2004 Cabela's Crappie USA Santee Cooper Classic Results

September 25th & 26th Crappie USA held their annual Cabela's Crappie USA Classic on lakes Marion and Moultrie, the Santee Cooper Lakes at Santee, South Carolina. This year's event was one of the biggest classics ever held, with 208 teams and many of their families joining in on the festivities. Even the weather held off just long enough for anglers and their families to get out and enjoy this beautiful area.

This years event held many surprises for anglers including  the 40 feet long Cabela's bus, which transforms into a perfect weigh in stage along with a large screen to posted names, weights and standings of the anglers as they weighed in their fish.

                         Semi-Pro Division

Semi-Pro Division 1st Place Winners Sonny Bundrick  & Kenny Eargle

Taking first place in the Semi-Pro Division was the team of Sonny Bundrick of Little Mountain, SC and Kenny Eargle of Leesville, GA with a 2 day total of 26.35 pound of fish. The team was tightlining brush on Lake Moultrie in the open water fighting the wind. They were fishing in 15 to 25 feet of water using live bait. Bundrick and Eargle took home a Ranger 618VS boat and trailer with an Evinrude outboard and Minn Kota Trolling Motor along with $3,000.00 in cash. The total value for their first place victory was $42,000.00.

In second place was last year's Amateur Classic winners, Steve Deason of Gary, GA and Rick Howard of Warner Robbins, GA with a total weight of 19.84 pounds of crappie. Steve and Rick were long lining with double rigged Culprit baits in Jacks Creek. The team took home a Ranger Boat package with Evinrude Outboard and Minn Kota Trolling Motor valued at $35,000.00.

Third place went to the Camden, SC team of Dennis Outlaw and Russell Rush weighing in 19.48 pound and taking home a check for $2,500.00. Outlaw and Rush were using AWD Baits, Charlie Brewer Sliders, Mister Twister Triple Ripples along with live bait. To add a little humor they commented that they were using only local live bait of natural color.

Charles Beck of Macon, GA and Charles Sightler of Gray, GA took fourth place with 18.00 pound and took home $1,500.00. The team was trolling the upper lake out of the wind using Charlie Brewer Sliders in bubble gum and chartreuse colors.

In fifth place was the team of Carolyn and Lee Glover of Taylor Mills, KY with a weight of 16.87 pounds and taking home a check for $1,000.00. The team was also the top male/female team in the Semi-Pro division which netted them an additional $1,000.00. The husband and wife team were fishing in the back of Jacks Creek in 6 feet of water over heavy cover using live bait.

Other Semi-Pro Teams in the money were:

6^th-  Ronny Capps and Steve Coleman of Tiptonville, TN with 16.02, winning $925.00.

6th- Brian Barnes and Dickey Barry of Corinth, MS with 16.02 winning $925.00.

8^th- Randy Pope of Hickory, NC and Jerry Pruitt of Vale, NC with 15.92 winning $850.00.

9^th- Leonard and Todd Frick of Leesville, SC with 15.45 winning $800.00.

10^th- Joe Meyers of Stoutsville, MO and Michael Meyers of St. Charles, MO with 13.10 pounds and winning $750.00. The team also received the Evinrude bonus award for $500.00.

11^th-  Whitey Outlaw of Gaston, SC and Dean Sanders of Cope, SC with 13.05 winning $700.

12^th- Tammy and Dennis Waters of Moro, IL with 12.33 pounds winning $650.00.

13^th- Ron Hollingsworth of Clarksville, OH and Greg Lawson of Cincinnati, OH with 12.13 pounds and winning $600.00.

14^th- Johnny Hill and Matthew Owens of Eagle Lake, FL with 12.00 winning $550.00.

15^th- Jackie Hite of Leesville, SC with 11.56 pounds winning $500.00.

16^th- Stanley and Zachary Steed of Cave Springs, GA with 11.46 pounds winning $500.00.

17^th-  Doug Laake of Ferdinand, IN and Ryan Rohl of Birdseye, IN with 11.40 pounds winning $500.00.

                       Amateur Division

Amateur Division 1st Place Winners Tony Sherrill & Fred Willis

In the Amateur Division the team of Tony Sherrill of North Vernon, IN and Fred Willis of Norman, IN took first place with a 2 day weight of 26.43 pounds and winning a $35,000.00 681VS Ranger Boat Rig with Evinrude motor and Minn Kota Trolling motor. The Hoosier team was fishing isolated brush tightlining with live bait and Culprit lures. They were using floats to let the wind carry the bait across brushpiles in 17-23 feet of water in the lower lake.

Second place went to the team of Kinney Goff of Batesburg, SC and Terry Shealy of Leesville, SC with a total weight of 22.53 pounds and taking home $2,500.00. The team was fishing the lower lake in 12-15 feet of water fighting the wind using livebait over cover.

Taking third was the team of John and Matthew Varnadore of Swansea, SC with 19.35 pounds and taking home $1,000.00. The team also received a $500.00 scholarship from Crappie USA for the top adult/youth team in the amateur division. They were fishing grass and brush using brown and orange jigs in 6-8 feet of water.

In fourth place was the one man team of Larry Clark of Louisville, KY with 17.44 pounds and taking home $750.00. Larry first praised Crappie USA for an excellent run event at Santee Cooper. Larry was fishing the main body of the upper lake area in 15-16 feet of water using Crappie Stop Jigs.

Fifth place went to the team of Harold and Nancy Caudill of Middletown, OH with 15.64 pounds and taking home $500.00. The team also received an additional $500.00 for top male/female team in their division. They were fishing in 14 feet of water in a 60 foot area. They captured most of their fish by 7:30am.

Other in the Amateur division in the money were:

6^th- Coy Sipes of Pell City, AL and Gilford Sipes of Moody, AL with 14.78 pounds winning $475.00.

7^th- Mike Tubbs of Oakman, AL and RM Wright of Jasper, AL with 14.20 pounds winning $450.00.

8^th- John and Judy Johnson of Swansea, SC with 14.10 pounds winning $425.00

9^th- Julia and Robert Hammond of Camden, SC with 13.23 pounds winning $400.00.

10th- Garland and Jeremiah Limburg of Crossville, TN with 13.20 pounds winning $400.00.

11^th- Terry Swink and Lloyd White of Maysville, KY with 12.73 pounds winning $400.00.

12^th- Jimmy Hunter and Ron Wood of Oktaha, OK with 12.01 pounds winning $400.00.

13^th- Jonathan and Tony Stanton of Decatur, GA with 11.42 pounds winning $400.00.

14^th- Mike Berry of Leesville, SC and Timmy Koon of Gilbert, SC with 11.06 pounds winning $400.00.

15^th- Susan Cuttino of Holly Hill, SC and Tommy Vaughan of Elloree, SC with 10.64 pounds winning $400.00.

The top male/female team in the amateur division was Harold and Nancy Caudill receiving an additional $500.00. The top adult/youth team was John and Matthew Varnadore winning a $500.00 scholarship from Crappie USA.

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

            Mitchell Reels Big Fish Award

In the Mitchell Reels Big Fish contest for the amateur division David Hinson and David Newton of Lancaster, SC with a beautiful 2.20 pound crappie. In the semi-pro division Wade Reed of Hindsville, AR and Joseph Talarski of Rogers, AR captured a 2.49 pound crappie. Each received $500.00 for big fish in their division.

This years Classic had an overwhelming amount of bonus's for the anglers. The following is a list of the bonuses along with the winners in each group.

         BONUSES FOR CLASSIC 2004

EVINRUDE AM Team "Classic" - $500.00

Richard L. Jones, Piqua, OH

Robert D. Jones, Piqua, OH

EVINRUDE SP Team "Classic" - $500.00

Joe Meyer, Stoutsville, MO

Michael Meyer, St. Charles, MO

Ranger Cup AM Team "Classic" - $500.00

Harold Caudill, Middletown, OH  

Nancy Caudill, Middletown, OH

Ranger Cup SP Team  "Classic" - $1,500.00

Dennis Outlaw, Camden, SC

Russell Rush, Camden, SC

MINN KOTA AM Team "Classic" - $300.00 Cert.

John T. Johnson, Swansea, SC

Judy E. Johnson, Swansea, SC

MINN KOTA SP Team � Classic - $300.00 Cert.

Sonny Bundrick, Little Mountain, SC

Kenny Eargle, Leesville, SC

CAPE TRAILER SALES- Largest crappie of the year prior to Classic � 5 X 10 CARGO TRAILER

Jerry Blount  Jackson, Brandon, MS 

William Hall, Brandon, MS

KEEL SHIELD AM 1^st Place "Classic"  Cert.

Tony Sherrill, North Vernon, IN

Fred W. Willis, Norman, IN

KEEL SHIELD SP 1^st Place "Classic" Cert.

Sonny Bundrick, Little Mountain, SC

Kenny Eargle, Leesville, SC

KEEL SHIELD AM Big Fish Team "Classic" $250.00

Jackie R. Maxwell, Snellville, GA

Kim Maxwell, Cartersville, GA

KEEL SHIELD SP Big Fish Team "Classic" - $250.00

Jerry L Culberson, Centre, AL

Terry W. Waley, Cedar Bluff, AL 

KEEL SHIELD AM out of money - "Classic"Cert.

Leon P. Linder, Chapin, SC

Tommy Slice, Lexington, SC

KEEL SHIELD SP out of money "Classic" Cert.

Palmer B Frost, Jr. Downsville, LA 

Chris Pender, Marion, LA

B & M AM "Classic" -  $1,500.00

Tony Sherrill, North Vernon, IN

Fred W. Willis, Norman, IN

B & M SP "Classic"  - $1,500.00

Sonny Bundrick, Little Mountain, SC

Kenny Eargle, Leesville, SC

      Crappie USA Kids Fishing Rodeo

Held in conjunction with the Crappie USA Classic Tournament the Crappie Kids Fishing Rodeo was held Saturday morning at the Santee State Park Marina.

Cooler winds and chopping waters didn't keep a record number of 53 kids coming to join in the Kid's Rodeo.

Second Place was tied by two brothers. With the flip of the coin, Bubba Pagent of Snellville, Ga. took 2nd Place in the younger group.

The Pagent's drove 300 miles to bring their children to fish at Santee.

All participants are eligible for a chance to win one of the four, Crappie USA $5,000.00 scholarships.

Crappie USA and their anglers have contributed $145,000.00 to the "Crappie Kids" Scholarships since 1997.

During the Saturday night awards banquet Santee Mayor Silas Seabrooks awarded CEO Darrell VanVactor and Crappie USA a plaque for all they have done for the community and welcomed Crappie USA back for more events in the future. Also during the banquet Crappie Unlimited awarded Crappie USA with a plaque for outstanding achievement in conservation for their catch and release program at the tournament weigh in sites. Crappie USA releases fish back to the waters they came from to assure good fishing in the future.

Crappie USA would like to thank the city of Santee and all those in the area for helping make the event such a success and a special thanks to Joanie Schneider of the Santee Tourism for all her efforts to make this one of the best classics held by Crappie USA. "We look forward to returning to the beautiful waters of Santee Cooper and to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of the area", said CEO Darrell VanVactor.

Other awards presented at the classic were the Presidents award which went to the Families of Bob and Diane Jones, Rick and Sandy Jones of Piqua, Ohio. These 2 families have always been there to help and promote Crappie USA throughout the years.  Also the Sportsman of the year award which was present to a couple for their outstanding help over the years, Dennis and Tammy Waters of Moro, IL.

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, Hummingbird Electronics, Keelshied, Jeep Watches, Big Bite Baits, J.R. Mad's, Eagle Claw, Berkley Trilene, Berkley Power Baits, Hydro Glow, American Angler, Charlie Brewer's Slider Co., Grubco Live Baits, Culprit Lures, Mister Twister/Mepps, K-Z Trailers, Crappie Unlimited 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.

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.

Cabela's Crappie USA Classic Kid's Rodeo~ Winner                  

                    Daniel "Boone" Hinten

            Santee State Park, Sept.25,2004