This past Saturday February 28, 2015 Crappie USA held their qualifying event on Alabama’s Weiss Lake at Leesburg, Alabama. Over 85 anglers from 7 different states braved the freezing temperatures to compete for not only the cash and prizes, but a chance to advance to the prestigious Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic.This year’s classic will be held October 7th-10th, 2015 on Indiana’s Patoka Lake.
This was an event that was not for the fair weather anglers with morning temperatures in the 20’s warming to the 40’s with winds from the east 10-15 MPH by afternoon. The area had just received 10 inches of snow on Thursday with the water temperatures cooling throughout the period.
Semi-Pro Division Results
Taking first place was the team of Robert Browning of McCalla, Alabama and Mike Combs of LaGrange, Georgia weighing in 8.03 pounds and earning $1,000.00. Robert and Mike were fishing across from the boat ramp at hwy 9 using minnows in 37 feet of water spider rigging to catch between 60-70 fish for the day. Each team can weigh in their top 5 fish at the end of the day.
Second place went to the team of Paul Camacho of Fort Payne, Alabama and Jim Forrest of Centre, Alabama with 7.95 pounds and earning $600.00. Paul and Jim were fishing the ramp area around hwy 9 using hot pink jigs tipped with minnows in 18 to 20 feet of water to catch 30 fish for the day.
In third place was the team of Terry Thomas of Fyffe, Alabama and James Heflin of Verbena, Alabama with a weight of 7.92 pounds and earning $400.00. Terry and James caught 70 fish for the day in 10 feet of water in Cowan Creek vertical jigging with chartreuse/white jigs.
Mason Milby and Ashley Adams won the Ranger Cup award of 250.00 in the semi pro division.
Amateur Division Results
First place in the amateur division went to the team of Steve Buckley of Hokes Bluff, Alabama and Allen Payne of Lincoln, Alabama weighing in 8.52 pounds and earning $850.00. The team also collected second biggest crappie of the event at 1.34 pound and earning an additional $120.00. Steve and Allen were fishing the Bay Springs marina area in 15 to 30 feet of water using double live bait rigs slow trolling and caught 80 fish for the day. The team also won additional bonuses of $200.00 from Cumberland Crappie Double Seat Mounts and the $150.00 Driftmaster Rod Holder bonus.
Second place went to the Murray, Kentucky team of Doyle Milby and Brandon Rogers with 7.9 pounds and earning $500.00. Doyle and Brandon were fishing the hwy. #9 area of the lake spider rigging in 20 feet of water using purple/chartreuse Southern Pro jigs to catch around 50 suspended crappie for the day.
Taking third place was the team of David Ancell of Section, Alabama and Danny Stephens of Arab, Alabama with 7.77 pounds and earning $300.00. The team also won an additional $250.00 for the Talon Bonus Award. David and Danny fished the area around hwy 9 bridge in 18 feet of water using white and chartreuse jigs. The team caught 40-50 crappie for the day.
In fourth place was the team of Roger Milby of Auburn, Alabama and Richard Malcolm of Covington, Georgia weighing in 7.55 pounds and earning $250.00. Roger and Richard fished around hwy 9 bridge area in 30 feet of water catching suspended fish on Southern Pro jigs in chartreuse combinations tipping with minnows.
Fifth place went to Michael Horsfield of Fort Payne, Alabama and Rodney Shirey of Jacksonville, Alabama with 7.54 pounds and earning $200.00. Michael and Rodney were fishing the hwy 9 area using Southern Pro pink/chartreuse in 18 feet of water spider rigging to catch 60 to 70 fish for the day.
Big Fish of the event was caught by the 6th place Amateur team of Terry and Jason Phillips of Villa Rica, Georgia Their big fish was a 1.59 pound crappie with the team receiving a check for $280.00.
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.
Special thanks to the city of Leesburg Alabama for hosting the event and to Weiss Lake Lodge for taking care of many of the anglers lodging needs.
Next year we will be back on Weiss Lake the first week of March with a $10,000 Super Event.
National Sponsors of Crappie USA:
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, Southern Pro Tackle, World Fishing Network-WFN, Cumberland Crappie Double Seat Mounts, Church Tackle Company, Crappie Now on-line Magazine, Stubby Steve’s, KAYAK KABOOSE, The Quick Cleat and Sunsect Sunscreen & Insect Repellent.
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 Inc. at 270-395-4204. Please visit our website at www.crappieusa.com.
