Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorship / Photo: MLF

As the 2025 Bass Pro Shops REDCREST draws near, Team Toyota pro Mark Daniels Jr. is riding high off a stellar Stage 3 performance and is ready to bring that momentum to Lake Guntersville. After a strong showing in the regular season, Daniels enters the championship event with both confidence and a healthy dose of respect for one of the most challenging fisheries in the country. 

Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to adapt to changing conditions, Mark Daniels Jr. feels well prepared for what lies ahead—though he knows it won’t be easy.

For MDJ, the challenge is part of the excitement. 

“I like tough tournaments,“ MDJ said. “This is going to be a beatdown. The more difficult the fishing is, the more the details matter. I feel like I’m good at that.” 

And when it comes to Lake Guntersville, those details will be crucial. The iconic Alabama fishery is known for its abundant eelgrass and intricate structure and while it’s home to some of the biggest bass in the country, it can be an unforgiving place to fish.

Lake Guntersville, situated in north Alabama, has earned its reputation as a bass-fishing tournament powerhouse but with that prestige comes a unique set of challenges. 

“It’s hard to fish and move around with all the people on the water,” MDJ said. “I’ve never seen a lake with that kind of fishing pressure in my life.” 

The sheer number of anglers who frequent the lake, combined with its dense vegetation and shifting water conditions, means that adaptability is essential to success.

However, there’s one factor that could be a game-changer for the competitors: Forward-facing sonar (FFS). Technology has revolutionized the way anglers approach tournaments and at Guntersville, it will likely play a major role in determining who comes out on top. Daniels Jr., ever the student of the game, has been watching closely. 

“The little I know, the lake has been absolutely awesome,” Daniels Jr. said. “The recent tournament weights have been extraordinary. It reminds me of Clear Lake back home in California.” 

But while he’s excited about the potential for high weights, MDJ is also curious about how technology will impact the fishing. 

“I’m always wondering how it’s going to play. It played heavily at Murray, but the eelgrass on Guntersville is the big unknown,” he said. “How big of a player will FFS be? Or can you not see ‘em and have to fish more traditionally?”

As Daniels Jr. continues to consider the role of FFS, he’s also factoring in the unique challenges that come with Guntersville’s ecosystem. The lake is home to an abundance of eelgrass, which provides incredible habitat for bass, but it can also make power fishing difficult, especially during the pre-spawn and spawning periods. 

MDJ is preparing for potentially tough conditions. 

“Rain is supposed to fall every single day from the time we get there until the time we leave,” MDJ said. “I’m not going to say it’s not a good thing but it’s certainly not good for sight fishing.”

While there will undoubtedly be spawning fish, Daniels anticipates that anglers might have a harder time locating them due to the overcast conditions.

For Daniels Jr., adapting to these challenges is all part of the game and he’s confident that his versatile approach will allow him to stay competitive throughout the event. 

“Eelgrass is going to be a big deal,” said MDJ, adding that he expects a bladed jig to be one of the standout baits during the event. “A chatterbait will be a shining star and I think you’re going to catch a lot of fish on moving-style baits.”

MDJ also expects to lean heavily on baits like swimbaits, shallow crankbaits and other “chuck-and-wind” lures that can cover a lot of water and trigger reaction strikes from bass lurking in the dense grass.

With the weather and fishing conditions unpredictable, Daniels Jr. knows every bite will count. 

“You’re going to have to get on ‘em pretty good as far as numbers,” MDJ said. “That’s what makes it so hard. With a 2-pound minimum for bass, even the smallest fish can add up quickly but finding the right fish will be a key to success. It can be a little intimidating because going into it, you know how good the fishery is, and you know what you’re walking into. You need to catch ‘em big.”

For Daniels, the mindset heading into REDCREST is clear: stay focused on the task at hand and be ready for anything.