Dustin Connell catches a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces to grab the early lead. Photo | MLF

March 9. The top 40 professional anglers from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour launched Wednesday morning at Blythe Landing for Day 1 of MLF’s Redcrest Bass Pro Tour championship.

The five-day event features 40 anglers competing to become pro bass fishing’s newest world champion, and a top cash prize of $300,000.

Fishing pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, caught a five-bass weight of 16 pounds, 7 ounces, to grab the early lead after Day 1 of competition.

Right behind Connell in second place is California pro Brent Ehrler, who caught five bass weighing 15-11. Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, sits in third place with five bass weighing 15-6.

The full field of 40 anglers compete again today for Day 2 of competition. Only the top 20 anglers after Thursday will advance into the Championship Round of competition.

The complete standings after Day 1 can be found here.