Box and Hall win Sardis Lake
Sardis Lake hosted the 2024-25 National Crappie Leagues national championship on June 28 & 29, 2024, with anglers from different states participating in an Open Division tournament held by NCL. The event, hosted by the Town of Sardis, Panola Partnership, and Crappie Brakes, saw teams competing for the top prize and a chance to qualify for the national championship. Only two open events remain to qualify for the national championship: Mississippi’s Grenada Lake on October 18 & 19 and Kansas’s Clinton Lake on September 13 & 14.
During the tournament, teams faced hot weather with temperatures staying above 95 degrees and high humidity. They also experienced light breezes to steady winds and rough waters from wind and pleasure boats.
Cassidy Box and Alex Hall emerged victorious, enduring the heat to take first place. They were in third place after day one with 9.08 lbs and were the only team to reach the 9 lb barrier on day two, securing a 9.12 lb bag. Their two-day total was 18.20 lbs, earning them $4300. They also tied for second big fish with a 1.90 lb slab, earning an additional $182.50.
The team fished the far east part of the lake in 8 to 12-foot waters, using jig head with minnows, and taking advantage of Live Scoping trying to cover as much water as possible. They pre-fished on Wednesday, found good fish, and stuck with the area both days, the strategy payed off giving them the victory.
In second place were Chris Fuller & David Morgan with a total of 17.74 lbs, earning them $2300.00. They fished in 8-9 foot waters, focusing on ditches, and utilized live scoping with minnows, catching over 40 fish daily. Both days they had a bag around 7:30 am, and began scouting and covering more waters.
Stephen Sullivan and Jamie Roberson secured third place by weighing in 8.69 lbs on day one and 8.99 lbs on day two, totaling 17.68 lbs. They fished the east to northeast part of the lake in mostly 9-foot waters, catching at least 50 to 100 fish each day. They moved up from seventh place after day one. They earned $1,300.00 for their effort.
The top 5 was rounded out by Colton Brower and Hunter Alred in 4th place with 17.34 lbs, earning $1,000.00. The team was sitting in first place after day one. Tony Hughes and Bart Gillon took 5th place with 16.88 lbs, winning $700 and an additional $875 for big fish with a 1.98 lb crappie.
Top male-female went to Spencer and Holly Robertson earning them $200.00. Top Senior went to Keith Sullivan-Steve Marquis earning $200.00 and top multi-pole team was Dan and Sue Dannenmeuller winning $200.00.
Special thanks to our local sponsors including: Town of Sardis, Panola County Tourism, Crappie Brakes, City of Batesville, Chickasaw Hills Lodge & Cabins, Home 3 Suites, Comfort Suites, Performance Marine, The Dam Store, Batesville Civic Center, Hampton Inn, Cafe Ole Mexican, The Co-op, Dixie Land Bar-B-Q, Pride Hyundai, US Army Corp of Engineers and S Mart Sardis
Thanks to our national sponsors including Happy Hollow Outdoors, Redneck Adventures, DMF Bait Co., Power-Pole, Rockport Rattler, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Carzone, Grenada Lake Resorts, Compass Lithium, Pro Control, Engel Coolers, Gamma, 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, and Quality Plumbing Heating.
Upcoming Division I Events for the 2024 tournament season.
Division I events are a minimum 100% Plus payback. NCL contributes $25.00 per team for the Happy Hollow Outdoors Big Fish.
Oct 12, 2024 • Division I • Lake of the Ozarks, MO
Upcoming Open Division Events for 2024.
Open Division events are a 100% Plau payback. NCL contributes $50.00 per team for the Happy Hollow Outdoors Big Fish
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.
Sept 13 & 14, 2024 • Wild Card • Clinton Lake, KS
(NCL)
Rules and more information can be found at www.nationalcrappieleague.com
For more information call Paul Alpers 573-280-8020
