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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – With one day left in competition, local favorite Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, maintained his lead on Day 4 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2023 presented by Shore Lunch at Lake Norman , the Bass Pro Tour championship. Thrift caught five bass Saturday totaling 15 pounds, 6 ounces, and his weight now sits at 10 bass for 33-2, giving him a 1-pound, 9-ounce cushion over second place as the event heads into the fifth and final day.
The field is now trimmed to just the top 10, and competition resumes Sunday. The five-day event, hosted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Visit Lake Norman and the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, features anglers competing to become pro bass fishing’s newest world champion, and a top cash prize of $300,000.
Link to Hi-Res Photo of Leader Bryan Thrift
Link to Photo Gallery of Highlights from Day 4 on Lake Norman
Link to Livestream Video of REDCREST Day 4 on Lake Norman
“It was a lot tougher for me today,” Thrift said in his post-game interview. “I got into a new area and was able to get a limit of 2½ pounders. That gave me a decent limit where I knew I’d be within striking distance if I wasn’t still in the lead, so I was able to slow down and pick that big swimbait up and luckily caught another big one. I only got two bites on the swimbait, today.
“Tomorrow I’m going to have to do the same thing – I’ve got to get three or four bites from that swimbait if I’m going to have a chance to win this tournament. I’m going to put it in my hand for a large portion of the day and we’ll see what happens,” Thrift went on to say.
Texas pro Alton Jones, Jr., had a great day on Lake Norman, boating a 17-pound limit to vault into second place, just 1 pound, 9 ounces, behind Thrift.
“I caught all of my five-bass limit today on a wacky rig with a 7-foot, medium Kistler Z-Bone rod,” said Jones. “It’s been a lot of fun this week catching the mixed bags – some largemouth and some spots. But we’ve got some weather coming tomorrow, and we’ll see what happens.
“All I wanted was a chance, and we’ve got a really good one at that,” Jones continued. “Tomorrow it’s going to be all about who can get those two 4-pound bites. Somebody is going to do it in the top 10, whether it’s me, Thrift, or someone from further back in the pack. All in all, it was a super blessed day today and I can’t wait to get out there tomorrow.”
The top 10 pros that made the cut and will advance to the final day of competition on Lake Norman:
1st: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 33-2
2nd: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 31-9
3rd: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 29-0
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 28-14
5th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 27-2
6th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-9
7th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 25-7
8th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 25-1
9th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 10 bass, 24-9
10th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 24-2
Finishing in 11th through 15th place are:
11th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 10 bass, 23-15, $10,000
12th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 23-13, $10,000
13th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 22-14, $10,000
14th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., eight bass, 22-7, $10,000
15th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 19-8, $10,000
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