Winners beat the heat and a stellar line up of crappie anglers
Ninety-two teams participated in the Crappie Masters artificial bait only, one pole shoot out on Truman Lake. The event was sponsored by The Renewable Fuels Association “Ethanol Fueled With Pride”, American Ethanol, Bass Pro Shops, Midsouth Tackle Company, and the Clinton Chamber of Commerce.
Some of the best one pole anglers in the country participated in the June 16th and 17th event. Matt Beckman and Jeff Lewis held off a strong filed of competitors to win the Championship after leading it on day one with a weight of 10.48 pounds.
Their two-day winning weight of 21.20 pounds was enough to claim the $7500.00 championship prize along with an additional $500.00 bonus from the Missouri Corn Growers Association and American Ethanol, a $100.00 Jenko Fishing bonus for using Jenko products, and a $500.00 Midsouth Tackle bonus for winning the tournament and using Midsouth tubes.
After winning his first Crappie Masters One Pole Ultimate Challenge victory Beckman posted a congratulatory note to his partner on Facebook and wrote, “I have had a lot of up and downs in my life and winning the Crappie Masters One Pole Challenge is a dream come true! Words can’t describe how awesome it feels!
Beckman said everything had to go right to get in the winner’s circle, and it did. He also stated that he and Lewis had two perfect days of fishing with decision making and landing the quality fish that would eventually lead to the title. The team indicated that they did not feel a lot of pressure going into Championship Saturday. The confidence they had in their fishing locations was a big key to victory.
The team caught their winning fish on black and chartreuse Bobby Garland Slab Slayers, Midsouth Tubes, and Muddy Water Baits. They were fishing on the bottom in 9 to 11 foot of water. Their equipment included 10 foot Jenko Hypersense Rods, Humminbird electronics, Minn Kota Trolling Motor, and Mercury Motor to power their boat.
Beckman and Lewis are sponsored by Jenko Fishing, Muddy Water Baits, Midwest Marine, and Alenco Home Improvement.
The runner up position went to the team of Keith Mueller and Wes Cooper. They jumped from 6th place after day one to 2nd place with an impressive 11.29 pounds on Championship Saturday.
The team’s strong finish gave them a two-day weight of 20.86 pounds, that included the big fish of the tournament at 2.09 pounds. Mueller and Cooper were using their Mercury powered boat, Humminbird Electronics, and Minn Kota Trolling Motor to catch their weigh fish.
They found fish scattered in 8 feet of water, catching most on a bluegrass Bobby Garland Bait, including the big fish. Mueller stated a big key to their second-place position was catching three solid weigh fish in the last 45 minutes of the tournament.
Mueller and Cooper took home $3750.00 for the second place finish along with $1288.00 for the 2.09 Big Fish and an additional $300.00 for also using Midsouth tubes. Mueller and Cooper are sponsored by Mr. Crappie, Lewis Boats, TH Marine, Buck Knives, The Oxygenator, and Midsouth Tackle.
The third place slot was filled by the team of Rich Campbell and Travis Stevens who weighed in a two-day weight of 19.31 pounds to take home the $2500.00 third place prize money. Campbell and Stevens kept on the move with their Minn Kota Trolling Motor to catch their fish on the bottom in 12 feet of water. Their best bites came later in the day on a black and chartreuse Midsouth tube.
The team also collected the $100.00 Midsouth Tackle bonus. Campbell and Stevens are sponsored by Skeeter Boats, Yamaha, Bucksaw Resort, Diawa, Huckabee Rods, and Beaver Bottom Baits.
Fourth place with 19.05 pounds and a check for $2200.00 went to Chad Nugent and John Wood.
Vic Finkley and Kim Gray secured the fifth place spot with a two-day total of 18.94 pounds and took home a check for $1900.00 plus a $100.00 Grizzly Jig Company Gift Card for finishing as the top Male/Female team.
Top Adult/Youth prize of a $100.00 Everharts Outdoor Store gift card and a Minn Kota Trolling Motor was awarded to the Grandfather/Grandson team of Don Brooks and Dylan Brown.
Second big fish of the tournament honors went to the team of Bob and Lizabeth Robinson who brought a 2.07 pounder on day-one and took home $552.00.
Crappie Masters would like to thank the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Everharts Outdoor Store, and Midsouth Tackle for their support on a very successful tournament.
