It’s almost tournament time for crappie anglers. One of the most popular for crappie anglers is the Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters. Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters tournaments are setup for all crappie anglers to compete in for great prizes.
Not your normal crappie tournament
Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters is not your normal crappie tournament trail. It’s open to all anglers with no qualifying tournaments, but you do have to qualify to fishing the National Championship . Anyone can fish in these tournaments from weekend anglers to more competitive anglers. There’s no division in the Crappie Master tournaments; however there is a prize for the top Adult/Female team along with one Adult/Youth team. A free kid’s crappie fishing rodeo will also be held on the Saturday of each tournament.
There are 6 qualifying tournaments in the Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters tournament and the National Championship. “They are several ways to qualify for the National Championship. Of course fishing and qualifying through Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters is one way. Fishing the State Trails is another way that’s new this year to qualify for the National Championship. These State Trails have their own tournament directors and right now are happening in 13 states like Arkansas,” said President of Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters Mike Vallentine.
Crappie Masters
To fish in the Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters qualifying tournaments an angler or anglers can pre-register online at www.crappiemasters.net website. Cost is $350 per team plus a credit card convenience fee online. Another option is to pay at the registration and meeting the night before the tournament. There is a late fee added on to tournament registration when paying the night before the tournament. Every angler also has to be a member of Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters that cost $35.
“Every angler must attend registration the night before the tournament. At that meeting we will recognize sponsors and go over the rules. Any pertinent information about the tournament will be discussed. Anglers can also ask any questions they have about the tournament at that time,” said Vallentine.
Vallentine noted that Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters are a 7 fish limit with a big bass pot. The tournaments allow for trailing with a check in location at the start and end of the tournament. All the rules for the tournament are available online at www.crappiemasters.net website.
“Our tournaments are open to any crappie angler that wants to fish in a crappie tournament. I think that’s what makes it special plus our involvement with youth and educating anglers about crappie fishing,” said Vallentine
This year Bass Pro Shops Crappie Master tournament schedule:
St. Johns River, Deland, FL, January 31 & February 1
Lake D’Arbonnne, Farmerville, LA, February 28 & 29
Grenada Lake, Grenada, MS, March 13 & 14
Lake Dardanelle, Russellville, AR, April 10 & 11
Ouachita River, Monroe/West Monroe, LA, May 1 & 2
Truman Lake, Clinton, MO, June 19 & 20
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Ouachita River, Monroe/West Monroe September 23-26