Crappie Fever was on in the great state of Florida, sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mercury Motors, Minn Kota, Humminbird, The City of Leesburg and Lake County, the Florida State Championship and the one day national qualifier wrapped up the 2007 Florida events in Leesburg Florida. Events kicked off with a media fish off on Wednesday morning that was won by Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World’s Ben Beckner with a 1.61 lb. crappie fishing with Team Road Runner Coy and Gilford Sipes. Second and third place went to Crappie Masters own “Crappie Chicks” Briana Lawler Dean who fished with Hydroglow’s Phil and Eva Rambo with a 1.50 crappie and Tina Lawler with 1.45 lb. crappie who fished with Daryl Cole.
Thursday night was the banquet where food and entertainment was provided. Warner Chappel singer-songwriter Briana Lawler Dean performed and John Johnson (the pig caller) performed as well. The events were recorded for television by Jerry Adams Outdoors Show and Revive the Outdoors with Cody & Cody from the Sportsman’s Channel. The kids rodeo sponsored by The Daily Commercial, City of Leesburg, Leisure Sports Magazine and Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World was filled with excited kids that got many prizes. One lucky youth won an entry for next years Florida tournament with his father.
The Florida State Championship week brought weather ranging from rain and cold to sunny and warm. Sixteen states were represented as angler said pre-fishing was bringing lots of fish but the big ones were hard to find.
Day one was the 2nd leg of the championship and a one day national qualifier. Anglers were not giving any secrets about how and where they were fishing. South Carolina anglers Robbie and Bobby Goldman took first place with a total of 9.38 lbs on 7 fish. First place earned them $5100.00. The father son team later explained they were tight lining in 8-9 foot of water, sitting still with red head jigs tipped with minnows. The Goldmans are pictured left with Cody and Cody of the Sportsman’s Channel.
Second place also went to South Carolina anglers. Whitey Outlaw and Dean Sanders weighed in 8.9 lbs. to win $2600.00. Third place was Stephen McElroy and Kevin McElroy of Alabama, the father son team that has been hot in Florida fishing. They took home $1350.00 for their weight of 8.77 lbs. Fourth place was Georgia’s team Danny Cannon and Billy Williams who weighed in 8.76 lbs. just barely missing the third place finish. Cannon and Williams earned $750.00 for their showing. Fifth place was Shelborn Bass (SC) and Mark Leatherman (NC) with a total weight of 8.59 lbs. Fifth place earned $675.00.
Big fish on day one was won by Mississippians Joe Miller and Rachel Miller with 1.84 lb. crappie.
Bass Pro Shops paid down 20 places in cash and prizes on day one a total cash payback of $15,000.00.
Day two started with a cold morning that gave way to a beautiful sunny day. Anglers began weighing in larger fish on day two. It was the team of Larry Stroud and Noah Haltiwanger that came out on top. Weighing in early with a total weight of 9.58 lbs., the team had to endure the rest of the fields weigh-in to see where they finished. Haltiwanger stated, “It was a mixture of the best time I’ve ever had at a fishing tournament and the worst time. We knew we had a good sack but waiting to see what everyone else had was agony.” The teamed fished the same area they fished the previous day that only netted them 5.81 lbs. Fast trolling the area the bite turned on early Saturday morning, using a variety of colors in shallow water. The Florida State Champions earned $6500.00 for their catch.
Second place went to the Alabama team of Stephen and Kevin McElroy who weighed in 9.29 lbs. The McElroys had a great Florida season winning Lake Talquin, 2nd at Sanford, Fl., 3rd at Harris and 2nd in the Florida State Championship earning over $12000.00 in the three week span. McElroys are known for their long line trolling with Wally Marshall rods and jigs tipped with Foodsource.
Third place went to Steve Coleman from Tennessee, who fished without partner Ronnie Capps and weigh-in 9.28 lbs on seven fish. Steve said fishing was tough and he had to just keep at it. Having tried crank baits he went to live bait and trolled very slow. The third place finish earned him a check for $2300.00. Fourth place went to Shelborn Bass and Mark Leatherman of the Carolina’s with a total weight of 9.16 lbs. The team earned $1050.00 for their efforts. Fifth place team was the wives of the Florida State Champions. Linda Stroud and Debbie McConnell weighed in 9.09 to take the fifth place honors and the $975.00 check.
Sixth place with 8.86 lbs went to Danny Cannon and Billy Williams. Seventh with 8.71 lbs. went to Whitey Outlaw and Dean Sanders. Steve Deason and Dennis Outlaw took eight with a total of 8.64. Coy Sipes and Gilford Sipes were ninth place with 8.5 lbs. Tenth place tied between teams Bobby Hill and Lowell Hill with team Ray and Cody Walters 8.35 lbs. Big fish was won by Phil and Eva Rambo sponsored by Hydroglow fishing lights, had a crappie weighing 1.95 lbs. The team also won a Proplite for their big fish.
Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters begins its divisional tournaments at West Point Lake, in LaGrange, GA and Logan Martin Lake, Pell City, Al. in February. The next major tournament will be Reelfoot Lake, Tiptonville, TN. March 3rd.
Special thanks to Don Haven of Leisure Sports Magazine, Greg Finenco and Ben Beckner of Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World of Orlando and Bill Deese with the City of Leesburg for all they did to help make this a successful event.
Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters would like to thank local sponsors that include: CITY OF LEESBURG, THE DAILY COMMERCIAL, INN ON THE GREEN, GUEST HOUSE INN & SUITES, LAKE COUNTY FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, PHILLIPS TOYOTA, NOBLES MARINE, HARRIS CHAIN BAIT & TACKLE, CAIN POLE SOUTH, BARNETT TIRE SERVICE INC, SANDY'S BAIT & TACKLE, PALM GARDENS MARINA, THE BAIT SHACK, MOUNT DORA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CENTURY 21 CARLINO REALTY INC.
Special thanks to our National Sponsors that include: Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats, Nitro Boats, Mercury Motors, Minn Kota, Humminbird, American Angler, RoadRunner by Blakemore, Mr. Crappie Hooks, Hydro Glow Fish Lights, Grizzly Jig Company, Biosonix, Bugband, Perotti Bilt, Mr. Crappie -Wally Marshall Signature Series Crappie Rods, Slider, KeelShield, SureLife, Spike-It, Kodiak Scents, Bobby Garland, KeepAlive, Emmrod, Budweiser, Monster Crappie, Kasswinns, Kastaway Kulis, Osage Tackle, Pro Lure Tackle, Proplite, The Re-Action System, Cocoon Live Eyewear, Fish-Flo2, Fisherman�s Pro, Culprit, Net-n-Buddy, Tech Tackle, Tempress, Grip N Check, Foodsource, Lip-Ripperz and Coldstream Fisheries.
For more information, contact Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters at www.crappiemasters.net or call:
Bryan Wessler, President 573-280-4899
Paul Alpers, Vice President 573-280-8020
Bobby Brown, Systems Administrator 417-532-0244 crappiemasters@gmail.com
