In what seems to be a repeat story the team of Matthew and Bruce Rogers once again pulled out a victory at the Crappie Masters sponsored by The Renewable Fuels Association, American Ethanol, and Bass Pro Shops Truman Lake Mid South Tackle National Qualifier June 19 and 20 at Bucksaw Resort and Marina near Clinton hosted by Clinton Tourism. One of the elite teams in all of fishing Matthew and Bruce Rogers rose to the top of a 72 team field to claim the $10,000.00 top prize along with an additional $500.00 Missouri Corn Merchandising Council E10 bonus, and splitting the big fish bonus of $480.00 with Ryan German and Tony Niemeyer, and the team of Gage Nitschke and Dalton Barnes. Matthew and Bruce sponsored by HH Rods and Reels, Anglers Port Marine, MR Baits, and K9 Line caught their winning fish weight of 24.04 pounds in 7 to 15 foot of water with the bite 7 to 10 feet deep using MR Custom Hair Jigs, and HH Rods. The Rogers credited their Garmin electronics and trolling motor along with Phoenix boat and Mercury Motor as keys to the win along with staying with their game plan.
Coming in second was the team of Hunter Bowling and Darin Lankford with a two day weight of 22.98 pounds and $4,000.00 using hair jigs on Huckabee and Jenko Rods in 8 to 12 feet of water with the better fish in the 6 to 12 foot range. The team credited their Phoenix boat, Mercury Motor, Garmin Electronics, and Minn Kota Trolling Motor as part of their success. Bowling and Lankford are sponsored by Pros Choice Marine, Mercury Motors, and Huckabee Rods.
Rounding out the top three was the team of Ryan German and Tony Niemeyer with a two-day weight of 22.67 pounds and a check for $2,500.00 with splitting the big fish pot gaining them another $480.00. The team caught fish 6 to 8 feet deep in 8 to 13 feet of water using minnows. The team using Jenko Poles, Garmin Electronics, Mercury Motors, and Ranger Boats also stayed with their plan and would not have changed anything.Â
Fourth place was a team looking for Angler of the Year honors Frank Haidusek and Mark McClure taking home $2,100.00 with a two day weight of 22.32 pounds keeping them on track for that honorÂ
Rounding out the top five was the team of Gage Nitschke and Dalton Barnes with 22.04 pounds and a check for $1,800.00 and a split of the big fish pot at $480.00 with two other teams and a 2.14 Truman trophy. Â
The top Male/Female honors went to recent winners, the Green Machine team of Jackie and Holly Linton who won a Humminbird graph and $1,100.00 for their 8th place finish.Â
Adult/Youth award went to TJ and Alex Palmer who took home a Minn Kota Trolling Motor and a $100.00 Everhart’s Outdoor Store Gift Card. Â
The Crappie Cash Bass Tank Winners Award went to the 6th place team of Joey Johnson and Chris Coffman.Â
Crappie Masters would like to thank Midsouth Tackle and Clinton Tourism for their sponsorship of this Crappie Masters National Qualifier.
Special thanks to our National Sponsors that include: Renewable Fuels Association, American Ethanol, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Power-Pole, Ozark Rods, The Bass Tank, Anglers Port Marine, HH Rods and Reels, Millennium Marine, Jenko Fishing, Muddy Water Baits, Wyld Gear, Everharts Outdoor Store, Midsouth Tackle, Mossback Fish Habitat, Mercury Motors, Navionics, Bobby Garland Crappie Baits, American Angler, B’n’M Poles, Charlie Brewer’s Slider Company, Off Shore Tackle Company, Crappieholic, The Original Rod Sox, Timmy Tom’s Jig Company, Skipper’s Jigs, Marine Metal Products, Pautzke Bait Company, Freaky Franks Custom Tackle, Sure Life, Crappie Now, Crappie.com
