BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Major League Fishing’s championship event will return to a familiar state but show off a fishery that hasn’t seen the big stage in a long time.
MLF announced recently that REDCREST 2027 will take place April 16-18 on Logan Martin Lake, with the REDCREST Outdoor Sports Expo and postgame festivities in nearby Birmingham.
Few were as excited by that news as Dustin Connell. The Alabama native has won all three prior editions of REDCREST that have taken place in his home state, including 2024 on Lay Lake, which is one reservoir below Logan Martin on the Coosa River and was also hosted by Birmingham. Connell and Jacob Wheeler also teamed up to win the Championship Round of the Patriot Cup on Logan Martin last fall during the Fishing Clash Team Series.
“I was pumped up,” Connell said of the news. “I had no idea. I know Logan very well, and I’m excited about it.”
Connell will go right back to being the REDCREST favorite. But he’ll be far from the only angler excited to compete on Logan Martin. Brent Ehrler won the 2006 Forrest Wood Cup on the fishery, and there are always a handful of Alabama residents in every REDCREST field. Next year, that should include Birmingham area native Jacob Walker, who raved about Logan Martin as a tournament fishery.
“It’s going to be an incredible event with a ton of fish catches, and we’re going to catch them from one end of the lake to the other,” Walker said. “It’s going to be a really fun tournament to watch.”
Something for everyone – and perhaps something new
Logan Martin has served as a championship playing field before, having hosted the Forrest Wood Cup in 2004 and 2006 as well as three Bassmaster Classics (1992, 1993 and 1997). But it’s been a while since the fishery hosted a top-level event. In fact, that 2006 Cup was the last time a national tour visited Logan Martin.
That’s one of the reasons Walker is excited for REDCREST to come to town. He expects both the lake to impress and the field to figure out some unique ways to attack the fishery.
“I feel like this is going to be a tournament where we’re going to learn something about Logan Martin that we didn’t know before,” Walker said. “There’s going to be somebody that comes with some new technique and they’re going to fish an area or they’re going to do something on Logan Martin that is going to be shocking. I’m really excited to see what we all expose, because I have a feeling something cool is probably going to happen.”
While conditions will play a major role in determining the winning approach, competitors should have no shortage of options. Much like Lay, Logan Martin features healthy populations of both largemouth and spotted bass living in a variety of habitat. Anglers could target current (both in the tailrace beneath the Neely Henry Dam or slightly slower water throughout the upper end of the fishery), shallow cover like water willow and docks, spawning flats and suspended bait-chasers.
“There will be guys sight-fishing, there will be guys catching them using their forward-facing,” Connell said. “There will be guys ChatterBaiting, swim jigging. Topwater. I think you’ll just have a lot of different things going on at that time of year, just depending on the weather.”
Walker echoed Connell’s sentiment, saying he expects the field to spread out from one end of the fishery to the other and showcase a wide range of techniques. In fact, he expects the top performers to combine multiple approaches throughout the event.
“The winning strategy is to have multiple patterns,” he predicted. “I don’t think you’re going to be able to do it one way. I don’t think you’re going to be able to do it throwing a ChatterBait on boat docks or just fishing at the tailrace. I think you’re going to have to be very strategic based on the sun, the morning bite. I think it’s going to take multiple techniques to win.”
Key factors to keep an eye on
In the months leading up to REDCREST, Walker will be paying close attention to three variables that he thinks will shape the complexion of the event: water level, current and the timing of the spawn.
Water level and current are always key on the Coosa River. Unlike Lay, Logan Martin experiences an annual winter drawdown of about 3 feet. Walker expects the lake level to be rising in April, but whether that’s happening gradually or there’s a spike before or during the event will depend on the weather.
In turn, the weather and water will influence the spawn. Connell and Walker both expect some bass to be spawning in April (Connell called that “peak spawning season”), but quite a few bass wait for the water to rise before performing the annual ritual. If REDCREST coincides with a major spawning wave, Walker said those fish could be tough to beat.
“With the spotted bass, they’ll spawn in the same area as a lot of other spotted bass,” he explained. “So, like, when we typically fish for largemouth, you catch one, and you’re done. With the spotted bass, there might be 20 to 30 beds in one area. They’re going to spawn offshore, and you can’t see them with your eyes, and generally there’s a lot of them there when they do spawn.”
For those anglers who aren’t targeting spawners, current will be key. Walker explained that current always makes for a better bite on the Coosa, and not just beneath the tailraces.
“The Coosa River spotted bass, that’s like a light switch for them,” he said. “So, if we’re having a bunch of rain, that means there’s going to be a bunch of current, and all that really does is it just kind of forces the bait into areas, which then forces the bass into those areas. So, current is going to be a factor from one end of the lake to the other.”
If the right factors all line up, Walker thinks we could be in for some big weights. He believes the Bass Pro Tour’s every-fish-counts format will show off the healthy bass population in Logan Martin.
“It’s going to be a dogfight to make that Top 10,” he said. “You’re not going to be able to just sit back and relax on that second day.
“This tournament, there’s no telling how many you could catch. I bet the last day at Logan Martin will take at least 125 pounds (to win).”
Back to ‘the home of bass fishing’
Connell and Walker are excited to have REDCREST back in their home state, and particularly in Birmingham, with the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex hosting the Expo as it did in 2024. Both Connell and Walker attended that event, albeit in different capacities – Connell as the winner and Walker as a representative for Mark’s Outdoors.
“Birmingham being the host, it was amazing when I won there at Lay Lake,” Connell said.
Connell believes REDCREST belongs in Alabama, and not just because of his sterling track record there. He called Alabama “the home of bass fishing.”
“The tradition is here,” he said. “When you go to a gas station on a Saturday morning, that’s all you see is bass boats. On every exit, all the way from Huntsville all the way down to Mobile. Every Saturday, that’s one thing that I’ve always noticed, at least around here, every gas station is loaded with bass boats, and that’s what we’re kind of known for.”
Both anglers are also excited for the opportunity to showcase their Coosa River expertise with $300,000 on the line. Connell understands that he’ll be the popular pick; but then again, that’s nothing new for the three-time REDCREST champ.
“I’m kind of used to it,” he said. “Lay Lake was probably the most pressure I’ve ever felt. At the end of the day, it’s just bass fishing. I’m just glad that it isn’t too far from the house, and I’ll have a little time to go and pre-fish. I’m excited for the opportunity.”
As for Walker, he understands why Connell will be the favorite, but he likes his chances, too. He grew up fishing Logan Martin with his grandfather and will be spending a lot of time between now and next April practicing for and thinking about how he can hoist the REDCREST trophy.
“I’m stoked to fish it,” Walker said. “I live like 30 minutes away, and I’ve grown up fishing there my entire life. If there was a place that I’ve ever wanted to have a major tournament or have a chance to fish one, that’s it. Everybody is going to hype DC up for this one, but he’s got something coming for him, I promise you.”