Shad and Crappie Derby, February 3, 2011

Are we having fun yet?  You Bet Ya!  The Second Annual Shad and Crappie Derby has surpassed its half way point, and the concentrations of shad in the St. Johns River have picked up significantly.  We currently have over 200 anglers in the game competing feverishly for the title of top angler with some respectable fish being caught and uploaded to the website at www.cfshadderby.com.

The Shad Rally at the Jolly Gator Fish Camp in Geneva is only 9 days away and will set the stage for for the flury to the finish line less then three weeks away.

With end of the derby within our sights, I thought it would be fitting to post an updated list of our prizes and some photos of the leading anglers and thei fish.

Crappie:

Pro Division - Two 12 foot B' n' M Crappie Combination, Bass Pro Shop.

Conventional - 6' St. Croix Triumph rod with a 180 US Reel, Mosquito Creek Outdoors.

Fly Division - Mystic 8'6" 5 wt with reel and line, Mosquito Creek Outdoors.

Ladies - St Croix APS60L Avid Pearl 6' L w/ Daiwa TDTR 1500 Tierra Reel, Mosquito Creek Outdoors.

Junior - Fisherman's Friend Custom Rod w/ 1500 Daiwa Exceller Reel, Fishing Florida Radio.



Shad:
Pro Division - St Croix TRS 6.5' Triumph Rod w/ Daiwa 1500 Exceller Reel, Mosquito Creek Outdoors.

Conventional - 6' St. Croix Triumph rod with a 180 US Reel, Mosquito Creek Outdoors.

Fly Division - Greys X-Flite 8'6" 4 wt with reel and line, Mosquito Creek Outdoors.

Ladies - St Croix APS60L Avid Pearl 6' L w/ Daiwa TDTR 1500 Tierra Reel, Mosquito Creek Outdoors.

Junior - St Croix TRS60L 6' Triumph Rod w/ Daiwa 1500 Exceller Reel, Mosquito Creek outdoors.

Contingency Prizes:
Boat Tree Marina - token - One Day Boat Rental
Sea Tow - All Anglers - Free 60-day Sea Tow Membership
Bass Pro Shops Orlando - I Fish sticker - 2 ea, 10 foot B'n'M crappie jig poles
Bethel Marine Electronics - business card - portable fish finder
Seminole County - lure - 2 night stay at Homewood Suites Hilton Lake Mary

Huey Magoos - wooden nickel- $75 gift certificate (2 each)

Overall Prizes:
Overall Largest Crappie: Free entry in the Crappie Masters 2012 Lake Monroe Professional Tournament
Overall Largest Crappie: Free one year Sea Tow Membership by Sea Tow Central Florida Lakes
Overall Largest Crappie: Huey Magoo's $75 gift certificate
Overall Largest Shad: Free one year Sea Tow membership by Sea Tow Central Florida Lakes
Overall Largest Shad: Huey Magoo's $75 gift certificate


David Simpson's 18 inch Shad caught near Mullet Lake Park


Stuart Levine 15 inch Speck


Joshua McPherson's 17.5 inch shad caught on a 4 wt TFO

In Closing, there's only about three week left to  stake your clam as a 2011 Shad and Crappie Derby winner, so let's get fishing and I'll see you at the Shad Rally on February 12th.

Tight lines always,

Captain Tom Van Horn