Crappie USA celebrates its 25th Anniversary of providing competitive fishing to crappie anglers in 2021. Anglers will travel from across the country to join the Anderson, South Carolina Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is hosting the event on Lake Hartwell. The October 15-16, 2021 event is 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. Anglers have been fishing Crappie USA events across the states to qualify for the annual championship.
Located on the GA/SC border, Lake Hartwell has 56,000 acres of surface water and holds a good population of crappie. Cooler water temperatures are sure to come in October. Evening air temperatures in the fifties will change not only the water temperatures but the fishing conditions as well. A great fall crappie bite is expected at the Classic and anglers can catch them with a variety of methods.
“Mid-October should be good on Hartwell,” advised CUSA Operations Manager Darrell Van Vactor. “I would think the long-line trollers will find good success as well as vertical jig fishermen. It should produce some good weights at Green Pond Landing weigh-in.”
Registration, Seminar and Banquet
All teams MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED at least 7 days before the event. Entry fees per team are, Amateur Division $225.00; Pro Division $400.00; Big Fish (optional) $25.00.
Registration will be held on Thursday at the Anderson Sports & Entertainment Center, 3027 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Anderson, SC from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. A banquet and seminar will follow beginning at 7:00 pm.
The Weigh-In Site
The tournament weigh-in will be held at Green Pond Landing, 1710 Green Pond Rd, Anderson, SC. Fishing hours are 6:30 am to 3:00 pm and all anglers are required to be in the weigh-in line by 4:00 pm. This is the perfect opportunity for non-competitors to learn how the big ones are caught. Interviews of the top 5 teams are conducted following the weigh-in and the public is invited to attend.
Tournament Host and Lodging Site
The Anderson, SC CVB welcomes all Crappie USA anglers and their guests to the area and invites them to take the opportunity to enjoy the local attractions. For more information on the area visit the website at www.visitanderson.com.
Lodging is provided by:
[1] Quality Inn Anderson, 3430 Clemson Blvd, Anderson, SC. Phone 864-225-3721.
[2] Hilton Garden Inn, 115 Destination Blvd, Anderson, SC. Phone 864-964-0100.
The number of rooms in the area may be limited. It is recommended that participants make their reservations early.
Crappie USA “Free Crappie Kids Rodeo”
A FREE Crappie Kids Fishing Rodeo will be held in conjunction with the tournament at the Chris Taylor Memorial Park, 5 Jim Ed Rice Circle, Anderson, SC. 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 at 8:00 am with fishing from 9:00 am – 11:00 am. 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. All participants are eligible for a chance to win one of the six, Crappie USA $1,000.00 scholarships. The scholarships are awarded annually at the CUSA Classic. To date, more than $379,000.00 in scholarships have been awarded.
National Sponsors
National Sponsors of Crappie USA are Bass Pro Shops Cabela’s, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Mustad Hooks, Gamma, B’n’M Poles, Driftmaster Rod Holders, Ego Nets, Brushpile Crappie, Charlie Brewer Slider, Crappie Now Magazine, Jenko Fishing, Big Bite Baits, Crappie Magnet, EFX Graphics, Fin n’ Frames, Crown Trophy, JR Madd Breading, Freaky Franks Tackle, Pro Controll, Bubba Blade, Flambeau, Smooth Moves Seats, Rejuvenade, Power-Pole, Millennium Marine, Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, and Garmin.
For more information on the Classic and other CUSA events visit the website at www.crappieusa.com and Crappie USA Tournament Trail Facebook Page.
