Weiss Lake played host to the Crappie USA Event this past Saturday, March 18, 2017. Over 90 anglers from several states were competing for not only the $7,000.00 in cash and prizes, but a chance to advance to the prestigious Cabala’s Crappie USA Classic. This year’s classic will be held October 26 – 28, 2017on Kentucky & Barkley Lakes at Paris, Tennessee.
Pro Division Results
Cold temperatures, rainy skies and high winds at 25mph all day couldn’t keep Jim Freeman and Garrett Bridges, both from Eddyville, Kentucky from taking first place in the Pro Division with a total weight of 10.90 pounds and earning $1,500.00. The teams fished all over the mid part of the lake targeting old, natural stumps and man-made cover. The team stated that they started with live bait and then switched over to Glow Pepper color jigs to catch the better fish, most of which were in 12 – 14 feet of water to land a total of 17 fish for the day.
Henry Haley and Jo Haley, both of Carmi, Illinois took second place with a total weight of 10.73 pounds and earned $800.00, plus an additional $270.00 2nd place Big Fish and $250.00 Ranger Cup Bonus. The team fished the Little River area of the lake on old stake beds, spider rigging purple/chartreuse jigs in 10 – 12 feet of water to catch 16 fish of the event. The teams 2nd place Big Fish weighed in at 2.13 pounds.
Taking third place were Jeff Ingram of Centre, Alabama and Jud Westbrook of Trion, Alabama weighing in at 9.30 pounds and earning $500.00. The team fished up the river in shallow water using both live bait and jigs to catch over 120 fish for the day. The team stated that their best fish were all caught on plum and chartreuse color jigs.
Amateur Division Results
Mo and Marty Spears, both of Piedmont, Alabama took first place in the Amateur Division with a total weight of 9.65 pounds and earned $1,100.00, plus an additional $630.00 for Big Fish. The team fished Cowan Creek area in 6 feet of water, catching most of their fish in 3 feet of water, where the fish seemed to be in spawning cycle. The team stated that most of their fish were hitting the Cajun Cricket color jigs to land over 30 keepers for the day.
In second place were Joe Hayes and Phil Trapp, both of Cave Springs, Georgia with a total weight of 8.84 pounds and earning $600.00, plus an additional $250.00 Talon Bonus and $125.00 Ranger Cup Bonus. The team spider rigged up river in 10 – 15 feet of water using live bait to catch a total of 30 fish for the day. The team stated the fish were holding very tight to heavy cover.
Taking third place was Robert Lemming of Summerville, Georgia and Chris Anderson of Fort Payne, Alabama weighing in at 8.16 pounds and earning $400.00. The team fished the main river area in front of Canoe Creek, spider rigging in 13 – 14 feet of water to catch a total of 21 fish on Saturday using live bait.
Dave Ancell of Section, Alabama and Danny Stephens of Arab, Alabama took fourth place of the tournament with a total weight of 7.56 pounds and earned $400.00. The team were spider rigging on the upper end of the lake in 16 feet of water to land 25 fish for the day.
John Hicks of Adairsville, Georgia and Timothy Harris of Plainville, Georgia took fifth place, weighing in at 7.50 pounds and earning $300.00. The teams were pushing live bait in the “Blow Hole” to catch 10 – 15 fish for the event.
A special thank you to Teresa Hulgan and Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce for making the event a success and thank you to Tim Griffith and staff at the OK Tire in Centre for making axle repairs to the weigh-in trailer at the speed of sound. They really saved the day and got us to the seminar on time, to the Town of Leesburg and to the Weiss Lake Improvement Association for providing $3,000 in funding to make the tournament possible!
National Sponsors of Crappie USA are: 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, World Fishing Network-WFN, Cumberland Crappie Double Seat Mounts, Church Tackle Company, Crappie Now on-line Magazine, Talon Shallow Water Anchors, Humminbird/Lakemaster Maps, Sunsect Sunscreen & Insect Repellent, Digital EFX Wraps, Gill Rainwear, AWD Baits, Tentnology, Crappie Magnet, Crown Trophy and Jenko Fishing.
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 at 502-384-5924. Be sure to check out our website at: www.crappieusa.com and like our Crappie USA Tournament Trail Facebook Page. Both sites contain new and exciting information on our events along with special information for crappie anglers everywhere.
