Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters kicked off the 2010 tournament trail at Tavares, FL on Harris Chain of Lakes. Sponsored by the City of Tavares, Lake County Florida and South East Toyota the tournament showed that the crappie were healthy and abundant as anglers caught many fish including some of the best weights in recent years as a few anglers busted the 10 lb mark on seven fish.

Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Marine, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Mercury the day one team of John Boise and Larry Drunert set the mark weighing in 11.14 lbs on seven fish. Joe Miller and John Peyton held second place with 10.78 lbs. The Road Runner team of Coy and Gilford Sipes had 10.41 lbs with a couple other teams right there with 10 lbs weight or upper 9 lb weights. Big fish for the day was 1.88 pounds and that slab was brought in by Charles Cantrell and Robbie Huff who ended the tournament with second big fish with the catch.

Cantrell and Huff not only got second big fish, they were also crowned the Toyota Florida State Champions. Day one they weighed in 9.90 lbs and was in seventh place. Day two they weighed in 11.10 lbs for a two day total of 21.00 lbs over taking the rest of the field. The Georgia team stated they caught a lot of fish during the tournament. They long lined with BnM and Wally Marshall poles at speeds of .8 to 1 mph. The bite didn’t seem to particular of the jig colors. They fished 8-15 foot waters. The team earned $4500.00 for their victory.

Second place went to Joe Miller and John Peyton. The team held second place after day one with 10.78 lbs and weighed in 10.20 on day two for a two day total of 20.98 lbs. The team was slow trolling in 13 foot of water using 16 ft BnM poles. They used used homemade jigs and a Humminbird fish finder. The team won $2100.00 for their efforts.

Third place went to Danny Cannon and Billy Williams who were in fifth place on day one with 10.07 lbs. The team weighed in 10.90 lbs on day two. Their total two day weight was one tenth of an ounce below second place with 20.97 lbs. The team was slow trolling with Wally Marshall rods with black and blue jigs. They used Humminbird fish finders and a Minn Kota trolling motor. They also won big fish with a 1.92 lb crappie. They earned $1322.00.

The tournament week started off with a media fish off where vips fished with anglers for a morning of fun. It was fishhookremover.com’s Dr. Neil Saley that took the top honors. Fishing with Bass Pro Shops pro staff of Jeanne and Rod Fry he caught a 1.66 lb. crappie. Second place went to Realtor/Tavares Station’s Rick Gonzalez who weighed in a 1.58 lb crappie. He fished with Titelok pro staff of Phil and Eva Rambo. Third place stacked up a tie between council member Sandy Gamble, reporter (The Reporter) Linda Charleston and city staff member Jay Masifes. Each one weighed in a 1.56 lb crappie. Bass Pro Shops of Orlando supplied prizes and lunch was held at Okeefe’s Pub and Restaurant.

A crappie technique class held for the local public was held by Crappie Masters. Bass Pro Staff Toni and Don Collins, Gary Yamamoto’s Bill Braswell and the Power Pole team of Travis and Charles Bunting gave the 50 plus croud information on how to setup a boat, how to find & catch fish and how to clean crappie. Each team gave some training then took questions from the audience. Participants and anglers got to eat a the “Taste of Tavares” city park dinner after the day one weigh in.

The kids rodeo brought out 80 kids to fish for prizes and fun. Winners of the various age groups plus the winner of a free entry into the 2010 Tavares tournament are shown with the Toyota Tundra. Bass Pro Shops of Orlando and Crappie Masters supplied prizes for all the kids while the City of Tavares supplied pizza to all.

Special thanks to our host hotel Inn on the Green. Perfectly located in Tavares with friendly staff and excellent rooms, it’s the place to stay when visiting. Special thanks to all our local sponsors including: City Of Tavares, Lake County Florida Department Of Tourism, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Orlando, Inn On The Green, Guest House Inn & Suites, Sandy's Bait & Tackle, Nobles Marine, Okeefe’s Pub & Restaurant.

Special thanks to our National Sponsors that include: Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats, Nitro Boats, Mercury Motors, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Toyota, RoadRunner by Blakemore, Vicious Fishing Line, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Power Pole, Mr. Crappie Wally Marshall Signature Series Crappie Rods, Grizzly Jig Company, MidSouth Jigs, Tite Lok, Spike-It, Bandit Lures, American Angler, Cajun Fryer, Kodiak Scents, Slider, Bobby Garland, KeepAlive, Monster Crappie, Bryant’s Osage Outdoors, AWD Baits, Porcupine Fish Attractor, Coldstream Fisheries, Showdown Jigs, BnM Poles, FishHookRemoval.com, Frabill, Big Ten Tackle and Pro Control.

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