Crappie USA Inc., “America’s Premier National Crappie Fishing Tournament Organization” will be holding a qualifying event on Barren River Lake at Glasgow, Kentucky on Saturday, April 9, 2011. Anglers will be fishing for a 7-fish limit of crappie which could net them a check along with the opportunity to advance to the Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic, the most prestigious event in crappie fishing today. This year’s Classic will be held October 12-15, 2011 on the Kentucky/Barkley Lakes at Paris, Tennessee.

A pre-tournament seminar, open to the public, will be held on Friday evening April 8th at Barren River Lake State Resort Park, 1149 State Park Rd., Lucas, Kentucky. Sign up will begin at 5:00pm with a meeting and a National Sponsor Field Test Product Drawing starting at 7:00pm Central Time. Those not fishing the event are encouraged to come to the meeting and meet the top crappie anglers in the region. 

The tournament weigh-in will take place on Saturday April 9th at Barren River State Park Marina beginning at 3:00pm. A great weigh-in is expected due to excellent springtime crappie action which Barren River Lake is known for. There are excellent crappie anglers in the area which should make for a large turn out with some of the largest crappie you may see this season. This is the perfect opportunity for non-competitors to come and learn how the big ones are caught. Interviews of the top 5 teams will be conducted after the weigh in.

As the host of this fishing tournament, the Glasgow-Barren County Tourist Commission welcomes all Crappie USA anglers and their guest(s) to the community and hope they take the opportunity to enjoy the many attractions in the area. For information about the area call: 1-800-264-3161 or visit the website at www.visitglasgowbarren.com. Host lodging for the event will be at the Comfort Inn, 210 Calvary Drive. in Glasgow. For reservations, call (270)-651-9099. Rooms may be limited so make your reservations early and mention Crappie USA.

Entry fees in all qualifying tournaments are $100.00 per team in the Amateur Division and $200.00 in the Semi-Pro Division. There is an optional $10.00 (Per Team) Big Fish Pot. All participants must be a member of the American Crappie Association to fish in these events. Teams may consist of one or two partners. Teams may have a third partner if the third partner is under the age of 16. Pole limits for three-partner teams will be the same as two-partner teams. 

The Crappie USA Tournament can be entered by filling out and sending in an entry form or by registering on the website at www.crappieusa.com before the deadline listed on the form. Teams may also enter at the pre-tournament seminar on Friday night. All late entries will be subject to a $20 late fee. ACA membership is required to fish in the tournament and a space is provided on the entry form to become a member. American Crappie Association membership is $25.00 for adults and $10.00 for spouse and youth memberships. Each membership will include a subscription to the official publication of Crappie USA, one of the top crappie fishing publications in the nation. 

A Crappie USA “Free Crappie Kids Rodeo” will be held in conjunction with the tournament on Saturday morning at the Barren River State Park Marina. Sign up for the Kids Rodeo will be at 8:00am with the rodeo from 9:00am till 11:00am. The Crappie USA Kids Fishing Rodeo is a chance for children of the area to get out and enjoy nature, do a little fishing, and win some prizes. The event is free to all children 12 and under with all participants eligible for a chance to win one of the six Crappie USA $2,000.00 scholarships to be awarded at the Cabela’s Crappie USA Classic.

Crappie USA and its anglers have contributed nearly $302,000.00 to the “Crappie Kids” Scholarships since 1997. They are proud to be part of the education process for youngsters who participate in tournaments as adult/youth teams and those who fish in the Crappie USA “Kids Fishing Rodeo”. The Crappie Kids Free Fishing Rodeo has grown to be a major attraction drawing as many as 350 or more children from surrounding areas to compete for prizes and the chance at the $2,000.00 “Crappie Kids” Scholarship. All participating children must be accompanied by an adult.

National Sponsors of Crappie USA are Cabela’s, Rebel Yell Bourbon, Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards, B ‘n’ M Poles, Minn Kota, Humminbird Electronics, Adventure Products EGO Nets, J.R. Mad’s, Charlie Brewer’s Slider Co., Big Bite Baits, TTI-Blakemore Road Runner, Driftmaster Rod Holders, Fishouflage, Touchdown, “KOOLWELL PRODUCTS”, Vicious Fishing Line, Southern Pro Tackle, Moss Back Rack Fish Attractors, Anglers Unlimited, and Ron Gooding Insurance. The following companies furnish product to help make these events possible—Kodiak Fish Attractants and Keep Alive.

For information about Crappie USA, visit the website at www.crappieusa.com, call 270-395-4204 or contact Larry Crecelius, media specialist at lcrecelius@crappieusa.com.