Grand Lake St. Marys played host to the Crappie USA Super Event this past Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29, 2017. Over 130 anglers from several states were competing for not only the $14,500.00 in cash and prizes, but 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.
Day 1 of the Super Event saw rain with high winds and temperatures in the mid 50’s all day. Day 2 proved to be worse, with heavy rain, thunder, lightning and cold temperatures. These challenging weather conditions did not stop passionate crappie anglers from doing what they love.
Pro Division Results
Jim and Doug Freeman, both of Celina, Ohio from taking first place in the Pro Division with a total weight of 16.63 pounds and earned $3,000.00, plus an additional $500.00 Talon Bonus. The team fished the west side of the lake in 2 – 3 feet of water targeting spawning fish using black/chartreuse color jigs to catch a total of 60 fish for the weekend.
Troy Zimmerman and Jeff Tobin took second place with a total weight of 16.36 pounds and earned $2,000.00. The St. Marys, Ohio team fished the south end of Grand Lake on Friday, moving around a lot on Saturday. They used one pole vertical jigging in 5 feet of water with black/chartreuse color tube jigs to land around 100 fish for the event.
Taking third place were Zach and Mike Fishbaugh, both of St. Henrys, Ohio weighing in at 15.56 pounds and earning $1,000.00. The team fished the south end of the lake in 3 feet of water with a single pole and orange/chartreuse color jigs tipped with a minnow to catch over 100 fish for the 2-Day tournament.
Kyle Grunden of Columbus, Ohio and Herbert Grunden of Celina, Ohio took fourth place weighing in at 15.15 pounds and earning $200.00. The team fished the south end of Grand Lake using chartreuse jigs in less than 4 feet of water to land 70 fish for the weekend.
Kyle Schoenherr of Oakdale, Illinois and Rodney Newhaus of Hoyleton, Illinois came in fifth place weighing 14.75 pounds and earning $250.00 Ranger Cup Bonus. Unfortunately the team left before the interviews.
Amateur Division Results
Mike Shroyer of Greenville, Ohio and Mark Puthoff of Coldwater, Ohio took first place in the Amateur Division with a total weight of 17.75 pounds and earned $2,000.00, plus an additional $880.00 Big Fish of the event and $200.00 Driftmaster Bonus. The team targeted spawning females on the south end of the lake using one pole in shallow water and a variety of jog colors to catch around 30 fish for the weekend, including the Big Fish of the event that weighed 1.68 pounds.
Taking second place was Kerry August and Brian Bollenbacher, both of Celina, Ohio weighing in at 16.35 pounds and earning $1,000.00, plus an additional $380.00 for 2nd place Big Fish. The team fished the south side of the lake in 2 feet of water using black/chartreuse color jigs to land 50 fish for the tournament.
Brad Bailey of Union, Ohio and Roy Dagley of Englewood, Ohio took third place of the event weighing in at 15.86 pounds and earned $600.00. The team fished the south end of Grand Lake spider rigging using live bait to land 70 for the weekend.
In fourth place was Randy Waterman of New Breman, Ohio and Garrett Waterman of Fort Loramie, Ohio with a total weight of 15.52 pounds and earned $500.00. The team vertical fished the south end of the lake with one pole using white jigs to catch between 60 – 70 fish for the 2-Day tournament.
Stacy Morphis of Stegar, Illinois and Antwan Robinson of Chicago Heights, Illinois took fifth place weighing in at 14.46 pounds and earned $400.00. The team spider rigged the south end of Grand Lake in shallow water with chartreuse color jigs tipped with minnows to land a total of 65 fish for the weekend.
Additional Awards went to:
6th place Amateur – Mick Eymer and Tim Harner $300.00.
7th place Amateur – Herbert and Lonnie Richey – $200.00.
8th place Amateur – Karl and Nick Halley – $200.00.
9th place Amateur – Andrew Peffly and Nicholas Lamb – $200.00.
Ranger Cup Bonus (Amateur) – Bob and Christopher Williamson – $125.00.
A special thank you to Preston Meyer and his staff at NK Telco for hosting the event and offering a $10,000.00 Bonus at the Classic Event this year if either the Amateur or Pro Team winners at Grand Lake St. Marys goes on to win their Division at the Classic.
Also, thank you to Russ Bailey and the crew of BrushPile Fishing for all their hard work in helping make the event a huge success. “Grand Lake St. Marys is truly one of the most improved crappie fisheries in the nation” said Darrell Van Vactor, Operations Manager of Crappie USA.
National Sponsors of Crappie USA are: Cabela’s, Ranger Boats, Mercury, Mustad, B ‘n’ M Poles, Minn Kota, Humminbird Electronics, Gamma, Adventure Products EGO Nets, J.R. Mad’s, Charlie Brewer’s Slider Co., Big Bite Baits, TTI-Blakemore Road Runner, Driftmaster Rod Holders, World Fishing Network-WFN, Cumberland Crappie Double Seat Mounts, Church Tackle Company, 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, Crown Trophy and Jenko Fishing.
The following companies furnish product to help make these events possible: Kodiak Fish Attractants, Rigrap and Keep Alive.
For more information please call Crappie USA at 502-384-5924. Be sure to check out our website at: www.crappieusa.com and like our Crappie USA Tournament Trail Facebook Page. Both sites contain new and exciting information on our events along with special information for crappie anglers everywhere.
