What has become a common theme when they fish is the fact that Matthew and Bruce Rogers will finish somewhere in the top 3 and they accomplished that once again landed in the runner up spot adding $2,500.00 to their bank account for second place and an additional $500.00 from the benefit tournament pool. The Rogers single poled minnows in 12 foot of water targeting fish near willows and hardwoods 8 feet deep. Matthew said that they also relied heavily on their electronics, and Minn Kota Trolling Motor to stay on and find those better fish, which weighed in at 10.39 pounds. The team was also able to celebrate a victory in the Missouri State Championship race based on their 3 Missouri tournament performances. Matthew and Bruce Rogers are sponsored by Outlaw Rods, Garmin Electronics, and Anglers Port Marine.
The third place position was occupied by the team of Matt Beckman and Jeff Lewis who were the only other team to break 10 pounds weighing in 10.22 pounds on a 7 fish limit collecting $1,500.00 for their effort along with an additional $558.00 for their 1.73 pound kicker fish that wound up as the 2nd big fish of the tournament. Beckman and Lewis single poled Jenko Fishing Kevin Rogers Signature Series rods, using minnows, in 12 to 15 feet of water catching fish about 8 foot in the morning and near bottom in the afternoon. Beckman said he felt the key to their finish was doing something different than other competitors by focusing solely on timber. They also praised their Mercury Motor, Humminbird Electronics, and Minn Kota Trolling Motor for their success. Matt Beckman and Jeff Lewis are sponsored by Jenko Fishing, Bobby Garland Baits, Honey Hole Outdoors, and Midwest Marine.
The Alabama team of Eric Cagle and Wade McDonald had another good finish to keep them in the Angler Team of the Year race with one event to go. Bringing 9.91 pounds of fish to the scale good for a fourth place finish and a check for $1,300.00. The team also participated in the Police Officer Benefit Tournament and won $350.00 from that.
Another possible AOY team, Frank Haidusek and Mark McClure rounded out the top 5, weighing 9.83 pounds of fish and taking home $1,100.00 plus $200.00 from the benefit tournament winnings. Haidusek and McClure also finished Second in the Missouri State Championship race. Â
Top Male/Female team honors went to the Green Machine team of Jackie and Holly Linton who walked away with a Humminbird Helix 5.
The top placing Adult/Youth Team was the father and son team of Larry and Dalton Gorham who will enjoy the $100.00 Everharts Outdoor Store gift card they won.
The Missouri State Championship Top 3 were:
1. Matthew and Bruce Rogers
2. Frank Haidusek and Mark McClure
3. Mark and Aaron Engelhart
The Jenko Fish Off Challenge wrapped up Saturday and winning the prize package of a Humminbird Helix 10 and $200.00 in Jenko Products went to the team of Frank Haidusek and Mark McClure. They will now move on to compete against select Jenko Fishing teams at the upcoming Crappie Masters National Championship in September.
Special thanks to local sponsors that include: Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Hampton Inn, Westbridge Inn and Suites, Bucksaw Resort & Marina, Everharts Outdoor Store, Hawthorn Bank, Benson Center, The Wood Shed, Puddle Jumper’s, Walmart, Slugger’s 66, Dietz Family Buffet, Mallards Roadhouse, El Camino Real, and Tightwad Bait & Tackle.
Special thanks to our National Sponsors that include: Renewable Fuels Association, American Ethanol, Bass Pro Shops, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Ozark Rods, Mercury Motors, Power-Pole, Millennium Marine, Muddy Water Baits, Jenko Fishing, Wyld Gear Coolers, Everharts Outdoor Store, HH Rods and Reels, Off Shore Tackle, Navionics, B’n’M Poles, Bobby Garland Crappie Baits, Midsouth Tackle, American Angler, Crappieholic, Frontier Metal, Valley Fashions, Crappie Now, Slider, Lake Fork Trophy Lures, The Original Rod Sox, Marine Metal Products, Timmy Tom’s Jig Company, Crappie.com, Ardent, Fish-D-Funk, Skipper’s Jigs, Foxy Fishing Gear, ProBuilt Jigs, Sure Life, Pautzke Bait Company, Mossback Fish Habitat, Freaky Frank’s Custom Tackle, Fish N Tools, Quickfire, Monster Crappie Media and Huffman Publishing, and KMMO Brad & Brian in the Outdoors.