BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Lay Lake is the playing field for Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Powered by OPTIMA Lithium, but there’s also plenty happening an hour away in downtown Birmingham at the REDCREST Outdoor Sports Expo. Among the exhibitors and fishing fans occupying the show flow at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex are plenty of MLF anglers, all watching this event closely on the big screens at the show.
These pros have unique insight into the goings-on at Lay Lake because of their familiarity with the 20-angler Knockout Round field: they know each’s strengths, and what they’ve gleaned while watching MLFNOW! through two days of competition.
The usual suspects
Some of the anglers doing well this week seem to do well everywhere, and were popular choices as potential REDCREST winners.
David Walker summed it up quickly: “Jacob Wheeler is the guy to beat. Whoever beats him wins this event. I see it as all of the other guys against Jacob Wheeler.”
Another pick was Wheeler’s roommate Dustin Connell, or one of the two, as Jacob Wall predicted.
“Wheeler is a dangerous force, but Connell is also a force to be reckoned with,” he said. “Connell has a long history on the Coosa River lakes because he grew up here. He probably knows the nuances better than anyone else in the field.”
Michael Neal led the event and cruised to qualifying for the Knockout Round. Some pros at the REDCREXT Outdoor Expo think Neal will win it all.
“From what I’ve watched here at the Expo and listening to it driving in the first day, Michael Neal has it figured out,” Fred Roumbanis said. “He’s had to deal with other anglers in his area and trying to protect his water, but that’s something we’ve all had to deal with out there. With such a big lead yesterday, he had time to search for more areas, and I think it’s his tournament to lose.”
Josh Bertrand also thinks Neal has a chance, but says you should never count out Wheeler.
“It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the changing weather and more current coming, Bertrand said. “It’ll be hard to bet against any of the guys who make the final day, but if we’re betting and it’s my money, I’m picking Jacob Wheeler. I think Michael Neal has a really good shot, too.”
Bass Pro Tour rookie Drew Gill had his attention on a few anglers.
“I’ve got my eye on Michael, he’s very good, and Jesse Wiggins because he has a lot of experience with spotted bass here in Alabama,” Gill said. “Wheeler and Dustin are two more, and even Dalton Head. I could believe that any of those five will win this.”
The wild cards
Anyone in the REDCREST field shouldn’t be a “wild card” because they earned their right to fish the event. Still, as a young collegiate angler with no professional-level experience, Montevallo University’s Dalton Head has grabbed the attention of several pros.
“I know this event won’t be won shallow and will be won out deep, and I hope ‘ol Dalton Head wins this one,” Terry Scroggins admitted.
Invitationals angler Alex Davis has also been impressed with Head.
“I feel like he has the chance to lap the field, and it will either be him or Wheeler who wins it,” Davis shared. “The thing about Dalton that was scary to me was how he put up such big numbers and said he didn’t want to go to other places, to save them. He’s got more in his back pocket, and his winning would prove this whole youth movement is for real.”
Stephen Browning, one of the best shallow-water anglers on the Bass Pro Tour, said he has little faith in the shallow bite winning this event.
“None of the shallow guys have a shot, to be quite honest,” he predicted. I’ve been watching, and the man to watch is the college kid, Dalton Head. We’re in his backyard, and he’s gonna make ’em pay this week.”
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