BPT Stage 4 Day-by-Day Tournament Updates & Standings

Bass Pro Tour Day 1 – Qualifying Lake Chickamauga

Bass Pro Tour Day 2 – Qualifying Chickamauga Lake

Bass Pro Tour Day 3 – Knockout Round Nickajack Lake

Bass Pro Tour Day 4 – Championship Round

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – April 22, 2025 – The Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour rolls into Tennessee next week for one of the most anticipated events of the season. From May 1–4, the spotlight turns to the iconic waters of Lake Chickamauga and Nickajack Lake as Stage 4, presented by OPTIMA Batteries and sponsored by O’Reilly Auto Parts, kicks off in Chattanooga.

This four-day event will showcase 66 of the top anglers in the world, all chasing the $150,000 top prize, valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year points, and qualification spots for Heavy Hitters and REDCREST 2026.

Bass Pro Tour Stage 4 Tournament Overview

When Bass Pro Tour anglers last hit the water, Dustin Connell was hoisting another REDCREST trophy just below Nickajack Dam on the upper end of Lake Guntersville. Now, the season picks back up this time just a few miles upriver for O’Reilly Auto Parts Stage 4 Presented by OPTIMA Batteries, bringing the field of 66 pros to two Tennessee River fisheries that promise plenty of curveballs: Lake Chickamauga and Nickajack Lake.

Chickamauga needs no introduction. One of the most storied tournament lakes in America, it’s hosted Bass Pro Tour events in 2019 and 2021. But there’s a twist this time: only the Qualifying Rounds will take place on Chickamauga. The Knockout and Championship Rounds will shift to Nickajack a smaller, more river-like lake tucked between Chickamauga and Guntersville offering an unknown element that could shake up the standings.

Lake Chickamauga & Nickajack Lake Fishing Report

Expect Multiple Patterns to Shine at Lake Chickamauga and Nickajack for Bass Pro Tour Stage 4

Lake Chickamauga Fishing Report – April 28, 2025

Current Conditions:

• Water Temperature: Approximately 65°F
• Weather: Partly sunny with highs in the low 80s°F
• Water Clarity: Moderate
  

Chickamauga stretches nearly 60 miles, covering more than 35,000 acres of prime bass habitat. But the real question on every angler’s mind is simple: What phase are the bass in?

Local hammers Michael Neal and Wesley Strader both predict bass will be in every stage of the spawn prespawn, spawning, and postspawn though they differ slightly on which phase will dominate.

Neal believes most of the action will be shallow. Some bass may be starting to slide offshore toward the famous Tennessee River ledges, but for the most part, he expects the best fishing to happen up shallow, targeting fish on beds or those chasing spawning bluegill and shad.

“It’s going to be way better for guys fishing shallow,” Neal said. “Even when bass start moving out, there aren’t many out there yet.”

Last year’s Toyota Series event on Chickamauga backs him up. Banks Shaw won by a landslide targeting offshore postspawn bass but it was a rare bite no one else found. Most top finishers caught fish shallow, a style better suited to the Bass Pro Tour’s every-fish-counts format.

However, Strader thinks there could be more postspawn activity this year due to an unusually warm spring and higher water levels since late March. That might mean a stronger ledge bite earlier than normal.

“We had rain early and they brought the water up halfway and kept it there,” Strader said. “It triggered a lot of spawning earlier than usual.”

In short: viewers can expect a mix of strategies from bed fishing and bluegill chasing in the shallows, to a few anglers probing offshore ledges for big postspawn bass.

“You’ll see a little bit of everything,” Strader said. “But don’t be surprised if someone leading after two days is doing it offshore.”

Chickamauga Techniques To Watch For

• Shallow water techniques like bladed jigs, topwaters, and wacky worms will dominate.
• Offshore anglers will reach for deep-diving crankbaits, big worms, flutter spoons, and hair jigs.
• The ever-popular jighead minnow + forward-facing sonar combo will definitely make an appearance — although anglers are limited to using sonar just one period per day under new rules.

Heavy fishing pressure could push some competitors toward finesse tactics, but make no mistake Chickamauga is still the Land of Giants. Earlier this spring, multiple bass over 10 pounds hit the scales.

Both locals predict it’ll take around 30 pounds per day to crack the Top 20 and make it to the Knockout Round. Neal believes the top Qualifying Round angler could rack up 110–120 pounds.

Nickajack Lake Fishing Report – April 28, 2025

Current Conditions:

• Water Temperature: Approximately 65°F
• Weather: Partly sunny with highs in the low 80s°F
• Water Clarity: Improving

The road to the trophy won’t end on Chickamauga. After the Qualifying Round, anglers who advance will switch gears and tackle Nickajack a very different beast.

This presents a major strategy question: Push hard for the Qualifying Round win (and an automatic spot in the Championship), or save energy and knowledge for Nickajack?

Practice time is limited, and even locals like Neal admit they have very little experience on Nickajack.

“I’ve spent less than five days ever on Nickajack,” Neal said. “If you spend practice time there and don’t even make it, you’re going to regret it.”

Strader, however, knows Nickajack well. He describes it as more river-like, with steeper banks, fewer shallow flats, and a healthy mix of largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. Unlike Chickamauga which has lost a lot of its grass Nickajack still boasts heavy vegetation, offering plenty of options.

“Nickajack fishes differently,” Strader said. “It’s like a mini-Guntersville.”

Expect grass to play a big role, with bass likely spread from the shoreline out to deeper grass lines.

Bass fishing heats up in Bainbridge, Georgia, as the MLF Toyota Series brings elite anglers to Lake Seminole for a high-stakes tournament, April 24–26. Hosted at the Earle May Boat Basin, this major event showcases some of the South’s best bass fishermen competing for up to $100,000 in prizes. Whether you’re a local fan, visiting the area, or tuning in online, Lake Seminole promises exciting spring bass fishing action you won’t want to miss.

The Toyota Series on Lake Seminole

This week, Bainbridge will be buzzing as the Major League Fishing Toyota Series rolls into town. Anglers from across the region and beyond are locking in their sights on Lake Seminole for what promises to be a pivotal stop in the Southern Division. The action kicks off April 24 and runs through April 26, with serious money and bragging rights on the line.

The tournament, hosted by Visit Bainbridge, marks the final regular-season event in the Southern Division. For pros, there’s a shot at $100,000, and for co-anglers, the grand prize includes a Phoenix 518 Pro boat rigged with a 115-hp motor plus a $5,000 kicker.

Among those keeping a close eye on this event is Matt O’Connell, a hammer out of Brooks, Georgia. Usually a regular in the Central Division, O’Connell has been on a tear lately—17 top-10 finishes in just two seasons, and last year’s Fishing Clash Angler of the Year. Now, he’s bringing his game to Seminole.

“Seminole should be in a good window,” O’Connell said. “I’m expecting a mix of mid-spawn and post-spawn fish. The southern part of Georgia warms up earlier, but the colder winter probably delayed things a bit. So, we’ll likely see fish still up shallow and others already sliding back out deep.”

That transitional phase opens the door for a wide mix of tactics. O’Connell expects competitors to play to their strengths.

“You’re gonna see a buffet of bait choices—ChatterBaits, jerkbaits, Carolina rigs, big swimbaits,” he said. “And of course, forward-facing sonar is going to play a role. Places like Spring Creek have clean water and a ton of submerged timber for scoping. But someone could very well stay shallow with a topwater all day and catch ‘em good too.”

As for weights, O’Connell predicts we won’t see record-breaking bags, but it’s still going to take solid numbers to make it to Championship Saturday.

“One 25-pound day is almost mandatory,” he said. “I think 36 to 38 pounds over the first two days gets you into the final 25, and around 70 pounds total might win it. But it’ll come down to whoever finds the best post-spawn areas where fish are starting to group up.”

Launch and Weigh-In Info:
Anglers blast off at 7 a.m. ET each day from the Earle May Boat Basin (100 Boat Basin Circle, Bainbridge). Weigh-ins start at 3 p.m. and are open to the public. If you can’t make it in person, tune in to “MLF Live” for full coverage and updates on MajorLeagueFishing.com.

What’s at Stake

Payouts shift depending on how many boats enter. A 160-boat field sets the pro division top prize at $75,000, with a boost to $100,000 for larger fields. Co-anglers, regardless of field size, will be casting for that Phoenix 518 and a cash bonus.

Eyes on the Championship

This stop is part of a broader season that spans five divisions Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, and Southwestern plus International and Wild Card groups. The top 25 anglers from each qualify for the Toyota Series Championship, where the stakes skyrocket. Set for Nov. 6-8 on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, the no-entry-fee championship is a chance to win up to $235,000 and punch a ticket to REDCREST 2026.

Co-anglers can win a fully rigged Phoenix 518 at the championship as well.

Sponsors & Support

The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is backed by major names in the fishing and outdoor world Abu Garcia, Berkley, Strike King, Minn Kota, Mercury, Suzuki, Power-Pole, and many more, including Toyota and YETI.

For more info, updates, and behind-the-scenes coverage, follow MLF5 on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

How to Watch REDCREST 2025 Live

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on each day of competition (April 3-6) from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

MLFNOW! is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com
For tournament weights and leaderboard check out SCORETRACKER

REDCREST Qualifying Day 1 Takeoff

The smell of boat gas and lake water. The kind of morning where your breath hangs just a second longer in the air, like it knows what’s coming. Day 1 of REDCREST at Lake Guntersville and you could feel it before the first cast the calm before the storm, the hum before the punch. Fifty of the best anglers on Earth pulling into Park like gladiators in wrapped fiberglass chariots. The mountain behind them catches fire with the sunrise. It’s beautiful. It’s deadly.

The forecast says twenty-mile-an-hour winds from the south. But not yet. Right now, there’s just a whisper on the surface. The water is stained in pollen Southern springtime confetti. Shallows are glassy. The temps are climbing past 64. Everything about the lake says it’s about to explode. And it does.

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REDCREST Qualifying Day 1 Period 2: Guntersville Has Teeth

It’s spawn season in Alabama, and the bass don’t know if they’re coming or going. Some are laid up in the beds like hungover saints. Others are roaming angry, aggressive, pre-spawn gluttons. It’s the kind of setup that turns good mornings into bloodbaths.

Justin Cooper comes out swinging. Thirteen bass. Thirty-seven pounds and four ounces. By 9:30 in the morning, he’s already got an 8-pound cushion over Jacob Walker, who’s hustling hard with nine fish for 28-07.

Guntersville doesn’t hand you anything you take it. And with 41 minutes left in the period, Walker goes full predator under a bridge. Two casts. Two fish. Bang, bang. The lead shrinks. It’s a knife fight now.

The sun’s a little higher. The lake’s heating up. The scoreboard’s bleeding numbers. This isn’t just fishing. It’s war in slow motion cast by cast.

And we’re only in Period One.

Qualifying – Day 1 - Period 1 Top 10

Qualifying – Day 1 – Period 2: The Midday Mayhem

Midway through Period 2, the SCORETRACKER is lit up like a switchboard during a prison riot. The numbers keep flipping, ticking, reminding every angler just how damn real this is. With an hour and forty-five left in the round, Justin Cooper’s still holding court with 14 fish for 40 pounds, 3 ounces. Right behind him, Jacob Walker’s breathing down his neck with 35-11 on 11 bass. Anthony Gagliardi’s in third with 30-08, and his 8 bass aren’t just numbers, they’re warnings.

This isn’t finesse fishing. This is jazz with treble hooks. The top ten are all riffing in different directions. Jigs. Worms. Rattletraps. Jerkbaits. Jighead minnows. Nothing’s dominating. No bait is gospel. The bass are picky little bastards today. Power fishing isn’t hitting like it should. Bladed jigs are getting the cold shoulder.

Some guys are leaning into the eelgrass, milking every edge and shadow. Others are chasing ghosts on offshore rock, tracking suspended fish that play hard to get. Everyone’s looking for rhythm in the chaos.

Justin Cooper? He’s grinning behind a crankbait and grinding through the grind. “I’m such a chuck-and-wind kind of guy,” he says, like he’s explaining a religion. And today, it’s working. The man’s not talking theory, he’s stacking weight. One cast at a time. One wakeup call for everyone chasing him.

REDCREST DAY 1 Period 2 Standings

Qualifying – Day 1 - Period 2 Top 10

Qualifying Day 1 Period 3: Chaos on the Clock

You could feel it in your gut before the numbers even flipped. The kind of madness that brews slow and silent, then kicks the door in with a grin.

SCORETRACKER? Lit up like a fuse box in a thunderstorm. With 41 minutes left, Jacob Walker goes full beast mode. Cast after cast, no hesitation. Nineteen scoreable bass. Fifty-eight pounds, thirteen ounces. The guy’s not fishing — he’s detonating.

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Right behind him, Ron Nelson makes his move. Out of the smoke and into second with 57-12 on seventeen bass. Calculated. Precise. Like a scalpel in a knife fight.

And then there’s Justin Cooper. The early king, riding high all morning. He came out swinging in Periods 1 and 2, looked untouchable. Fourteen fish in the first two frames. Nineteen total now. Fifty-four pounds, twelve ounces. Still deadly. Still swinging. But the crown’s slipping.

Guntersville doesn’t care who led the parade. She saves her best for the last dance. And in Period 3, the music got loud.

This isn’t sport. It’s combat with rod and reel.

Qualifying Day 1 Final Result

REDCREST Qualifying – Day 1 Top 10

April 3-6, 2025 in Huntsville, Alabama, will host the REDCREST 2025 Championship at Lake Guntersville. The event features four days of competitive bass fishingas well as an extensive outdoor expo.

• REDCREST 2025 Championship will take place from April 3-6, 2025, at Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama
• REDCREST offers a prize pool of $778,000 for the anglers competing in the event.
• The Outdoor Sports Expo run simultaneously with the championship, offering over 200,000 square feet of fishing gear, live demonstrations, and extensive television and streaming coverage for fans.

REDCREST Tournament Overview

REDCREST is a catch-weigh-immediate release tournament. No fish will be livewelled during the event. Total weight includes every scorable bass per day. The minimum scorable weight is 2 pounds.

April 3 is the Qualifying Round, Day 1 with 50 anglers competing and the total weight carries to Qualifying Day 2.
April 4 is the Qualifying Round, Day 2 with 50 anglers competing. The top 20 anglers, two-day weight total, will advance to Knockout Round.
April 5 is the Knockout Round. 20 anglers compete and the weights are zeroed. The Top 10 anglers advance to Championship Round.
April 6 is the Championship Round with the top 10 anglers from the Knockout Round. All weights are zereod. Placement is determined by the day’s heaviest weights. The top angler crowned REDCREST Champion.

See majorleaguefishing.com for full rules and regulations

MEDIA DAY

REDCREST Day 1 Qualifying Round Updates

Day 1 at Guntersville cracked open like a beer on a hot porch. Slow fizz at first, then an explosion of chaos. Fifty of the best showed up with sun in their eyes and fiberglass underfoot, boats gurgling like war drums. The morning was calm, the kind that lies to you before it bites. Then the lake came alive. Bass confused between pre-spawn rage and spawning haze made every cast a coin toss between glory and heartbreak.

Justin Cooper hit the gas early, lighting up SCORETRACKER with bass and bravado. But by Period 3, the jungle had shifted. Jacob Walker showed up like a debt collector, dropping bombs under bridges and dragging the crown away with 58-13 on 19 bass. Ron Nelson wasn’t far behind, clinical and deadly with 57-12. Cooper, once untouchable, now found himself breathing heavy in third. Guntersville doesn’t hand out wins. It tests your patience, punishes your pride, and leaves you limping into the next round wondering what the hell just happened.

Anyway Here is your top 10. For full tournament result.

REDCREST Qualifying – Day 1 Top 10

REDCREST Day 2 Qualifying Round Updates

Information will be updated as it is available

REDCREST Day 3 Knockout Round Updates

Information will be updated as it is available

REDCREST Day 4 Championship Round Updates

Information will be updated as it is available

Lake Guntersville Fishing Report and Tournament Expectations

Some lakes are legends while others are myths. Then there’s Guntersville, the kind of lake that doesn’t just whisper tales of giants lurking in the weeds. It shouts them from the boat ramp.

Lake Guntersville is filthy with bass and the lake is stuffed with forage. A buffet of shad, crawfish, and panfish. Whether you’re flipping reeds or bombing ledges, Guntersville doesn’t just offer opportunities. It demands you take them.

Fisheries Biologist at ADCNR Phil Ekema’s Take On Lake Guntersville

Excerpts from this section courtesy of Major League Fishing via Mitchell Forde

“Even when it’s not good, it’s good,” says Phil Ekema, the Alabama fisheries supervisor who knows this body of water like the back of a weathered hand. A “down year” here still beats the brakes off most lakes on their best days. And right now? It’s not down. Not even close.
Strong spawns in 2016, 2020, and 2021 turned this already-charged reservoir into a ticking time bomb of 5- to 6-pounders. They’re here. They’re angry. And they’re about to meet the 50 best anglers in the world under the REDCREST spotlight.

Offshore ledges, thick eelgrass jungles, miles of riprap and boat docks. This lake’s got it all; a buffet of habitat and hideouts. One-third of it’s covered in vegetation. Enough for bass to tuck in and escape the circus of fiberglass hulls, pounding sonar, and tournament decals.

Speaking of sonar: the tech that sees all, the eye that doesn’t blink, Guntersville has no secrets left. Forward-facing sonar peeled back the curtain. Fish that used to hide in shadows are now outlined in HD, chased across screens, and plucked like ripe fruit.

“They can’t hide anymore,” Ekema says, and there’s a bite of truth in that. Now, every cast feels like a confrontation. Not with chance — but with certainty.

And yet… the lake keeps giving. Week after week. Tournament after tournament. From northern snowbirds escaping winter to local grinders throwing frogs until their shoulders give out. Lake Guntersville takes the hits and spits out personal bests like it’s nothing.

How Bass Pro Tour Professional Justin Lucas Expectations of Lake Guntersville

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We’ve had a lingering winter without much fluctuation, but now the water temperatures are finally rising. The days are getting longer, and the sun is heating the water, which should lead to a full-blown spring spawn. The way things are shaping up, I don’t see how we won’t have spawning fish on beds everywhere. I think this will be the biggest spawning wave of the year.
– Justin Lucas

Anglers Competing at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville

REDCREST 2025 TV Coverage

Episodes of Major League Fishing air weekly on Discovery Channel and re-broadcasts on the Outdoor Channel and Vice TV. With this much coverage the REDCREST Championship will reach a huge audience.

MLF Vice President Michael Mulone said, “Our TV coverage on Discovery Channel and re-airs on Outdoor Channel and Vice TV makes sure fans around the world can experience the REDCREST Championship.” With that kind of draw TV coverage of REDCREST 2025 is going to be big.

How to Watch REDCREST 2025 Live

If you want to watch REDCREST bass fishing live MLFNOW! will be live streaming the tournament daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV app. You can also follow along with SCORETRACKER® which will have up-to-date scoring during the tournament. This will keep you informed of the latest standings and add to the excitement of watching live. Whether you’re at home or on the go you can stay connected to the REDCREST 2025 Championship.