window. Anglers who are used to stretching scouting across the week need to build their plan around the rule, not around habit.
Regular events are listed at around $265 per team, and the championship is listed at $315 per team. The research provided here does not include prize-payout breakdowns or qualifying details, so those points are not reported in this preview.
Community Calendar And Travel Notes
This series sits in the part of the Texas fishing calendar where local tournament planning starts to overlap with hunting seasons, school schedules, holiday weekends, and cold-weather boat prep. That is why confirmed dates are useful. Teams can see Stillhouse Hollow Lake on October 4, Richland Chambers on November 8, Lake Whitney on December 13, Lake Belton on January 10, and Lake Waco on February 6-7 without guessing at the order.
Where The Series Fits For Texas Anglers
The TuffMan Series Schedule also gives weekend anglers a way to follow Central Texas bass competition after many summer patterns have faded. For readers comparing inland bass dates with other Texas fishing options, the broader fall calendar of Texas fishing events shows how busy the state can get once September turns into October.
Community gatherings around tournament weekends often extend beyond the ramp. Families, local businesses, boat owners, and anglers all end up part of the same sports circle, even when only two anglers per boat are officially competing. For readers who track outdoor recreation across the same network, Triple T Powersports provides relevant powersports coverage, positioning itself as a parallel resource while this preview stays focused on the tournament slate and fishing implications.
The travel side is straightforward but still important. The listed stops require teams to think ahead about launch routines, electronics compliance, fuel, food, and timing. None of those items win a tournament by themselves, but poor planning can take time away from fishing. In a monthly series, clean logistics are part of staying competitive.
TuffMan Series Fall-Winter Stakes
The TuffMan Series Schedule now shifts from a completed Lake Limestone opener to a run of events that will test consistency across formats. Stillhouse Hollow Lake brings the first NON-FFS test on October 4, 2026. Richland Chambers brings FFS back on November 8. Lake Whitney removes it again on December 13. Lake Belton restores it on January 10, 2027. The Lake Waco championship then asks teams to handle both approaches across two days.
That structure rewards more than one style of fishing. Teams that leaned on forward-facing sonar at Lake Limestone will have to show they can compete without it at Stillhouse Hollow Lake. Teams that prefer a lower-tech approach still have to deal with FFS days later in the schedule. The mixed format is the central sporting storyline because it keeps the series from becoming one narrow test.
As of September 28, 2026, the confirmed facts are clear: one event is complete, five tournament dates remain, and the electronics format changes are built into the path to Lake Waco. For Texas bass fishermen, that makes the next step simple on paper but demanding on the water. The schedule is known. The execution is still ahead.