Page 14 - Crappie NOW - June 2017

The Future of Crappie Tournaments

haul. Tournaments should be good if we wrong with this for tournaments but it
don’t try to over-emphasize what we do and changes the level of fishing.”
we don’t lose the number one purpose of Matt Morgan says, “The sky is the
crappie fishing. It can be a competitive sport limit for crappie tournaments. I give a lot
but the number one reason is for learning. of seminars every year and one of my first
If we don’t catch fish we can learn from topics is that crappie fishing has been
others. Tournaments make a fisherman treated as the redheaded step-child of
better because of experience and learning.” fishing. I love crappie fishing and it has
Vallentine says, “I believe we will been growing bigger, faster and stronger.
see the competition getting stronger and Although we will never reach the status of
numbers will continue to grow. National the all-mighty bass, if we do things right the
tournaments will be in a better place than sky is the limit compared to where we are
they’ve been but I don’t know to what scale. now. We can’t be afraid to try new things
“Growth not being at a higher level even though some may fail.
can be boiled down to a couple of things.
People have always been intrigued and Russ Bailey, Host of Brush Pile Fishing
want to know how to catch crappie but TV, says, “I can remember the days when I
taking it to the tournament level is whole fished tournaments with 200 and 300 boats.
different story. The second thing is that our We are fighting our way back. I believe all
baits don’t cost $20 apiece like some of three trails are different and have a place.
the other species. Part of that $20 is for As payoffs increase, the number of teams
marketing that relates to more sponsor will rise.”
monies. A package of crappie jigs does not Steve Coleman has many classic
have that level of marketing dollars. wins. He says, “What gets the numbers of
“Just this tournament for media alone fishermen is the money. Years ago if you
we have motels bills for our magazine won the classic you won two Ranger boats
editor, TV camera man, plus two days on and $10,000. It’s more expensive to fish
the water, gas in the boat, meals. Plus now but the payoffs are not as much. People
all our staff expenses. Payroll, travel, the who tournament fish need a return. A team
trailer and motel are all very expensive. It’s competing without national sponsors helping
just a part of running the trail. But if this is spending a lot of money out of pocket.
were easy everyone would be running a It’s expensive. Pre-fishing and tournament,
tournament circuit.” truck gas, boat gas, motel, food, bait and
Vallentine continues, “Our purpose as everything else often runs about $2000
a tournament trial boils down to promoting if nothing major tears up. Competition is
sponsors. The more eyeballs we get on more equal today and numbers will stay if
crappie fishing the better it will be for us, the money is there.”
the fishermen and the sponsors. So media Classic champ Jason Sandage says,
and good business practices are keys for “As long as several trails are running I
the future of tournament trails. believe it will split it up. Spreading out
“I hear about the huge numbers in the money isn’t good. Also, the costs for
the early years of tournaments. Entry fees a fisherman who works is difficult. We are
aren’t an issue and economy is a small getting priced out with entry fees and travel
factor. Fishermen who have not had a lot expenses. I have to give up five days of
of success have learned the tournaments guiding so between that and costs, I need
are probably not for them and have dropped to win $3000 just to break even. Also, when
out. Numbers have shrunk to what we have we won the classic we won $75,000. Those
today but they are very solid numbers with payouts have come down. I believe there
competitive fishermen who continue to fish. will be a core group fishing the tournaments
The sport has evolved into something more and some locals, that shouldn’t change.”
complex and expensive. There is nothing Classic champ Tony Sheppard says,

14 Crappie NOW June 2017