2013 Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic Tournament Results
OutdoorHub 10.28.13
This past Friday and Saturday October 25th & 26th the Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic was held on Kentucky Lake at the Paris Landing near Paris, Tennessee. In this major crappie fishing event 368 anglers from 18 different states were competing for $107,000.00 in cash and prizes.
“We wish to give a very special thanks to the Henry Co. Alliance, Henry Co Fair Board, City of Paris and all the local folks who worked so hard to make the Classic a huge success”, said Crappie USA CEO Darrell Van Vactor. “We also want to thank the 22 national sponsor representatives that took the time from their busy schedules to attend and assist with the event”, said Van Vactor.
Semi-Pro Division Results
Taking first place was one of the most well known teams in the Nation Ronnie Capps and Steve Coleman of Tiptonville, Tennessee with a 2-day total weight of 20.89 pounds. Ronnie and Steve were fishing the Blood River area of Kentucky Lake in 15 feet of water over manmade cover and stumps with their larger fish being taken on lime/chartreuse glow jigs made by Southern Pro Tackle and tipped with minnows on their 12 foot long B’n’M Poles using 15 pound test line tight in the larger natural stumps along a strong vertical drop. The team caught over 100 fish in the 2-days of competition. For first place the team of Capps and Coleman earned a Ranger V118-C boat with a 150HP Evinrude outboard motor, Mann Kota Trove Trolling Motor, Talon Shallow Water Anchor, Driftmaster T 5100 trolling bar, Humminbird Electronics. Ronnie and Steve also earned $500.00 for the Ranger Cup Award and an additional $500.00 Southern Pro Tackle bonus.
Second place went to another well known team in crappie fishing today the Carmi, Illinois team of Henry and Jo Haley weighing in a 2-day total of 19.58 pounds and earning $5,000.00. Henry and Jo also earning the National Points Champion honors receiving $2,000.00 along with $450.00 for second largest fish in the event. Henry and Jo were fishing in the northern part of Barkley Lake in 9-11 feet of water over manmade cover with single pole in hand using green/chartreuse Southern Pro jigs tipped with nibbles. The team caught 50 fish in the 2-days including the second largest fish of the event weighing an even 2.00 pound.
In third place was the team of Jim Freeman of Eddyville, Kentucky and Garrett Bridges of Smithland, Kentucky with a weight of 19.17 pound and earning $2,000.00. Jim and Garrett were also fishing the north Barkley area with the fish holding very tight to cover in 5-18 feet of water over manmade cover using orange/white/pink Southern Pro jigs to catch 50-60 fish for the weekend.
Wayne Darnell of Kingsport, Tennessee and Ricky Keener of Kodak, Tennessee took fourth place with a weight of 19.15 pounds and earning $1,000.00. In addition the team earned an extra $500.00 for the Stubby Steve’s Baits bonus. Wayne and Ricky were fishing south of Paris Landing area on the east side in the mouth of creeks in 12-15 feet of water using red/chartreuse crankbaits tipped with Stubby Steve’s bait, trolling the baits and bumping them on bottom to catch 40 fish in the 2-days.
Fifth place went to the Trezevant, Tennessee team of Mark and Billy Arnold weighing in 18.81 pounds and earning $900.00.Mark and Billy were fishing Kentucky Lake south of Danville vertical jigging in 12-15 feet of water using live bait over cover to catch over 35 fish in the 2-days.
Amateur Division Results
First place in the amateur division was the team of William Rhodes of Cedar Grove, Tennessee and James Dameron of Humboldt, Tennessee weighing in a 2-day total of 19.49 pounds and earning a Ranger V117-C boat with a 90 HP Evinrude outboard, Minn Kota 80 pound thrust trolling motor, Talon Shallow Water Anchor, Driftmaster T5100 Trolling Bar with Humminbird electronics. William and James were fishing Kentucky Lake south of Danville in 10-12 feet of water using one pole with live bait over manmade cover with their fish holding very tight to cover and catching 45 fish for the weekend.
In a tie for second place was Del Clark of Huron, Tennessee and Greg Mathenia of Trenton, Tennessee with a total weight of 18.55 pounds and earning $2,250.00 along with an additional $125.00 for earning the Ranger Cup bonus. Del and Greg were fishing the Camden area of Kentucky Lake in 12-15 feet of water using a single pole in hand using blue and white Strike King baits to catch 29 fish for the weekend.
Also in second place was Darrell Parker of Clarksville, Tennessee and Damon Lowe of Paris, Tennessee also with 18.55 and earning $2,250.00. Darrell and Damon were fishing Kentucky Lake using single pole with live bait vertical jigging in 12-15 feet of water with their fish holding tight to cover , but still catching 60-70 fish for the weekend.
In fourth was the team of Cody England of White Bluff, Tennessee and Brent Williams of Fairview, Tennessee weighing in 18.46 pound and earning $1,000.00. Cody and Brent were fishing the New Johnsonville area of Kentucky Lake, spider rigging in 12-14 feet of water using live bait to catch 45-50 fish for the 2 days.
Fifth place went to the Mt Juliet, Tennessee team of Harold Maddux and Brian Oldham weighing in 17.97 pounds and earning $800.00. Harold and Brian were fishing Kentucky Lake in Big Sandy River area on the main Lake in 18-27 feet of water using Crappie Magnet in a clear with silver flake jigs using one pole in cover to catch 60 fish in the 2 day period.
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.
Big Fish Award
Taking big fish of the event was the team of Kris and Terry Mann of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky with a 2.34 pound crappie and earning $1,050.00. Second place in the big fish contest was the team of Henry and Jo Haley of Carmi, Illinois with a 2.00 pound crappie and earning $450.00.
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. The names of the winners will be released as soon as they are notified.
Crappie USA and our anglers have contributed nearly $316,000.00 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”.
Stats for the Tournament:
Weather- Weather was cold (low 30’s ) at night and warming only in the 50’s during the day with strong winds on Sat. Fish were very sluggish on Friday and even slower to bite on Saturday with most teams catching 1/2 the fish on Saturday that they caught on Friday.
National Sponsors of Crappie USA:
Cabela’s, Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards , B ‘n’ M Poles, Minn Kota, Mustad Hooks, Humminbird Electronics, Adventure Products EGO Nets, J.R. Mad’s, Charlie Brewer’s Slider Co., Big Bite Baits, TTI-Blakemore Road Runner, Driftmaster Rod Holders, Keep Alive-Oxygen Infusor, Grizzly Coolers, Cumberland Crappie (Double Seats), Venture RV, Southern Pro Tackle, World Fishing Network-WFN, , Tyler Prosthetics of Tyler Texas, Go Light Inc., GAMMA LINE, Stubby Steve’s Bait and Ron Gooding Insurance.
