Mike Vallentine has been fishing a long time.
From Florida to Iowa, Vallentine probably knows where to find a fishery that will land a sizable haul.
For the past three years, though, Vallentine has been focused on another search: locating new sites for Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters Tournament Trail. As president of the organization, Vallentine is excited that Illinois and Louisiana have joined the 2015 schedule for the first time. The addition of those states is another step in his effort to help bring more fishing opportunities to local and professional anglers.
But as much as Vallentine enjoys breaking new ground, he has just as much fun returning to familiar territory. That’s where Vallentine and the rest of the Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters Tournament Trail will be this weekend when they hold the One Pole Ultimate Challenge on Friday and Saturday on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
Anglers will be able to fish between the Amory lock and dam to the north and the Tom Bevill lock and dam to the south. Fishing will begin at 6:30 a.m. Friday and run until 3 p.m. It will resume at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and conclude at 3 p.m. Weigh-ins will be at 4 p.m. both days.
There will be registration and a seminar Thursday at the Trotter Convention Center in downtown Columbus. Registration will begin at 5 p.m. There will be a banquet at 6 p.m. and a seminar at 7 p.m.
This is the 11th scheduled event on the 2015 slate. The tournament trail already has visited Grenada and Greenville in Mississippi. It also has been to Florida, South Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Future dates include stops in Illinois and Alabama.
Vallentine said efforts continue to grow the tournament trail, to build membership, to increase attendance at events, and to increase the number of sponsors. He said getting information to every angler is a priority because his goal is to make Crappie Masters a “one-stop shop for all of your crappie needs.” To accomplish that goal, Vallentine said it is important to offer products and to explain how they work to a wide range of fishermen, whether they are pros or ones who fish once a month or a couple of times a year.
“With the Internet and social media avenues, reaching people is not too big of a problem,” Vallentine said. “You want to make sure you’re explaining things in more detail and explain what you’re offering in more detail not just in general statements.”
Vallentine said the tournament trail relies on word of mouth and local anglers to spread the word. He said the organization has relied on input from anglers to identify new areas to grow the circuit. He said feedback like that helped the tournament trail setup events at Rend Lake in Whittington, Illinois (next week) and Lakes D’Arbonne, Caney, Claiborne in Ruston, Louisiana (in April).
This week, though, Vallentine is in a different position. The tournament trail’s experience in coming to Columbus to put on events like the 2012 Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters National Championship to Columbus has helped increase the profile of “the friendly city” and the organization. Vallentine praised the efforts of the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau and everyone involved in backing the event. He said anglers know they will have a great experience on and off the water in Columbus.
“We get a lot of good local support from the hotels and bait shops and restaurants,” Vallentine said. “We see a lot of familiar faces when we pull in. We hear a lot of nice things when we go to restaurants in town and they say, ‘Oh, hey, you’re back for the crappie tournament this year.’ It is kind of nice.”
Vallentine arrived in Columbus on Sunday. He said activities like a kids rodeo Saturday at the Columbus Marina can help grow the organization by getting younger fishing enthusiasts involved. Registration for the kids rodeo will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday and run until 9 a.m. Fishing will be from 9-10:30 a.m.
As for the older anglers, their challenge will be able to land the biggest hauls using one pole and artificial baits. With only one other one-pole event on the schedule, Vallentine said he expects a good number of out-of-state anglers in Columbus to try to compete in an effort to earn points for the final standings. But he also encourages local anglers to come out and participate. He said local anglers have won eight of the first 10 tournament trail stops. Those interested in competing can register Thursday night. The cost is $325 for a team of two.
Vallentine said he isn’t sure how many anglers will compete this weekend, but his goal is to have a sizable field that will help him and the organization continue to grow. He expects the balance from north to south of the Tennessee-Tombigbee to allow anglers to find fish, even though they might not weigh as much as ones found at other fisheries.
“We have seen a major increase (in the growth of Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters),” Vallentine said. “It has been incredible. Our membership is up through the roof.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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