$300,000 winner | Photo: Redcrest 2023 presented by Shore Lunch

March 13. A professional angler from Shelby won the top prize—$300,000—in the Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour Championship held over the past several days at Blythe Landing.

Bryan Thrift of Shelby caught a three-day cumulative total of 46 lbs., 12 oz. to win the MLF Redcrest tournament 2023 presented by Shore Lunch. Second-place finisher Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, was 4 lbs., 6-oz. behind, catching second place and $50,000.

“This feels so good,” Thrift said.

Thrift’s history and experience on Lake Norman played a role this week, as did bait. He deployed the Jack Hammer, a Damiki Underspin with a Damiki Armor Shad, a Fitzgerald Football jig, and an unnamed 5.8-inch swim-bait.

The top 10:

1st: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 15 bass, 46-12, $300,000
2nd: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 15 bass, 42-6, $50,000
3rd: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 15 bass, 41-14, $40,000
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 40-11, $28,000
5th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 15 bass, 40-10, $25,000
6th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 15 bass, 40-4, $20,000
7th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 15 bass, 37-3, $18,000
8th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 15 bass, 36-13, $16,000
9th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 35-5, $14,500
10th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 15 bass, 34-14, $12,500

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.