The votes were counted and the decision was to take the money and run. The teams each earned a check for $23,750. If there are more than 5 fish in live-well at weigh in this will result in disqualification. Yellowstone Challenge Catfish Tournament - Montana Catfish Association - May 8th, 2021; SeaArk Catfish Tournament - SeaArk Boats - April 23, 2021; List your tournament with us; Get a fishing license - every state; Learn About Catfishing. Any protests must be made before the Awards Ceremony begins. In the summer months, blue catfish seek out deeper, cooler water to escape the heat. George Young Jr and Austin Pierce Claim Cabela's King Kat Victory with 344.22 pounds of Mississippi River Catfish. Mega Bucs was an optional 2-day elimination tournament capped at 50 boats. This will be done in an orderly manner. With the low water, the fish were not biting in the places where they normally would be. We ran out of bait about 2:00. Focus your efforts on the main river channel, deep holes, or drop-offs. . Their bag included Big Fish of the tournament at 66.70 pounds, We fished upriver on Pickwick, reported Mitchell. In this years giveaway the boat, valued at more than $30,000 went to Steve Hern, Josh Patterson, and Chris Wilson. You can read it soon on CatfishNOW in the Whisker Whacker Column. And dont forget to stay connected with the fishing community, both locally and online, to continue learning from fellow anglers and experts in the field. We caught bait Wednesday after work and headed down to Helena, reported Eiselt. TFH Publications. During the event, at least 67 boats full of up to three angler teams set out onto the water in one Illinois town. Meador is the regular fishing partner with Larry Muse and their dad, Frank Meador, and on this day it included Larrys grandson Frankie. They have a distinctively elongated body and a bluish-silver coloration, with a prominent forked tail that sets them apart from other catfish species. Dozens of Giant Catfish Caught on the Mississippi | Outdoor Life We were very excited and quickly got our fish situated in the SeaArk lifewell and started back at the fishing.. Mike Mitchell | Catfish Conference Speaker 2022, Tim Scott | Catfish Conference Speaker 2022, Capt. Use multiple rods with different bait types and depths to increase your chances of success. SeaArk being one major partner in this event generously donated the River Cat 2060 that was given away. Third place went to Team Dewitt. Graham, K., 2009. All fishermen are subject to a polygraph exam. All State and Federal rules will be observed. Visit our. Copyrights 2019 CatfishNOW. Their bag included the Big Fish of the tournament at 78.55 pounds and it was Mariettas personal best blue cat. (WJTV) - The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shared pictures of an 86 pound blue catfish that was caught in the Mississippi River. The wind was supposed to be even worse on day two. As many as nine states were represented in the Mississippi River catfish tournament. We boated a 25 and a 12-pound fish within the first 15 minutes. Luckily we were not affected by barges in our area, offered Benningfield. September 7, 2021 The Nation's Premier Monster Catfish Tournament Returns to Memphis for Its Sixth Year FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MEMPHIS, TN, USA--- Along the Mississippi River, there are few regions like the Memphis area that produce giant size catfish. Look up our next events and be a part of the fastest growing fishing community in the Nation. By following this comprehensive guide and utilizing the resources mentioned, youll be well on your way to becoming an expert in blue catfish fishing on the Mississippi River. It was pretty good this morning, reported Slaughter. Our game plan for the day was to do some bumping along with some dead sticking, reported Dollens. On tourney day we caught 10 to 12 fish spread all throughout the day. I had fished there a lot in the past so I knew the river but had moved to Colorado and had not been on it for 15 years., In talking with Dan, he told me, if you put me on big fish I will catch them, recalled Tramm. Please feel free to contact Mississippi River Monsters Tournament on their Facebook page or give Mississippi River Monsters Tournament a call on the phone number here above should you have any questions. We checked a bank upriver with some rock and fast water just kind of messing around and we got a couple of bites and a 40-pound fish. Within 20 minutes of being there, I had another freight train bite that turned out to be the 60-pounder., We had talked about how much weight we would feel confident in going in with, added Eiselt. Each state along the Mississippi River has its own regulations regarding bag and size limits for blue catfish. We slowed our boat to a controllable speed, explained Hemby. adroll_version = "2.0"; They had a total weight of 99.50 pounds to earn the third spot. August 14, 2021 - August 15, 2021 Cabela's King Kat Tournament Trail 2021 | Helena-West Helena, AR - Mississippi River Catfishing Tournament Information Add to calendar Details Start: August 14, 2021 End: August 15, 2021 Event Categories: Cabela's King Cat Tournament Trail, Catfishing Tournament Event Tags: And [possibly] the world, Nagy adds that he is pleased to see the sport of catfishing grow over the past couple of years. What a huge success it was. The tournament features: separate divisions for adults and kids; food and entertainment;a $5,000 prize cash for the largest fish caught in the adult division;$100 for the largest fish caught in each of two kids divisions; over $10,000 total in cash andmerchandise prizes. Georgia Journal of Science, 64(3), pp.95-106. We made several stops as we took our time and continued to check on our fish and circulate water.. I bet we caught 25 fish doing that. George Young, Jr., the founder, has been fishing for catfish since he was big enough to get in a boat. We were using fresh skipjack for bait in currents that ranged from 2 to 3 mph. Fishing for blue catfish on the Mississippi River can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. The top 12 teams presented bags weighing more than 100 pounds in 3 fish. Mississippi River waves, when the wind is blowing against the current get really bad and dangerous. To view more Mississippi River Monsters Tournament videos, please click here, To view more Mississippi River Monsters Tournament articles and website, click here for a Google Search. Address:3761 AL Hwy. We got our trolling motor in the water, got our dead sticks set, and went to bumping using skipjack for bait.. As anglers, it is our responsibility to practice ethical fishing techniques to preserve and protect the blue catfish population. They were rigged with 40-pound test Slime Line and 100-pound leader. It was a simple slogan set forth by the organizers, Fishing for Kids, at the 2nd Annual Fishing For A Cure charity event. During the spring, blue catfish are preparing to spawn and can often be found in shallow areas, such as backwaters or flooded timber. It was great. Mississippi River Monsters Tournament do not copy content without having their permission first. Discrimination in university employment, programs, or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law is prohibited. Meador went on to explain that the family company buys through Amazon where they use the Amazon Smile program to donate to St. Jude. They caught a 70.40-pound blue to earn a $500 check from Grizzley Jigs. And in 2020, a man caught a 112-pound Mississippi River catfish near downtown St. Louis. Prefishing was slow for us but it normally is, recalled Benningfield. His relatives fished commercially, so he received hands-on knowledge of catfishing at a very early age. Charles Crook with Meat Hunter Rods worked with SeaArk and various other companies to put an awesome custom wrap on the boat along with loading the boat out with tons of product., Also a huge shoutout to Chris and Cory Ramsey for lending their hand in making this happen, noted Andrews. And thanks to Catfish Tech (Vince Nadosky) who we buy all our electronics and lithium batteries from. Catfishing continues to grow and the payouts continue to climb and Im excited to see where it goes from here., I think the tourney was run well and kudos to George and the city for getting the Helena ramp useable, continued Benningfield. It was a fun day on Pickwick.. But they don't visit Memphis and George was hungry to have a big cat tournament in his own. 1 spot is located at the mouth of an old river run where it intersects the new dredged river run. They teamed up to bring 150.30 pounds to the scales and earn first place. All tournament boats must maintain a distance of 50 yards between each other while anchored and 50 feet while drifting. We got 2 fish really fast. A lot of these anglers were able to bring out their kids for their first tournament experience, and boy did they enjoy it., I cannot thank the companies enough that came forth to make this possible. A 33.50-pound flathead helped Ethan Slaughter earn the Youth Big Fish award. We had good current where we were fishing. Copyrights 2019 CatfishNOW. The decision to split was a tough one but with inclement weather expected the next day we made the call to split.. A third person is allowed in boat, but must be 16 or younger or 55+. Thanks also to Excel Services for supporting us in this tournament. adroll_pix_id = "GHBXBSPCSJER7MYJU6BO74"; Upon your entry into the tournament you are placed under the Waiver/Release for Mississippi River Monsters, Please read below: WAIVER/RELEASE FOR Mississippi River Monsters: I have read the accompanying event information and understand the policies of the event. They caught 4 fish on the day. Thanks also to Mr. Glen Thomas for all of his hard media work and for making the MRM one of the greatest catfish tournament trails out there. Sponsors, anglers, and others came together to help raise money for a great cause., This is what Fishing For A Cure is all about, continued Andrews. Mississippi River monster catfish secrets - Mississippi Sportsman Finally, a special thank you to our spouses, Kenady Dollens and Cindy Stafford, who do a lot behind the scenes for us.. Most of the catfish brought in during the competition were blue catfish. How to catch blue catfish on the Mississippi River - Mississippi Sportsman The 78 boats represented more than 200 anglers who had their name in the pot to win the rigged out SeaArk 2060 RiverCat boat. Each team received a check for $23,750 for their day of catfishing. Promoted by tournament director Brad Andrews and the North MS Catfish Club, the tournament was held to raise funds for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. As the sport of catfishing catches on with more and more anglers it seems only natural that there should be a Catfish Conference. Bumping is a favorite technique on the Big Muddy and that is exactly what Cress, Crone, and Jones did. Some states may impose daily bag limits, size restrictions, or even require the release of trophy-sized catfish. We fished all day Thursday and caught some 20s and 30s. I wish it was considered a 2-day event and the top 10 teams qualified for day 2 and then they total your 2-day weight. May 16, 2017 We are having a Rod and Reel Catfishing tournament at Vicksburg on the 24th of Jun. When all the weights were in at MRM, a first-time competing team from Missouri joined past winners by posting a 3-fish limit weighing nearly 130 pounds. As water temperatures cool in the fall, blue catfish become more active and move to shallower waters to feed. Their dorsal and pectoral fins are equipped with sharp spines, which can cause painful injuries if not handled carefully. The Catfish Conference Team (creator of the largest event dedicated to Catfish and Crappie Fishing in the Nation) is pleased to present this top tournament trails in the Nation and select other noteworthy shows. The decision to split wasnt that hard for us, explained Nooner. Not unfamiliar with good finishes, this Kentucky team brought 153.65 pounds to the scales to claim the second heaviest weight on day one. As part of the ACA Tournament Alliance, each ACA Member Angler had their names entered to win a SeaArk Boat at the end of the year. NATCHEZ, Miss. When we fished the MRM in Memphis about a month ago I got the idea that the fish were already moving to slower water, advised Tramm. They knew the fish were there and they did not want to pressure them so they quit fishing the area 10 days before the tournament. Fishing Tournaments for Everyone - Take Me Fishing We weighed 2 fish in around 10:30, said Mitchell. Seventy-eight teams competed on Pickwick Lake on the Tennessee River for cash and prizes including the opportunity to win a SeaArk RiverCat 2060. Its hard on equipment and as much as we wanted to try our area again it was going to be hard on our equipment., I really didnt feel any extra pressure because of the format, explained Eiselt. Catfishing | Mississippi River Monsters | Tournament January 4th-7th 2023 The Tradition Of Bama Blue Is Now Part Of Mississippi River Monsters RULES PAYOUTS REGISTRATION WEIGH-IN MAP Click This Link To Google Maps For Decartur, AL Contact Success! Its all about Catfish. Copyrights 2019 CatfishNOW. The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is one of the largest catfish species in North America, capable of reaching lengths of over 5 feet and weights exceeding 150 pounds (Graham et al., 2009). Shortly after 7:30 am Marietta hooked into the 78-pound blue that won Big Fish and gave Marietta a new personal best. It was an exciting and challenging week to be a tournament director. Option 1: The 4 top finishing teams must unanimously agree to split the top 4 place prize money equally and thereby conclude the event after day 1, or, Option 2: All or some of top 4 finishing teams agree to fish and compete on day 2 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and/or 4th place positions and cash prize awards. They brought a 3-fish limit of 121.95 pounds to the scales to claim the third-place spot. Message received. Top spots include: When targeting blue catfish, it is essential to choose a rod and reel combination that can handle the power and size of these formidable fish. Tournament Hours: 7:00AM 3:00PM. This is an optional 2 day elimination event. They were targeting fish in about 10 feet of water. and Willis, D.W., eds., 1996. According to MDWFP,. We relaxed the rest of the week and washed the boat, joked Nooner. The Science of Fireflies. American Fisheries Society. A huge crew of volunteers was on hand to contribute to the effort and help make the Mississippi River Monsters event one of the most anticipated tournaments in the county. We will not accept any protests thereafter. The Food Factor: Corn and Cucumber Salad | Mississippi State University Catfish: A southern tradition. There was no structure anywhere, just hard bottom and fast water.. They also caught a 54 pounder in the early bite that they released. Third place went to Matt Russell and Samantha Caudill. The tournament paid 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Big Fish. Registration and checkin begins on Thursdayof Derby weekat 12:00 noon at Derby Headquarters at the Clearlake Oaks fire station, 12655 E. Highway 20. DALLAS, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sport Fishing Championship (SFC), the governing body of saltwater tournament . Because at the end of the day its fishing and anything can happen., But I love this tournament, continued Eiselt. Mississippi State University Extension Service. I didnt like the process. As with anchoring, experiment with different baits and depths to locate actively feeding catfish. Seventy-eight teams competed on Pickwick Lake on the Tennessee River for cash and prizes . We were just going to go out there and fish and whatever happens happens. The crank was turned on the raffle drum to mix the tickets and a young lady drew out the name of Dino Meador. They debated staying out and trying to upgrade their 14-pound under but decided not to push their luck in case the ramp was busy. The Mississippi River is a diverse and dynamic ecosystem, providing an ideal habitat for blue catfish. Team Dewitt traveled to Memphis with a tournament strategy in mind that they had developed a couple of weeks earlier. Promoted by tournament director Brad Andrews and the North MS Catfish Club, the tournament was held to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He was fishing with Nathan Trammell and the Blessed Outdoors team when he caught the fish that earn him the $1000 cash award. Eiselt caught all the weigh-in fish according to Benningfield. For seven years in a row, the Mississippi River Monsters have raffled off a Tracker Boat. They are Dewitt Company, T-force Worldwide, Drury Hotels, Grizzly Jigs, Big River Cats, Tangling With Catfish, SmackDown Catfishing, MulTbar, and Tomlin Trucking. Our events would not be what they are without the support of the public, but most importantly the fearlessness and expertise of the many entrepreneurs willing to lead the growth of the sport through designing, manufacturing and selling fishing gear. They were far apart but we ended up fishing both banks on tournament day.. The heaviest of the bunch weighed in at 90.89 pounds. The team caught all their fish during the first hour of fishing. Coming together in a laid-back family-oriented tournament, having fun, while supporting the kids of St. Jude. The Mississippi River Monsters Tournament is a growing catfish tournament movement needs a huge event One with a large payout, ethically run, and activities for family and friends. Thrips Management and Resistance Status | Mississippi State University When it turned out Land couldnt go, he convinced Tramm to take his place and the new team was formed. Montana Catfish Association. Four early teams had weights exceeding 100 pounds. Spectators at the September 17, 2022 event witnessed 4,774.20 pounds come to the stage at Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid. They bagged a stringer that weighed 136.50 pounds to claim their spot in the top four and earn a check for $23,750. They brought some bait from home and caught some while prefishing. The Science of Fireflies | Mississippi State University Extension Service 0:17. There was a lot of excitement in the air about the big money, $120,000 to be exact, on the line. The male guards the nest and protects the developing eggs until they hatch. This is a catch and release tournament. Of course, skipjack was what they wanted. The team tried 3 or 4 more similar locations and caught fish on every spot. So gear up, get out on the water, and discover the thrill of blue catfish fishing on the mighty Mississippi River. They including Team Dewitt (Les Thompson, Les Thompson, Jr., and Trenton Thompson) who took the early lead with 129.65 pounds. We met the truck and loaded up at the marina and then on to the Pyramid., We started heading to the ramp around 10:00, added Hemby. We just bought a house last week so that money would come in handy for that. When we hooked into the two big fish we disengaged the Spot-Lock and drifted down current to fight the fish. John Garland | Catfish Conference Speaker 2022, New Exhibitor Application | Catfish Conference 2022, Returning Exhibitor Application | Catfish Conference 2022, CatCon Kansas City, MO | Nov 19 & 20, 2021, Yellowstone Challenge Catfish Tournament Montana Catfish Association May 8th, 2021, SeaArk Catfish Tournament SeaArk Boats April 23, 2021. This website uses cookies. They have also been introduced to other river systems, such as the Potomac River, where they have become an invasive species. The big fish come off anchor around 3:00 pm.. As the Tournament Director, Id like to say thanks to all the participating teams and all the sponsors in the City of Helena, Arkansas. We threw back several fish in the 20- to 30-pound range..