Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail came to Lake Rathbun in Centerville, IA. for the first tournament of the Northwest Division Saturday May 19th. Sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mercury, Minn-Kota and Humminbird the weather was sunny and upper 70’s with a south wind of 20 to 25 mph. The lake was 8 to 9 feet high moving many anglers into the trees to find fish.

First place went to team Brian and Scott Carter of Florida and Iowa with a seven fish total of 8.54 lbs. The team stated they “fished past Bridgeview in 1 to 3.5 feet of water and the primary color was white but others worked well too”. They used B & M poles and jigs from Treasure Chest Tackle. The team stayed on the same submerged trees all day. Most of their fish came between 6 to 7:30 am. The Carters’ took big fish honors with a crappie weighing 1.74 lbs. First place earned them $1,000.00 and $350.00 for big fish.

Second place went to Jeff Hayes of Iowa, who won $600.00. Jeff fished by himself using Wally Marshall poles with chartreuse and red jigs weighing in 7.69 lbs. He fished in 3 feet of water west on Norfolk. He used jigs only.


Third place was the adult /youth team of Mark & Jake Mussmann. The local Iowans won the 2005 Rathbun tournament. They fished in 1 to 3 feet of water also using Wally Marshall 10 ft. poles and homemade jigs and weighed in 7.53 lbs. They fished 3 little stickups all day and said being patient paid off. They used chartreuse and while jigs. The team won $500.00 for their effort.

Fourth place went to Ron Boland and Bruce Sprague of Iowa, weighing in 7.44 lbs. and earning $450.00. Fifth place and $400.00 went to Neil Purdum and Joe Crai from Kansas, with 6.89 lbs. Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters paid cash down 10 spots and prizes down 15 places.

The kids fishing rodeo brought out 48 kids who fished for fun and prizes. While the fishing was tough on the young ones, many managed to catch fish.

The next Northwest Divisional tournament will be held on Lake Shelbyville in Illinois on June 9. Sign up online at www.crappiemasters.net.

Special thanks to local Rathbun sponsors: KOTM Radio, Don Elen Motel, Centerville & Lake Rathbun Lake Area Tourism, Wal Mart, Rathbun RV Rentals, Burrell’s Meat Locker, Bridgview Bait and Tackle, Ozzie’s Ole Red Barn, Iowa Trust, Super 8 Centerville, Dam Site Depot, Motel 60, Indian Hills Inn, Ottumwa Convention & Visitors Bureau, Waters Edge Marine, Tiki Auto & Marine, Grey Goose Inn, J & K Lite House, Treasure Chest Bait & Tackle, Subway, Iconium Bait Station, First Iowa Trust and Whispering Breezes Resort Cabins.

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 Sunwear, Fish-Flo2, Fisherman’s Pro, Culprit, Net-n-Buddy, Tech Tackle, Tempress, Grip N Check, Foodsource, Lip-Ripperz and Coldstream Fisheries.

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