REDCREST was a record-breaker, according to all the stats compiled by Major League Fishing. Four thousand pounds of bass were weighed over four days. Broadcast numbers surged based on an outstanding product but, for me, the highlights of this year's event went beyond the catches.
The host city was baffling. Since when has Huntsville, Ala. been so hip? Big-money efforts to restore the downtown district have resulted in a vibrant atmosphere highlighted by expansive green space and incredible dining options. Remember, I’m a critic, but there was nothing to be critical about in Huntsville. Big Spring dumps a few million gallons of water a day into a series of lakes surrounded by beautiful walking paths and home to enough mallard ducks to make me jittery.
I don’t shop much at the expos, and I’m certainly not in the market for a six-figure bass boat, yet I found myself spending considerable time checking out the Tomcat. It’s the boat that David Dudley used in competition; technically a tri-maran, featuring three hulls. Beneath the gunnel, one can envision a bit of hydroplane influence.
I asked Dudley for his take, and he sighted increased stability and an unparalleled ride. The front deck of this thing is massive, allowing a wide, flat platform all the way to the bow. Storage is unparalleled. The designers ¬ two fish junkies form South Africa, aided by bass great Gerry Jooste – gave me the full tour, showing how they, as anglers, built in special perks. Wiring is run in separate housing depending on application. Every breaker, pump and connection are fully reachable. The gas tank is removable. Really.
Eventually, the expo became too crowded for my recluse personality, pushing me to the media room and the host hotel. I nerded out in the fishing. I’ll admit I never rooted for Dustin Connell. He’d won before - twice - including last year, and, while I love nothing more than dominance in tournament fishing, I was pulling for a dark horse.
Chris Lane made it look easy in the initial round, able to sit out the Knockout at home after cleaning the pool and mowing the lawn. His brother, Bobby, took center stage early. For a minute, it looked like the Lanes might go head-to-head. But Ron Nelson took top honors on Day 3, driven by the instinct that seems to land him in the right place at the right time more often than most.
The final round was greeted by horrendous weather. Initial thoughts were of cancellation, but MLF tends to ride these things out. The format of the BPT allows the competition to side-step the storms, but a delay was still required.
Connell ran 70 miles in driving rain to reach his fish, hauling his official and camera crew through hell. Connell was smart enough to pack a motorcycle helmet, the others just took the beating. The twist in the weather made for interesting competition in a sport now too frequently defined by “nice days only.”
True to fashion, Connell came out strong, catapulting up the leaderboard immediately after dropping the trolling motor, leaving his competitors wondering just how bad it was going to hurt. I secretly rooted for another.
“Big Brown Meat” was Wesley Strader’s pet name for his Tennessee River smallmouth, and he had them dialed in. Fishing a method he’d perfected, Strader took advantage of an uncommon smallmouth bite in the upper reaches of Guntersville. His early fish topped 4 pounds, giving hope that he could run down Connell. As the day progressed, it became obvious only Strader had a chance.
Sixteen pounds down with 40 minutes to go, it looked bad for Wesley. But then he caught a keeper, and another. It could still happen.
In the end, Connell showed why he’s the only three-time REDCREST champion. His focus was unbreakable. “You have to go into kill mode,” he’d say at the press conference.
According to his peers, Connell shouldn’t have won REDCREST. Fishing a tailrace beneath a dam is hardly a winning pattern when the spawn settles in on a place like Guntersville. With so many fish – and big fish – in the shallows, it’s easy picking for the Lane boys, Dudley and Birge.
“I can’t flip with Chris Lane,” was Connell’s answer to the question of why. Why in the world leave all those shallow, easy fish and run 70 miles away? To win REDCREST, he’d have to do it his way.
Connell had never fished below Nickajack dam. He’d peered over the structure one day on a scouting mission, and saw all he needed to. Current, eddies, concrete. Connell was right at home.
Enter, kill mode. While his buddy Jacob Wheeler gets most of the press, Connell again proves that he may be the best big-money player in the game. He joins only VanDam and Clunn with three or more pro-level championship trophies.
Representatives of the most dangerous competitors of their generation, Connell fits the bill. Next year, the stakes will be even higher.
(Joe Balog is the often-outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times.)
