This past Friday & Saturday January 22nd & 23rd Crappie USA held their second 2-day $10,000.00 super event of the year on Florida’s Crescent & Dead Lakes. Over 115 anglers from 12 different states were competing for not only the $10,000.00 in cash and prizes, but a chance to advance to the prestigious Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic. This year’s classic will be held October 7/10/2015 on Indiana’s Patoka Lake.
Semi-Pro Division Results
Taking first place was the Hartsville, South Carolina team of TC Lloyd and John Tolson with a 2-day total weight of 29.77 pounds and earning $3,000.00 for first place along with an additional $315.00 for Big Fish of the event with a 2.83 pound crappie. TC and John were fishing South of Island on Crescent Lake Long Lining in 13 feet of water using Bubblegum & White/Chartreuse jigs to catch a total of 60 fish in 2-days.
Second place went to George Parker of West Palm Beach, Florida and Tim Eberly of Fort Lauderdale, Florida weighing in 25.52 pounds and earning $2,000.00. George and Tim fished Breezy Point south of the island on Crescent Long lining in 9-11 feet of water using black/chartreuse AWD Jigs to land a total of 40 fish.
In third place was the team of William Hinson of Cassatt, South Carolina and Tommy Slice of Chapin, South Carolina with 25.04 pounds and earning $700.00. William and Tommy were fishing the South End of Crescent Lake long lining in 8ft of water using Blue/White Fish Stalker lures to land 40 fish on Day 1 and 25 fish on Day 2. The team had to use Chains and Drift Socks to combat wind!.
Danny Cannon of Toomsboro, Georgia and Gerald Manning of Eastman, Georgia took fourth place in the Semi-Pro Division with a weight of 23.59 pounds and earning $500.00 for fourth place and $250.00 for the Ranger Cup Award in the Semi-Pro Division. Danny and Gerald were fishing the North end of Crescent on day1 and south end of Crescent on day 2. The team long lined in their Ranger 690 Fisherman Series using Black/Blue/Chartreuse/ & Black/Green/Chartreuse combos to land 25 total fish.
Fifth place went to the team of Bill Badley of Tavares, Florida and Darryl Cole of Leesburg, Florida with a weight of 23.32 pounds and earning $300.00. Bill and Darryl fished North of Bear Island on Crescent Lake long lining in 11-15ft of water using AWD Purple Rain and Strike King Tuxedo Black catching 75 fish on day1 and only 8 total on Day 2.
Amateur Division Results
First place in the amateur division went to the team of Ricky Willis of Gray, Georgia and Troy Theil of Gordon, Georgia weighing in a 2-day total 26.17 pounds and earning $1,500.00 for first place in the Amateur Division along with $250.00 for the Ranger Cup award. Ricky and Troy fished South of the Island on Crescent Lake in their 620VS Ranger, long lining in 12-13 feet of water using Bubblegum/Chart AWD Jigs to catch a total of 50 fish in the 2-day event.
Second place went to Fred Walker of Lizella, Georgia and Danny Sisson of Rural Hall, North Carolina with a total weight of 23.38 pounds and earning $800.00. Fred and Danny also fished South of the island on Crescent Lake in their 621 Ranger, long lining in 12 feet of water using Black/Blue/Chartreuse AWD Jigs. The team caught 70 fish on Day1 and only 7 on Day 2.
Taking third place was the team of Harold Chappell of Byron, Georgia and Harold Ingram of Macon, Georgia with 21.9 pounds and earning $400.00. The team fished on Day 2 on a cut on the south end of Dead Lake long lining in 8-12 feet of water using Green/Black/Green AWD Jigs to land a total of 40 fish.
In fourth place was the Satsuma, Florida team of Bill Fee and Wayne Loy weighing in 20.72 pounds and earning $300.00. Bill and Wayne fished around Bear Island on Crescent Lake long lining in 13 feet of water using Blue colored Jigs to land a total of 20 fish for both days.
Fifth place went to the Sandersville, Georgia team of Ron Wallace and Tim Werkin weighing in 19.66 pounds and earning $200.00. Ron and Tim fished South end of Crescent long lining in 10ft of water using Slabalicious Jigs Popsicle & Blue/Black/Chartreuse in color to land a total of 50 fish in 2-days.
Joe & Janette Carter won the Talon Shallow Water Anchor Bonus $250.00.
Cape & Harris – 2nd Big Fish – $135.00 for their 2.75 pound crappie.
New Kayak Division
1st Place Kayak Division-Lucian Gizel of Livonia Michigan with 2.48 pound. Lucian is two time world Kayak Champion. 2nd place Kayak Division was Don Sweet of Romulus Michigan host of Catfishing America TV series. Lucian also had the big fish of the Kayak Division with a 1.48 pounder.
Congratulations to all the teams fishing this event. For a complete list of tournament standings and downloadable photos for this event visit www.crappieusa.com then go to Tournament Results.
Crappie USA Free Kids Fishing Rodeo
In conjunction with the tournament Crappie USA held their Kids Rodeo on Saturday morning with several local children attending the event.. All the participants signed up for a chance to win one of 6-$1,000.00 scholarships to be drawn for at the Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic.
Crappie USA and our anglers have contributed nearly $322,000.00 to the “Crappie Kids” Scholarships since 1997. We are very proud to be a part of the education process for the youngsters who participate in our tournaments as adult/youth teams and those who fish in the Crappie USA “Kids Fishing Rodeos”.
A special thanks goes out to Ron Presley Florida Outdoor writer and Don Sweet host of Catfishing America. and “One Big Fish” TV shows. Special thanks to Matt Dunn and Doreen with tourism, also Joe and staff at Bull Creek Marina and Restaurant and Glen Oberacker with RigRap LLC for attending Captains Meeting.
Stats for the Tournament:
Weather- The temperatures on Friday were 68 degree’s. Saturday, wind 5-10SW rain in the afternoon and all night, storms high winds and rain early morning with gust all day to 40MPH.
National Sponsors of Crappie USA:
Cabela’s, Ranger Boats, Mercury, Mustad, B ‘n’ M Poles, Minn Kota, Humminbird Electronics, Gamma, Adventure Products EGO Nets, J.R. Mad’s, Charlie Brewer’s Slider Co., Big Bite Baits, TTI-Blakemore Road Runner, Driftmaster Rod Holders, Southern Pro Tackle, World Fishing Network-WFN, Cumberland Crappie Double Seat Mounts, Church Tackle Company, Crappie Now on-line Magazine, Stubby Steve’s, KAYAK KABOOSE, The Quick Cleat and Sunsect Sunscreen & Insect Repellent.
The following companies furnish product to help make these events possible: Kodiak Fish Attractants, Rigrap and Keep Alive.
For more information please call Crappie USA Inc. at 270-395-4204. Please visit our website at www.crappieusa.com.
