Check this out.....Bobby Garland to present Crappie University 2017

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Bobby Garland to present Crappie University 2017

TULSA, Okla. (Dec. 13, 2016) - Bobby Garland Crappie Baits is the first official sponsor of Crappie University, as the second-year continuing education program with three schools participating in 2016 grows to 15 colleges and universities in 10 states for 2017.

Crappie University founder Gary White (left) and Chris Lindenberg, owner of Bobby Garland Crappie Baits, ink a deal that makes Bobby Garland the presenting sponsor of Crappie University's expanded schedule in 2017.

Crappie University presented by Bobby Garland is not a seminar. It consists of a full eight-hour curriculum, composed of four classroom sessions of two hours each. A staff of fishing experts instruct on crappie topics, ranging from specific techniques to local seasonal patterns. Among the instructors are full-time crappie guides, top tournament pros and local experts.


Each session is taught by a different instructor and is enhanced by video and PowerPoint presentations. Participants enroll directly with each hosting college or university's continuing education department. The enrollment fee for the entire four-week course is $89.00.


Crappie University is modeled after the iconic Bass Fishing Techniques and Bassmaster University programs that were originated more than 30 years ago by the same founder, Gary White. B.A.S.S. acquired his bass program a few years back.

While crappie are most pursued in the springtime, Crappie University Instructor Kevin Rogers picks early winter as his favorite season but fishes for the species throughout the year.

"From literally thousands of fishing class survey responses over time, the most common request for instruction on other species pointed to crappie," White said. "We decided to try Crappie University in 2016, going with three schools and locations for the pilot effort: Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Dallas. All three sold out, averaging about 165 students each. Even before our last class, we had other schoolscalling wanting to be included in '17."

The much-expanded 2017 Crappie University is scheduled for colleges and universities in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, including the University of Tennessee, University of Cincinnati and University of Southern Indiana. All are held in the January to March timeframe to prepare anglers for the popular spring crappie season, but the courses include instruction on year-round fishing.

"Many anglers fish for crappie only in the spring when the fish are shallow and near the banks, but they're missing out on great action for the species all year long," said Chris Lindenberg, owner of Bobby Garland Crappie Baits. "We're pleased to sponsor Crappie University because the program is about helping fishermen of all skill levels follow and catch crappie in all seasons.

White said the addition of Bobby Garland as the presenting sponsor benefits every aspect of the Crappie University experience for attendees.

	Crappie University expands to 15 locations in 2017 (Click to enlarge)

"As a top national crappie brand, Garland is plugged into the latest and greatest in crappie trends across the entire country. Students will have a chance to learn from some of their best pro staffers, as well as receive samples of Garland products at each school venue," White said.

In a 2016 third-party national survey of anglers who said crappie is their most preferred species to fish for, they voted Bobby Garland their No. 1 favorite soft-plastic lure brand and also picked Garland for "best colors" and "most innovative." Survey participants additionally credited Garland as being the originator of the Baby Shad, one of today's most popular crappie-bait styles.

For more information on Bobby Garland, visitwww.bobbygarlandcrappie.com.

For more information on Crappie University, including enrollment contacts for each school location, visit www.crappieuniversity.com.

[Slab]

Look at the list of instructors. Personally I think this is the best thing since sliced bread. What a great idea and great instructors. Thank you Bobby Garland.


Russ Bailey

Host of “Brush Pile Fishing” on the World Fishing Network and also host of the Midwest Crappie TV Series. Bailey has fourteen crappie tournament wins and has been a national finalist qualifier 15 times.



Terry Blankenship

In his pro career Blakenship has won over 50 crappie tournaments; he fishes 25 or more crappie events each year and has been featured in numerous national magazines, TV shows and newspapers; an expert in the new “dock shooting” technique; he also teaches how to utilize your locator to help find and catch more crappie.



Mike Bledsoe

2012 Indiana Slab Masters’ winner. Runner-up in the same event in 2013-2014 and was third in the Crappie USA Classic in 2014. He excels in the spider rigging technique and will teach that skill.



Brian Carper

A long time Tennessee crappie guide, Carper guides 200 days per year and is an expert on crappie migration patterns.



Steve Danna

A crappie pro with more than 40 years of experience, Danna guides on several north-Louisiana lakes.



Dan Dannenmueller

Publisher of the largest online crappie magazine, “Crappie Now”; Dan’s tournament experience led him to win back-to-back Angler of the Year Awards for Bass Pro Shops’ National Crappie Masters’ Tournament Trail.



Jim Dant

Has placed first, second or third in seventeen crappie tournaments since 2010.



Barry Dodd

Professional crappie guide on Canyon Lake, Lake LBJ and Inks Lake through his “Teach ‘Em to Fish” Guide Service.

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Gary Dollahon

A regional host on Barry Stokes’ FOX Sports Outdoors television show and a lifelong crappie angler who specializes in fishing soft plastics.



Tex Elliott

Professional catfish guide in Northeast Texas on Lake Hubbard and Lake Lavon; Elliott is a longtime catfish tournament pro on the North Texas Catfish Circuit, and as well fishes the North American Catfish Angler circuit; he also designed the Pro Angler Catfish Rod.



Chad Ferguson

“Mr. Catfish”; Ferguson operates the North Texas Guide Service and is an expert on Lake Texoma, Lake Ray Roberts, Lake Worth and Lake Lewisville; Ferguson's website, “Catfish Edge”, is popular with anglers nationwide. He specializes in the catch and release of big blue catfish; he is also a regular guest host on FOX Outdoors TV Show.



John Godwin

Godwin and his partner, Jay Stone, won the 2015 Lake D’Arbonne Crappie Masters’ event, which qualified them for the trail’s national championship. Both men were involved in the development of the Fin Commander fishing rod series.



Sam Heaton

The “Dean of Southern Crappie Anglers”. A long-time crappie guide in the Southeast, Heaton is the former Pro Team Manager for Spiderwire, Johnson Outdoors and B & M Rods.



Todd Huckabee

Oklahoma’s crappie guru for slab crappie. Huckabee guides on Lake Eufaula and Ft. Gibson Lake in Oklahoma and Lake Millwood in Arkansas. He specializes in the pursuit of barn door crappie and debunking crappie myths.



Barry Morrow

“The crappie coach.” A retired school superintendent and wrestling coach, Morrow is now a full-time crappie guide in Oklahoma and Missouri. He has been featured on the Sportsman’s Channel and fishes several crappie trails. He has won three Crappie Masters events and is the back-to-back winner of the Missouri State Championship. He is known nationwide for helping coach anglers in the art of crappie “catching.”



Lee Pitts

Guides on Lake Neily Henry and Lake Weiss. He has been featured on the Southern Legends TV show, the Sportsman Channel, In-Fisherman Magazine and numerous other periodicals.



James Rains

The Schwieterman and Rains team has 41 top five finishes in crappie tournament events and won the 2014 and 2015 Lake Fork Crappie Bucks Events.



Ralph Riley

Crappie USA National Qualifier, lure developer, and an expert on the new “dock shooting” technique. Riley has also developed a line of crappie scents found in sporting good stores nationwide.



Greg Robinson

Longtime crappie guide on Beaver Lake in Arkansas; an expert on deep water structure.



Kevin Rogers

In 25 years as a pro he has racked up 34 professional wins in five different states.



Chuck Rollins

Owner and operator of Big Crappie Guide Service on Clear Creek Lake; Rollins and his guides average 240 days a year on the water guiding for crappie; Rollins is a true crappie specialist.



Jess Rotherham

Has 25 years’ experience as a crappie angler and operates the Texas Crappie Fishing Service, where he guides on Lake Buchanan, Lake LBJ and Lake Austin. Rotherham holds the white crappie record on Lake Buchanan and the black crappie record on Lake Austin.



Dan Saknini

A crappie tournament pro who lives on Lake Lanier; Saknini will be teaching many of the new crappie techniques.



Jeff Schwieterman

The Schwieterman and Rains team has 41 top five finishes in crappie tournament events and won the 2014 and 2015 Lake Fork Crappie Bucks Events.



Doug Sikora

2012 Indiana Slab Masters’ Champion. Sikora has appeared in many publications discussing the new crappie techniques.



Jay Stone

Stone and his partner, John Godwin, won the 2015 Lake D’Arbonne Crappie Masters’ event, which qualified them for the trail’s national championship. Both men were involved in the development of the Fin Commander fishing rod series. Stone has become well known for what he calls “the kitchen sink” approach to catching slab crappie.



Mike Taylor

Guides on Oklahoma lakes three to four days a week and stresses cutting-edge techniques and downsizing to smaller baits.



Mike Walters

A crappie pro with 28 years’ experience and 36 first-place finishes in Crappie U.S.A. and Crappie Masters’ events.

[Slab]

What a great crew, and there's one more, I just could not fit it in the other posts, too many pictures. I know, not Crappie, but is one of the instructors.

Jeff Williams

Longtime catfish guide on Grand Lake, Lake Hudson and Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Williams created his own brand of catfish tackle, “Team Catfish”, now carried in stores nationwide. His other outdoor products are carried under the name “Outdoor Brandz”.

[RMGeorge]

By golly, that's awesome! I'm going to sign up for the course at Bossier Parish Community College. It's only about 25 miles from our house. Thanks for posting this!

[RMGeorge]

​Done! Yea, I'm a college student again!

[shipahoy41]

Fantastic idea.

[bandchaser]

As big as KY Lake and Lake Barkley are, and rank as high as they do for trophy or quality fish, I am shocked they don't have a class set up right here in western KY!
I would sign up in a heartbeat if they had one here locally. Maybe next year.....

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[ad1974]

Wow that looks really cool!

[Possum01]

I am signed up for the Alabama one starting 2/15/2017


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