Page 9 - Crappie NOW - December 2016

The Future of Crappie Tournaments

in 2017. We’re excited to bring change
and a new level to the sport.”
The American Crappie Trail’s
mission includes promotions of companies
and anglers through competitive crappie
tournaments.ACTplans to bring innovative
television, full live production internet
weigh-ins, web, print and social media.
They guarantee the highest payout in the
industry. They plan to provide a platform
of events for anglers and also create
enhanced avenues for sponsors. They
boast a fresh approach to tournaments
for the elite and weekend anglers raising
the bar for competitive crappie fishing.
There will be five tournaments next
year including the classic. Membership
is $40, family $75. Tournament fees are
$425. Tournament payout based upon a
100-boat field is a new Ranger Boat for
first place and $8000 for second. Angler
Team of the Year will receive a new
Ranger Boat.
Americancrappietrial.com; Matt
Morgan matt@americancrappietrail.
com; Office- Angie Morgan, angie@ says, “Everything in 2016 was on the
americancrappietrail.com. 317-714- rise including overall turnout for the
0945. tournaments. Our boat average was about
70 per tournament while last year it was
at 60. I believe the economy, especially
2016 Review gas prices, has a lot to do with the rise.
Crappie USA’s Darrell Van Vactor, Catches were about average this year.
says, “Tournaments have been good this I want to thank the network of crappie
year (2016) but not huge catches or big fishermen, who are great ambassadors
fish that breaks records. Our standout for the sport, who have been critical in
lake in the spring was Lake Cumberland. helping us grow.”
It surprised a lot of fishermen with quality The Crappie Masters National
fish they weren’t expecting. Because of a Championship (Classic) had 187 teams
drawdown for repairs, it has a new lake from 21 states. By fishermen requests,
syndrome that was created making it one the circuit has a cash payout for winners
of the better lakes in the country and will verses giving boats. This year’s winners
continue for four or five years.” took home $33,000 cash with second
“The biggest news in 2016 was our place $10,000.
Classic at Kentucky Lake in October. There
were 209 teams from 18 different states.
That’s a tremendous number of teams. Look for Part II next month in
The winners of the Pro Division took a the series on The Future of National
package worth $44,000 that included a Tournaments.

Ranger Boat. Also, the Amateur Division
winners won a Ranger Boat. It was a huge
event.” - Tim Huffman

Crappie Master’s Mike Vallentine

9 Crappie NOW December 2016