This year's REDCREST on Lay Lake in Alabama will throw some curveballs at the anglers competing. Most in the field are not intimately familiar with the lake, and the typical changing spring weather will keep anglers on their toes. As he prepared to head to Alabama for this year's REDCREST on Lay Lake, Brent Ehrler said the key will be keeping an open mind during this event.
20 Plus Rods Are On Deck To Fish Redcrest 2024
Before beginning practice, Ehrler said he'll have quite the arsenal rigged and ready to go as he's truly prepared for anything. It's typical for spring bass fishing, but weather conditions have changed his plans and opened up some more options.
"The biggest variable will be the water clarity, as they expect two inches of rain, and that's going to bring a lot of muddy water into the lake and change things drastically," he said. This means we could be offshore scoping or flipping a jig on the bank. It could open up a bunch of different ways to catch fish from shallow to deep."
Add in the fact that Ehrler has minimal experience on the Coosa River chain besides his Forrest Wood Cup on Logan Martin in 2006. But that was 2006, nearly two decades ago and at a different time of year.
"That event was in the middle of the summer and so long ago," Ehrler began. I have no experience there and no clue how it's going to fish. I don't even have a plan to target largemouth or spotted bass just yet. That's why it will be a deal where I have 20 or even 30 rods rigged up for practice to go fish and see what's working."
Even though he's keeping his options option, he believes a crankbait, jig, and jerkbait will play, and you always have to factor in the LiveScope angle with any tournament nowadays.
'Scoping Lay Lake For The Win
Using forward-facing sonar has become the primary way to win events and the fact is not lost on Ehrler, who's very good with it. He believes it will play at REDCREST and could even be the way to win.
"I use pretty much the same setup for all of my finesse fishing: a 7-foot, 1-inch medium rod I designed in the Tatula Elite lineup," he shared. "It can do it all. I use the rod for fishing a jighead on a minnow and the Yamamoto Scope Shad on a Buckeye Lures Scope Head."
For reels and line, he again uses the same setup almost universally anytime he's fishing with a spinning rod in his hand. "The Tatula MQ is a real workhorse and can do many things," he said. "I'll be 'scoping with 12-pound Sunline braid and a leader of 8-pound fluorocarbon."
Ehrler May Be Fishing the Bank
If the offshore bite doesn't pan out, Ehrler will be ready to hit the bank, and he believes some tried-and-true baits will work well for him.
"Most likely, I'll be going down the bank with a squarebill, a Lucky Craft 1.5," he said. "I designed a rod specifically for fishing that lure, a 7-foot, 2-inch medium fiberglass in the Tatula Elite series. I fish it with a Tatula Elite reel in the 6.3:1 gear ratio and spool it up with 14-pound Sunline fluorocarbon."
Ehrler also plans to throw a jerkbait. "I like a deep diver this time of year and will have a Lucky Craft Lightning Pointer DD on," he said. "I fish it on a 6-foot, 9-inch medium light topwater/jerkbait rod in the Tatula Elite series and add a 7.1:1 Tatula Elite reel with 12-pound Sunline Sniper fluorocarbon."
If he fishes a jig, he believes skipping will be the way to go on Lay Lake's numerous docks. His jig of choice this time of year is a Buckeye Lures Ballin' Out with a Yamamoto Yama Craw on the back.
"I like the Tatula SV anytime I am skipping a jig because the SV spool makes it so much easier because of the design. It's perfect for it," he said. There's also a rod specifically for skipping designed by Randy Howell. It's 7 feet, 2 inches, and has a heavy power, making it easy to get the perfect skip because of the tip. It's excellent for skipping, but you can cast structure off the bank if necessary, and the rod will still perform just as well."
While he's open to anything Lay Lake throws at him, Brent Ehrler has years of professional experience and an excellent track record in marquee events like REDCREST. He's one of the best at putting the puzzle pieces together and will be one to watch this week.
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