Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters tournament trail came to Lake Rathbun June 13, 2009. Sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mercury, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Toyota and Centerville Rathbun Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, anglers competed for over $10,000 in cash and prizes. The pre fishing week was reported as slow fishing. Rain and cloudy skies was present on the final pre fishing day.

Chancey Scribner and James Crigger became the Rathbun Lake champions with a seven fish weight of 10.19 lbs. The team stated they fished the South Fork area using BnM and Ozark rods with Big Bite Baits black/chartreuse jigs in 3 foot of water. They stated the first four hours of fishing was when they caught the most crappie. They earned $4000.00 for their victory.

Jeff Hayes had another runner up finish after finishing second in 2007. Fishing alone he weighed in 9.62 lbs on seven crappie. He stated he fished stumps and weeds using Wally Marshall rods, Chartreuse-purple/red jigs without minnows. He also had second big fish with a 1.87 lb crappie. Jeff won $2126.00.


The husband/wife team of Jerry and Mary Weaver took third place weighing in 9.60 lbs. The team also won top Male-Female team. The team has fished 48 years together. They stated the used Outlaw Poles with chartreuse hair jigs fishing 3 foot deep in the Bridgeview jigging structure. They earned $1000.00 and a Humminbird fish finder.

Big Fish was won by James and William Nau who weighed in a 2.04 lb slab. They were using Wally Marshall Rods and tipped the Dinner Gitter jig with a minnow.





Top Adult-Youth went to father-daughter team of Kevin and Taylor Shipley who weighed in 6.96 lbs. The won $100.00 Grizzly Jig Gift Certificate and 100.00 Bass Pro Shops Gift Card. They used jigs tipped with minnows in the South Fork area in 4 foot depths fishing weeds.

Next on the tournament trail is a one day national qualifier on Truman Lake on June 27, 2009 at Bucksaw Marina, Clinton, MO. Only 3 tournaments remain to qualify for the National Championship held in September at Grenada Lake, Grenada, MS.

Special thanks to all local sponsors: Centerville-Rathbun Area Tourism, Ottumwa Convention & Visitors Bureau, Motel 60, Foxtail Cabins, Indian Hills, Don Elen Motel, Bogie’s Steak House, Matthiesen’s Custom Sausage, RoVeDo Cabins & Campground, 98.7 KMGO, Tiki Marine, Rathbun RV Rentals, Your Boat Works, J&K Lite House, Waters Edge Marine, Quality Power Sports, Dogg’s RV Park, Whispering Breezes, Bridgeview Bait & Tackle, Super 8 Centerville, Ole Red Barn Restaurant, Firth Tackle This, HyVee, Farmers Bank, Bowling Motors RV Sales, First Iowa State Bank, Iconium Bait Station, Iowa Trust, Treasure Chest, Hometown Café & Ice Cream Shop.

Special thanks to our National Sponsors that include: Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Mercury Motors, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Toyota, American Angler, RoadRunner by Blakemore, Proplite, Cajun Fryer, Vicious Fishing Line, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Mr. Crappie Wally Marshall Signature Series Crappie Rods, Grizzly Jig Company, Tite Lok, Spike-It, Kodiak Scents, Slider, Bobby Garland, Bugband, KeepAlive, Monster Crappie, Bryant’s Osage Outdoors, Grip N Check, DotLine Nets, AWD Baits, Porcupine Fish Attractor, Navionics, Coldstream Fisheries, Showdown Jigs, DriGrip Sunscreen, The Fishing Butler and Chumbob.

The guarantee says it all! For more information, contact Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters at www.crappiemasters.net or call:

Paul Alpers, President 573-280-8020
Bobby Brown, Vice President 417-532-0244
Betty Rutledge, Administrative Assistant 660-723-1552

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