This year, Georgia angler Emil Wagner is fishing all nine Bassmaster Opens in hopes of qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series, but in between all those events is REDCREST on Lay Lake in Alabama. He won the BFL All-American last year on Lake Hartwell and will represent weekend anglers everywhere in this prestigious tournament against some of the biggest names in bass fishing.
Wagner is a rising star in bass fishing and documenting his entire season for YouTube as the winner of AFTCO’s Bass Boot Camp. He’s also a spotted bass expert who guides on Lake Lanier, and he should be considered a legitimate threat to win when he starts fishing on Lay Lake.
Emil Wagner Is A Spotted Bass Guru
Wagner fishes often on Lanier and Lake Hartwell and has plenty of experience chasing spotted bass. Like those lakes, Lay Lake is full of spotted bass, but Wagner said they are much different.
“They are not like the blueback herring chasing spotted bass that I’m used to, but they do have some similarities,” he said. “They still suspend on brush and hard spots like they do back home, but they eat different stuff and are much more current related on the Coosa River chain.”
He spent some time on Lay before the lake went off-limits and primarily scanned and looked for areas where he believed the fish would be when the tournament began.
“I looked for stuff that would be relevant in the middle of March,” he said. “I was trying to figure out where the fish were and where they would go. I still caught some fish and think spotted bass will be the main species targeted by the anglers, but largemouth will also play a big role.”
No Added Pressure For Fishing 2024 REDCREST
Since he qualified for this event through the BFLs, Wagner is there to do well but isn’t feeling the pressure. “I want to do well, but there’s not a lot of extra pressure,” he said. “In the Opens, it’s all about points and you have to catch them daily. You can’t bomb. For this one, I will go out and fish my hardest and see if I can compete with the best of the best at Major League Fishing.”
One place he may feel some pressure is when he gets to experience updates on SCORETRACKER®, especially with the every fish counts format. Wagner said he’d fished two local events with this format (he won both) but nothing at this level.
“It’s super fun to fish that format, but it changes your strategy for sure,” he said. “If this were a five-fish limit, I would plan to fish shallower on docks and in the grass. I also think this opens it up to more offshore spotted bass fishing to get more bites.”
Gearing Up for Lay Lake Bass Fishing
Wagner believes the fishing techniques will run the gamut in this event and will be prepared for anything. He’ll have his typical spotted bass tackle but expects to see many more options in play.
“I think you’ll see a lot of the jighead minnow stuff,” he begins. “But, I think the techniques will be much more dynamic and you will see crankbaits and ChatterBaits catching fish. I think it will be fun to watch because so many people will do different things.”
Aside from his tackle, Wagner plans to be prepared for anything with his clothing. The AFTCO F1 baselayer and F2 midlayer pieces are a must in his wardrobe.
“All season long, I’ve been wearing those and then a Crosswind Puffer Jacket under my Hydronaut suit,” he said. “That is the perfect system and it’s phenomenal for keeping you warm, even when the air is in the 20s and 30s. It’s been a legit game-changer for me staying warm and not being too bulky.”
Another item that Wagner will be packing is the AFCTO Ankle Deck Boot. “I think we’ve all worn some sort of these rubber boots from other brands, but the biggest thing I’ve liked about these is how comfortable these are,” he said. “They’re a lot more flexible and you have easier movement when wearing them.”
A final must-have from Wagner is the Honcho pants. “I’ve been wearing them since they came out and they are my favorite pants because they are so comfortable,” he said. “They have the right amount of stretch and light enough to wear in any season.”
While he has the status of an amateur in this professional event, Emil Wagner is one to watch as he has the skills needed to make a big showing at REDCREST. Keep an eye on him as he continues to rise the ranks of professional bass fishing and follow along with his journey this year on AFTCO’s YouTube channel.
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