Chase Petty and Josh McCraw (Semi-Pro) and Jace Swartzlander (Amateur) Take Top Honors at the National Crappie League Wild Card Tournament at Kentucky Lake.

The National Crappie League visited Camden, TN for the Wild Card tournament on April 12, 2025. The fishermen faced temperatures in the mid-50s to low 60s with clouds, but found plenty of cooperative fish, allowing a five-fish limit each day.

First Place – Semi-Pro:

Chase Petty and Josh McCraw: Chase and Josh  took first place in the Semi-Pro Division tournament with a 12.48-pound limit of crappie.

Second Place – Semi-Pro: 

Second place was Tony Hughes and Bart Gillon with an 11.06-pound limit of crappie.

Third Place – Semi-Pro: 

Terry Adams took third place with a 10.02-pound limit of crappie.

Fourth – Final – Semi-Pro:

Michael Fussell took fourth with a 9.99-pound limit, Justin and Mason Swarens took fifth with a 9.95-pound limit, Kris and Terry Mann took sixth with a 9.44-pound limit, and finally, Patrick Stone and Robert McWharter took seventh with a 9.40-pound limit. 

Big Fish – Semi-Pro:

Tony Hughes and Bart Gillon took first place in the Big Fish portion of the tournament with a 3.12-pound fish and second went to Chase Petty and Josh McCraw with a 2.92-pound fish.

First Place – Amateur:

Jace Swartzlander: Jace took first place in the Amateur Division tournament with a 10.59-pound limit of crappie.

Second Place – Amateur: 

Second place was Cody William with a 8.98-pound limit of crappie.

Third Place – Amateur:

Mark Strunk and April Hamilton took third place with a 8.77-pound limit of crappie.

Fourth – Final – Amateur:

Dwayne Craig and Marcus Spicer took fourth with a 8.03-pound limit, Dan and Sue Dannenmueller took fifth with a 6.71-pound limit, Steve Jeffers and Allan Reed took sixth with a 6.53-pound limit, Phillip Kidwell and Gary Carpenter took seventh with a 5.77-pound limit, Tony and Tambra Sheridan took eighth with a 5.42-pound limit, Jonathan Moore and Jacob Ervin took ninth with a 4.06-pound limit, Craig Robertson and Hunter Priest took tenth with a 4.05-pound limit, and finally, Charles and Donna Hillberry took eleventh with a 2.19-pound limit. 

Big Fish – Amateur:

Cody William took first place in the Big Fish portion of the tournament with a 2.15-pound fish and second went to Steve Jeffers and Allan Reed with a 2.13-pound fish.

Male/Female Contingency – Amateur:

Mark Strunk and April Hamilton won the Male and Female contingency with a final weight of a 8.77-pound limit of crappie.

Senior Contingency – Amateur:

Phillip Kidwell and Gary Carpenter won the Senior contingency with a final weight of a 5.77-pound limit of crappie.

Trolling Contingency – Amateur: 

Dan and Sue Dannenmueller won the Trolling contingency with a final weight of a 6.71-pound limit of crappie.