REDCREST Qualifcation: Who’s In, Who’s Out, Who’s Still On the Bubble

Bradley Roy clinched a spot in the REDCREST Championship thanks to his guaranteed Top-40 finish. Photo by Joe Branch

June 27, 2019 • Mason Prince • Bass Pro Tour

NEENAH, Wis. — Coming into Elimination Round 1 of the Evinrude Stage Eight Presented by Tracker Off Road, 14 anglers had an opportunity to either clinch a spot in the REDCREST Championship or keep themselves alive in the hunt for a spot. In the end, five pros can count themselves in for a trip to La Crosse, Wisconsin in late August, three can still keep it on their radar, and six will miss out on the postseason.

It’s a Lock

Five pros guaranteed themselves a spot in the REDCREST Championship thanks to their finish in Elimination Round 1: Bradley Roy, Mike Iaconelli, Brandon Palaniuk, Casey Ashley, and Greg Vinson.

Iaconelli surged past the competition thanks to a total weight of 98 pounds, 1 ounce, 12-14 ahead of second-place Michael Neal. Ike only needed a 76^th-place finish or better to ensure his REDCREST safety so a secured Top-40 moves him on to the postseason.

As for Roy, he had a little more work to do. The Kentucky pro began his Elimination Round in 33^rd place and more than 10 pounds below the Elimination Line. Roy made an adjustment to his game plan and racked up 35-14 on the day to secure a 17^th-place finish in his group, a Knockout Round berth, and a spot in the REDCREST Top 30.

“It’s just really an awesome feeling and it was my main goal of the tournament,” Roy said. “Anytime you can make the Knockout Round that’s what you want to do, but I was doing the math all week trying to figure out how many points I needed to get me a spot in the REDCREST. It was a lot of pressure today and I put it on myself but I’m really happy I was able to catch some fish today and move on. You’re never out of it and you’re also never safe when it comes to MLF.”

Palaniuk finished outside of the Top 20 in his group but only needed a 71^st-place finish or better to qualify for the REDCREST, so we can assume he will earn enough points to move on and advance. Ashley and Vinson are both moving on to the Knockout Round and will, in turn, earn enough points to consider themselves a lock for REDCREST qualification as well.

Brandon Palaniuk kept his REDCREST hopes alive. Photo by Phoenix Moore

It’s Not Over

Three anglers did themselves a lot of favors by making it into the Knockout Round on Thursday. Mark Daniels, Jr., Alton Jones, Jr., and Anthony Gagliardi all needed to make it through to Saturday to keep their REDCREST dreams alive and all rose to the occasion.

Daniels, Jr. solidified a 13^th-place finish to move on to the Knockout Round. He still has plenty of work to do however as he needs at least a 27^th-place finish to earn enough points to remain in contention.

Jones, Jr. rode a solid Shotgun Round 1 into a berth in the Knockout Round after only posting 15 pounds, 2 ounces of bass in Elimination Round 1. The Texas pro came into Stage Eight as a longshot to qualify for REDCREST at 40^th place in the point standings, but all he needs is a chance.

“You can’t make a Top 20 without making the Top 40 first,” Jones, Jr. said. “As I’m seeing all these guys who are around the Qualification Line catch them well, I’m thinking I need a Top-10 finish if I want a shot at making the REDCREST. That’s what I’m shooting for.”

It is projected that Jones will need a 16^th-place finish if he wants to move on to the postseason, but that’s not something he’s trying to focus on right now.

“I’m going to try and fish stress-free, but I know it won’t be that easy,” Jones, Jr. admitted. “I’m going to put it all in the Lord’s hands. If it’s in God’s plan for me to make a Top 10 and qualify for REDCREST then I’m happy to do that, but if he has other plans for me then I’m not going to question it.”

A massive comeback for Anthony Gagliardi has kept him alive and kicking in the chase for REDCREST qualification. The South Carolina pro entered the third period of Elimination Round 1 in 25^th and needed to go on a run to move into the Top 20. He was able to catch four bass for 8-1 in the final hour to move into 17^th place and keep his hopes alive. But as the day went on, the REDCREST was one of the last things on Gagliardi’s mind.

“I was happy to make the Knockout Round just because I knew that locked me up for a check and probably the Summit Cup,” Gagliardi explained. “My thoughts about qualifying for the REDCREST were kind of in the back of my mind just because I know I need a top-15 finish to even have a chance.”

Gagliardi knows he could have put himself in a better situation coming into the final event of the season. The Evinrude pro finished in 80^th place back in Stage Three in North Carolina, earning him one point towards his total, something that he still thinks about almost three months later.

“It kills me just to think about it,” Gagliardi lamented. “If I just pick up 30 or even 20 points there it would have made the REDCREST a lot more feasible. But that’s in the past now and I’m still alive. I really want to make it into the Top 30 and that’s going to be my main goal for the rest of this week.”

Mark Daniels, Jr., is still in the hunt for REDCREST following the first Elimination Round.

First Six Out

While the other anglers are celebrating, these six pros are heading home early. Alton Jones, Gerald Swindle, Mark Davis, Josh Bertrand, and Jesse Wiggins all needed to make it to the Knockout Round to continue their chase for REDCREST qualification but were unable to do so. Without those extra points, those six anglers will likely miss out on the REDCREST Championship.

The Evinrude Stage Eight Presented by Tracker Off Road continues on Friday with Elimination Round 2 from Lake Winnebago. The 40 pros in Group B will battle it out for the Top 20 spots and the right to move on to face the Top 20 from Group A in the Knockout Round. Live, official scoring begins at 7 a.m. CT via SCORETRACKER® on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MLF NOW! live stream starts at 9:30 a.m. CT.