Pre-fishing proved to be a challenge for teams fishing the Crappie Masters Ozark Rods Open on Rend Lake, sponsored by The Renewable Fuels Association “Ethanol Fueled With Pride”, American Ethanol, Bass Pro Shops. Falling water and changing weather conditions before the tournament turned to perfect weather conditions for tournament Saturday.
Sunshine and light winds played right into the hands of the eventual winners, the Ozark Rods team of David Cox and Steve Hockett. They went with what they know best and spider rigged their way to a victory at the home of their sponsor Ozark Rods. The win solidified their goal of winning Crappie Masters Angler Team of the Year, which they lost by one point in 2016.
The team decided not to single pole the buck brush like most local teams. They used their Mercury Motor, Humminbird Electronics, and Minn Kota Trolling Motor to go as slow as possible to catch their tournament fish in an area that had produced in the past, but had not in practice.
The decision by Hockett to fish that area with light winds paid off. Using 16 foot Ozark Rods with white and chartreuse jigs and minnows, Cox and Hockett found their fish 6 feet deep in 9 feet of water. They brought in 7 fish weighing 10.33 pounds to the scale. Their weight gave them more than a pound lead over the second-place team for a solid Crappie Masters victory.
Cox and Hockett stated that the key to victory was slowing down to trigger their bite. The team took home $3800.00 for the win along with the Missouri Corn Growers Association and American Ethanol $250.00 bonus for using E10 fuel in their boat. They also receive $250.00 for winning and being in the Power Pole Captain’s Cash Program.
Cox and Hockett are sponsored by Ozark Rods, Everhart’s Outdoor Store, and Do-It Molds.
Second place went to the Missouri team of Shane Cappel and Jesse Shoemaker who weighed 9.26 pounds. Much like Cox and Hockett, Cappel and Shoemaker spider rigged B’n’M Poles in twelve feet of water catching their fish six feet deep on minnow rigs. They too moved slowly with their Minn Kota Trolling Motor and Mercury outboard. Cappel and Shoemake won $1900.00 on the day.
Cappel and Shoemake are sponsored by Muddy Water Baits, K2 Coolers, Perotti Bilt Rod Holders, and Thumper Jigs.
Coming in third was the local team of Sean Drury and J.P. Onhiser who weighed 9.01 pounds which included the second place big fish of the tournament, a 1.77 pound kicker that garnered them an additional $276.00 on top of the $950.00 for finishing in third place. Drury and Onhiser one poled the infamous buck brush and bushes with minnows to catch their weigh fish. They also stated that their Humminbird electronics and Minn Kota Trolling Motor were vital in their success.
Drury and Onhiser are sponsored by ACC Crappie Stix, and I’ll Be Jig Company.
In fourth place with 8.74 pounds was Lee Buehnerkemper and Tyler Brandenburg. They received a check for $750.00.
Josh Dudley and Jason Dudley finished in fifth place with 8.68 pounds a took home a check for $550.00.
Big fish of the tournament, a 2.16 pound Rend Lake dandy, was weighed in by the team of Randy Phelps and Matt Morris who took home $644.00 for the fish.
Top Male/Female team honors went to the Green Machine Team of Jackie and Holly Linton who won a $100.00 Grizzly Jig Company certificate for their effort.
Top Adult/Youth team honors went to the team of Mike and Daniel Melton who won the $100.00 Everhart’s Outdoor Store gift card.
Crappie Masters would like to thank Ozark Rods, Lake Cove Resort, and Lake Zone Bait and Tackle for their sponsorship of the Crappie Masters Ozark Rods Rend Lake Open.
