On April 19 & 20, 2024, Vision Eufaula and the City of Eufaula hosted a National Crappie League (NCL) Open Division tournament on Lake Eufaula, OK. Anglers competed for a chance to win $20,000.00 and to qualify for the 2024-25 National Championship.
A front moved across the area during the tournament, bringing cooler temperatures. The wind was between 10-20 miles each day. Cloudy skies and winds with temperatures in the 50s made for a chilly day two. JoJo Baker and Phillip Wilson took the lead on day one with 10.62 lbs and a big fish of 2.46. On day two, they weighed in 9.69 lbs for a total weight of 20.31 lbs, winning the top prize of $7500.00 and earning the big fish of the tournament winning $1,000.00.
The winning team stated it was tough on day two. Day one had them thinking it was their favorite lake, day two made them think it wasn’t as conditions changed quickly. The team didn’t see the big fish like they did on day one but they got lucky and caught two big fish. They kept trying to upgrade during the day and kept catching 1.70 lbs, they stated they probably caught fifty 1.70 lb. crappies. They used small hair jigs and Slider jigs in muddy water.
Clay and Cassandra Gann finished second and were the top male/ female team. The team weighed in 9.42 lbs on day one, and on day two, their weights were better with 10.65 lbs. Their two-day total averaged over 2 lbs per crappie, with a total of 20.07 lbs. The team earned $3300.00 for first place and $200.00 for the top male/female team.
The Gann’s said that during pre-fishing they had two areas where they had caught the same weight. They had left one area alone on day one and were wishing they hadn’t. The fish looked good but were post-spawn yesterday. The area they fished on day two were prespawn and they caught some two-pounders in there. Gann stated, “We threw back five better fish today than we had yesterday.” They fished in 8 to 15-foot waters fishing timber. With clearer waters on day one they were pitching jigs and minnows. On day two they were fishing muddier waters so they went with a bigger profile.
Frank Haidusek took third place after weighing in 9.83 lbs on day one. He then weighed in at 10.01 lbs on day two. The two-day total of 19.84 lbs earned him $2400.00. He also earned an additional $150 for the second big fish tie, with a 2.42 lb. crappie.
Local Eufaula anglers Brian Young and Darin Young finished fourth overall with 19.49 lbs, earning $1400.00 and $150.00 for the second big fish tie. Colby Barnett and Dan Langston took fifth place, winning $1100.00 after weighing in a 19.45 lb. total weight.
