SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (April 9, 2026) – When Clark Harman opens his email each morning, he typically does the same thing – scroll, delete and move on with his day.

It’s a routine the 64-year-old crop advisor from Burley, Idaho, has followed for years. But one recent morning, an email from Major League Fishing (MLF) caught his eye.

“I thought, if I ever win one of these sweepstakes, I’ll probably just delete it,” Harman said. “And luckily, there was something in the subject line that made me stop. Even then, I still thought, ‘Yeah, right.’”

This time, it turned out to be the real thing.

Harman is the winner of the 2026 MLF Road to REDCREST Sweepstakes, earning a trip package to attend REDCREST 2026 Presented by Mercury and Lowrance and the Outdoor Sports Expo, April 17–19, in Springfield, Missouri, along with the opportunity to compete for additional prizes during championship weekend.

For Harman, a lifelong outdoorsman, the trip offers a chance to experience in person what he’s followed closely from afar. A dedicated fan of MLF broadcasts, Harman regularly records and watches Bass Pro Tour events and is eager to see the action unfold live on Table Rock Lake and throughout the REDCREST Outdoor Sports Expo at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield.

“I’m really hoping to meet anglers like Dustin Connell, Ott DeFoe and Jacob Wheeler,” Harman said. “I watch all the tournaments – the quality of the broadcast, the way it’s presented, it’s just really professional and enjoyable to watch.”

Harman’s path to bass fishing came later in life. After decades spent trout fishing and fly tying, he discovered the smallmouth bass fishery near his home on Idaho’s Snake River and quickly became hooked.

“I didn’t realize how good the bass fishing was,” Harman said. “I got a little boat and went out, and I was hooked right away. The bite’s harder, the fight’s harder – they’re just tough fish. It’s completely different, and I love it.”

That passion led him to purchase a gently used Bass Tracker V16 Pro, a boat he credits with opening up new opportunities on the water.

“I used to fish from the bank, and you’re really limited,” Harman said. “Now I’ve got the whole Snake River. It’s an older boat, but it floats, it doesn’t leak, and it’s been great.”

Harman, who is married with four children and 10 grandchildren, will make the trip to Springfield with his son – although it means stepping away during one of the busiest times of year in his profession.

“This is absolutely the worst week of the whole year for me with planting season,” Harman said. “But I told them, I’m 64 years old – I’ll move heaven and earth to get to Springfield for this.”

His family needed some convincing.

“They thought I was joking,” Harman said. “I had to send them a picture of the MLF swag they sent me before they believed it.”

Harman and his son plan to take in the full REDCREST experience, including the competition, the Outdoor Sports Expo and even time on the water, fishing on Table Rock Lake during their stay.

For Springfield-area fans, Harman’s story is just one example of what makes REDCREST more than a tournament weekend. The event brings thousands of fishing fans to the city and offers opportunities for attendees of all ages to get involved.

Throughout the three-day Outdoor Sports Expo at Bass Pro Shops, fans can enjoy hourly giveaways featuring rods, reels, gift cards and prize packages from leading fishing brands, along with the popular Mercury and Lowrance Power Hour, where prizes are awarded live on stage in rapid-fire fashion. Each day also concludes with a $500 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree, giving local attendees multiple chances to walk away winners.

The free, family-friendly event includes angler meet-and-greets, interactive exhibits and opportunities to see the biggest names in professional bass fishing up close, making it a can’t-miss weekend for outdoor enthusiasts across southwest Missouri and beyond.

Harman knows firsthand that showing up, or simply taking a chance, can pay off.

“I try to remember to enter these sweepstakes every day,” he said. “This time I actually entered less than I normally do, so I was really surprised when I won.”

His advice for others is simple.

“Just do it, because somebody’s got to win,” Harman said. “I never thought I would – I’m not that guy. But if you keep entering, maybe you’ll be the one!”

REDCREST 2026 Presented by Mercury and Lowrance will take place next week, April 17–19, on Table Rock Lake in Springfield, Missouri, and will feature the top anglers in professional bass fishing competing for a top prize of $300,000. The Outdoor Sports Expo at Bass Pro Shops will run concurrently with the event and is free and open to the public.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and REDCREST 2026, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X ,  Instagram, Rumble and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.