Lane added three fish for 6-9 in the final 38 minutes of the final period on the Meaty Chunk Jr ., including the 2-0 REDCREST winner at 3:46:45 p . m .
Lane finished the day with 10 fish for 29-14 , followed by Clausen ( 28-11 ), Wheeler ( 28-4 ) and Connell ( 25-11 ).
Lane ’ s joy in victory was heartfelt and , in his own words , “ overwhelming and uncontrollable .” Fans watching the MLF NOW ! livestream closely may have noticed him trying to pull off the Berkley sweatshirt he was wearing ( to no avail , his microphone was clipped to it ) as he sweated out the minute between the final buzzer and confirmation of SCORETRACKER ®.
“ Man , I felt like I was on fire ,” Lane joked . “ At the moment it was confirmed that I had won , I didn ’ t know if I was going to pass out , throw up or just collapse right then and there . I just blurted it out : ‘ Madeline , ( Lane ’ s wife ) I love
“ Words can ’ t even describe what the emotions felt like in that moment ; it was an incredible feeling .”
you . Kids , your dad is the REDCREST champion !’ The words just flew out of my mouth . Words can ’ t even describe what the emotions felt like in that moment ; it was an incredible feeling .”
THE AFTERMATH — March 27 and beyond
To the surprise of nobody who knows him , “ Big Fish ” Bobby has enthusiastically embraced the role of REDCREST champion like a bear would embrace a salmon .
In the weeks that followed Lane ’ s win , the REDCREST trophy showed up in social media throughout the Sunshine State as he happily shuttled it around to restaurants , boat dealerships , etc ., and showed it off to friends , fans , sponsors and complete strangers with equal enthusiasm . Lane appeared on podcasts and radio shows from throughout the country , sat down for dozens of interviews and returned phone calls and congratulatory texts from every single person who reached out to him ( and judging by the celebratory reaction from the in-house crowd that gathered at the REDCREST Expo to witness his winning moment , there were a lot of those ).
“ I lived through an amazing life event with the whole world watching ; it just means the world to me and my family to have this opportunity – I ’ m humbled and really honored to be the champion ,” Lane admitted . “ It solidifies everything that I ’ ve worked my everloving ass off for the past 16 years . I ’ ve heard the questions : ‘ Is Bobby ever going to win a major championship ? He ’ s been so close so many times but he hasn ’ t won .’ When we were in the final minutes ( of REDCREST ) and Wheeler was leading , I could hear people in my head saying ‘ Oh , we know how this story is going to unfold . Bobby is going to finish second again ’.
“ I can tell you that I was talking back to those voices : ‘ There ’ s no way I ’ m letting that happen again .’ But I guess over the years , I didn ’ t win because maybe I wasn ’ t ready to . Maybe it wasn ’ t my time yet . This time , it was my time .”
At precisely 3:46:45 p . m . CT on March 27 , 2022 …
Next to his family , an emotional Bobby Lane hoists up the $ 300,000 winner ’ s check at the 2022 REDCREST Expo .
PHOTO BY GARRICK DIXON
JUNE-JULY 2022 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 37