2007 Tournament Results
| Lake: | KY/Barkley South, TN |
| Region: | N/A |
| Date: | 10/10/07 - 10/13/07 |
2007 A Classic to Remember
This past Friday and Saturday, Crappie USA held the Cabela's Crappie USA Classic on beautiful Kentucky Lake at Paris Landing, near Paris, TN, where nearly 400 of the top anglers in the country were competing to be crowned the 2007 champions. This couldn't have been a more beautiful week for the event with perfect temperatures, low wind and sunny skies for these anglers and their families attending this prestigious event.
As typical with fall crappie fishing, the practice days started out rough for the anglers but, come day 1 of the event, God himself must have had a hand in it as these fish turned on with many of the teams bringing in full limits to the scales. As day 2 came, so did the fishing with numerous reports of anglers bringing in of catches of well over 100 fish caught during day 2 of the event.
Anglers were treated to 3 special banquets during the event including the Wednesday night registration banquet, the Thursday night Ranger Boats Barb-B-Que banquet and Saturday night's B'n'M Poles Awards banquet.
Semi-Pro Division Results
Taking first place was the team of Randy Pope of Hickory, NC and Jerry Pruitt of Vale, NC with a 2 day total of 21.98 pounds. Pope and Pruitt are 2 well-known anglers recognized across the country for their talented technique of shooting docks. Many anglers thought their chances were slim on Kentucky Lake where shooting docks is not very popular, but the team utilized their talent to bring home the coveted title of the 2007 Cabela's Crappie USA National Champions. Pope and Pruitt were fishing the back of creeks shooting docks in anywhere from 2-17 feet of water using White Lindy Fuzz-E-Grubs. Kentucky Lake has been well known for its white crappie, but these days the black crappie are becoming more dominant which was apparent with Pope and Pruitt - along with many other teams - bringing in several black crappie to the scales. Pope and Pruitt took home a certificate for a new 188VS Ranger boat package with a Suzuki Outboard motor, Humminbird electronics and Minn Kota Trolling motor along with a check for $3,000.00.
Second place and $5,000.00 went to the team of John Woods of Newbern, TN and Tracy McIntosh of Dyersburg, TN with a total weight of 20.07 pounds. Many had picked this team to bring home the gold at this year's classic. They have been on a hot streak this year and their knowledge of the lake made them top contenders in the event. John and Tracy were fishing with one pole in each hand in 10-15 feet of water. As did many other anglers, the team stated that their fish were snuggled up holding very tight to cover. John and Tracy also received the Minn Kota bonus award of $300.00 in Minn Kota bucks, the Eagle Claw bonus award worth $500.00 with an extra $100.00 in product, the Southern Pro Bonus award which was worth $500.00 in product, and the Tite-Lok bonus.
In third place was the husband and wife team of Tim and Pam Ridley of McKenzie, TN with a weight of 18.93 pounds. The team received $3,000.00 along with the top male/female which earned them another check for $1,000.00. The team also received the Rangers Cup Award which netted them an additional $1,500.00. "The fish were really biting," said Tim and Pam. The team caught over 100 fish on Saturday using Southern Pro jigs in 12-14 feet of water in the Big Sandy area of the lake. Tim added that the fish were in the heavy brushpiles about 1 foot off the bottom.
Steve Coleman and Ronnie Capps of Tiptonville, TN took fourth place with a weight of 17.91 pounds taking home a check for $2,000.00. "These fish were in their normal fall pattern when the big fish are very hard to get to bite," said Ronnie. He added that when you found these fish you had to basically hand feed them through the heaviest part of the brushpiles. The team added that they almost made a 50 mile trip in search of one kicker fish, but decided to stick with their area.
Fifth place went to the Jefferson City, MO team of Charlie and Travis Bunting with a total weight of 16.75 pounds taking home a check for $1,200.00. Charlie and Travis also received the North/South Points championship along with National Points Championship. For placing as National Points Champions the Buntings won a certificate for a new Ranger 618 boat.
The top Adult/Youth team in the Semi-Pro Division was Burt and Brandon Bennett of Malden, MO. Brandon will receive a $500.00 Scholarship for their accomplishment.
Amateur Division Results
In first place in the amateur division was the team of Matthew Tosh of West Rutherford, TN and William Johnson of Milan, TN with a total 2-day weight of 18.57 pounds. Matthew and William were fishing in the Big Sandy area 10-15 feet deep using orange and chartreuse jigs tipped with Nitro Gems until they ran out. The team received a 188VS Ranger boat package with a Suzuki Outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electrics. The team also received $300.00 in Minn Kota bucks for the Minn Kota bonus award.
Second place and $3,000.00 went to Allen Blake of Reading, OH and Greg Nichols of Amelia, OH with 16.76 pounds. Allen and Greg were fishing brushpiles in 5-20 feet of water using chartreuse colored heads with solid white bodied jigs.
Taking third place was the Mt. Juliet, TN team of Harold Maddux and Brian Oldham with a weight of 16.54 pounds. The team was single pole jigging white Magnet baits, catching over 125 fish on the final day of competition. The team received a check for $2,000.00.
In fourth was the team of Dennis and Tammy Watters of Moro, IL weighing in 16.47 pounds and taking home $1,000.00. Dennis and Tammy were fishing 1 pole, 1 jig using their Humminbird electronics to locate the hard to find stumps in the area which were holding bigger fish. Dennis and Tammy were using red/chartreuse Southern Pro jigs tipped with Eagle Claw Nitro bait. In addition, Dennis and Tammy also received $500.00 for top amateur Male/Female team.
Fifth place went to the team of Ben Howard of Calvert City, KY and Gary Wurth of Paducah, KY with a weight of 16.06 pounds. Ben and Gary were throwing Southern Pro jigs using single poles in brushpiles and on ledges 8-20 feet deep. Ben and Gary took home a check for $700.00.
Receiving the $500.00 Ranger Cup Award in the Amateur division was the team of Thomas Nimrick of Oakwood, IL and Robert Williamson Jr. of New Carlisle, OH.
The top amateur adult/youth team was John and Matthew Feagin of Maysville, KY. Matthew received a $500.00 scholarship.
The top female/female team was Debra McConnell of Santee, SC and Linda Stroud of Elloree, SC.
Big Fish Award
Taking big fish of the event was the team of Phil and Eva Rambo of Bloomington, IN with a 2.31 pound crappie. Phil and Eva received $1,000.00 for big fish of the event.
Congratulations to all the teams fishing this event. For a complete list of tournament standings and photos for this event visit www.crappieusa.com then go to Tournament Results.
On Thursday night at the Ranger Boat Banquet the point's team winners were announced. Receiving the overall point's award in the Semi-Pro Division was the team of Steve and Kevin McElroy of Muscadine, AL with 309 points and receiving a $2,000.00 Cabela's gift certificate. The overall Points award in the Amateur division went to the team of Eric and Janet Fenstemaker of Marysville, TN. Eric and Janet will receive a plaque for their overall points award.
The regional winners in the points division each received a $500.00 gift certificate from Cabela's. The winners were:
Region 1 Semi-Pro: Jim and Barbara Reedy of Charleston, MO
Region 1 Amateur: Wayne Adams and Josh Lamb of Berea, KY
Region 2 Semi-Pro: Steve Deason of Gray, GA and Rick Howard of Warner Robbins, GA
Region 2 Amateur: Robert Walker of Fairburn, GA and William Ashley of Woodstock, GA
Region 3 Semi-Pro: Rick Solomon of Piqua, OH and Mike Walters of Troy, OH
Region 3 Amateur: Joey and Levi Briggs of Dexter, KY
Region 4 Semi-Pro: Charlie and Travis Bunting of Jefferson City, MO
Region 4 Amateur: Dan Scott of Raytown, MO and Gary Ficenec of Blue Spring, MO
Crappie USA 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 4-$5,000.00 scholarships which were drawn at the classic.
Crappie USA and our anglers have contributed near $250,000.00 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 the Paris/Henry County Chamber of Commerce for their support in this event. For more information on the area call: 1-800-345-1103 or visit their website at: www.paristnchamber.com Also a special thanks to all those who volunteered to help at this year's classic.
Stats for the Tournament:
Weather- Nearly perfect with sunshine and 80 degrees.
Water- Water temperatures started out early in the week in the upper 70's, then dropping into low 70's by the end of the week.
National Sponsors of Crappie USA are: Cabela's, Ranger Boats, Suzuki Marine, Tite-Lok Rod Holders and Acc., B'n'M Poles, Minn Kota, Humminbird Electronics, Adventure Products EGO Nets, TTI-Blakemore, J.R. Mad's, Eagle Claw, Eagle Claw Nitro Baits, Charlie Brewer's Slider Co., Food Source Lures, Big Bite Baits, Vicious Fishing Line, Flip Stick Co., Southern Pro Tackle, Crappie Unlimited, Culprit Crappie Baits and Ron Gooding Insurance.
The following companies furnish product to help make these events possible: Kodiak Fish Attractants, Crappie Pro Lures, Keep Alive, and Hydro Glow.
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