This past Friday & Saturday January 16th & 17th, 2015 Crappie USA held their first 2-day $10,000.00 super event of 2015 on Lake Talquin. Over 100 anglers from 13 different states were competing for not only the $10,000.00 in 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.
Semi-Pro Division Results
Taking first place was the team of George Parker of West Palm Beach, Florida and Tim Eberly of Margate, Florida with a 2-day total weight of 21.45 pounds and earning $3,000.00. George and Tim fished up in the river area slow trolling live bait and jigs tipped with minnows in 11 to 15 feet of water. The team caught 50 total in slightly stained water. They would like to thank BMC, Lew’s and Skipper jigs.
Second place went to the Cochran, Georgia team of Billy and Scott Williams weighing in 20.6 pounds and earning $2,000.00 for second place along with $250.00 for the Ranger Cup Award in the Semi-Pro Division. Billy and Scott fished the middle of the lake in 18 feet fish holding tight to bottom using black jigs tipped with minnows slow trolling to caught 30 total fish. The team wished to thank Ranger, B’ n’ M Poles, Driftmaster and Humminbird
In third place was the team of Jared Leverette of Quincy, Florida and Jerry Cain of Dothan, Alabama weighing in 20.59 and earning $500.00. Jared and Jerry were fishing the middle of the lake fast trolling jigs to catch best fish then slow trolled to catch fish using Southern Pro and AWD curl tails. Blue/black/chartreuse colors were working best to catch 70 fish. Big thanks to Talquin Lodge for support.
Robert and Tommy Sellers of Juliette and Macon, Georgia took fourth place in the Semi-Pro Division with a weight of 20.29 pounds and earning $300.00. Robert and Tommy were long lining in their Ranger 620 in middle of lake, had trolling motor problem but still caught good fish in 20 feet of water.
Fifth place went to the team of Steve Deason of Macon, Georgia and Charles Sightier of Gray, Georgia weighing in 14.3 pounds and earning $200.00. Steve and Charles were fishing the main lake channel fast trolling using AWD bubble gum/chart and sapphire /chart colors in 14 feet of water to catch 30 total fish. A special thanks to Minn Kota for their support.
The winner of the Talon Shallow Water Anchor Bonus – Monty Martin & Eric Vandeventer from West Lafayette, Indiana valued at $250.
There was a tie for 1st Place Big Fish at 2.37 pounds between Rick Howard (Warner Robins, Georgia) & Tommy Cherry (Dublin, Georgia) with each team receiving $225.00. Amateur Division Results
First place in the Amateur Division went to the Moultrie, Georgia team of Bruce and Kathy Fowler with a weight of 20.3 pounds and 
earning $1,500.00. Bruce and Kathy were fishing in the Polk Creek area of Lake Talquin, pulling jigs in 12-18 feet of water with fish suspended at 10 to 12 feet. The team caught a total of 30 fish for the weekend using Junebug colored AWD Jig tipped with a minnow.
Second place went to the Cochran, Georgia team of Jason and Brody Little weighing in 19.31 pounds and earning $800.00. Jason and Brody were fishing in the Polk Creek area trolling in 17 to 20 feet water using Sour Grape colored curl tails to catch fish suspended in 12 feet of water. The team caught 25 to 30 fish for the 2-days crediting Litewire hooks for catching their fish.
Taking third place was the team of Mike Lorenz Jr. of Fountain, Florida and Jason Leverette of Quincy, Florida with 18.46 pounds and earning $600.00 for 3rd place along with Ranger Cup Award in the Amateur Division and $225.00 for tying for big fish of the event. Mike and Jason trolled the middle of the lake over 25 feet of water in their Ranger 620 using AWD Pearl white and sour grape to catch 80 total fish for the 2-days.
Charlie Brewer, Slider Lures, has a very nice crappie.
In fourth place was the one man team of Randy Temple of Macon, Georgia weighing in 16.41 pounds and earning $500.00. Randy fished the Coes Creek area up in the river channel vertical jigging on bottom in 8 to 20 feet of water using Red/Blue/Chartreuse tipped with small minnows to take his fish right on the bottom. Jiffy jigs worked the best according to Randy.
Fifth place went to the Quincy, Florida team of James Dukes and David Heflin weighing in 13.97 pounds and earning $400.00. James and David had to leave before the interviews were conducted.
In the new Kayak Division Don Sweet of Romulus, Michigan took first place using purple Zip Jigs tipped with minnows in 20 feet of water. Don was spider rigging in the Iron Curtain area of the lake and would wish to thank Pro Angler Tackle for supporting his Kayak efforts.
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.
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.
Crappie USA and our anglers have contributed nearly $322,000.00 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”.
Special thanks to Gadsden County Florida Tourism Development Council for hosting the event and for their commissioners and staff for attending all functions to be sure all anglers who attended from 13 states had a great experience in Gadsden County. Also thanks to Jeff Dubree and staff at Whippoorwill Marina for hosting the weigh in. Recent rains and cold front really hampered the quality of the fishing all week until improving on the final day. Many of the 53 teams who were not able to catch fish on day one were able to connect and bring in some fish on Saturday. It was a typical cold front bite.
Stats for the Tournament:
Weather- Temps 30’s at night 50’s during day. Water- Cold front came in Thursday shutting fish down -toughest fishing in years on Talquin.
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.
