Rocket City is bass fishing central for Bass Pro Shops Redcrest 2025

HUNTSVILLE – The Rocket City is the center of the bass fishing universe as the Bass Pro Shops Redcrest 2025 Presented by MillerTech Energy drops anchor here through the weekend.

The Top 50 professional bass fishing anglers from the Bass Pro Tour are competing on Lake Guntersville through the weekend for the top prize of $300,000 and to crown bass fishing’s newest world champion.

Anglers launch each morning at 7:15 from Civitan Park at 1130 Sunset Drive in Guntersville. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events and can follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW! live stream and Scoretracker coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

In conjunction with the tournament, the family-friendly MLF Outdoor Sports Expo will take place 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.

Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts are invited to the free event to explore an array of booths and vendors, featuring the newest innovations and gear in fishing, boating, and outdoors. Meet some of the biggest names in the industry, including professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour and legendary Bass Fishing Hall of Famers such as Kevin VanDam.

The four-day tournament, hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association, and the Madison County Commission, will showcase the Top 50 MLF anglers from 2024 – including the Top 40 anglers from the Bass Pro Tour – competing for the prestigious Redcrest Championship and a total prize pool for more than $750,000.

“We are excited about bringing the fishing world to Huntsville for Redcrest 2025,” said Jennifer Moore, president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Sitting in the middle of one of the great bass fishing areas in the United States, we look forward to welcoming Redcrest to the Rocket City and seeing the Outdoor Sports Expo take over the Von Braun Center as we create a one-of-a-kind experience for everyone interested in the sport.”

Reigning and two-time Redcrest champion Dustin Connell of Clanton, who will be among the 50 competitors, said that Lake Guntersville is fishing as good as it’s ever been and that he expects to see some big fish caught all across the lake.

“Lake Guntersville is fishing unbelievable right now,” Connell said. “It’s been that way for the last few years. It’s one of the best, healthiest lakes in the country, and I think we’re going to see some giant fish caught. It’s going to be an awesome tournament, no doubt.”

Lake Guntersville has long been a bucket-list destination among tournament anglers, regularly producing tournament-winning weights of 30 pounds or more. This year’s event presents a little bit of a challenge, taking place during the spring transition.

“We’re right on the verge of things getting a little funky,” Connell said. “The fish are starting to move up, but it’s a grindy time of year because they’re transitioning from feeding to spawning. If we hit it just right, they might be shallow and ready to bite, but they could also be cruising and a little harder to catch.”

Connell, whose two prior Redcrest victories have come on Alabama’s Lake Eufaula and Lay Lake, knows that adaptability will be key.

“There are four or five major creeks that could produce the winning fish – North Sauty, Honeycomb, Seibold, Browns, and Spring,” Connell said. “With only 50 boats on the water, the field will probably be spread out and you could realistically not see another angler all day. That’s what makes Redcrest so special — everybody has a real shot.

Connell is eager for a chance to claim an unprecedented third championship title. For Connell, Redcrest represents the pinnacle of the sport.

“This is the one you want to win,” he said. “It’s not just the $300,000 payday – it’s the prestige. Winning Redcrest sets you apart. Lake Guntersville is world-famous, and to win the biggest tournament on that stage?

“That’s what we do this for and what it’s all about.”