The Crappie USA Super Event on Old Hickory was characterized by strong winds, cloudy skies, and scattered showers throughout the day on Friday. Saturday
started with rain early, stopping for a majority of the tournament and then beginning again at weigh-in time with temperatures in the mid 50’s.
Eighty crappie anglers, from several states, fished the March 23 – 24, 2018 event. They were competing for $12,800 in cash and prizes and a chance to advance to the prestigious Cabala’s Crappie USA Classic.
The Classic event will be October 3 – 6, 2018 on Lake Cumberland at Somerset, Kentucky. The prestigious event will have a guaranteed payout of $125,000 in cash and prizes. More information on the Classic can be found at the CUSA website at www.crappieusa.com.
Pro Division Results
Steve Ferguson of Puryear, TN and Daniel Harper of Murray, KY claimed first place honors in the Pro Division with a total weight of 22.55 pounds. They earned $3,000, plus an additional $500 Ranger Cup Bonus and $100 Jenko Bonus.
The team fished the middle o the Old Hickory Lake, slow trolling double live bait rigs. They were fishing along 15 – 18-foot-deep bank areas to catch more than 60 fish for the weekend.
Mt. Juliet, TN anglers, Harold Maddux and Brian Oldham, took second place in the event with a total weight of 21.06 pounds. They earned $2,000 for their finish.
The team fished the middle of the lake area over man-made cover. The fish were holding tight to the wood cover. Maddux and Oldham used Crappie Magnet jigs in assorted colors to land 20 fish for the event.
“The fish wanted smaller jigs today,” stated Maddux. “We had to slow them down due to a more finesse bite.”
Taking third place was Shawn Gore and Joey Peck, both of Almo, KY. They weighed 20.27 pounds and earned $1,000. The team fished the main lake around Drakes Creek over wood cover using feather jigs. They were fishing vertical using small 1/16-ounce jigs in 18 – 30 feet of water. Gore and Peck caught around 45 fish for the two-day tournament.
Dale Thompson and Eddie Milby, both of Greensburg, KY, took fourth place with a total weight of 18.42 pounds. Unfortunately, the team left before the awards ceremony and we were unable to learn their secrets for the day.
Amateur Division Results
Mike Wantz of New Castle, IN and Rusty Byard of Muncie, IN, took first place in the Amateur Division. The Indiana team weighed a total of 18.60 pounds to claim their spot.
Their first-place bag included the Big Fish of the tournament at 2.25 pounds. Their earnings for the day were $1,500, plus an additional $520 for Big Fish.
The team fished the Station Camp area, spider rigging in 16 – 18 feet of water. They fished with tube jigs tipped with live bait to catch a total of 30 fish for the weekend.
Taking second place was Rudy Bostelman and Robert Gleaves, both of Mt. Juliet, TN. Bostelman and Gleaves weighed 18.53 pounds. Their earnings included the second place pot of $1,000 plus an additional $225 for second place Big Fish.
The team fished Drakes Creek and in front of the dam area. They used jigs on Friday and live bait on Saturday to land 55 fish for the tournament.
They were fishing in 35 feet of water to bag their fish. It included the 2.16-pound slab that earned them second place Big Fish.
Richard Wright of Irvine, KY and Wayne Adams of Berea, KY claimed the third-place spot. The Kentucky team weighed 16.42 pounds. Third place earned them $500 and they added an additional $100 for the Xtreme Bait Tank Bonus.
The team fished the area close to the dam in 18 – 25 feet of water. They were spider-rigging with red/chartreuse and white/blue tube jigs. They caught a total of 25 fish for the weekend.
Gregory Oaks of Waynesburg, KY and Shane Yocum of Hustonville, KY took fourth place. Oaks and Yocum weighed in 16.37 pounds and earned $400. They added an additional $125 by claiming a Ranger Cup Bonus.
The team fished Station Camp area on flats that were close to steep ledges. They used striped Doublicious jigs in shad color. Sometimes they would tip with minnows. They landed 25 fish for the event.
Taking fifth place was Wayne Goodall of Mt. Juliet, TN weighing in 16 pounds. Goodall fished solo to earn $200 for his finish.
He trolled chartreuse Jenko crankbaits on the main lake areas to catch more than 50 fish for the weekend.
Thank yous and Sponsors
CUSA officials sent out special thank yous to Barry Young and his staff from Sumner County Convention and Visitors Bureau for hosting the event and to “Flipper” at Flippers Marina for the Kids Rodeo and weigh-in site.
Events such as this one on Old Hickory could not take place without sponsors. CUSA’s National Sponsors include Cabela’s, Ranger Boats, Mercury, Mustad, B ‘n’ M Poles, Humminbird Electronics, Gamma, Adventure Products EGO Nets, Minn Kota, J.R. Mad’s Madgic Fish Breading, Big Bite Baits, TTI-Blakemore Road Runner, Driftmaster Rod Holders, World Fishing Network-WFN, Cumberland Crappie Double Seat Mounts, Church Tackle Company, Charlie Brewer’s Slider Co., Crappie Now on-line Magazine, Talon Shallow Water Anchors, Humminbird/Lakemaster Maps, Sunsect Sunscreen & Insect Repellent, Digital EFX Wraps, Gill Rainwear, AWD Baits, Tentnology, Crappie Magnet, Jenko Fishing, Lake Cumberland Tourism, Extreme Bait Systems, Rigrap, and Bait 2 Go.
For more information please call Crappie USA at 502-384-5924. Be sure to check out their website at www.crappieusa.com and like their Crappie USA Tournament Trail Facebook Page. Both sites contain new and exciting information on CUSA events along with special information for crappie anglers everywhere.
