WETUMPKA, Ala. – In late May CrappieNOW Publisher Dan Dannemueller partnered up with the Elmore County Economic Development Authorityto host a collection of the some of the best fishing guides, tournament anglers and outdoor writers in Wetumpka, Alabama. The mission was to garner some great future content for CrappieNOW and CatfishNOW magazines – and to show off the awesome fishing opportunities awaiting anglers on the Alabama River.
You will no doubt see more from this ambitious venture in future issues of CrappieNOW and our sister ezine, CatfishNOW. But here’s a quick taste in the form of a Photo Gallery from two great days on the water.
Former Duck Dynasty TV star John Godwin showed off his signature series fish attractor from Mossback Fish Habitat. One morning they place of the Mossback attractors in the Alabama River. Dannemueller said, “We sat watching the attractor with a Garmin LiveScope and literally within five minutes we saw fish move into it.” (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
CrappieNOW Publisher, Dan “Crappie Dan” Dannemueller, prepares to set lines to troll crankbaits using Off Shore Tackle planer boards. “When the summer heat sets in, trolling crankbaits along creek channel ledges is a great way to target big crappie.” (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
CrappieNOW Publisher, Dan “Crappie Dan” Dannemueller, often uses B’n’M Silver Cat catfishing rods when trolling for crappie. “You may not necessarily need them for crappie, but having a rod with good backbone like the Silvercats helps me release the line from the board clips so I’m fighting the fish and not the board as I bring them to the boat.” (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
B’n’M rods Pro Staff anglers, Gerald Overstreet (left) and Steve Brown, show off a sampling of what the Alabama River has to offer crappie fishermen. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
CrappieNOW Publisher, Dan “Crappie Dan” Dannemueller, with bragging-sized white and black crappie taken fishing the Alabama River near Wetumpka, Alabama. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
Most people know John Godwin as the sometimes-goofy guy on the popular TV show, Duck Dynasty. But since the show has ended, more and more people are learning about Godwin as a major force in crappie tournament fishing and the fishing industry as a whole. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
John Godwin is a big believer in Crappie Magnet lures, such as this Tennessee Shad Slab Curley, apparently with good reason. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
With a wry sense of humor and often deadpan delivery, John Godwin was always the funny man on Duck Dynasty. He’s still funny on a fishing boat, but he’s also deadly serious about catching big crappie. The crappie probably don’t think there’s anything funny about it. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
John Godwin located this Alabama River slab on his Garmin Livescope and was able to actually watch live as the hefty fish inhaled his Crappie Magnet jig. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
John Godwin and his partner, Jay Stone, won their first Crappie Masters tournament in 2015 on Lake D’Arbonne in Louisiana – the first crappie tournament they had ever entered. Godwin says he’s been addicted to the competitive side of crappie fishing ever since. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
CrappieNOW Editor Richard Simms and John Godwin with just a few of the crappie Godwin located in a short afternoon fishing. It was brand new water for Godwin and he spent 30 minutes surveying the area using the side-imaging on his Humminbird Helix to located small pieces of structure. Then he homed in on individual stumps and brush using his Garmin LiveScope. (Photo: Erin Shockey, CrappieNOW)
Guide Lee Pitts was also fishing “new water” during this foray on the Alabama River. But experience and his Humminbird Helix showed him where to find crappie. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
You know you’re fishing “down South” when the fallen trees are covered in Spanish moss. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
Guide Lee Pitts, a Bobby Garland Pro-Staffer, horses a hefty crappie out of an Alabama River treetop. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
On this excursion Pitts found vertical jigging in the treetops using a 10- or 12-foot Slab Daddy fishing rod from Mr. Crappie produced his best fish. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
When the sun is shining bright, it is hard for Guide Lee Pitts to bypass a shaded dock near deep water without shooting a Bobby Garland jig under for crappie. Pitts is well-known as one of the premier dock-shooters in the guide business. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
Gary Dollahon, owner of Dollahon PR, is the Brand Manager for Bobby Garland baits. He’s been a major player in introducing many products and is, of course, an accomplished crappie fisherman himself. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
Bryan St. Ama (left) and Chad Mayfield set lines during a catfishing excursion on the Alabama River. St. Ama just began seriously fishing for trophy catfish eight years ago. Now he is the owner and driving force behind the “The Catmasters” tournament circuit. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
This is not the size catfish Chad Mayfield normally prefers to catch. But for hardcore catfishermen, every catfish is a “good one.” (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
Bryan St. Ama speeds down the Alabama River in his Sea Ark, watching closely for any tricky sandbars using his Humminbird Helix. St. Ama is also on the Advisory Council for the American Catfishing Association. ACA’s mission is to, “Diligently provide the efforts, information and resources to better the sport of catfishing and unify the catfishing community.” (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
Guide Lee Pitts sets the hook on a healthy Alabama River crappie. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
Even his 12-foot Slab Daddy rod from Mr. Crappie has the backbone to swing a big crappie into the boat. (Photo: Richard Simms, CrappieNOW Editor)
B’n’M Poles Pro Staffer Michael Haney shows off 40-pound flathead taken on the Alabama River using a Silver Cat Magnum pole here on the Alabama River in Elmore County. (Photo: Keith Sutton)
Outdoor writers and pro anglers from all across the country enjoyed relaxing after a day on the water at dinner sponsored by the Elmore County (Alabama) Economic Development Authority. (Photo: Ron Wong)
