Crappie Masters

Crappie Masters
Ruston, Louisiana along with Union, Claiborne, and Jackson Parishes played host to a one-day
national qualifier on Lakes D’Arbonne, Caney, and Claiborne on Saturday, April 18th. This much
anticipated event did not disappoint as 112 anglers from thirteen different states reported
catching large numbers of crappie daily during pre fishing. A lunchtime media day was held on
the new D’Arbonne Pointe, which helped generate much interest for this first time Crappie
Masters tournament in Louisiana. Once again, local knowledge played a major role in the
outcome.
First time tournament participants, Jay Stone and John Godwin were the first team to make their
way to the scales after fishing for only five and a half hours. Their decision to stop early paid off
by weighing the top weight of the tournament with 12.30 pounds and claiming their first Crappie
Masters win. The team reported catching their winning fish by long line trolling with their BnM
Duck Commander Series rods, pulling Lake Fork Sickle Tail Baby Shads and Big Bite Curly
Tails in 22 foot of water and catching fish at 9 foot deep on Lake Caney. They were using
Mercury Motor, Minn Kota Trolling Motor, and Humminbird Electronics. Stone and Godwin
stated the key to victory was “covering lots of water and keeping their baits in the strike zone.”
The team took home check totaling $4350.00 which included a $100.00 bonus for using Lake
Fork Sickle Tail Baby Shads and a $250.00 bonus, donated by the Missouri Corn Growers
Association and American Ethanol, for using E10 gasoline in their boat motor. Stone and
Godwin are sponsored by BnM Poles, Driftmaster, Crappie Magnet, Minn Kota, and
Humminbird.
Second place went to the team of Whitey Outlaw and Mike Parrot with a 7 fish weight of 11.00
1/3
Crappie Masters
pounds. Outlaw and
Parrot were spider rigging on Lake D’Arbonne from a Nitro Z-8 boat, powered by Mercury
Motors, Minn Kota Trolling Motor, and Humminbird Electronics in 2-5 foot of water, catching
crappie with Midsouth blue/chartreuse jigs on Rockport Rattler jigheads on 16’ BnM BGJP
Poles. The runner up finish earned the team $2000.00. Outlaw and Parrot are sponsored by
Rockport Rattler, BnM Poles, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Vicious, Midsouth Tackle, and
Driftmaster.
Josh Gowin and Josh Chipman finished third with 10.75 pounds and received a check for
$1200.00. The team stated they were catching good fish all week while spider rigging on Lake
D’Arbonne in 6 foot of water, catching their crappie 5 foot deep. Gowin and Chipman use 16’
BnM BGJP Poles, black and pink Crappie Magnet Jigs, and owe their success to shallow water
fishing with the Silent Stalker. They are sponsored by BnM Poles, Silent Stalker, Crappie
Magnets, Ego Nets, Hi-Tek Rod Holders, Navionics, and Wilson Outdoors.
Top placing Adult/Youth team went to the Texans of Jason Ewton and Jordan Knipp with a
weight of
2/3
Crappie Masters
5.50 pounds.
They
took
home
a $100.00
Bass
Pro
Shops
card.
overall
Male/Female
with 9.93
division
pounds
winners
and received
were
Jason
a $100.00
and Kasey
Bass
Thomas.
Pro gift
Shops
They
giftfinished
card. in a tie for 17th
Bigdownload
Lake
plus
fish
aD’Arbonne
check
of thefor
tournament
monster
for
weighing
honors
finishing
went
2.03
7th
to
pounds.
inTexans
the
tournament.
This
Freddie
crappie
Dooly
earned
Dwaine
them
aZ
check
Barthol
for
with
$784.00
a
To
full
tournament
results
click
here
97.7,
Special
Union
The
Parish,
thanks
Jackson
to$500.00
local Parish,
sponsors
Comfort
that
include: Ruston
Inn,
Days
Inn,
Lincoln
Lester's
Parish
Onand
The
CVB,
Lake,
Claiborne
107.5,
Parish,
ESPN
Peach
99.3,
and
Fairfield
Inn
&Lake
Suites
by
Marriot.
Special
Boats,
Ethanol,
Tite-lok
Jig
Slider,
Crappieholic,
Tackleworks,
Threader,
Monster
Company,
Crappie
Minn
Rod
thanks
Crappie
Ozark
Skinzit,
Kota,
Holders,
Fizards,
Valley
Spike-It,
to
Now,
Rods,
Media
our
Crazy
Humminbird,
Fashions,
Bug
National
Bobby
Martin
Silent
Stren,
and
Angler,
Band,
Huffman
Stalker,
Garland
Metal,
Sponsors
Ziptailz,
Mercury
Gary
Stump
Fork
Johnson
Rod
Crappie
Publishing,
Yamamoto
Off
Jumper
Motors,
Trophy
that
Safe,
Shore
Fishing,
include:
Baits,
Timbuktu
Series,
Lures,
Missouri
and
Custom
Tackle,
Rockport
Road
Bass
KMMO
The
Rig
Outdoors,
Navionics,
Corn
Baits,
Pro
Runner
Rap,
Original
Brad
Rattler,
Growers
Shops,
KeepAlive,
American
&aby
Gator
Rod
Zeko
Brian
Midsouth
Blakemore,
Tracker
Association,
Sox,
Shoes,
Guards,
in
Angler,
Wild
the
B’n’M
Boats,
Tackle,
River,
Outdoors. Southern
Power-Pole,
Fish
Hook
Poles,
American
Nitro
Grizzly
Balls,
Line
2015
Next
on
on Beaver
the
Crappie
Lake,
Masters
Fayetteville,
All
American
AR.
Tournament
Trail
will
be
national
qualifier
April
25,&
3/3