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National Crappie League
NCL Media Contact: Bobby Brown Bobby@nationalcrappieleague.com
Doug and Renee Allen win their second event by taking first at Patoka Lake.
The National Crappie League held a 2-day Division I event at Patoka Lake, Jasper, IN on May 26th and 27th, with Dubois County Tourism as the host. Anglers competed for a $10,000.00 prize and to qualify for the National Championship.
The anglers had to deal with periodic rain, steady winds, and high gusting winds, which kept them busy trying to figure out the best fishing locations. The weigh-in took place at Hoosier Hills Marina. In the end, Doug & Renee Allen, a husband and wife team, won the tournament for the second time this year.
After the first day, the Allens were in second place, with a weight of 7.99 lbs, less than a pound behind the leaders. The team weighed in a big fish of 2.07 lbs on day one. On day two, the team weighed in 7.67 lbs, for a total weight of 15.66 lbs, securing their first-place position. They earned $3500.00 for first place, $350.00 for big fish, and another $200.00 for the top Male-Female team.
The husband and wife team said they were fishing flats with a lot of timber, casting jigs. They found the fish nosed up on timber, and later in the day, they found an area with lots of bait fish, where the bigger fish seemed to be. They were fishing in 15-foot waters and found fish 4-8 feet deep.
Second place was taken by the Crappie Magnet team of Mason and Noah Swarens. The young brothers were in first place after day one, with 8.64 lbs, and they were the only team to break the 8 lbs barrier. On day two, they weighed in 6.40 lbs, securing their second-place position. They earned $1700.00 for second place and another $150.00 for the second-biggest fish, which weighed 1.76 lbs.
The Swarens team said they fished flats up the river on day one and experienced one of their best days in a long time. They marked lots of fish for day two but couldn’t find them. They thought the fish had moved out to deeper water but couldn’t locate them.
Latin McKinney was in third place after day one, with 7.84 lbs, and remained in third place after day two, weighing in at 7.16 lbs, for a total of 15.00 lbs even for the event. He earned $1100.00 for his third-place finish.
Latin said he stayed in a cove most of day one and found fish on timber, pitching jigs. Later on, during the day, he found some fish more shallow. On day two, with the warming continuing, he went upriver, fishing 2-foot waters, pitching, and casting to them all day. He caught his best fish around 11:00 O’clock.
Brad Fleetwood and Ron Bilbrey took fifth place, winning $600.00 for their 14.00 lbs. Fifth place was taken by Mark Strunk and April Hamilton, weighing in 12.62 lbs. Rick Baker and Phillip Kidwell took tenth place, and the top senior team won $400.00. Dan and Sue Dannenmueller earned the top Multipole prize of $200.00.
Next up on the tournament trail is Lake Carlyle, IL. On May 4th, 2024. It is a Division I event with 100% Plus payback. NCL will be contributing $25.00 per boat for the Big Fish prize.
Special thanks to all local sponsors including, Dibuos County Tourism, Days Inn, Orange County EDP, Hoosier Hills Marina, Spring Vally Bank & Trust, Kirks’ Log Home Maintenace, Schnitzel Bank and Kelly’s Restaurant & Bar.
Thanks to our national sponsors including Carzone, Power-Pole, Rockport Rattler, O’Reilly Auto Parts, DMF Bait Co., Compass LIthium, Pro Control, Engel Coolers, Crappie Brakes, HiTec, The Live Scanner, Midsouth Tackle, Slider, Everharts Outdoors, Amped Outdoors Lithium, BnM Poles, Crappie Magnet, ATX Lures, K9 Fishing, Fish USA, Black Speck Fishing, Prodezigns, Crappie Now, Crappie.com, Nothead Tackle, Top Notch Interiors, Quality Plumbing Heating , Little Tuffy Jigs and Jenko.
Upcoming Division I Events for the 2024 tournament season.
May 4, 2024 • Division I • Lake Carlyle, IL
May 18, 2024 • Division I • Lake Salamonie/Mississinewa, IN
Oct 12, 2024 • Division I • Lake of the Ozarks, MO
Upcoming Open Division Events for 2024.
June 7 & 8, 2024 • Open Division • Ross Barnett, MS
June 14 & 15, 2024 • Open Division • Truman Lake, MO
June 28 & 29, 2024 • Open Division • Sardis Lake, MS
Oct 18 & 19, 2024 • Open Division • Grenada Lake, MS
Upcoming Wild Card events. Wild Card events are guaranteed 100% payback. Both Division I and Open Division compete. Division I competes on Saturdays, and Open Division teams compete both Friday and Saturday.
May 10 & 11, 2024 • Wild Card • Kentucky Lake, KY
Sept 13 & 14, 2024 • Wild Card • Clinton Lake, KS
(NCL)
Rules and more information can be found at www.nationalcrappieleague.com
