Dustin Connell from Clanton, Alabama wasted no time making a name for himself on the Bassmaster Elite Series: he won the fourth event he fished (at Ross Barnett Lake in Mississippi) and claimed Rookie of the Year honors in 2017. After a move to the MLF Bass Pro Tour, Dustin claimed the 2021 Bass Pro Tour REDCREST title at Lake Eufaula. In 2022, a Stage Three tour win pushed his career winnings to nearly $1 million at the time. Dustin followed the win up with a another at Stage Six of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour which made him one of the winningest anglers in Bass Pro Tour history as only Jacob Wheeler and Ott DeFoe had won three or more events.