By MLF Communications Staff
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina’s own Bryan Thrift caught a five-bass limit Sunday weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces to win the Major League Fishing REDCREST 2023 at Lake Norman and earn the top prize of $300,000. Thrift’s three-day cumulative total of 46-12 garnered him the win by a 4-06 margin over runner-up Alton Jones, Jr. of Waco, Texas, who earned $50,000.
“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 who “cracked the code” up the Catawba 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 upriver 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 were 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.”
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 first day of competition.
Final Standings
1. Bryan Thrift -- 17-12 (5) -- 15-06 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 46-12 (15) -- $300,000
2. Alton Jones Jr. -- 14-09 (5) -- 17-00 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 42-06 (15) -- $50,000
3. Edwin Evers -- 12-03 (5) -- 14-15 (5) -- 14-12 (5) -- 41-14 (15) -- $40,000
4. Jacob Wheeler -- 15-04 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 11-13 (5) -- 40-11 (15) -- $28,000
5. Matt Lee -- 11-09 (5) -- 17-07 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 40-10 (15) -- $25,000
6. Casey Ashley -- 12-03 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 15-11 (5) -- 40-04 (15) -- $20,000
7. Dustin Connell -- 11-11 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 37-03 (15) -- $18,000
8. Adrian Avena -- 14-04 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 36-13 (15) -- $16,000
9. Randy Howell -- 12-03 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 35-05 (15) -- $14,500
10. Ott DeFoe -- 11-01 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 10-12 (5) -- 34-14 (15) -- $12,500
