Semi-Pro Division

            Taking first place in the Semi-Pro Division and a $32,000.00 Ranger boat package was the team of Dennis Outlaw and Russell Rush of Camden, SC with a total weight of 11.82 pounds of crappie. Anglers in Crappie USA events are allowed to weigh in their 10 largest fish of the days catch. Outlaw and Rush were tightlining in 8-13 feet of water with their fish suspended in 6-8 feet deep. The team was using Charlie Brewers Slider white/chartreuse jigs tipped with minnows. �We changed and starting fishing about 2 feet deeper around noon and caught 40 to 50 fish between 12:30 and 2:30, said Dennis. This fish had moved a little deeper due to the amount of heavy boat traffic on Dora Lake.

            Second place went to the team of Mike Parrott and Roger Dale Willard of Charlotte, NC weighing in 11.52 pounds of fish. Parrott and Willard were tightlining jigs with minnows in 6 feet of water on Dora Lake, Parrott and Willard took home $1,000.00 for second place.

            In third was the team of Whitey Outlaw of Gaston, SC and Dean Sanders of Cope, SC with 11.18 pounds of fish. Outlaw and Sanders were one pole jigging with yellow/white Crappie Pro jigs on Dora. Outlaw and Sanders took home a check for $500.00.

            Harrell Smith of Ocala, FL and Joseph White of Anthony, Fl took fourth place with 11.00 pound and took home $400.00. Smith and White were catching suspended fish in 8 feet of water on Dora using hair flys which is one of their favorite baits.

            Fifth place went to the Florida team of George Parker of Okeechobee, FL and John Witt of Umatilla, FL with a total weight of 10.74 pounds. Parker and Witt were fishing on Beauclaire using Tittle Jigs and Ron Zip jigs in 2 to 6 feet of water.

            The top Male/Female team in the Semi-Pro Division was the team of Robert and Thelma Blair of Lady Lake, FL with 9.29 pounds.

Amateur Division

            First Place in the Amateur Division was the one man team of John Johnson of Swansea, SC with a total of 11.48 pounds of fish. John was fishing Carleton in 2 to 4 feet of water jigging docks using hand tied homemade jigs. Johnson received a check for $5,000.00 for first place.

            The Camden, SC team of Julia and Robert Hammond took second place with a total weight of 11.30 pounds of crappie and taking home a check for $1,000.00. Julia and Robert were using white/chartreuse Sliders in 8 to 13 feet of water with their fish suspended in 6 to 8 feet on Dora.

            Third place went to the team of Barbara and Johnny Hobbs of Oconee, FL with a weight of 11.12 pounds and taking home a check for $700.00. Barbara and Johnny were fishing on Beauclaire in 4 feet of water using black/yellow jigs.

In fourth place was the team of Earl Brink Jr. of Cunning, GA and David Stancil of Oxford, Al with 10.98 pounds and taking home $600.00. Earl and David were slow trolling on Dora in 8 to 9 feet of water using white/yellow and green/white jigs tipped with minnows.

            Taking fifth place was the team of Leon Lindler of Chapin, SC and Tommy Slice of Lexington, SC with a weight of 10.94 pounds and taking home a check for $500.00. Leon and Tommy were tightlining on Dora in 13 feet of water with their fish suspended at 6 feet deep. The team was using orange Charlie Brewer Sliders.

            The top Adult/Youth team in the Amateur Division was John and Matthew Varnadore of Swansea, SC with 9.82 pounds. The top Male Female team was Michael and Beverly Small of Camden, SC with 9.04 pounds.

            For a complete list of tournament standings for this event visit www.crappieusa.com then go to Tournament Results

Mitchell Reels Big Fish Award

            Taking first place in the Mitchell Reels Big Fish Contest was the team of Ellis and Paul Arthur of Baskerville, VA with a 1.68 pound crappie and taking home a check for $500.00. In second place was the team of Raymond Alford and Chris Maxwell of Leesburg, FL taking home $200.00 for their 1.55 pound crappie.

            A special thanks goes out to the Central Florida Sports Commission for their support of Crappie USA and the world of outdoor sports.

Crappie USA Kids Fishing Rodeo

In conjunction with the tournament Crappie USA held their Kids Rodeo on Saturday morning at Leesburg's Venetian Gardens were Brooke and Brittney Mezill of Coleman, Fl tied for fist place in the kids event. All Crappie Kids participating in the event received a Southern Pro Lure Kit courtesy of Southern Pro Lures. All the participants signed up for a chance to win one of 4-$5,000.00 scholarships to be drawn for at the Cabela's Crappie USA Classic.

Crappie USA and our anglers have contributed $145,000.00 to the �Crappie Kids� Scholarships since 1997. We are very proud to be a part of the education process for the youngsters who participate in our tournaments as adult/youth teams and those who fish in the Crappie USA "Kids Fishing Rodeos".

Stats for the Tournament:

Total # of participants-94 teams. 64 Amateur, 30 Semi-Pro.

Weather- Very warm and windy with temperatures in the mid 80's.

Water-76 degrees. 

A total of 14 states were represented at the tournament.

Total cash payback-Near $42,000.00.

National Sponsors of Crappie USA are: Cabela's, Ranger Boats, Johnson Outboards, Evinrude Outboards, Tite-Lok Rod Holders and Acc.,  Mitchell Reels, B 'n' M Poles, Minn Kota, J.R. Mad's, Eagle Claw, Berkley Trilene, Berkley Power Baits, Southern Pro Lures,  Hydro Glow, American Angler, Charlie Brewer�s Slider Co., Grubco Live Baits, Culprit Lures, Mister Twister/Mepps, K-Z Trailers and U-Need-A-Lure Inc.

Contributing Sponsors of Crappie USA are: E-Z Checkr, Crappie Magazine, Huffman Publishing Co., Keep Alive, Kodiak Fish Attractants, Ark Enterprises and Garmin.

For more information please call Crappie USA Inc. at 615-377-7800 or Media Specialist Larry Crecelius at 812-883-6286 or email at lcrecel@earthlink.net Please visit our website at www.crappieusa.com or you can enter the site from Cabela�s at www.cabelas.com.