EDWIN EVERS: Into the Knockout Round

We’re headed into the Knockout Rounds of REDCREST 2022 presented by Costa and I’m super excited to be fishing tomorrow. At the end of the two Qualifying Rounds, I was in second place, which is just where I wanted to be.

If that sounds strange, and you think I should have been aiming for the lead, it’s because of the structure of the tournament. Only the top 20 anglers advance out of the Qualifying Rounds, so I definitely needed to be in the top 20. Then, depending on where you finished in the top 20, you either advance to Knockout Group A (fishing Friday) or Knockout Group B (fishing Saturday).

I think fishing Friday will help me and the patterns I’m working on. The lake should be less crowded on Friday, and I like the fact that it’ll be sunny. And since we zero-out the weights for the Knockout Rounds, I’m just where I want to be — fishing on Friday with a chance to qualify for the Championship Round on Sunday. To do that, I need to be in the top 5 at the end of the day tomorrow.

That’s a lot of pressure, especially with our biggest title and $300,000 on the line, but the pressure is one of the things I love about competition. Pressure brings out the very best in folks who love to compete, and the MLF format is the most pressure-packed tournament experience out there. It’s why I’m here.

Today’s fishing went about as well as I could have hoped. Because I led after Wednesday’s first Qualifying Round, I knew I wouldn’t have to catch a lot of fish to advance. That freed me up to find more productive areas that I hope will carry me through Friday. I had the bites to make for another strong day today, but I didn’t want to catch them all until I need them. Hopefully, they’ll still be hungry tomorrow.

The most encouraging thing about today was that I was able to move through my areas and find fish using my Lowrance ActiveTarget unit. They were right where I hoped they’d be, and that gives me a lot of confidence.

If you read my column after the practice period ended, you know I found a pattern for when it was cloudy and another pattern for when it’s sunny. Tomorrow I’m going to put that sunny weather pattern to the test. The weather should be just right for that. It’s supposed to be sunny and cold with a light breeze.

My biggest concern is that the water has been coming up fast — two and a half feet since the first day of practice on Sunday. That might send some of my fish up super shallow and into the willow trees. Eventually, that’s what happens when the water rises like that.

I haven’t practiced for that situation, and I’m not sure what the best areas are if they move into the bushes. I have some ideas, and I’ll try them if I have to, but it’s not something I expected I would have to do.

In terms of strategy for tomorrow, there will be 10 of us fishing and only the top five at the end of the day will advance to the Championship Round on Sunday. There are no bonus points for “winning” tomorrow. We just need to make the cut — survive and advance, as they say. Weights will be zeroed again for the Championship Round.

Tomorrow, if there’s a way to put myself comfortably inside the top few anglers and spend part of the day scouting for Sunday, that would be ideal. But if the fishing’s really good and everybody’s catching them fast and furious, we’ll just have to trade punches and hope to be standing at the end. For now, I know I’ve got my work cut out for me just getting inside the top five, and I’m ready to keep my foot on the gas all day long to make that happen.