Lake Blackshear Tournament #1 in GA State Championship Series

[Shine Runner]

First off, THANK YOU Cordele - Crisp County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, Leroy's One Stop Bait & Tackle, Ramada Inn, Jiffy Jigs, Cordele Tractor Supply, to all those who participated and to those who came out to watch the weigh-in. We appreciate all the support.

Now on to the results.

Cold front tried to shut the fishing down, but these tough anglers fought back and caught some really good winter time slabs on Lake Blackshear in Cordele, GA. The winds were brutal on Thursday and Friday and made pre-fishing a chore. Most of the anglers had been on Lake Blackshear for several weeks prior to the tournament, and all that work paid off. All though the weights today were lower than normal for this time of year, the past few weeks averaged better than 10.00 lbs for most of the teams. The water temps and high pressure drove the majority of the crappie to the old river channel. The crappie moved up and down in the water column according the barometric pressure and while following the schools of shad. Structure played a major role in the recent days more than in the last couple weeks. Cold fronts = high pressure and the crappie feel more secure tight to structure in deeper water. Crappie were caught from above Hwy 27 bridge all the way down to the dam consistently the last few weeks. The bigger feeding fish were concentrated more below Hwy 280. Was really good to see the female anglers back out again. We had two male/female teams this time. Nice to see the ladies giving the guys a run for the money. As of right now, I don't have all the details of exactly how the better fish were caught today or the best colors used. Check our web site in the near future for better details. Again, the support from the Cordele area and the anglers of Slab Masters made this tournament a very big success.

1. Craig Chapman & Jason Little 11.24 lbs
2. Tommy & Christy Sellers 10.58 lbs
3. Ron Wallace & Tim Werkin 9.92 lbs
4. Scott Williams & Billy Williams 9.74 lbs
5. Steve Harrison & Tony Outlaw 9.55 lbs

Big Fish: Steve Harrison & Tony Outlaw 2.27 lbs
Top Female: Christy Sellers

Slab Masters - Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters Championship Points Leaders:

1. Craig Chapman & Jason Little 200 Points
2. Tommy & Christy Sellers 199 Points
3. Ron Wallace & Tim Werkin 198 Points
4. Scott Williams & Billy Williams 197 Points
5. Steve Harrison & Tony Outlaw 196 Points

Congrats also to Craig Chapman & Jason Litltle for not only winning, but for the points lead in the Championship Series and also the Team of the Year points race too.

Look forward to seeing everyone down at Lake Talquin on Feb 4, 2012. Check our web site often for updates and current info.

Take a kid fishing!!!!!!!!!

[gabowman]

Sounds like alot of nice fish caught under those conditions. Congrats on a good tourney and thanks for that report!Thumbs Up

[js2320]

Thanks for the report !!

[Outlaw1&2]

As I understand it the official north ending or cutoff if you will , of Lake Blackshear is the Hwy 27 Bridge. At any future tournaments the official boundrys of tournament waters need to be addressed as I hope no one considered above Hwy 27 as the actual Lake.

[Shine Runner]

I haven't found any where on a map or on the world wide web giving an "official" starting point or Northern boundary for Lake Blackshear. There are no man-made or natural obstacles except log jams and rocks preventing a boat with the required minimum horse power (6 HP) to go up the Flint River from Lake Blackshear dam.

The rules state clearly in the Crappie Masters handbook and our set of rules for the Series the following statement for fishable waters: "Fishable waters are areas that TOURNAMENT officials can access the fishing TEAM via a John boat with a gasoline propelled tiller handle with lower unit." Boats may fish anywhere except areas designated as "off limits" or "no fishing" by local, state or federal officials or as posted on the TOURNAMENT information page or announced at the seminar." ( Rule #12 & #18)

No boundaries were noted on the web site or at the seminar. Handbooks and rules copies were available on the web site and at the seminar. An opportunity for questions or clarifications was given at the seminar, as well at anytime prior to the end of the tournament. If a need arises for a particular lake in the future, boundaries will be made very clear. The Southern boundary will always be the dam on any lake we hold an event on.

[Outlaw1&2]

So just for my future reference and tournaments, you're saying the upper boundries of Lake Blackshear are as far up the Flint River as you can go by boat and are fishable waters during the tournament.

[Shine Runner]

So just for my future reference and tournaments, you're saying the upper boundries of Lake Blackshear are as far up the Flint River as you can go by boat and are fishable waters during the tournament.

See below:

I haven't found any where on a map or on the world wide web giving an "official" starting point or Northern boundary for Lake Blackshear. There are no man-made or natural obstacles except log jams and rocks preventing a boat with the required minimum horse power (6 HP) to go up the Flint River from Lake Blackshear dam.

The rules state clearly in the Crappie Masters handbook and our set of rules for the Series the following statement for fishable waters: "Fishable waters are areas that TOURNAMENT officials can access the fishing TEAM via a John boat with a gasoline propelled tiller handle with lower unit." Boats may fish anywhere except areas designated as "off limits" or "no fishing" by local, state or federal officials or as posted on the TOURNAMENT information page or announced at the seminar." ( Rule #12 & #18)

No boundaries were noted on the web site or at the seminar. Handbooks and rules copies were available on the web site and at the seminar. An opportunity for questions or clarifications was given at the seminar, as well at anytime prior to the end of the tournament. If a need arises for a particular lake in the future, boundaries will be made very clear. The Southern boundary will always be the dam on any lake we hold an event on.

[Outlaw1&2]

Thanks for your clarification. LOL