Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail held the first leg of the Missouri State Championship and a one day national qualifier at the Lake of the Ozarks, Laurie, Mo. on April 21st. Mc'd by Brad & Brian of KMMO Radio show "In the Outdoors" and sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mercury Motors, Minn Kota and Humminbird the weather cooperated with temperatures in the 80's, some wind and clear skies. Anglers were catching plenty of crappie during pre-fishing yet larger fish were hard to find. Tournament day brought much of the same results.

200 anglers competed to unseat two time consecutive Ozark champions Jason Moppin and Gary Jones whom won in 2005 and 2006. Three in a row was not to be. It was Larry Hammond and Daryl Hammond whom took the 2007 honor. Weighing in 7 crappie for a total of 8.63 lbs that had a 2.04 lb. kicker to take first place. The Hammond’s fished 14-18 foot waters with custom yellow and orange tubes with no live bait. Using Wally Marshall Reels-Line and Ozark Rods they vertical jigged brush. They stated they didn’t catch a bunch of crappie. They caught enough in size to take home first place with $5200.00 and a Re-Action System.

Second place went to team Road Runner Coy and Gilford Sipes. Using B & M poles, the team slow trolled with Road Runners from 17 to 42 foot depth. Catching most of their crappie in 17 foot of water. They weighed in 7 fish for a total 8.22 lbs. Second place earned them $2700.00 & $250.00 in Minn Kota Bucks.

Third place team Food Source of Stephen and Kevin McElroy continued their strong season weighing in 7.84 pounds. The team said they started long lining then went to tight lining then to crank baits. The team used Road Runner orange and chartreuse jigs tipped with Food Source on the front and crank baits out the back. Crank baits caught most of their fish today. Their third place finish earned them $1450.00.

Taking home $850.00 and fourth place was Craig Hansen and Ted Ellsworth with a total of 7.82 lbs. Fifth place was a tie between team B & M Ronnie Capps and Steve Coleman and Russell Brown and Kent Braun. Both teams weighed in 7 crappie weighing 7.76 lbs. Each team earned $775.00. Big fish was taken by Bill Campbell and Barry Morrow (pictured left) with 2.39 lb. crappie. Big fish won $700.00 and a Proplite. Second big fish went to Neil Purdum and Joe Crai with a 2.10 lb. crappie.

Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters paid cash to 20 spots and prizes down to the 25th spot. The next tournament will be April 28 with a divisional tournament held in Oklahoma on Lake Eufaula. The next major one day national qualifier is Lake Neely Henry in Alabama on May 12th. Neely Henry will be the last one day national qualifier outside of Missouri which will move to the second leg of the Missouri State Championship at Truman Lake on June 16th, 2007.

Local sponsors bringing this National Qualifier tournament to the area include: Osage River Bar & Grill & Osage River Banquet Center, The Lake House Inn, Marty's Sports Bar & Grill, Deepwater Inn, Sleep Inn, Deer Valley Park Campground, Franky & Louie's Bar & Grill, Sport World Boat Center, Cheri's One Stop, Laurie Bait & Tackle, Inn at the Glaze, Burt's Place, Chiefs 66 bp, K4 Mini Mart, Fajen Lumber, J-Seven Market, Wal-Mart, B&P Bar-B-Q, Western Hills Motel, Gier's Bass Pro & Liquor, Gates Corp., Carver Auto Electric, First Response Towing & Recovery, Lake Country KS95.1, Benny Hainen Ford, The Rail, Beabout's Bait & Tackle, Quackers, Osage Tackle Company, Lake Excavating, LLC, Hyper Sports Marina, HyVee, Vanhook's Bait & Tackle, Busters Bait & Tackle, Auto & Boat Center, Buck Hollow Shooting Preserve, Lake of the Ozarks Chamber West, Jack's Sporting Goods & Hardware, Chances R Restaurant & Lounge, Edgar's Outdoor Sports, Carver Auto Electric, Lake Excavation, LLC., Rather be Fishing Auto & Boat Center, RedNeck Yatch Club, Reel’n Em In Guide Service.

Special thanks to our National Sponsors that include: Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats, Nitro Boats, Mercury Motors, Minn Kota, Humminbird, American Angler, Road Runner 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 Sunwear, Fish-Flo2, Fisherman’s Pro, Culprit, Net-n-Buddy, Tech Tackle, Tempress, Grip N Check, Foodsource, Lip-Ripperz and Coldstream Fisheries.

For more information on Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters tournament trial visit www.crappiemasters.net or contact

Bryan Wessler, President, 573-280-4899 crappiemasters.bryan@gmail.com
Paul Alpers, Vice President, 573-280-8020
Bobby Brown, System Administrator, 417-532-0244 crappiemasters@gmail.com

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