Georgians Howard and Cherry Take Wheeler Lake Super Event 
 
Friday and Saturday May 21 and 22, Crappie USA held a $10,000.00 Super Event at Ingall’s Harbor on Wheeler Lake near Decatur, Alabama. These anglers from 11 different states were competing for not only the $10,000.00 cash and prizes, but a chance to advance to the prestigious Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic to be held this Fall on the Pickwick/Wilson Lakes in Alabama.

Teams met with heavy rains and lightning storms from daylight until noon on Friday, day one of the Wheeler Lake super event. Many teams were unable to even weigh in one crappie for the day leaving Saturday to play catch up for many of the top teams.

Semi-Pro Division Results

Taking first place was the team of Rick Howard of Warner Robbins, Georgia and Tommy Cherry of Dublin, Georgia with a total 2-day weight of 15.54 pounds and earning $3,000.00. Rick and Tommy were fishing the west side of the lake pulling two 1/16 ounce red/chartreuse AWD jigs in 10-30 feet of water catching only 12-14 fish each day. Teams are allowed to weigh in 7 keeper fish each day.

Second place went to the Hoosier Team of Dallas Thomas of Elwood, Indiana and Greg Caldwell of Noblesville, Indiana with a weight of 15.16 pounds and earning $1,500.00. Dallas and Greg were fishing Limestone Creek using Roadrunner jigs and Charlie Brewer Sliders with lime and chartreuse bodies in 4-8 feet of water catching a total of 15 fish.

In third place was Alabama’s Aaron Barkley of Hartselle, Alabama and Tommy Edwards of Moulton, Alabama with a weight of 14.81 pounds and earning $1,000.00. Aaron and Tommy were fast trolling crankbaits in Spring Creek with chartreuse being their top color. The team found their fish 16 feet deep in 30 feet of water.

Rod Wall and Braxton Wall of Ninety-Six, South Carolina took fourth place with a weight of 14.65 pounds and earning $600.00. Rod and Braxton were fishing Spring Creek using blue back and chrome colored crankbaits with chartreuse belly’s around points catching only 8 fish on Saturday.

Fifth place went to John Eubanks of Trenton, Tennessee and Shane Moore of Milan, Tennessee with a total weight of 13.41 pounds. John and Shane were fishing the back of Spring Creek in 9-11 feet of water using chartreuse/speckled Southern Pro jigs tipped with minnows and catching 10 fish on Saturday.

In the Ranger Cup Awards Rick Howard and Tommy Cherry took home a check for $500.00.

Amateur Division Results

In first place in the amateur division was Mayfield, Kentucky’s John and Matthew Feagin with a weight of 17.62 pounds and earning $2,000.00. John and Matthew were fishing east of the I-65 bridge in 5-7 feet of water using black/chartreuse Southern Pro jigs slow trolling. The team caught 25 fish on Friday and 30 on Saturday fishing dingy water on Friday before 8 AM prior to the storms with the bite much better on Saturday.

Second place went to Camilla, Georgia’s Beth and Danny Williamson with a weight of 15.88 pounds and earning $1,000.00. Beth and Danny were fishing west end of the lake around Spring Creek using AWD black/chartreuse jigs and Bab Fly. The team caught 7 fish Friday and 10 on Saturday.

Taking third place was Steve Brown of Elmore, Alabama and Scott Rumsey of Millbrook, Alabama with a weight of 15.79 pounds and earning $600.00. Steve and Scott were fishing the west end around Spring Creek in 5-25 feet of water trolling black/blue/chartreuse AWD baits with the team catching 12 fish on Saturday..

In fourth was the team of Roger Milby of Auburn, Alabama and Doyle Milby of Murray, Kentucky with a weight of 12.38 pounds and earning $300.00. Roger and Doyle were fishing east of the I-65 bridge in 5-7 feet of water pushing firecracker colored jigs tipped with crappie nibbles and catching 15 fish on Saturday.

Fifth place went to the team of Brad Reding of Mussel Shoals, Alabama and Ronald Laymon of Danville, Alabama with a weight of 12.32 pounds. Brad and Ronald were fishing the west end of the lake around the mouth of Spring Creek in 25-30 feet of water pulling crankbaits. Both H20 and Lucky baits worked well in chartreuse and white pearl colors.

In the Ranger Cup Award the Amateur team was Michael & Aaron Bowland received $125.00.

A special drawing was held at the weigh in for two (2) $500 cash awards. The winners were Michael Bowland on one $500 check and Wally Litrell on the other.

Congratulations to all the teams fishing this event. For a complete list of tournament standings and downloadable photos for this event visit http://www.crappieusa.com then go to Tournament Results.

Big Fish Award

Taking big fish of the event was the team of John Shultz and Elisa Hopper from Leoma, Tennessee with a 1.85 pound crappie. The team caught their big crappie in Elk River on a Charlie Brewer Slider jig in 10 feet of water and earned a check of $275.00. Second place in the big fish contest was the team of Brad Reding of Mussel Shoals, Alabama and Ronald Laymon of Danville, Alabama with as 1.72 pound crappie and earning $120.00.

Crappie USA Free Kids Fishing Rodeo

In conjunction with the tournament Crappie USA held their Kids Rodeo on Saturday morning with several local children attending the event. All the participants signed up for a chance to win one of 6-$2,000.00 scholarships to be drawn for at the Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic.

Crappie USA and our anglers have contributed nearly $290,000.00 to the “Crappie Kids” Scholarships since 1997. We are very proud to be a part of the education process for the youngsters who participate in our tournaments as adult/youth teams and those who fish in the Crappie USA “Kids Fishing Rodeos”.

A special thanks to Mayor Don Stanford for attending the seminar and weigh ins and to the Decatur CVB for hosting the event. For more information on the area call: 1-800-524-6181 or visit their website at: www.decaturcvb.org.

Stats for the Tournament:

Weather-Storms and rain all day Friday with winds 6-15 MPH. Saturday light winds and 85 degrees making Saturday a beautiful day.

Tackle, Anglers Unlimited and Ron Gooding Insurance.

Media Contact
Larry Crecelius
1002 N. Hayes
Salem, IN 47167
lcrecelius@crappieusa.com

Crappie USA President, CEO
Darrell Van Vactor
125 Ruth Avenue
Benton, KY 42025
dvanvactor@crappeusa.com