This past Saturday March 6th Crappie USA held a qualifying event at Leesburg Landing on Alabama's Weiss Lake. Over 100 anglers from 11 different states were competing for not only cash and prizes, but a chance to advance to the prestigious Cabela's Crappie USA Classic to be held next Fall.
Semi-Pro Division Results
Taking first place was the team of Scott Echols of Eva, Alabama and Roger Echols of Somerville, Alabama with a total weight of 10.82 pounds and earning $1000.00. Scott and Roger were slow trolling in 2-8 feet of water north of the Riverside area using black and gray combo jigs tipped with minnows. The key to catching their fish was using their 16 ft. long B'n'M Poles to get out in front of the boat and not spook the suspended fish they were after. In all the team caught over 40 suspended fish using their technique. Scott and Roger also captured second biggest fish of the day along with an additional $500.00 in the Ranger Cup Awards.
Second place went to Gilford Sipes of Moody, Alabama and Coy Sipes of Pell City, Alabama with a weight of 9.6 pounds and earning $600.00. Gilford and Coy were fishing the Riverside area moving very slowly using red/glow Southern Pro Stringer jigs before the sun came up switching to black/chartreuse jigs later in the day. The team used the same technique as the 1st place team by using their 18 ft. B'n'M Poles getting the bait out in front of the boat not spooking the suspended fish. The team caught over 50 fish throughout the day concentrating in 5 feet of water or less.
In third place was the team of Larry and Vanice Parker of Dyersburg, Tennessee weighing in 8.96 pounds and earning $400.00. Larry and Vanice were slow trolling black/chartreuses Southern Pro mini jigs in 14 feet of water using their 14 ft. B'n'M Poles. The team also caught a few fish vertical jigging red/chartreuse jigs tipped with minnows.
Amateur Division Results
In first place in the amateur division was the Rome, Georgia team of Kevin Randall and John Hendrix with a total weight of 9.97 pounds and earning $1,100.00. Kevin and John were fishing the northern end of the lake in 2-5 feet of water using black/blue/chartreuse Big Bite Baits. The team caught over 30 fish with their fish suspended just under the surface of the water.
Second place went to Chuck Justice of Louisville, Mississippi and Terry Barnes of Nettleton, Mississippi weighing in 9.84 pounds and earning $650.00. Chuck and Terry were fishing near the Weiss Lake Dam using B'n'M Poles with Southern Pro Stinger jigs tipped with small minnows suspended in 5 feet of water. The team caught over 25 fish in creeks holding just out of the current.
Taking third place was the Rockmart, Georgia team of Chad Hitchcock and Jason Acrey weighing in 9.75 pounds and earning $400.00. Chad and Jason were fishing the Little Creek area longline trolling blue/blue/blue Hal Fly type jigs catching over 40 fish suspended in 15-17 feet of water.
In fourth was the team of Andre Reynolds of Fort Payne, Alabama and LaDon Reynolds of Gaylesville, Alabama with a weight of 8.99 pounds and earning $300.00. Andre and LaDon were fishing up the river longline trolling black/chartreuse and blue/chartreuse jigs in 7 feet of water.
Fifth place went to the Murray, Kentucky team of Mason Milby and Ashley Adams with a weight of 8.81 pounds and earning $250.00. Mason and Ashley were fishing the Riverside area tightlining black/chartreuse jigs 2-4 feet deep out of the front of the boat.
Big Fish Award
Taking big fish of the event was the Rome, Georgia team of Kevin Randall and John Hendrix with a 2.20 pound crappie which netted them $380.00. Second place in the big fish contest was the team of Scott Echols of Eva, Alabama and Roger Echols of Somerville, Alabama with a 1.81 pound crappie.
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-$2,000.00 scholarships to be drawn for at the Cabela's Crappie USA Classic.
Crappie USA and our anglers have contributed nearly $270,000.00 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".
"Several factors remained constant with all the top placing teams in both divisions with wide spread sunshine all day the fish were suspending and most teams with over 7 pounds of fish caught them suspended only 1 or 2 feet deep in 8 to 17 feet of water. It appeared these fish were coming up to the surface to feed. Teams using 14 ft or longer B'n'M Poles did the best, getting the baits out farther from the boat and not spooking the shallow staging fish. Many teams said they actually could see the fish hit the jigs they were holding so close to the surface", said Crappie USA CEO Darrell Van Vactor.
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