Sad news for professional crappie anglers. The National Crappie League
will be shutting down its tournament circuit. (NCL Image)
National Crappie League Tournaments Shut Down
by CrappieNOW.com Staff
What is surely sad news for many professional crappie fishermen, the National Crappie League (NCL) has announced the pending end of its tournament circuit.
In a Facebook post, NCL officials wrote, “Thank you to everyone who has stood with us throughout the NCL journey. Today, we’re sharing an important update: the current NCL trail will come to a close with the 2025–26 Championship on Lake Cumberland (March, 20-21, 2026).”
NCL’s tournament series began in 2023. The mission was to, “Create a crappie tournament trail that supports competitive crappie fishing for all anglers. From the everyday/ weekend angler to the seasoned pro, where all have a chance to compete at the National Championship on their level.”
Officials, however, said the economic challenges of 2025 and reduced angler participation made it difficult to move forward. They said that their early indicators show 2026 would face even tougher conditions.
NCL officials said, “We are deeply grateful to our tourism partners, CVBs, host locations, and our national, local, and industry sponsors (which included CrappieNOW.com) for believing in this trail and helping us showcase incredible fisheries across the country. Your support has meant everything to us, and while this chapter is ending, our commitment to this community and the brands that serve it remains strong.”
