Stop number five of the Crappie Masters National Qualifier was at beautiful Rend Lake in Illinois hosted by the Rend Lake Tourism Council and Presented by Mafia Rods. Rend Lake has always been known for tons of pound plus fish and anglers say no shortage of that this weekend!
Unlike many of our events this year anglers were greeted with beautiful weather on tournament days this weekend. On day one there was a light rain during live well check but that quickly left the area by start time with the sunshine coming out raising the temperatures to the mid 70’s and light and variable winds all day long.
Day one weigh was just like many expected coming into this event with weights being super tight but after day one Clay Gann and Todd Froebe took control with 8.50 lbs. Followed by Charlie Bunting and Brandon Fulgham in second with 7.97 lbs. and rounding out the top three was your local team Dave Johnson and Chris Durham with 7.88 lbs. Kicker fish were the difference this weekend and these three teams separated themselves slightly from the field with kicker fish in there day one bag!
Moving into championship Saturday the weather was about as perfect as you could ask for with temperatures rising into the 80’s and light to no wind all day long.
Going wire to wire the team of Clay Gann and Todd Froebe become the 2024 Rend Lake Champions with a two-day weight of 16.43 lbs. Gann and Froebe were able to make sustain the top spot with their big fish from Day 1 weighing in at 2.10 lbs. which ended in a tie with the third-place finishers. Gann and Froebe have had many high finishes in national qualifiers and national championships, but this was their first ever Crappie Masters victory! This victory allowed them to take home $7,750.00 and the covenant Crappie Masters trophy.
Team Mike Vallentine and Matt Beckman came into championship Saturday in fifth place but were able to bring in the biggest bag of day 2 of 8.40 lbs. This giant bag was able to give them a total weight of 16.12lbs and allowing them to finish in second place and take home a check worth $3,500.00.
Team Charlie Bunting and Brandon Fulgham ended day one in second place but were able to stay in the top 3 with their total weight of 15.28 lbs. Bunting and Fulgham brought in an incredible kicker fish on day 1 weighing in at 2.10 lbs. and allowing them to tie with Gann and Froebe for big fish of the tournament. Their great work allowed them to take home a check worth $2,750.00.
Rounding out our top five team, Tony Hughes coming in fourth place with a total weight of 15.09 lbs. and receiving a check worth $1,500.00. In fifth place was team Zack Minnix and Bill Hunt with a total weight of 15.08 lbs. and earning a check worth $1,000.00.
In sixth place was team Frank Haidusek and Roger Cox with a total weight of 14.90 lbs. and a $ 700.00 check. In seventh place was JoJo Baker with a total weight of 14.82 lbs. and receiving a check worth $550.00. In eighth was team Matt Mavigliano and Mike Giger with a total weight of 14.63 lbs. and earning a check worth $450.00. Coming in ninth place was Amos and John Livingston with a total weight of 14.41 lbs. and a $400.00 check. Finishing in tenth place was team Dave Johnson and Chris Durham with a total weight of 14.27 and a $350.00 check. In eleventh place was Jason and Craig Miles with a total weight of 14.18 lbs. and earning a $350.00 check. Finishing out the top 12 was team Jason Dudley and Larry Page with a total weight of 13.76 lbs. and receiving a check worth $350.00.
Crappie Masters Tournament Director Blake Jackson would like to thank Rend Lake Tourism Council for once again hosting this event in 2024 and also Mafia Rods for being out presenting sponsor in 2024!
