Thrift Still Leads As Only 10 Remain

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Photo: MLF/Phoenix Moore

Bigger bites on a swimbait have been the key to Bryan Thrift's tenure atop the standings at REDCREST 2023.

By MLF Communications Staff

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – With one day of competition remaining, local favorite Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, maintained his lead on Day 4 of the Major League Fishing REDCREST 2023 at Lake Norman. Thrift caught five bass Saturday totaling 15 pounds, 6 ounces, and his weight now sits at 10 bass for 33-02, 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 features anglers competing for a top prize of $300,000.

“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 2 1/2-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."

Texas pro Alton Jones Jr. had a great day on Lake Norman, boating a 17-pound limit to vault into second place, just slightly more than a pound and a half 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.”

Matt Lee of Cullman, Alabama, won the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award Saturday with a chunky 5-10 largemouth that he caught on a wacky rig during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the biggest bass each day and a $1,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.

The final-day takeoff ceemony will begin at 7:15 at Blythe Landing Park, located at 15901 N.C. 73 HY in Huntersville, N.C. Anglers will depart at 8 a.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW! livestream and ScoreTracker coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

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. MLF NOW! is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Knockout Round 1

(Figure at far right indicates weight of angler's heaviest fish for the round)

1. Bryan Thrift -- 17-12 (5) -- 15-06 (5) -- 33-02 (10) -- 4-10

2. Alton Jones Jr. -- 14-09 (5) -- 17-00 (5) -- 31-09 (10) -- 4-05

3. Matt Lee -- 11-09 (5) -- 17-07 (5) -- 29-00 (10) -- 5-10

4. Jacob Wheeler -- 15-04 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 28-14 (10) -- 3-11

5. Edwin Evers -- 12-03 (5) -- 14-15 (5) -- 27-02 (10) -- 3-10

6. Randy Howell -- 12-03 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 25-09 (10) -- 3-04

7. Dustin Connell -- 11-11 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 25-07 (10) -- 3-15

8. Adrian Avena -- 14-04 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 25-01 (10) -- 3-08

9. Casey Ashley -- 12-03 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 24-09 (10) -- 4-09

10. Ott DeFoe -- 11-01 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 24-02 (10) -- 3-00