Local wrappers get top ten finish

Richard, Rayner and four Okie crappie

This past weekend just solidified my opinion that I am a smart man for not fishing competitive events like the Crappie Masters tournament on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. Not only was the lake so low that anglers had to idle for miles to get to good fishing water, but the day before the event a big red, yellow and purple cold front rolled through. It’s not often you get to see three foot waves in two feet of water.

Local wrap team Terry Richard and Casey Rainer toughed it out, though, and the West Monroe duo came home with a top 10 finish. The  Renewable Fuels Association/American Ethanol wrap boat team finished ninth in the event.

After looking at the fish weights, it also solidified my opinion that I’m a smart man for living on Lake D’Arbonne.  Charlie and Travis Bunting who won the Championship with seven fish weighing 10.84 pounds. Josh Gowan and Alex Rude almost won their second major pro crappie title this spring and ended up second with 10.39.

Locals Neal Pace and Maureen Cox fished it, or should I say survived it. They didn’t have a good day, but did finish with the third biggest crappie at 1.72. Congrats on that!

Note to self:  Teach Neal how to hold those little fish closer to the camera!