Page 8 - Crappie NOW - December 2016

The Future of Crappie Tournaments

Alpers, who, along with being the lakes, products and catching fish.
past President of Crappie Masters, is “I’m proud of our organization
a past Classic Champ, Legends of the having a vision, putting things into place
Outdoors Hall of Fame Member, and and seeing them be successful. We have
was a member of the group who formed given more back to the anglers. If we
Crappie USA in its beginning. continue to have a steady upward trend
Today’s Crappie Master President, there will be more money. Our ultimate
Mike Vallentine, says, “We bought from goal is to grow so anglers can offset more
Paul Alpers in 2013 and he stayed on of their expenses and make money while
for a year during the transition. Our taking the sport to greater heights. Our
tournaments are for the fishermen, stability as an organization is our strong
sponsors and for promoting crappie point.”
fishing. In 2016 we saw everything on the Crappie Masters, PO Box 121, Clinton,
rise.” MO 64735. Mike Vallentine, President
Crappie Masters goal is to provide 660-351-6960; Michael.vallentine@
competitive crappie fishing tournaments yahoo.com. Suzette Vallentine, office,
for everyone, where grass root, weekend, 660-351-4187; crappiemasters.office@
family and competitive anglers can enjoy gmail.com. Brian Sowers briansowers@
fishing and compete for prizes. Crappie gmail.com.
Masters strives to promote, enhance and
preserve our outdoor heritage, specifically The American Crappie Trail
crappie fishing. Local and national The American Crappie Trail is the
sponsors are promoted. Crappie Masters new kid on the block with tournaments
supports Kids Fishing and Education beginning in 2017. Organizer Matt Morgan
with free Kids Fishing Rodeos and High is a businessman and two-time National
School Scholarship tournaments. Classic Champ with the latest win in the
Tournaments are held in a fall of 2016 taking the Crappie Masters
professional manner including an Championship at Grenada, Mississippi.
excellent emcee, Brian Sowers. All
fishermen compete in one division but
there are special categories for adult/
youth and male/female. Membership fee
is $25, or $100 for Gold Membership.
Tournament fees are $225 for one-day
and $325 for two-day events. There are
19 tournaments on their 2017 schedule.
Crappie Masters has both a
print magazine, active social media
and television. Vallentine says an
accomplishment has been the television
program that airs with a new season
beginning the first quarter of 2017. “Our
program has evolved and improved. We
listened and made big changes based
upon what viewers want. We are now “I believe there is a need to take
geared toward teaching with a lot of crappie fishing to the next level. Not
tips and how-to information. Also very necessarily a different set of anglers but
important is for viewers to see that looking for anglers who have the ability to
crappie fishing is fun. It’s good to see competitively fish and make money doing
the character of crappie fishermen, the it. We are going to change the format a
fun they have, while learning more about little and have five tournaments next year

8 Crappie NOW November 2016