Official I'm really coming to the Summer Slab Fish fry(crappie.com/GA/AL tourney).

Here we go with the 1st annual Ga/AL Crappie.com Summer Slab Fish Fry and Tournament July 22nd-24th 2005 @ Blanton Creek Park Lake Harding, Georgia. Georgia or Alabama Fishing License needed. I am excited about meeting all of my fellow crappie lovers. I believe we will all have a great time if the weather permits. Below is a tenative schedule. We can make adjustments. Also please sign up on this thread and I will put you on the list so we have an idea who will be there. If any of you are coming to pre fish I will be glad to show you around the lake. Only trouble is My best business days are Saturday and Sunday. On those days it will have to be at first light or after 6pm. During the week I am very flexible. Just PM me with your time and date. Might find a condo?????
I rode up to Blanton Park today to check it out. Here are a few picks.
Tent area Blanton Park.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...y/Jun03755.jpg
Here is what we have so far. We will work out who does and brings what later when we see how many are coming.
Camping Reservations confirmed.
Papasage #06
Reelcrappie #05
jimmyS #18
FalconSmitty #19
fishpro67 #23
Fatboy #20
GaBoy #16

others coming so far:
David Waters
crappster
Callshy
Shine Runner
?mudturtle?????

?Pomoxis buster??????
?shootin docks??????

RV area Blanton creek
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...y/Jun03756.jpg
Schedule all times are eastern
Friday
getting settled at the campground and learning the lake at meeting each other. Getting signed up for tourney.
Entry fee $??.?? Big fish pot $?.?? Yall need to help me set these.
SATURDAY
6am Tournament Blast off
6:30 Fishing begins
3pm fishing ends
4pm weigh in
6pm Fish fry and prize drawings (need more donations/prizes)
9pm Nightstalking Fun for those who love to fish at night. I'll be
headed to Halawaka Long Bridge. Late July nightfishing is great under
there. Hope we can get a party of boats under there to fish and share
lies.

Sunday is goodbye day. Hope we all make memories and friends that last a lifetime.

Blanton creek.. This water is only 3'-4' deep in front of this area
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...y/Jun03760.jpg

Please let me know what you are willing to bring or do. I can't do this alone. We all have to work together and share the load.
Few Questions.
Who is the cook?
Who is bringing a cooker?
What is the menu?
How much are the Fees?
Can anyone get a sponser or fishing prize donated?
Boat for the winner maybe.LMAO :rolleyes:
Who will handle the tourney money?.....NOT ME!!!!!
Any Questions???
post them here

I'm commited. Whatever you guys decide will be fine with me. I will help in anyway that I can, just let me know what I need to do. I'd rather not handle the money though. I don't have a fish cooker but I'll buy one and bring it. I've got a 10' X 20' awning with side kit that I can bring if needed. My daughter will be coming with me and will help too. If anyone needs a place to stay I have a pretty good sized tent, sleeps four, that they are welcome to use, all they have to do is get a spot. Did you get my pm? I'm excited about this and hope to meet a lot of people and learn as much as I can. Never fished a tournament before but I'll chip in and fish this one.

i have 2 cookers i will bring .i will help do the cooking if neded . will bring some cooking oil .will fish in the turnament.

I am 95% sure I am coming. Count on me being there, and the door prize is a for sure even if something comes up. I am trying to find someone to come with me.

How much is entry fee? Our association is $25. $15 to 1st, 5$ to second, $5 to big fish. This is more about braggin rights and freindship anyway, right!!! :)

I am going to get my butt kicked, but I don't care. SHould be real fun. Plus, I love to eat crappie!.

I need somewhere to stay Friday night. Any motel phone numbers or is there cabins at the camp site? Don't know if I will come back Saturday night, or Sunday morning. Anyway could the fish fry be Friday night? Not a real big deal. Just thought about people going home after the tournament. Either way is fine.

Looking forward to it.

Have checked my schedule for that weekend. Tough luck, am booked solid.
Will keep up with what is going on,though.
Hope everything goes well for those that are able to attend.
Hope everyone thinks about those that are not able to be there. Going to miss it a lot.
Good fishing to all and hope someone eats at least 4 fish for me.

I am still waiting to hear back from work on when my trip to Utah will be at the end of July.

If I come I will be more than happy to help cook.

I also have a pretty good digital scale that we can probably use for the weigh-in, it is a postal scale that is accurate to the thousands of a lb I believe, that should be close enough...hee hee!!

I was thinking maybe crappie, cole slaw, hush puppies and fries?? What do you think?

As far as entry fees, etc....yeah, I don't think it should be too much because of the expenses it will take to come down there anyway. I like David's idea about the payout....seems reasonable, and with the amount of people that may show up that should be a pretty good little payout for the winners.

I am going to see if my wife will come down with me and fish. That is gonna be a tough sell!!! Hee hee, otherwise, I think I will still come up with a partner!

you think some one need to bring some fish;)

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Originally Posted by papasage

you think some one need to bring some fish;)

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We aren't going to rely on our skill to feed us??

Ha ha...you're right, we might starve!!!

we should we have a crappie guide there . we will see how good he is:D

I have a couple of fryers I can bring and a good sized gas grill if needed. Also, I can bring some filets I caught in the spring and some whole crappie I headed, scaled, and gutted too. 20 whole fish, I think. 4 or 5 bag of filets


Eddie

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Originally Posted by papasage

we should we have a crappie guide there . we will see how good he is:D

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lol papa....I don't think I qualify as a guide yet. I have only had 3 trips so far and 2 of them were for stripers and I still don't have a big enough boat. We won't starve....not with the best fishermen on the internet plying their craft.

http://www.georgiaoutdoors.com/fishi...-00C0F01636AA}
Crappie enthusiasts are not usually disappointed at Bartlett's Ferry. Crappie are abundant and about 50% or more are 10-15 inches. In most years the average will vary from 0.5-0.7 lbs. However, "slabs" are fairly abundant. The best crappie fishing months are usually February through April. WRD's six fish attractors provide good fishing areas. Maps showing fish attractor locations are available at WRD offices.

Smitty, not sure if I'm going to be able to make it yet. I've been swamped with work for the last couple months and still have quite a bit to finish before the end of July so it's iffy. I'm hoping that if nothing else I can make it over on Saturday just to meet everyone. What I may be able to do is offer a door prize for the drawing. I was thinking something along the lines of a gift certificate in the amount of $50 or so. I could do it through WallyWorld or Bass Pro Shops or I thought possibly if we do business with GaBoy's buddy at the Crappie Shop, he may throw in a smaller door prize as well.

Ga Boy, what do you think?? If I purchase a gift certificate in this amount from Steve, you think he may throw in a gift certificate for a smaller amount?

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Originally Posted by skillet

Smitty, not sure if I'm going to be able to make it yet. I've been swamped with work for the last couple months and still have quite a bit to finish before the end of July so it's iffy. I'm hoping that if nothing else I can make it over on Saturday just to meet everyone. What I may be able to do is offer a door prize for the drawing. I was thinking something along the lines of a gift certificate in the amount of $50 or so. I could do it through WallyWorld or Bass Pro Shops or I thought possibly if we do business with GaBoy's buddy at the Crappie Shop, he may throw in a smaller door prize as well.

Ga Boy, what do you think?? If I purchase a gift certificate in this amount from Steve, you think he may throw in a gift certificate for a smaller amount?

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I just sent you a PM Skillet, I think that is a fantastic idea!

I will email him tommorrow to see what he thinks about it.

I will be over to see him during the week, so that I can get that on-board charger installed, so I can talk to him about it then also!

Great idea!

Great Guys. What are those jig tourneys that you fish in at Oconee? You might get them interested.
GaBoy>I think I remember you telling us about some rods he carries not available to other areas. I have a grocer, bait shop, waterfront Cafe/bar, and real estate guy that may do something for us. One of them called the landing will if we hold the weigh in there. They have the boards and dock space. They also have a restraunt/club, store, gas,all kinds of supplies and hardware. Trouble is, they are about 4 miles from Blanton in Alabama. They are out...maybe. I am emailing Mr.Crappie and Richard Williams about some rods or gear. I don't know how many people we will have at the awards but I want them all to leave happy and with something to use. We could get us a tour to fish next year at lakes in different parts of the state.
Tightlines to ya!
Smitty

Just wanted to let you know I did talk to Steve, he said he is willing to contribute something as a door prize for the tournament. I had suggested something that I get a TREMENDOUS amount of use out of.

It is a net that has a telescoping handle. It will probably extend close to 15 ft, for those of you that troll, that is about as close to a necessity as you can get.

But, he said he will contribute one of those or something along those lines...maybe a new rod or something. Either way both of those items have a value of at least $ 20 or so.

I will let you know more later!

It looks like I will definately be there, one way or another. I have a cooker also. What about the brown jackets for the fish? Not sure what everyone likes to use. I have found that Zatarans Crispy Southern fish fry mix is pretty good. Still need to season a little. Can grab some of it unless someone has a secret mix they use. Not sure if camping or having to drive in that morning, hopefully be there Friday and Saturday night. Really looking forward to being there and meeting eveyone.

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Originally Posted by Shine Runner

It looks like I will definately be there, one way or another. I have a cooker also. What about the brown jackets for the fish? Not sure what everyone likes to use. I have found that Zatarans Crispy Southern fish fry mix is pretty good. Still need to season a little. Can grab some of it unless someone has a secret mix they use. Not sure if camping or having to drive in that morning, hopefully be there Friday and Saturday night. Really looking forward to being there and meeting eveyone.

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My absolute favorite mix is a 1 to 1 mixture of House Autry seafood breader Original & Spicy.

Anyone else have a preference?

I'll bring 5 or 6 boxes of zatarans and couple gallons of peanut oil. If youall will get a list of fixin's I'll be glad to round them up. If there is anyone out there that would like to camp and don't have the equipment I've got a tent that is about 10' X 18 and will sleep 4 easily that you are welcome to use. I've got a couple of army style cots also. PM me and we'll work out the details.

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Originally Posted by reelcrappie

I'll bring 5 or 6 boxes of zatarans and couple gallons of peanut oil. If youall will get a list of fixin's I'll be glad to round them up. If there is anyone out there that would like to camp and don't have the equipment I've got a tent that is about 10' X 18 and will sleep 4 easily that you are welcome to use. I've got a couple of army style cots also. PM me and we'll work out the details.

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I would love to use a cot.
Since I'm in the biz I'll bring watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, Vidalias, and Boiled Peanuts. That is in addition to anything you all want me to bring.
I am headed to fish West point's tailwaters today so I will check with the shops up that way.

Anyone giving fishing lessons at the tourney

Elwood, I'm sure if you show up some of these folks will "school" you in the finer aspects of crappie fishing.
I would like to be there but not sure if I can make it or not. Sounds like a good time though and I would really like to fish that lake.
If I do make it can we bend the rules a little, I may need 3 in my boat instead of 2, that alright?

Elwood, we are all learning, I've been fishing since I was old enough to bait a hook and I'm constantly amazed at the usefull information you can get on this site. Crappie fihermen, maybe I better rephrase that to fisherpeople, as a whole are more than willing to share their knowledge with anyone who is interested. Looking forward to seeing you at the lake. Smitty I got you a cot reserved if you need it.

lack a doctor pratcing meicine . we pratcing fishing

I have almost decided to go. I will have to wait a week or so to see how thing go at home though.

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Originally Posted by elwood22165

I have almost decided to go. I will have to wait a week or so to see how thing go at home though.

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Will you be driving the flying police car? lol

Elwood you should come and learn from all of us. That is what I plan to do. If you ain't learning you ain't catching fish like you could catch them. I hope someone brings in 7 over 15lbs from a place or way I have3 never tried on my favorite lake. Of course I shall bring in 21lbs...dreaming again...lol Hope to see you there Elwood. Come fish. Come eat. Come learn. Come help. Just come.

Alright, I went ahead and asked the wife if she wanted to fish this tourney with me and she said I ought to ask one of my other friends, they would probably enjoy it more.....hmmmm, I wonder if I should take offense??

Well, I guess the only thing I am waiting on is to see when I am going to Utah, but I really don't think it will interfere, so I think I am about 85% there right now. Only a small percentage chance I will not be there.

I will probably come down Friday night and Saturday all day, then head home Saturday night sometime.

My family and I have church on Sunday morning, so I will be heading home in time to make that.

I am gonna work on getting my partner worked out and probably call shortly to reserve a space for Friday night.

Hope to see you all there....

Got my reservations made this morning!

I will be in site # 16.

In the event that I cannot make it, someone can have my site.

I am sending in my check today, so it will be paid regardless.

See you then!

Hey Georgia Boy! I sure will be disappointed if you can't make it, I was looking forward to meeting you. Come on man, Don't let me down. Hey I understand, some things must come before fishing.Take care buddy. Jimmy S.

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Originally Posted by JimmyS

Hey Georgia Boy! I sure will be disappointed if you can't make it, I was looking forward to meeting you. Come on man, Don't let me down. Hey I understand, some things must come before fishing.Take care buddy. Jimmy S.

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Hey Jimmy - I was sure looking forward to meeting you too, I am doing my best to make it down there! I think it will be a GREAT TIME!!!

I posted this last night but I have no idea where it went. here goes one more time.
We need to eliminate 2 of the rules because this is a get together fish fry tourney. Not a mega bucks tournament. It will be fair to all of you. I won't even take a pole, just show yall some holes
1. no fishing the 24hours before the tourney. This is a get together not a cut throat tourney. I want to fish with all of you that I can and would love to give some ideas on where to fish.
2. Live fish only.. We will eat them...right? Most of us are not tourney fishermen. Just love to fish and know how to do it. Some may not have the equipment to keep a fish caught at 7 am alive until 3.
I can keep mine alive but thinking of others. Do you understand? Just thinking of some guys that have never fished tourney style events. I have never fished a crappie tourney. Just shhh green carp years ago. I want to fish with as many of you as possible, show off my lake so maybe some of you will return for some fishing in the fall winter or spring
tight lines to ya
Smitty
What ever you all decide is great by me. need your input.

Certainly - Like I said, I just grabbed the Crappie USA rules and made just a few changes, but you are right!

I think the main points are:
- How many rods per team?
- What time to start and end?
- How many fish to weigh-in?

As long as you aren't out there the night before catching these hawgs and leaving them in the livewell for Saturday!!! Ha ha!! I know how you work....you wait until dark, everyone is asleep, then you sneak out to your condos and pull all the hawgs in before anyone even wakes up!!

Then you come back and go to bed and wait for the weigh-in.....

Everyone is looking for Smitty, "Hey, I didn't see him fishing anywhere today, but he weighed in 19 lbs. And why does he have bed-head?"

I can see it now!!

Alright, I got my partner to come.

We will be coming in Friday night probably around 8ish.

See ya then!!

:p

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Originally Posted by GABoy

Certainly - Like I said, I just grabbed the Crappie USA rules and made just a few changes, but you are right!

I think the main points are:
- How many rods per team?
- What time to start and end?
- How many fish to weigh-in?

As long as you aren't out there the night before catching these hawgs and leaving them in the livewell for Saturday!!! Ha ha!! I know how you work....you wait until dark, everyone is asleep, then you sneak out to your condos and pull all the hawgs in before anyone even wakes up!!

Then you come back and go to bed and wait for the weigh-in.....

Everyone is looking for Smitty, "Hey, I didn't see him fishing anywhere today, but he weighed in 19 lbs. And why does he have bed-head?"

I can see it now!!

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No way would I put them in my live well. It might malfuntion...... I'll have to leave them in this huge basket at one of my friends docks on the lake. They live for weeks in there...... Hey...I could start culling them now, nothing under 2 lbs...lol. I should have saved the 3 pounder the other day. shoot.Maybe I can really pump the minnows to them and fatten them up nicely. :D
Last year the local bass fisherman of the year competition got ugly. A man hooked a nice 7# bass and fought like crazy but he could never get it closer to the boat. After pulling himself to the fish he discovered it had a line attached to the lip. Tied up by the mouth and to a stake.... He went to the docks and got an official. They went and hid so they could see where the fish was but would not look like they were watching. Here comes the current leader of the competition. He goes straight to the fish and bam busted. So I see where cheating is a problem when things/money are at stake. But I don't think we will have this problem here. LOL unless you bring you own fish from oconee...I'll have to bring my lie detector machine
Well gotta run. I have to make a big ole pen for some hawgs. Do you think hardware cloth wold work fine?

Lake Harding has no size limits or # of pole limits. I troll, well not troll I pull my boat sideways most of the time, and tightline drift with 6-8 poles.

By the way, are any of you going to the fall brawl Teezer Jig tourney in September? I reserved my townhouse and boat slip today. Arrive Friday and check out Sunday.

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Originally Posted by FalconSmitty

:p


No way would I put them in my live well. It might malfuntion...... I'll have to leave them in this huge basket at one of my friends docks on the lake. They live for weeks in there...... Hey...I could start culling them now, nothing under 2 lbs...lol. I should have saved the 3 pounder the other day. shoot.Maybe I can really pump the minnows to them and fatten them up nicely. :D
Last year the local bass fisherman of the year competition got ugly. A man hooked a nice 7# bass and fought like crazy but he could never get it closer to the boat. After pulling himself to the fish he discovered it had a line attached to the lip. Tied up by the mouth and to a stake.... He went to the docks and got an official. They went and hid so they could see where the fish was but would not look like they were watching. Here comes the current leader of the competition. He goes straight to the fish and bam busted. So I see where cheating is a problem when things/money are at stake. But I don't think we will have this problem here. LOL unless you bring you own fish from oconee...I'll have to bring my lie detector machine
Well gotta run. I have to make a big ole pen for some hawgs. Do you think hardware cloth wold work fine?

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Ha ha...now that is funny!!

Shoot, you will be weighing in 18.5 lbs when everyone else is struggling to get 7 lbs. Now, if you have a 3 lber I might have to pull out the lie detector!!! I sure hope you are not thinking of doing mouth to mouth to try and revive that ice cube you caught the other day.

Yep, unfortunately, that tournament story does not surprise me in the least! I have heard very similar things happening before.....like keeping fish in the livewell overnight and having a timer on the livewell so it comes on every so often. And doing just like you said putting them in a net and sinking them to go back and pick them up later. It is ridiculous what people will do when money is on the line.

Hmmm...now you got me thinking....Oconee crappie? Packed full of lead weights....that might be the ticket after all....thanks Smitty for the great advice! See ya soon!

I agree with you Smitty, especilly the part abou keeping them live. I' going to be there for Thursday and Friday before the weekend so let me know about the twenty four hour rule. Would that cover night fishing or just daylight hours? (I gotta get a timer for my live well.)

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Originally Posted by reelcrappie

I agree with you Smitty, especilly the part abou keeping them live. I' going to be there for Thursday and Friday before the weekend so let me know about the twenty four hour rule. Would that cover night fishing or just daylight hours? (I gotta get a timer for my live well.)

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I don't think there is a need to keep them alive, we are honest and trustworthy (except for Smitty - he is working on his hawg pen as we speak).

I would think you can fish as much as you want to, disregard the timeframe. I just copied the Crappie USA rules and forgot to modify all of them for our situation.

The most important things to remember are:
1. Only 8 rods per team
2. Start fishing at 6:30 am
3. Quit fishing at 3:00 pm
4. Weigh-in at 4:00 pm
5. Only weigh-in your best 7 fish
6. Only weigh-in fish caught between the hours of 6:30 am and 3:00 pm on Saturday July 23, 2005.
7. Only weigh-in fish caught on a rod and reel, hooked through the lip or mouth (sorry - no dynamite or crank telephones...ha ha!)
8. Only use two jigs per rod maximum

Thanks - Damien

Not keeping them alive would be perfect for me. I'm really tempted to fish our tourney in my canoe. I'm still thinking about it though. If not in the canoe....anyone need a partner? I will be out of town and without internet access starting tomorrow until July 8th, so I will talk to ya'll again soon.

Sounds great. I'm really looking forward to it.