Crappie Expo and Mr. Crappie Classic Invitational - Brad Wiegmann

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09-25-2019, 06:02 AM
Slab

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Crappie Expo and Mr. Crappie Classic Invitational - Brad Wiegmann

Attachment 356086

Mark your calendars and get ready for a road trip because October 4-6 the inaugural Crappie Expo and Mr. Crappie Classic Invitational is happening in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It’s actually the first event ever that features the popular panfish. The event features the Expo that’s a consumer show with a 100,000-square foot exhibit hall plus the world’s largest crappie fry along with venders and exhibitors; in addition to the Mr. Crappie Classic Invitational tournament.

Attachment 356085

“Two years ago I had a phone call with Jack Wells the owner of B’n’M Poles prior to announcing the Crappie Expo and Mr. Crappie Classic Invitational. He said Wally it would be great for the crappie industry. Then a Steve Arrison from Hot Springs Tourism called and asked if I had every thought of doing an event like this one. At that point, I knew it would be successful event and went to working hard on it one year ago, “said Wally Marshall aka Mr. Crappie.

The current list of National Sponsors and Sponsors is phenomenal and includes boat manufactures, tackle dealers, fishing guiding and more fishing related companies. Title sponsors for the event is Ford Trucks and Riceland Bran Oil plus other National Sponsors and Sponsors including companies like PICO Lures, B’n’M Poles, TTI-Blakemore, Bobby Garland Crappie Baits, Charlie Brewer’s Slider Company, Mr. Crappie, Grizzly Jig Company and numerous other crappie fishing related companies. Imagine the Bassmaster Classic Expo, but crappie highlighting the show.

Mr. Crappie Classic Invitational will take place October 4-6 and limited to 100 boats on Lake Hamilton. Total prize money is based on the number of teams in the event and it is 100% payback. It’s a three day tournament starting on Friday, October 4. Takeoff is at 6:45 a.m. every morning leaving from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission’s boat ramp on Lake Hamilton. The weigh-in for Friday is at the same ramp at 3 p.m. and everyone is welcome to come. Saturday, October 5, the number of teams is going to be cut down from the total number of teams to 50 with weigh-in time at 3 p.m. Sunday, October 6, the top 25 teams will have to be at the Hot Springs Convention Center at 3 p.m. with the final day weigh-in at 3 p.m. at the Crappie Expo Hot Springs Convention Center.

World’s largest crappie fry is schedule for Saturday, October 5, starting at 11 a.m. in the parking lot behind the Hot Springs Convention Center. Anyone wanting to go to the crappie fry will have to get the free tickets at booths inside the Crappie Expo. Note that free fish will only be given out until the sully of fillets run out.

“For the first time in fishing history crappie fishing in America will have an expo and a tournament of this scale. This great event once again highlights another species of fish that can be caught in our local lakes along with all the other great species. Hot Springs has been proud to highlight the best n bass fishing in past tournaments and we are thrilled to help shine the spotlight on crappie fishing and its best anglers,” said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs.

Seminars: Garmin will be holding a seminar at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Humminbird will be holding a seminar at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A crappie expert will be doing a seminar at noon. All of the seminars will be held in room 201/202 at the Expo Center. All the events are free to the public.
www.crappieexpo.com

Crappie Expo location
Hot Springs Convention Center
134 Convention Blvd
Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901

Crappie Expo
Friday October 4, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday October 5, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday October 6, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Attachment 356084
Tournament Official Takeoff and Weigh-in Friday/Saturday
Arkansas Game & Fish Boat ramp on Lake Hamilton
350 Fish Hatchery Road
Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913
09-25-2019, 06:14 AM
Ketchn

sounds like quite a bash to me , looks like it will be a real big turn out .
09-25-2019, 06:21 AM
Redge

Wow, I’m with Ketchn, sounds like a heck of an event!

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09-25-2019, 06:28 AM
SuperDave336

Yup should be a good one. Wish I could go. Maybe one day.
09-25-2019, 06:35 AM
Jamesdean

Man, Just wish I could make it. Too many prior engagements...Looks like a good time for all who show up for sure...
09-25-2019, 07:12 AM
"G"

Crappie.com will have a booth set up there....stop by and say hi to me and Slab. Got word last night that Billbob might just make the scene too.
09-25-2019, 07:55 AM
BuckeyeCrappie

Man if my health was better my wife and I would love to be there. Maybe next year. Thanks to CC for being there and promoting our sport.
09-25-2019, 08:43 AM
trypman1

Sounds great to me.
09-25-2019, 05:27 PM
dead minner

Is it 100 teams?
09-25-2019, 06:04 PM
Slab

Quote:

Originally Posted by dead minner

Is it 100 teams?

It's limited to 100 boats, but not sure they're all different teams. Who knows, maybe some of the big sponsors have two teams.
09-25-2019, 06:57 PM
tenncrappie

And the New World Record Crappie will be on display by Jam Ferguson in person.
09-25-2019, 08:47 PM
RoughriverRick

I'll see ya there!

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09-25-2019, 09:11 PM
cevans

Room is booked for Billbob and me for Friday and Sat nite! :cheers2
09-26-2019, 02:11 AM
Asleep At The Reel

Do we know when it will be next year? Unfortunately I already had one of my Wounded Warrior events at a mud park only about 45 minutes from there but there is no way that I can leave 2500 people riding 4 wheelers. I would like to get in on it, so if I had a date I can plan ahead. I plan about 10-11 months out on my events. Any help even through PM is appreciated. I have always wanted to fish that lake and would love to be there for this just to see it.
09-26-2019, 05:42 AM
Slab

Awesome about cevans and Billbob. :cheers2

Awesome about Jam. :highfive

And Asleep, we'll have to see what Wally says at the event about next year. I'm, sure he's just prepping for this years still. :dono
10-02-2019, 11:44 AM
"G"

Breaking News
PICO Lures will have a booth at the EXPO......Pico products will be available for purchase. Check them out....the new square bill crankbaits and the BunnyButt jigs are Awsum.
10-02-2019, 12:45 PM
honker22

Has anyone actually caught a crappie pre fishing here yet? Asking for a bunch of friends
10-02-2019, 02:23 PM
Bstinnett

Quote:

Originally Posted by honker22

Has anyone actually caught a crappie pre fishing here yet? Asking for a bunch of friends

Based on social media of a couple guys fishing there...looks like it's been a touch one so far.
10-03-2019, 06:47 AM
RogerA

Friend of mine said yesterday he had talked to people in 40 boats and they all had caught 0 crappie.

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10-03-2019, 10:20 AM
honker22

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerA

Friend of mine said yesterday he had talked to people in 40 boats and they all had caught 0 crappie.

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I can't believe someone thought it would be a good idea to have this at Hamilton. I could throw a dart at a map and find a better crappie lake 99 out of 100 throws.
10-03-2019, 10:45 AM
deathb4disco

Quote:

Originally Posted by honker22

I can't believe someone thought it would be a good idea to have this at Hamilton. I could throw a dart at a map and find a better crappie lake 99 out of 100 throws.

The crappie tournament was always gonna be #2:

Quote:

The event features the Expo that’s a consumer show with a 100,000-square foot exhibit hall plus the world’s largest crappie fry along with venders and exhibitors; in addition to the Mr. Crappie Classic Invitational tournament.

They just picked the lake closest to the Hot Springs Convention Center.
10-03-2019, 11:08 AM
SuperDave336

Maybe that is why they picked that lake. To really see who is the best. Why go to a lake that everyone knows already and catches monsters consistently?
10-03-2019, 11:27 AM
dead minner

I hope somebody brings some fish. Talked my wife into going by promising her a free fish fry! And she can eat more than 2 filets. Spent a small fortune on room reservations.
10-03-2019, 02:03 PM
honker22

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDave336

Maybe that is why they picked that lake. To really see who is the best. Why go to a lake that everyone knows already and catches monsters consistently?

Maybe that was their logic. Doesn't make any sense to me, but they didn't ask me. I just would've thought that "the biggest crappie event ever" would've been held at a lake that was at least on the radar of decent crappie lakes.
10-03-2019, 02:52 PM
slowhand

Maybe they caught out the Crappie on the lake while providing for the free fish fry.

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10-03-2019, 03:22 PM
Nutbush

I’m not going to be able to go, but I like it that the lake isn’t known for lots of big crappie. I wish more tournaments would be on lakes like that. And, I know this is sacrilege, but I’d like to see these guys fish without electronics in a tournament. Make them have to work for a fish. I’d like to see them fish a tournament on Reelfoot in say,,,August.

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10-03-2019, 03:58 PM
slowhand

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutbush

I’m not going to be able to go, but I like it that the lake isn’t known for lots of big crappie. I wish more tournaments would be on lakes like that. And, I know this is sacrilege, but I’d like to see these guys fish without electronics in a tournament. Make them have to work for a fish. I’d like to see them fish a tournament on Reelfoot in say,,,August.

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X2

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10-03-2019, 05:49 PM
deathb4disco

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutbush

And, I know this is sacrilege, but I’d like to see these guys fish without electronics in a tournament.

... and one rod only. :highfive
10-03-2019, 06:21 PM
Roy

And let me guess, no motors just paddles and bamboo poles.
Sorry but I disagree. Crappie (and more so bass) tournements help to move the sport forward.
Your choice what you decide to use and not use, like an online forum where you go to learn more about crappie fishing, lol.
10-03-2019, 06:44 PM
slowhand

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy

And let me guess, no motors just paddles and bamboo poles.
Sorry but I disagree. Crappie (and more so bass) tournements help to move the sport forward.
Your choice what you decide to use and not use, like an online forum where you go to learn more about crappie fishing, lol.

They help to move more products from the sponsors if that's moving the sport forward.
I really don't want Crappie fishing to become bass fishing.

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10-03-2019, 08:26 PM
Roy

Your choice on what YOU want to do or use when you go fishing. I think the Crappie Expo is a great way to promote crappie fishing. As is an online website dedicated to crappie fishing. :) Good luck to all fishing and attending this event.
10-03-2019, 08:44 PM
Nutbush

I’m not saying that you can’t use anything. I would just like to see what kind of fishermen there are without the live scopes, 360, side image, down image, 2d, spot lock, paddles, power poles,,,,I can guarantee you that if I did have the money for all of that stuff, if I did have $500+ for an entry fee, then I can compete with anyone. Take away that stuff for one tournament and see what the pros can do then.

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