Richard and Raynor Are First Ever Louisiana State Champions - Crappie Masters Tournament Trail

The Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters Tournament Trail held the first ever Louisiana State Championship, February 26^th & 27^th on Lake D’Arbonne in Farmerville, LA. Seventy five teams from as many as 15 different states were in attendance to fish this highly awaited championship and the ever increasing popular Lake D’Arbonne did not disappoint.




Terry Richard and Casey Raynor, from West Monroe, LA, posted a two day total of 28.00 pounds to take home the crown and become the Louisiana State Champions. Richard and Raynor were long line trolling black and chartreuse jigs on their BnM Poles at .9 to 1.0 miles per hour in 12-14 foot of water, catching their fish 7-9 foot deep out on the flats. The Champions took home a check for $6500.00 which included a $500.00 bonus, donated by the Missouri Corn Growers Association and American Ethanol, for using E10 gasoline in their boat. Richard and Raynor are sponsored by Honey Hole Tackle, Catfish Charlies, The Fish House, Huddleston Construction, Twin City Granite, River Grill, and The Kitchen.


Second place went to the team of Josh Gowan, Louisiana, and Josh Chipman, Missouri with 27.54 pounds. The team was spider rigging with BnM Poles and Stren line in 13-35 foot of water, catching their crappie on black and pink jigs tipped with minnows, just off of the bootom. Their boat was equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics. Gowan and Chipman are sponsored by BnM Poles, Crappie Magnet, Silent Stalker, Ego Nets, Hi Tek Stuff, Navionics, and Wilson Outdoors. They took home a check for $3950.00 which included a $450.00 check for second big fish of the tournament at 2.47 pounds.


Third place went to the Strike King, BnM Poles, Power Pole, Top Gun Marine, Interstate Batteries, and Abernathy Power Sports team of Tim Blackley, Tennessee, and Krappie Kings Host, Karl Kalonka, all the way from Canada. Their two day weight of 26.72 pounds was good for a $2500.00 check. Blackley and Kalonka were spider rigging in 25 foot of water using Capps and Coleman double minnow rigs, while catching their crappie 20 foot deep on BnM Poles.


Big Fish of the Tournament went to Greg London and Scott Black, both from Arkansas, with a 2.53 pound Lake D’Arbonne monster crappie. This one fish was worth $1050.00.


Top finishing Male/Female team went to Paul and Elizabeth Turner, Tennessee, with a total weight of 26.07 pounds. They took home a $100.00 Bass Pro Shops gift card and a Navionics Platinum chip along with a check for $1500.00 for finishing in 5^th place in the tournament.


Top finishing Adult/Youth team went to Chris and Camran Younger, Tennessee, with 18.74 pounds. The Youngers received a new Minn Kota trolling motor and a $100.00 Everharts Sporting Goods gift card.