More than 140 crappie anglers, from eight states were greeted with ideal fishing weather as Green River Lake played host to the Crappie USA Super Event on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22, 2017. Friday’s sunny skies, temperatures in the mid 70’s and light winds at 5 – 10 mph seemed perfect. The crappie were found in all depths of water.
Day two presented a complete turnaround to the anglers. The temps dropped into the 50’s, winds were NE at 10 -15 and it rained all day. The sudden change in weather caused the fish to move deep and challenged the anglers to catch them.
The anglers were competing for $14,300.00 in cash and prizes, and a chance to advance to the prestigious Cabala’s Crappie USA Classic. This year’s classic will be held October 26 – 28, 2017 on Kentucky & Barkley Lakes at Paris, Tennessee.
Pro Division Results
David Jones of Knifley, Kentucky and Corey Thomas of Jamestown, Kentucky overcame the odds and took first place in the Pro Division with a total weight of 15.54 pounds. The team earned $3,000.00, plus an additional $500.00 Talon Bonus, $250.00 Gamma Line Bonus and $100.00 Jenko Fishing Bonus. The team fished different areas close to the dam, tight line fishing both days in 10 – 20 feet of water using Jenko baits, double minnow rigs and tac pac jigs.
The team reported tht they only used 6 rods because they couldn’t keep the lines baited. The team had over 500 keeper sized fish during the 2-Day tournament. They said that most of their catch were 10-inch fish.
Kris and Terry Mann, both of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky took second place with a total weight of 15.01 pounds. They earned $2,000.00, plus an additional $250.00 Ranger Cup Bonus. The team fished the middle section of Green River Lake in their Ranger 188 aluminum boat. They found their fish in shallow water on day one, however, moving out to 13 feet of water on day two. They landed the majority of their weigh-in fish out of one brushpile. They used Crappie Magnet jigs in Dude Special color to catch 100 fish on day one and 50 on day two. Kris stated that you had to get bait in front of them or you wouldn’t get a bite. Their best fish came on day two.
Third place went to Donnie Burris and Dennis Yates, both of Columbia, Kentucky. They weighed in 14.95 pounds and earned $1,000.00. The team found their fish close to Holmes Bend in 16 feet of water, long line fishing both days using pink/chartreuse and blue/chartreuse colored jigs. They landed more than 350 fish for the two day event. “This is one of the best fisheries that we go to,” said Burris.
There was a tie for fourth place.
Lynn and Nathan Cochran, both of Springfield, Kentucky weighed in at 13.68 pounds and earned $500.00. The team fished the main lake, having to move around to find their fish. They cast and vertical jigged using Slabinator jigs They reported having to get it right in front of them to get a bite. Team Cochran had over 250 crappie for the weekend.
Robert Harris of Warner Robins, Georgia and Roy Cape, Jr. of Cordele, Georgia also weighed in at 13.68 pounds to earn $500.00, plus an additional $630.00 for spiting the Big Fish honors.The team fished in Holmes Bend area, long lining with black/chartreuse colored Jenko and Charlie Brewer Slider jigs. Robert said that Roy caught the big fish using electric chicken. The team had over 250 crappie for the tournament.
Joe Long and Brian Meltzer earned half the Big Fish honors for the event and took home a check for $630.00.
Amateur Division Results
Arnold and Kenny Patterson, both of Knifely, Kentucky took first place in the Amateur Division with a total weight of 14.03 pounds and earned $1,900.00. The team targeted their fish in Casey Creek on both days in shallow depths of 6 – 8 feet of water. They vertical jigged minnows to land 200 keepers on day one and 50 on day two.
Taking second place was Wayne Goodall of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee weighing in at 13.75 pounds and earning $1,000.00. Wayne fished in both Corbins Bend and Robbins Creek using black/chartreuse colored jigs in 16 feet of water to land 20 fish each day. Wayne said that he used a bigger jig up to a 3-inch to miss the little fish and catch a better quality.
Terry Barker of Eubank, Kentucky and Joe Diaferia of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee took third place of the event weighing in at 13.09 pounds and earned $500.00, plus an additional $125.00 Ranger Cup Bonus. The team pulled crankbaits in their Ranger 620 in Robbins Creek. They stated that they used multiple colors, but none of them outperformed the other, you just had to put it right in front of the fish. The team had 50 fish for the weekend.
In fourth place was Kyle Levering of Whitehouse, Tennessee and Dwayne Craig of Cottontown, Tennessee with a total weight of 12.51 pounds and earned $400.00. The team targeted their fish in Robbins Creek, but worked their way back to Holmes Bend. They vertical jigged using Crappie Magnet jogs in black/chartreuse early in the day, switching to white/chartreuse color jogs later to land 150 fish on day one and 50 on day two.
Robert Matheny and Samuel Franke, both of Shepherdsville, Kentucky took fifth place weighing in at 12.46 pounds and earned $300.00.The team fished Corbins Bend using Crappie Magnet jigs with any combination mixed with chartreuse. They used one pole to land over 200 fish for the 2-day tournament.
Gary Singleton and Terry Pucel (Knox, Indiana) took sixth place with a total weight of 11.79 pounds and earned $300.00.
Jonathan Wilson, Michael and John Michael Bray (Russell Springs, Kentucky) placed seventh weighing in at 11.73 pounds and earned $200.00.
Sammy and Brett Blair (Columbia, Kentucky) had eighth place weighing 11.52 pounds and earned $200.00.
Organizers sent out a special thank you to Columbia – Adair County Tourism for hosting the event. They also thanked Holmes Bend Marina for hosting the Kid’s Rodeo and their hospitality to all the anglers. “Green River Lake has once again proven itself to be a crappie manufacturing plant. Teams were catching fish in all depths of water and certain teams caught over 400 keepers in two days. There is no other lake where you can do that, thus making Green River Lake an extremely unique and plentiful crappie destination.”
For more information call Crappie USA at 502-384-5924. You can also check out their website at www.crappieusa.com and like their Crappie USA Tournament Trail Facebook Page.
