Tournament Results for the 2012 Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic
OutdoorHub 10.29.12
Harsh Weather Couldn’t Detour Crappie USA Classic Anglers
This past Friday and Saturday October 27th & 28th Crappie USA held the Prestigious 2012 Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic on the Kentucky/Barkley Lakes at the Lake Barkley State Resort Park near Cadiz, Kentucky. Harsh weather with temperatures dropping nearly 25 degrees, 15-25 MPH winds and waves as high as 4 feet couldn’t hold back the 171 teams from 18 different states competing for the nearly $108,000.00 in cash and prizes. “This was truly one of the most memorable classics even with inclement weather in my 28 years of managing classic events”, said Crappie USA CEO Darrell Van Vactor.
Semi-Pro Division Top 5 Results
Taking first place was the team of Wade Hendren of McKenzie, Tennessee and Roy Logan of Paris, Tennessee with a 2-day total weight of 19.18 pounds. Wade and Roy the Blakemore “Roadrunner” Team fished in Big Sandy over manmade cover in 10-12 feet of water. The team was using live bait on B’n’M Poles to catch over 60 keepers each day earning $40,000.00 in cash and prizes including a new Ranger V118 boat with an Evinrude Outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, Humminbird electronics along with the $1,400.00 Driftmaster package and $2,000.00 in cash money.
Second place went to the team of Paul Eldridge of Spring Valley, Ohio and TJ Harper of Springfield, Ohio with a weight of 18.58 pounds and earning $5,000.00. Paul and TJ were fishing the southern end of the lake vertical fishing black/chartreuse Southern Pro on Gamma Line over 25-30 feet of water to catch over 50 fish for the 2-days of the event.
In third place was Jim Freeman of Eddyville, Kentucky and Garrett Bridges of Smithland, Kentucky weighing in 18.53 pounds to earn $2,000.00. Jim and Garrett were fishing the north end of Barkley spider rigging over 20 feet of water using white glow jigs with pink heads to catch over 70 keepers in 2-days.
The Memphis, Tennessee team of Warren Cotton and Kirk Lewis took fourth place with a weight of 18.49 pounds and earning $1,200.00. Warren and Kirk were spider rigging the Big Sandy river area in 18 feet of water using Big Bite Glow jigs with chartreuse curl tail inside the tube to catch over 65 keepers in the 2-days of the event.
Fifth place went to the Treznevant, Tennessee team of Mark and Billy Arnold with a weight of 18.17 pounds and earning $1,000.00. The team had to leave before the interview.
In all the top 16 of the Semi-Pro teams received either a check or prize.
Amateur Division Top 5 Results
First place in the amateur division was the team of Dave Carpenter of Paris, Tennessee and Ron Ivey of Springville, Tennessee with a 2-day total of 21.89 pound. Dave and Ron were fishing manmade cover on the west side of the Big Sandy River using one pole vertically jigging in 8-13 feet of water on Mustad Wide Gap Hooks and Southern Pro Motor Oil and Red/Chartreuse tube jigs to catch over 120 keepers over the 2-day event. Dave and Ron earned a new Ranger 117VS rig valued at $31,500.00. for first place in the Amateur Division.
Second place went to the Mayfield, Kentucky team of John and Matt Feagin weighing in 19.51 pounds and earning $3,000.00. John and Matt was vertical jigging a main point in the Blood River area using Southern Pro orange/chartreuse and blue/chartreuse jigs in 11-18 feet of water to catch over 100 fish in 2-days.
Taking third place was Johnny Clary of Greenbrair, Tennessee and Dwayne Craig of Cottontown, Tennessee with 18.77 pounds and earning $1,500.00. Johnny and Dwayne were fishing from bridge to bridge on secondary river channels in 17 feet of water vertical jigging with one pole each using Crappie Magnet jigs to catch over 100 fish in the 2-day event.
In fourth was the Mt. Juliet, Tennessee team of Harold Maddux and Brian Oldham with a weight of 18.75 pounds and earning $1,000.00. Harold and Brian were fishing main lake pockets below hwy 68 bridge using one pole each in 17-23 feet of water using chartreuse with sparkle jigs to catch over 200 total keepers.
Fifth place went to the team of Keith Griffin of Trenton, Tennessee and Brent Smith of Rutherford, Tennessee weighing in 18.28 pounds and earning $800.00. Keith and Brent were fishing the south end of the lake vertical fishing one pole over natural cover in 8-24 feet of water using black/chartreuse jigs.
Big Fish Award
Taking big fish of the event was the team of Bill and Roger Gant of Corinth, Mississippi with a 2.51 pound crappie which earned the team $1,050.00 cash. Bill and Roger caught the big fish of the event right in front of the Lake Barkley State Resort Park Lodge using a Gant hair jig tied onto a Mustad gold hook and tipped with a lime and black Southern Pro hot grub in 26 feet of water.
Crappie USA Kids Scholarship Program
Each year Crappie USA and our anglers donate for the Crappie USA Kids Scholarship Program where at the Classic 6 names are drawn for $1,000.00 scholarships from the participants in the Crappie Kids Fishing Rodeo’s at each Crappie USA event. This year’s scholarships will be drawn in honor of Ethan Woods a five year old from Alabama who was tragically killed in an accident on January 10, 2012 while waiting for his school bus. This year’s proud recipients are:
- Cole Lockhart of South Carolina
- Ryan Woods of Alabama
- James Stieringer of West Virginia
- Hannah Seyler of Florida
- Seth Torres of Florida
- Charles Smith of Alabama
Other Awards Given Out At The Classic
- Sportsmen of the Year went to: Ed and Helen Meeks
- Presidents award winners went to: Larry Clark
- Young Angler of the year: Adrian Hale
- Southern Pro Lures Bonus Winners: Carpenter/Ivey $500.00
- Ranger Cup winners Semi Pro: Paul Eldridge/TJ Harper $250.00
- Ranger Cup winners Amateur: Neal Avis/Scott Bunch $125.00
- National Points Champs: Henry & Jo Haley Cabela’s Gift Card $2,000.00
Special Thanks To Sponsor of the event and Other Special Guest
We wish to thank Bill Stevens, Cadiz/Trigg County Tourism, John Jordan park manager Lake Barkley State Park Jack McGee, chef at the Park and his crew, and all the Cadiz area businesses for making our staff and anglers feel right at home all week, the hospitality was second to none, also Paul Moore and John Felscher, sport writers for attending and covering the event. For more information on the area call: (888) 446-6402 or visit their website at www.gocadiz.org.
