JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (March. 14, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, is set to continue the fifth season of the Bass Pro Tour, the top level of professional bass fishing, with their second regular-season event of the year this week on Douglas and Cherokee lakes – the U.S. Air Force Stage Two Presented by Power-Pole.
The six-day event, hosted by Visit Jefferson, will showcase 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, including bass-fishing superstars like Kevin VanDam, REDCREST 2023 Champion Bryan Thrift, Jacob Wheeler, Jordan Lee, and Blaine, Tennessee’s own Ott DeFoe. They’ll be competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
“For two lakes to be so close, look alike, and have similar topography, they fish vastly different,” said DeFoe, who has more than $2.7 million in career earnings. “Cherokee has more largemouth than ever, but it’s mainly a smallmouth fishery. Douglas has some smallmouth in it, but the largemouth are dominant.”
Another difference is the current cycle of the two lakes, with Cherokee fishing exceptionally well and Douglas being more challenging than it has traditionally been.
“The numbers are very good on Douglas, but the size is down compared to how it was in years past,” he said. “Cherokee has been great the past several years and is full of solid 3-pounders.”
The late March setting of this date is about perfect, according to DeFoe.
“It’s about a week earlier than what I would say is the best time of the year to fish in Tennessee, but the fishing should be excellent,” he said. “The fish will be in a prespawn pattern, and we’ll see guys catch them with jerkbaits, crankbaits, swimbaits, and vibrating jigs. There should still be a good deep bite, and the ‘Damiki Rig’ will also catch some fish.”
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET each day. The Qualifying Round (first four days of competition) will be held on Douglas Lake, with anglers launching from the Dandridge Ramp, located at 100 Public Drive, in Dandridge, Tennessee. The Knockout and Championship Round will be held on Cherokee Lake, with anglers launching from the TVA Boat Launch, located on Renfro Road in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch locations, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Championship Saturday, March 23, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to come in to celebrate the top 10 and crown the U.S. Air Force Stage Two Champion at the Trophy Presentation. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The U.S. Air Force Stage Two at Cherokee and Douglas Lakes Presented by Power-Pole will feature pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on a fishery to be announced.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the U.S. Air Force Stage Two at Cherokee and Douglas Lakes Presented by Power-Pole will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 16 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Tennessee’s Cherokee & Douglas Lakes set to Host MLF Bass Pro Tour
Bassmaster Classic venues will be carbon-neutral thanks to partnership with TVA
Bassmaster Classic venues will be carbon-neutral thanks to partnership with TVA" title="Bassmaster Classic venues will be carbon-neutral thanks to partnership with TVA" />
The Knoxville Utilities Board and TVA are helping the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota go green by reducing carbon emissions from Volunteer Landing, the Knoxville Convention Center and Thompson-Boling Arena through Renewable Energy Credits.
Photo by B.A.S.S.
March 14, 2023
Bassmaster Classic venues will be carbon-neutral thanks to partnership with TVA
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Tennessee Valley Authority and B.A.S.S., in conjunction with local authorities and the Knoxville Utilities Board, are partnering to make venues for the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota carbon-neutral.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, the Knoxville Utilities Board and TVA are helping the Classic go green by reducing carbon emissions from Volunteer Landing, the Knoxville Convention Center and Thompson-Boling Arena through Renewable Energy Credits. While hosting 100,000 or more enthusiastic fishing fans, TVA’s renewable programs will allow the event to match 100% of their electricity usage with renewable energy and create the first-ever carbon-neutral Classic venues. This is just one of many ways the B.A.S.S. organization is working to positively impact the communities we visit and protect precious natural resources throughout the year.
“B.A.S.S. has a history of making conservation of our aquatic resources a high priority. TVA has been a partner in those efforts for many years, working hand-in-hand with our state B.A.S.S. Nation chapters on citizen advisory committees, habitat enhancement projects and lake clean-ups,” said B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland.
Yamaha Rightwaters and Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful are teaming up with anglers Ish Monroe, Bobby Lane and Bill Lowen for a community litter clean-up event on Tuesday, March 21 near Fort Loudoun. Last year, volunteers from communities in Tennessee, New York and Wisconsin pulled just under 18,200 pounds of trash from the ramps and shores of Chickamauga Lake, Pickwick Lake, Oneida Lake and the Mississippi River as part of the 2022 Bassmaster Lake Clean-Up Challenges sponsored by AFTCO and Yamaha Rightwaters.
The TVA was founded on renewable energy with hydro-power from dams along the Tennessee River, and today solar and other green sources play a growing role in meeting energy needs. As part of their presence at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic, the organization will host an Environmental Stewardship Luncheon to highlight their work in protecting and enhancing vital public lands and water resources.
“TVA’s clean energy portfolio is a key component that everyone can use to help protect our region’s natural resources,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Resource Management and Operations Services Bob Dalrymple. “TVA and B.A.S.S. are environmental leaders and we’re proud to partner with them to make the first-ever carbon-neutral Classic venues possible.”
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.
For more information on TVA’s sustainability efforts, visit TVA.com/environment.
The Bassmaster Classic is being hosted by Visit Knoxville.
YOLOtek Never miss a minute of the Action
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Taming Temperatures with an Athletic Design
Taming Temperatures with an Athletic Design" title="Taming Temperatures with an Athletic Design" />
| Taming Temperatures with an Athletic Design |
| Now available, Tamer™ Softshell Jacket & Bib fishing suit is built for multispecies fishing in cooler temperatures |
| MUSKEGON, Mich. (March 13, 2023) – Designed specifically to deliver discerning multispecies anglers with a functional and affordable weather-resistant fishing apparel option for cooler to cold days, the 2023 Whitewater® Tamer™ Softshell Jacket & Bibis unmatched when it comes to staying dry, warm, mobile, and flexible. Whether you’re chasing early- or late-season bass, walleyes, steelhead/salmon, muskies, saltwater species or anything that bites, the Whitewater Tamer is built for the task. |
| Put through-the-paces with the NEXT BITE staff and winning FLW, AIM, and MLF tournament walleye anglers (Gary Parsons, Chase Parsons, Jason Przekurat, Tommy Kemos, and Korey Sprengel), as well as Matt and Jim Schiefelbein; steelhead/salmon guides; notable muskie anglers; and B.A.S.S. Elite Pro, Jay Przekurat, Whitewater’s 2023 Whitewater Tamer Softshell Jacket & Bib is designed top-to-bottom to play well in cool to cold weather fishing situations. |
| NEXUS Outdoors president and product design advisor, Aaron Ambur, remarks: “There’s been a lack of well-designed and rugged fishing apparel for cooler to cold, windy, and wet days whether you’re fishing early- or late-season bass, chasing walleyes, or just out spring or fall fishing. To date, no company has offered the balanced protection and warmth into garments without constricting the highly mobile and athletic movements of an active fisherman. The Whitewater Tamer Softshell Jacket & Bib delivers the perfect balance like no other suit to date, period.” |
| Winning B.A.S.S. Elite pro, Jay Przekurat, offers: “For bass fishing in cooler to cold conditions this is my go-to suit. The range-of-movement is outstanding for standing on the deck and fishing as hard as I do. It’s not bulky or heavy and still windproof, repels wave spray and rain, and has a grid fleece lining to keep me warm on tournament days, from dark and cold early mornings through run and gunning at high speed from spot-to-spot throughout the day on big waters.” |
| Jay’s father, winning walleye pro, Jason Przekurat adds that the Whitewater Tamer Softshell Jacket & Bib makes a great under-layer to the Whitewater Great Lakes Jacket & Bib for added warmth for fishing on-the-ice, midwinter to early-spring open-water river fishing, and anytime when temperatures fall – spring, fall, or winter.“I like to layer the two systems, especially when I’m fishing on the Great Lakes,” notes the elder Przekurat. “It’s really the ultimate system for big-water fishing in cold, wet, and windy conditions. I’ve never worn anything like it. We spent a great deal of time running through prototypes until we got each suit exactly right. When you’re fishing tournaments like Jay and I are, you can’t worry about the elements, but that’s a problem with some of the apparel out there. You still must fish, and we can do that with Whitewater.” |
| Features:Whitewater Tamer Softshell Jacket Windproof breathable highly water-resistant softshell polyester stretch fabric Grid fleece lining for thermal regulation DWR treated for repel moisture 3-piece hood adjustable for fit Sleeve, chest & back shoulder reflective tape for visibility Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor fobs) Two waist pockets & a welded chest pocket to keep gear dry Sleeve insert with a built-in thumbhole opening for security Jacket comes inGrayish “Shade” w/black accents (270) Item No: 1085410MSRP: $219.99 (SM-3X) |
| Features:Whitewater Tamer Softshell Bib Windproof breathable highly water-resistant softshell polyester stretch fabric Grid fleece lining for thermal regulation DWR treated to repel moisture Multiple reflective tape placements for visibility Two sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor fob) Three pockets (2 cargo, 1 chest) to keep gear dry Covered leg zippers for easy dressing over boots Adjustable silicone suspenders with grip Bib comes in all-black “Charcoal” (099) Item No: 1085424MSRP: $219.99 (SM-3X) |
| No matter what species you chase, the goal is to quickly locate and catch fish no matter the conditions. Designed and engineered by pro anglers with an elite combination of materials and technologies, the all-new Whitewater® Tamer™ Softshell Jacket & Bib gives serious anglers every possible advantage during the common challenges of foul, cold, cool, wet, and windy conditions. Apparel will soon be available at dealers but is available online NOW at whitewaterfish.com. |
Hometown Favorite Bryan Thrift Wins REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman
Hometown Favorite Bryan Thrift Wins REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman " title="Hometown Favorite Bryan Thrift Wins REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman " />
Shelby, North Carolina’s Bryan Thrift Dominates REDCREST 2023 to win Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour Championship and Earn $300,000 Top Prize
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 12, 2023) – North Carolina’s own Bryan Thrift caught a five-bass limit Sunday weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2023 presented by Shore Lunch at Lake Norman , the Bass Pro Tour championship, and earn the top prize of $300,000. Thrift’s three-day cumulative total of 46 pounds, 12 ounces garnered him the win by a 4-pound, 6-ounce margin over second-place finisher Alton Jones, Jr. of Waco, Texas, who earned $50,000 for his runner-up finish.
Link to Photo Gallery of Highlights from Day 4 on Lake Norman
Link to Video of Day 5 Highlights from REDCREST 2023 on Lake Norman
“Oh my god, this feels so good,” said an emotional Thrift in his post-game interview. “Two years ago, at Lake Eufaula (in Alabama) I was leading REDCREST going into the final day, and I thought for sure that I had a really, really good chance to win. Then I ended up barely catching a fish the last day… I’ve thought about that tournament for two years.
“This week has been great, but it’s been a tough, trying last two days,” Thrift continued. “Luckily, I had one spot that I saved in case I got in a pinch today and it worked out.”
Thrift’s history and experience on Lake Norman played a huge role this week, but Thrift also seemed to be the only angler that “cracked the code” up the river. Numerous anglers would try to go up the river each day to target bass, and each day they would come back down unsuccessful. On Sunday Thrift went to his spot up the river and that produced four of the five fish in his limit Sunday, likely saving his tournament.
“I never was able to get the big bites that I needed, but the place I was saving up in the river came through for me with the (Z-Man Jack Hammer) ChatterBait,” Thrift said.
Key baits throughout the week for Thrift was the Jack Hammer, a Damiki Underspin with a Damiki Armor Shad, a Fitzgerald Football jig, and an unnamed 5.8-inch swimbait.
“Everything worked as planned,” Thrift said. “I planned to find a place where I could start and catch a decent limit every day, then I’d go run and throw a swimbait and a jig to try to get a couple of big bites.
“I’m just so happy to get this win, on my home lake, in front of all of my friends and family,” Thrift went on to say as he wiped tears from his eyes. “Lake Norman has been awfully good to me over the years.”
The top 10 pros at REDCREST 2023 on Lake Norman finished:
1st: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 15 bass, 46-12, $300,000
2nd: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 15 bass, 42-6, $50,000
3rd: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 15 bass, 41-14, $40,000
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 40-11, $28,000
5th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 15 bass, 40-10, $25,000
6th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 15 bass, 40-4, $20,000
7th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 15 bass, 37-3, $18,000
8th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 15 bass, 36-13, $16,000
9th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 35-5, $14,500
10th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 15 bass, 34-14, $12,500
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall there were 82 scorable bass weighing 175 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the final 10 pros Sunday. Throughout the entire five-day event, the 40 Bass Pro Tour REDCREST 2023 competitors caught a total of 1,105 scorable bass weighing 2,321 pounds, 4 ounces.
Pro Casey Ashley of Donalds, South Carolina, earned Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 5-pound largemouth that he caught on a jig in Period 3. Edwin Evers earned the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus for weighing in the heaviest bass of the event – a 6-pound largemouth that he caught on the very first day of competition.
REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman was hosted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Visit Lake Norman and the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, and showcased the top 40 professional anglers from the 2022 Bass Pro Tour.
Television coverage of REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch will be showcased across two, two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 1 and July 8 on Discovery Channel. Starting in July 2023, MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery Channel, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, Toro, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
What’s kept Jacob Wheeler in the top 5 going into the final day at REDCREST 2023
Take a listen as Jacob Wheeler, Matt Lee & Alton Jones Jr. gives a look at making it to the final day of REDCREST 2023 on Lake Norman.
Photos Courtesy of MLF
Why Should you be throwing Lawless Lures
Take a listen as Shawn Rice gives us a look at why Lawless Lours should be in your tackle box.
Final 10 Set for Championship Sunday at Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman
Final 10 Set for Championship Sunday at Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman " title="Final 10 Set for Championship Sunday at Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman " />
Local Pro Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, Brings 1-Pound, 9-Ounce Lead into Final Day of Competition Sunday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 11, 2023) – With one day left in competition, local favorite Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, maintained his lead on Day 4 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2023 presented by Shore Lunch at Lake Norman , the Bass Pro Tour championship. Thrift caught five bass Saturday totaling 15 pounds, 6 ounces, and his weight now sits at 10 bass for 33-2, giving him a 1-pound, 9-ounce cushion over second place as the event heads into the fifth and final day.
The field is now trimmed to just the top 10, and competition resumes Sunday. The five-day event, hosted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Visit Lake Norman and the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, features anglers competing to become pro bass fishing’s newest world champion, and a top cash prize of $300,000.
Link to Photo Gallery of Highlights from Day 4 on Lake Norman
Link to Livestream Video of REDCREST Day 4 on Lake Norman
“It was a lot tougher for me today,” Thrift said in his post-game interview. “I got into a new area and was able to get a limit of 2½ pounders. That gave me a decent limit where I knew I’d be within striking distance if I wasn’t still in the lead, so I was able to slow down and pick that big swimbait up and luckily caught another big one. I only got two bites on the swimbait, today.
“Tomorrow I’m going to have to do the same thing – I’ve got to get three or four bites from that swimbait if I’m going to have a chance to win this tournament. I’m going to put it in my hand for a large portion of the day and we’ll see what happens,” Thrift went on to say.
Texas pro Alton Jones, Jr., had a great day on Lake Norman, boating a 17-pound limit to vault into second place, just 1 pound, 9 ounces, behind Thrift.
“I caught all of my five-bass limit today on a wacky rig with a 7-foot, medium Kistler Z-Bone rod,” said Jones. “It’s been a lot of fun this week catching the mixed bags – some largemouth and some spots. But we’ve got some weather coming tomorrow, and we’ll see what happens.
“All I wanted was a chance, and we’ve got a really good one at that,” Jones continued. “Tomorrow it’s going to be all about who can get those two 4-pound bites. Somebody is going to do it in the top 10, whether it’s me, Thrift, or someone from further back in the pack. All in all, it was a super blessed day today and I can’t wait to get out there tomorrow.”
The top 10 pros that made the cut and will advance to the final day of competition on Lake Norman:
1st: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 33-2
2nd: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 31-9
3rd: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 29-0
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 28-14
5th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 27-2
6th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-9
7th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 25-7
8th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 25-1
9th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 10 bass, 24-9
10th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 24-2
Finishing in 11th through 15th place are:
11th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 10 bass, 23-15, $10,000
12th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 23-13, $10,000
13th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 22-14, $10,000
14th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., eight bass, 22-7, $10,000
15th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 19-8, $10,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 151 scorable bass weighing 327 pounds, 15 ounces caught by the 15 pros Saturday.
Pro Matt Lee of Cullman, Alabama, won the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award Saturday with a chunky 5-pound, 10-ounce largemouth that he caught on a wacky rig during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $1,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.
All 40 Anglers competed on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field was cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total (10 bass) cumulative weight. Weights were zeroed, and the top 20 anglers competed on Day 3 (Friday). The field was trimmed to 15 anglers on Day 4 (Saturday), then now only the final 10 anglers will compete on Day 5 (Sunday). The winner is determined by the heaviest three-day total (15 bass) cumulative weight with the winner earning the top prize of $300,000 and the REDCREST 2023 trophy.
The General Tire Take Off Ceremony Presented by X2 Power will begin at 7:15 a.m. on Championship Sunday, at Blythe Landing Park, located at 15901 N.C. 73 HY, in Huntersville, North Carolina. Anglers will depart at 8 a.m. on Sunday. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In conjunction with the event, the FREE, family-friendly General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Shore Lunch will also take place Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at The Park Expo and Conference Center, located at 800 Briar Creek Road, in Charlotte. Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to visit numerous booths and vendors, showcasing the latest and greatest in fishing, boating and the outdoors. The biggest names in the outdoor industry will be on hand, including the professional anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour and fishing legends like Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin and Hank Parker.
Throughout the day there will be giveaways and prizes, including signed MLF angler jerseys, rods and reels, gift cards, and more. On Sunday one lucky attendee will walk away with a brand new 2023 Toyota Tundra SR5 Crew Max. Fans must be present to win the Toyota Tundra drawing. For more information on the General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Shore Lunch, visit REDCRESTExpo.com.
The 2022 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 40 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the seven events qualified to compete in REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Championship Sunday. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch will be showcased across two, two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 1 and July 8 on Discovery Channel. Starting in July 2023, MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery Channel, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, Toro, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Brody with Knockout Fishing talks Why you should have the Knockout Fishing Ott O Retriever
Take a listen to why you should have one of these on your boats & kayaks.