This year at Major League Fishing’s REDCREST, two of bass fishing’s rising stars, Drew Gill and Jake Lawrence, will compete for the first time. These two anglers have quickly climbed the ranks of professional bass fishing, winning several events along the way, and each has the potential to win this big event on Lake Guntersville in Alabama.
Here’s what the two Bajío pros say about the lake, their expectations, and their plans to attack the large Tennessee River impoundment.
Plan of Attack
Gill is most excited about this event because Guntersville is fishing well. He also says April 3rd through the 6th is the perfect time for bass fishing.
“The first week of April might be the best week of bass fishing across the country, and in the mid-South like Guntersville, the fish should all be spawning or close to it,” he said. “I expect it to be a record-setting week and the heaviest weights ever for REDCREST. It’s going to be absolutely incredible.”
Jake Lawrence is a rookie on the Bass Pro Tour but won a Tackle Warehouse Invitationals event last year on Alabama’s Lake Eufaula to punch his ticket into this event. He also expects some fireworks in terms of fishing.
“Out of all of the tournaments I’m fishing this year, this one may be the most wide-open because so much can be happening when we get there,” he said. “Most of the time, I have a pretty good idea going into it about what should be working, but that lake is fishing so well right now, and we will be there at a time when so many things should be working.”
Gill, one of the best with forward-facing sonar, says that the technology will play but won’t be the way to win since they are limited to using it just a third of each day. “You’re going to have to catch them without LiveScope, and I see baits like a ChatterBait in play,” he said. “I also think there will be some sight fishing, pitching a worm around, but it should be an onslaught of fish being caught with the way that lake is fishing right now. It’s the perfect venue for this event, being at the epicenter of bass fishing in the United States and on a fishery firing on all cylinders.”
Lawrence is another electronics guru and agrees with Gill that forward-facing sonar will factor in, but it won’t be the only way to catch fish.
“I agree with Drew that fishing will be so good in a fish factory like this that you can’t rely on your one period to use LiveScope,” he said. “You must catch them all day to compete, and I’m looking forward to it. The weights should be exceptionally good.”
Thoughts on Sunglasses
Both anglers heavily use their electronics, so they look at sunglasses lenses a little bit differently. They will choose a lens tint based on the light conditions and how it affects what they see on their screens.
“For my everyday wear and driving when I’m not fishing, I like the violet mirror lenses because they are so bright,” he said. “I have those lenses in the Caballo for my sunglasses that I wear all the time. I’m more specific about fishing and wearing the Toads in the green mirror. They’re crisp and clear, allowing you to see stuff in the water and on your graphs.”
For frames, Lawrence has settled on a favorite. “I like the Palmetto and have become a one-frame kind of guy because it fits my head so well,” he said. “What stands out about those frames is how light and comfortable they are. Plus, they’ve been durable for me fishing all the time.”
When choosing a lens tint, Lawrence uses a few, including a rose mirror and a green mirror. “Rose mirror has the least effect on what I see on my graphs, so when I’m looking at my screen, it’s crystal clear what I can see no matter what angle or distance I’m at,” he said. “If I’m just driving down the road, I still wear those Palmetto frames but in the green mirror. They are also good for sunny days; it’s a good all-around lens color.”
Drew Gill and Jake Lawrence are two newcomers to REDCREST, each gearing up to compete in their first one, but they have proven they can win, and nobody would be surprised if either of them won. They are two of the best in the world with forward-facing sonar, but they can catch them other ways and will need to do both if they want to take home the trophy.
Advertising