2024 REDCREST Championship: KVD’s Last Chance For a Big Red Trophy

The History

As I mentioned, there have been four other such Championship tournaments to date, starting in 2019 (and missing 2020 for reasons we’d all prefer to forget).

Edwin Evers was crowned the first Champion in a blowout, commanding final day performance on the Mississippi River in Wisconsin, more than doubling the weight of second place, Greg Hackney.

Dustin Connell put his name in the history books with his 2021 REDCREST victory on Lake Eufuala.

In 2022 it was Bobby Lane’s turn in a hard fought last period, including a last minute two-pounder that pushed him over the finish line just ahead of second place, Luke Clausen.

And last year’s winner, the defending champion, Shelby, North Carolina’s, Bryan Thrift put on a big show for the Lake Norman locals.

Three of the four past champions have qualified to compete in this year’s event, Evers, Connell and Thrift.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL 50 OF THE 2024 QUALIFIERS

The Format

Lay Lake has been off-limits since February 9th. The officially pre-tournament practice days are March 10th, 11th and 12th. Competition begins at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 14th, when all 50 qualifying anglers—the top 40 anglers from the Bass Pro Tour along with champions and top finishers from the 2023 Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League, and Abu Garcia College Fishing circuits—hit the water with their eyes on the $300,000 first prize.

The competitors will be using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, with each bass weighing a minimum of two-pounds to count towards their total. Unlike many other bass tournaments, each catch is recorded and broadcast in real time on MLF’s SCORETRACKER® system, so the anglers know exactly where they, and all their competitors, stand in the competition at all times.

All 50 anglers compete on days one and two. The Top 20 anglers, based on total weight from the first two days, advance to day three, the Knockout Round. Weights are zeroed at the beginning of day three. The Top 10 finishers based on that day’s total weight advance to day four, the Championship Round. Weights are zeroed again to start the day and the angler with the most total weight at the end of the day is the 2024 REDCREST Champion.

The Fun

If you have the opportunity to attend this year’s REDCREST in Birmingham, Alabama, there will be plenty for you to see and do.

The General Tire Take Off Ceremony will begin each morning at 6:15 a.m. each day of competition at Beeswax Landing, located at 245 Beeswax Park Road in Columbiana, Alabama. Anglers will depart at 7 a.m. each day and return after competition ends at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events.

Additionally, the FREE, family-friendly REDCREST Outdoor Sports Expo will also take place throughout the weekend, March 15-17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, located at 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., in Birmingham. 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 legends of the sport.

The Coverage

And if you can’t make it to the event in person, it’s still easy to keep up with all the action. The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

The Final Thought

Like I said, I’ll be there and I’ll be updating you with my insights all during the event. As a journalist and fan of the sport, I’ll remain neutral and open-minded, bringing you the most accurate and unbiased stories possible…but just between you and me, go KVD!