Crappie USA will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2021 with a Super Event March 5-6 on Lake Hartwell in Anderson County.
Presented by Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, the Crappie USA tournament has 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 due to COVID-19.
Visit Anderson, the county’s tourism organization, was able to reschedule fishing tournaments that cancelled last spring due to COVID, according to executive director Neil Paul. Anderson County hosted its full slate of planned fall tournaments at Lake Hartwell, and even pick up two new events that moved from other locations.
With 56,000 acres of surface water, Lake Hartwell has become the site for high-profile fishing events including the American Bass Anglers 2020 Ray Scott Championship, FLW’s college and high school series and FLW’s Bass Fishing League All-American Championship.
Hartwell crappie begin their preparations for the spawn in March and early April when water temperatures reach the high 50s and low 60s, according to event organizers. At that time, crappie begin the transition from the lake to small creek channels and more shallow water. Brush piles are numerous on the lake and vertical jigging is expected catch a lot of crappie.
The public is invited to attend the tournament weigh-in held at Green Pond Landing, giving non-competitors the opportunity to learn how the big ones are caught. Interviews of the top 5 teams are conducted following the weigh-in with social distancing rules in effect.
Free Crappie Kids Rodeo
A free Crappie Kids Fishing Rodeo will be held in conjunction with the tournament at Chris Taylor Memorial Park, 5 Jim Ed Rice Circle in Anderson. An adult must accompany all participating children.
The event is free to all children 12 years of age and under. Sign up for the Kids Rodeo is Saturday morning, March 6, at 8:00 am with fishing from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.
The Crappie USA Kids Fishing Rodeo is a chance for area children to get out and enjoy nature, do a little fishing and win some prizes. All participants are eligible for a chance to win one of the six Crappie USA $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships are awarded annually at the CUSA Classic. To date more than $379,000.00 in scholarships have been awarded.
How to Enter
Participating anglers must be a member of the American Crappie Association (ACA). Teams may consist of one or two anglers, with a third member allowed if the angler is under the age of 16 years old. Participants can register on the CUSA website. Teams also can enter by calling (502) 384-5924 or at the mandatory pre-tournament seminar the night before the tournament begins. Entry fees are posted on the website.
