April 23, 2021 – Crappie USA is celebrating its 25th Anniversary of providing competitive fishing to crappie anglers in 2021. Anglers will travel from across the country to join the competition on Lake Decatur for the May 8, 2021 event.
Presented by Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, 2021 anglers will be vying for a guaranteed $10,000 payout for one-day events and $20,000 for two-day events. The three two-day events are rescheduled from 2020 because of COVID-19 and will be phased out when completed.
Anglers may also compete in the $50,000 points race and an opportunity to qualify for the Regional Championships and the 2021 Crappie USA Classic. The Regional Championships will all feature a $25,000 payback and the Classic will be highlighted by a $165,000 payback.
Anglers fishing the event will be testing their crappie fishing skills against other anglers and whatever Mother Nature has in store. This event is a Region 3 qualifier in the new CUSA regional competition.
Lake Decatur is 2,905 acres in size and approaches 23 feet deep at its deepest point. The T-shaped lake has an abundant population of both white and black crappie and their growth rates have been classified as good by the Department of Natural Resources.
Residential docks around the shoreline provide shaded areas for crappie and 2019 saw the addition of 30 man-made habitat structures to the lake which should be well populated in 2021. Tournament rules require that anglers not fish from midnight until 6:30 am on tournament day when fishing begins.
Teams may consist of one or two anglers, with a third member allowed if the angler is under the age of 16 years old. Early registration can be accomplished on the CUSA website. Teams may also enter by calling (502) 384-5924 or by entering at the mandatory pre-tournament seminar on the night before the tournament begins. Entry fees vary by the length of the tournament. All fees are posted on the website linked above. Late entries are subject to a $25.00 late fee.
