Big Baits, Big Bonus for Evers at REDCREST 2023

Edwin Evers bait selection captured the attention of fishing fans during REDCREST 2023 on Lake
Norman as he used a pair of big swimbaits en route to his third-place finish. The Oklahoma
veteran has long been one of the most versatile anglers in the world; he’s prominently notched
major wins with bags comprised entirely of smallmouth, spotted bass, and largemouth over the
course of his legendary career but big swimbaits is not something Evers is known for.
“The big swimbait game is brand new to me,” Evers said with a smile. “I started toying with
glide baits and bigger profile swimbaits this fall and winter after fishing with a young man
named Cole Anderson and was really impressed. Coming into REDCREST I knew how many small
fish lived in Norman, so I thought a bigger bait might be able to generate some above average
bites.”

On his second day of practice Evers’ put this theory to the test and was rewarded with several
bites which included a few better fish. He added this nugget of information to his toolbox and
successfully used two big swimbaits along with a few other techniques to finish better than 37
other pros.

Specifically, Evers was fishing the brand-new Berkley Cull Shad, which has a unique hook keeper
that lends itself well to skipping under the myriad of docks that dot the shoreline at Lake
Norman. The General Tires pro also caught some key fish on a Mike Bucca glide bait he would
fish down the sides of key docks.
“I won’t claim to know much about big swimbaits yet, but I will say they are extremely exciting
to fish,” Evers offered. “My heart just about pounds out of my chest every time I make a cast
with one because I know a giant is liable to eat the bait at any moment. It’s super addicting!”
Evers may be relatively new to the world of big gliders and swimmers, but he’s no stranger to
towing his Nitro Boat with a Tundra or to winning big Toyota Bonus Bucks checks. His third-
place achievement at REDCREST 2023 made him the highest finishing Bonus Bucks angler in the
field and netted him an additional $7,500.
Highlighting one of coolest facets of the program – you don’t need to win an event to win the
Bonus Bucks payout, you just need to drive a 2019 or newer Toyota tow vehicle and finish
higher than other eligible anglers. Evers has driven a Tundra for well over a decade and recently
bought a new 2022 Tundra to start the 2023 Bass Pro Tour season.
“I’ve been super impressed with the interior and overall comfort of this truck so far,” Evers said.
“It’s got plenty of power and drives really well. I like the new seats, the big screen on the dash,
and all the different safety sensors and advancements in technology. All the new features make
it a comfortable, easy truck to drive and tow my boat with.”
Visit your local Toyota dealer to test drive a new Tundra if you are in the market for a tow
vehicle and be sure to sign up for Bonus Bucks. It’s free to join and you can earn extra money
just like Evers if you compete in one of the hundreds of supported tournaments. Learn more
and get registered at www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com.