Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters All American Tournament trail held the Mississippi State Championship in Tunica, MS. on September 19 & 20, 2008, crowning Ronnie Capps and Steve Coleman as the 2008 Mississippi State Champions. Sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Toyota, Mercury Motors, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Olive Branch and Mississippi Distributors Budweiser, Harrah’s and Tunica Convention and Visitors Bureau the tournament was an open two day event with the final day weigh in in the convention center at Harrah’s Casino Tunica. The tournament was filmed by Revive the Outdoors with Cody & Cody which is to air on the Sportsman Channel at a later date.

Day one brought a heavy rains most of the day as anglers fished Lake Arkabutla. Pre fishing reports were the bite was weak, however many anglers found the crappie and the bite. 24 teams weighed in over a pound average with the top 5 teams weighing in over a 2 pound average as weights came in much better than the 2007 tournament. As the final teams weighed it was 2007 Mississippi State Champions Ronnie Capps and Steve Coleman that took the lead with a 7 fish total of 16.57 lbs.

Husband-wife team of Deb and James Gore took day 1 second place with 15.69 lbs. Anthony Reasons and Billy Compton took day 1 third place with a seven fish total of 15.29 lbs. Reasons and Compton had big fish of the day with a crappie weighing 2.72 lbs. The big fish held up for day 2 giving them the big fish of the tournament.

On day two anglers took to Tunica Lake. The top 20 teams from day one weighed in last as anglers took to the hot seat to see how long they could keep the seat. Wade Hendren and Roy Logan was in 12th place after day 1 and was the first team to weigh in over 10 lbs. on day 2 as they weighed in 10.87 lbs. Their weight was the top weight weighed in on day two. They finished with a combined total weight of 22.46 lbs giving them 3rd place in the state championship. The team earned $1250.00 for their efforts. The team stated they used small Slider jigs tipped with small minnows, fishing Arkabutla in 3-4 waters and Tunica in 10-12 foot waters.

Two other teams beat the 10 lb mark on day two. John Woods and Tracy McIntosh weighed in seven fish for 10.31 lbs. Their two day total was 25.32 lbs and enough to take second place overall and earning $2500.00. The team stated they fished Arkabutla slow trolling with live bait. They stated they used big minnows and trolled in 47 foot waters. On Tunica they did the same in 25 foot waters fishing 12-15 feet deep.

Steve Coleman and Ronnie Capps weighed in 10.39 lbs on day two giving them a two day total of 26.96 lbs and earning the repeat title of the 2008 Mississippi State Champions. The team earned $5000.00 for their efforts. They stated they had a few places to fish on Arkabutla but the bite was good and they didn’t have to move from their first spot fishing in a 30 yard circle. They fished the grass on the lake in very shallow waters. On Tunica lake they thought they wouldn’t be able to troll and looked for structure using double minnow rigs. As Ronnie Capps explained they were going to have to be flexible enough to fish each lake differently. Not only did the team show their ability and flexibility, they showed their sportsmanship also by helping a stranded team get their boat back in time for the weigh in. This is not the first time the team has helped others during competition. Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters congratulates them on their victory and salutes them on their sportsmanship.

Top female-male team went to Joe Meyers and Debbie Sosinksi with a total of 18.64 lbs. Top adult-youth team went to Proplite/Cajun Fryer team of Richard Lindsey and his grandson Tanner McBroom with a total weight of 2.57 lbs. Both of these teams were rewarded with a Minn Kota trolling motor.

Next up is the 2008 National Championship in Taveres, Florida in October.


Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters would like to thank local sponsors that include: Harrah’s Casino Resort, Budweiser A & B Distributors & Mississippi Distributors, Tunica Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tunica County, Tunica Chamber of Commerce, Tate County, DeSoto County Tourism, Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce, Parker Tractor, Trustmark Bank, M & F Bank, First Security Bank, Fishing Adventures, Super 8 Motel Hernando, Days Inn & Suites, Marsh Madness, The Catfish Warehouse Restaurant, Desoto County Bank, Delta Plantation, Southhaven Supply, Tommy Heafner Motors, Citizens Bank and Trust, Huey White Chevrolet, Kingston Landing, Covenant Bank, Outfitters, Blue & White Restaurant and Kipper Enterprises,

Special thanks to our National Sponsors that include: Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats, Nitro Boats, Toyota Tundra, Mercury Motors, Minn Kota, Humminbird, American Angler, RoadRunner by Blakemore, Mr. Crappie Hooks, Hydro Glow Fish Lights, Grizzly Jig Company, Foodsource, Proplite, Cajun Fryer, Mr. Crappie Wally Marshall Signature Series Crappie Rods, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, SureLife, Tite Lok, Spike-It, Kodiak Scents, Slider, Bobby Garland, Bugband, KeepAlive, Monster Crappie, Bryant’s Osage Outdoors, Cocoon Live Eye Wear, Grip N Check, EzRod Organizer, Rocky Top Tackle, Well Mate, The Catch, DotLine, Navionics, AWD Baits, Frabill, Porcupine Fish Attractor and Coldstream Fisheries.

© Copyright 2006 by crappiemasters.net

Top of Page