REDCREST 2019: Lintner Turned Things Around at Table Rock to Secure his Spot

Despite the fact that he had never competed in an MLF event prior to the creation of the Bass Pro Tour, Jared Lintner proved he was a force to be reckoned with during the first half of this season. He went 4-for-4 in making the Knockout Rounds during the first four events, and in three of those competitions, he finished in the Top 10. 

“I really think it’s all about figuring out the quickest and most efficient ways to get a bite,” Lintner said.

One of the factors that motivated him this season was learning that the first-ever REDCREST will take place in La Crosse, Wisconsin. 

“Not that I wasn’t motivated before,” he explained. “But I was like, ‘Holy crap, I better start catching them. I gotta make that.’”

But then Stage Five (Smith Lake) and Stage Six (Table Rock Lake) happened. Lintner finished 62nd and 65th, respectively, and watched his name fall in the Race for the Points Championship. 

“I still struggle with jerking the trolling motor up and going, ‘Get out of this area,’ or ‘Drastically change how you’re fishing’,” he said, “I think you have to learn how to do that. And I’m still not 100 percent dialed in with that.”

Making the Adjustment to SCORETRACKER®

With a week between Stages Six and Seven (which were both on Table Rock Lake due to flooding on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake), Lintner knew he had to make changes to move back up in the points. 

“I’ve kind of learned to use the SCORETRACKER® as much as I can to my advantage,” he said.

Lintner admits that at first, he was really “freaked out” by SCORETRACKER®. Now he’s learning to manage that stress and to use it as a guide. 

“When the majority of the guys are catching fish and you’re not, guess what: You’re doing something wrong,” Lintner said. “You’re in the wrong area, you’re not throwing the right baits, something is wrong.” 

Lintner says it’s second-nature for him to move from reaction-style baits on heavy line to finesse fishing at the drop of a hat. 

“If I’m throwing a spinnerbait and I’m not getting bit, I’m going to pick up a buzzbait,” he said. “If that doesn’t work, I’m going to throw a squarebill. If that doesn’t work I’m going to drag a jig.”

That strategy paid off in Stage Seven, where Lintner finished 25th. At that point, he felt confident that he would make REDCREST. 

Ready to Roll in La Crosse

“The (Upper Mississippi River) is like one of my favorite places in the world to fish,” Lintner said. “It has so much to offer.”

Lintner calls it the “ultimate paradise” for fishing his favorite style: power fishing.

“Power fishing is pretty much my favorite way to fish, so reaction baits, topwater baits, flipping, frogs… Really just like hand-to-hand combat,” Lintner said. 

He predicts REDCREST numbers will be similar to the Stages on Table Rock Lake, where various anglers broke one record after the next. But Lintner and several of his REDCREST competitors agree that the average weight is going to be larger. 

“There are so many like 2 1/2- to 4-pounders up there,” he said. “It’s really scary. It just blows my mind.”