LA CROSSE, Wis. – Numbers can tell a story, but only part of the story as we head into REDCREST Presented by Venmo. These numbers are merely an introduction for what is sure to be quite the page-turner on the Upper Mississippi River.

0.906

The percentage of the Mississippi River the pros will be fishing this week. The Mighty Mississippi has a length of 2,350 miles, stretching from Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The anglers will be fishing pools 7 and 8 of the river, which together combine for only 21.3 miles of the river in total.

The river also helps create a full or partial border for 10 different states, including Wisconsin.

40

The amount of bass Kevin VanDam caught during the Championship Round of the 2016 Summit Cup on the Upper Mississippi River. The Michigan pro collected 74 pounds, 9 ounces of bass during the final day of competition in La Crosse. He used a trio of baits to get his win including a frog, squarebill, crankbait and a swim jig.

36

The percentage of pros competing in REDCREST that competed in the 2016 Summit Cup. Ott DeFoe, Brent Ehrler, Edwin Evers, Todd Faircloth, Greg Hackney, Bobby Lane, Aaron Martens, Andy Montgomery, Takahiro Omori, Brandon Palaniuk, and Jacob Wheeler all fell to Kevin VanDam in 2016. This time, however, they will not have to deal with VanDam on the Upper Mississippi River.

6

The number of anglers competing in REDCREST that have won a Bass Pro Tour event this season. Edwin Evers, Jordan Lee, Aaron Martens, Jacob Powroznik, Andy Morgan and Jacob Wheeler look to make it two wins on the Bass Pro Tour this season. Five out of those six anglers finished in the top 15 in points earned this season.

23,448-2

The total weight of fish caught on the Bass Pro Tour by the 30 anglers competing in REDCREST. That averages out to about 781 pounds per pro reeled in this season. The most weight caught this year was by Jacob Wheeler. Wheeler caught, weighed and released 1,147 pounds, 8 ounces of bass through eight events.

6.34

The depth of water that the National Weather Service observed on Monday morning in the Mississippi River. The NWS expects the water level to fall below 6 feet by the time the Championship Round rolls around on Sunday. The river crested in April this year at 14.33 feet.