High water and a tough bite for many made for a Crappie Masters Championship Saturday Shootout at the Crappie Masters sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association “Ethanol Fueled With Pride”, American Ethanol, and Bass Pro Shops Grenada Lake Qualifier March 13 and 14 in Grenada, Mississippi. Literally a who’s who competing for the $10,000.00 winners check and the teams didn’t disappoint with many of the best crappie Anglers in the world less than a pound apart going into a great weather day on Crappie Masters Championship Saturday bringing in monster weights and monster fish. Hot on the heels of day one leader, Crappie Masters National Champion, Robert Carlile, the team of Alabama’s Eric Cagle and local Angler Brandon Fulgham put together a huge 7 fish weight on day two to claim victory and the $10,000.00 check that accompanied it. The team made a move back to an area that produced quality fish early in the week and found the fish still there on Saturday with the bulk of their weight in the boat very early in the day. The team credited the key to victory was not only the decision to make the move, but also intense studying of lake maps identifying ditches and areas that would likely hold the big Grenada Lake Crappie. The team leap frogged into the winners circle with a 14 fish two day weight of 36.90 pounds with a 3.21 pound kicker single poling HH Rods and Reels tied with Bobby Garland Cajun Cricket Slab Hunters on a Grenada Lake Tackle Company Black and Orange Football head jig in 14 to 16 foot of water catching their weigh fish 5 to 6 feet down in the water column. The team used a combination of Humminbird and Garmin electronics to spot fish along with a Minn Kota trolling motor to chase the bigger fish down. Cagle and Fulgham not only took home the $10,000.00 winners check, they also collected the Missouri Corn Merchandising and American Ethanol $500.00 bonus for using E10 fuel in their boat, a $200.00 HH Rods and Reels bonus along with a $100.00 bonus from Jenko Fishing bonus for using their products. Eric Cagle and Brandon Fulgham are sponsored by HH Rods and Reels.
The runner up position went to the new HH Rods and Reels father/son Missouri team
of T.J. and Alex Palmer who continue to impress with high tournament finishes and just came up .14 pounds short of their first championship bringing in a 14 fish limit weighing in at 36.76 pounds taking home a $3,500.00 check along with a Minn Kota Trolling Motor and $100.00 Everhart’s Outdoor Store gift card. T.J. and Alex single poled HH Rods and Reels fishing 20 feet of water but found their better fish just a foot or two deep. In fact saying they had to lift their Minn Kota Trolling Motor up to not spook the fish. The Palmers primarily used a firecracker and chartreuse bait that Alex makes on Timmy Toms Jig Heads, Muddy Water Baits, and also used a combination of Humminbird and Garmin electronics. T.J. and Alex Palmer are sponsored by HH Rods and Reels, Muddy Water Baits, Timmy Toms Jig Company, INI Machine, and Chit Chat Chaw Resort.
Third place was filled by one of the hottest teams on planet earth, the HH Rods and Reels team of Matthew and Bruce Rogers who had a huge weight on Championship Saturday bringing their two-day total to 34.09 pounds and a check for $2,200.00. The Rogers used their Anglers Port Marine Mercury powered Phoenix boat, Minn Kota Trolling Motor, and a combination on Humminbird and Garmin Electronics to catch their weigh fish in 13 to 26 feet of water with fish staged 2 to 3 feet deep single poling HH Rods and Reels tied on with a blue and chartreuse Mike’s Custom Bait. The reigning Crappie Masters Angler Team of the Year continues on track to go back to back. Matthew and Bruce Rogers are sponsored by HH Rods and Reels and Anglers Port Marine.
Day one leader and reigning Crappie Masters National Champion, Oklahoma’s 
Robert Carlile saw his bite slip a bit on Saturday, but still managed to weigh 34.07 pounds good for fourth place and a check for $1,700.00.
Rounding out the top five was another Oklahoma team and reigning Crappie Masters Rookie Team of the year, Joey Johnson and Chris Coffman who brought in 33.90 pounds over the two days and went home with a check for $1,400.00.
Top male/female team honors went to the father/daughter team of Terry and Terra Stewart who wound up in sixth place and left with a Humminbird Helix 5, and an $1,100.00 check weighing in 32.62 pounds.
Big fish honors were claimed on Saturday when the team of Garrett Steele and Randy Luttrell stunned the crowd with a 3.83 pound Grenada Lake hog. That fish was good for the $784.00 big fish pot.
Crappie Masters would like to thank the Grenada Tourism Commission for their continued and long term support.
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
