2023 Crappie Camp at Santee Cooper Country

Published in the October issue of Trilogy Outdoors
(Click on Pic for Larger Image)

After a successful summit of crappie fishing enthusiasts in 2022, the sponsors decided to hold another gathering on the Santee Cooper Lakes in October. The S.C. tourism bureau partners with Catch The Fever fishing rods and Father and Sons Outdoors TV show to bring in tournament caliber anglers, and the media that covers the sport. Hills Landing and RV Park was the setting for three days of crappie fishing and live scoping, with the only breaks coming to eat or sleep. Whitey Outlaw of St. Matthews is the mentor of this group, and even after decades of experience fishing the crappie tournament trail, he still aspires to improve.

Outlaw helps to design the Precision Crappie Rods by Catch The Fever, and everyone at crappie camp spent time on the water casting these rods. A special stretch version of Slime Line is another product that Outlaw designed, and this line helps anglers play the fish better. Outlaw is one -half of the duo that is Father and Sons Outdoors TV show, along with Capt. Joe Dennis. Outlaw reps for EZ Drift Trolling Systems, Bonehead Tackle and more. And when a youth angler was fishing off the dock at Hill’s Landing by himself, Outlaw approached him and gave him a free hat and shirt in order to promote the sport of fishing. 

            

Fishing with Captain Nick Dowda on two consecutive days, I can share that he prefers Slab Slayer Jigs, and uses Beat Down Outdoors mounts for his electronics. When it comes to catching crappie, Dowda doesn’t disappoint. “I’ve got some spots marked already, and then we’ll approach some SCDNR fish location markers too, and I’ll use the Live Scope to look for crappie,” said Dowda. “I can tell crappie by their size, and so I can leave the smaller brim and larger bass alone. We want to be as stealthy as possible, and if the wind is up I am wary of waves slapping the hull, a sound that can make the crappie finicky. The live scope also helps me navigate my jig around brush piles, because the fish hold tight to the structure.”

A Look Behind The Scenes at Crappie Camp

            

New to crappie camp this year was Newell Montgomery, who heads up the Yadkin Ridge Crappie Trail in North Carolina. Newell gave an interview on the Trilogy Outdoors podcast that underscores the quality of people coming to this invitational crappie camp. Montgomery was influenced by Whitey Outlaw, Ronnie Capps and other veteran crappie anglers and that challenged him to promote crappie fishing and to try to give back to others. “You’ve got to remember where you come from, and you’ve got to remember the people that helped you,” said Montgomery. “This sport can humble you, and I been there, but I will always strive to help the next man up.”

            

Look for the sport of crappie fishing to continue to grow, just as Catch The Fever rods are growing to include striper rods and catfish rods. Co-owner Tony Cayton was in crappie camp and shared that all their rods are produced in North Carolina. Wholesale Rep Shane Walser says by the time we meet again in a year, Catch The Fever will set the bar even higher regarding customer satisfaction. Can’t Wait Until Next Year!!

To View past blog entries from Trilogy Outdoors click on Early Birds of September -  SCDNR Salt Fishing Clinics -  Silver King Makes Big Splash - S.C. Mahi Series - 2023 Yawkey Wildlife Center - 2023 Hammock Coast Birding Festival - 2023 Lowcountry Oyster Festival - 2022 Sea Turtle Season - Navigating an S.C. Public Draw Deer Hunt - Crappie Camp - Blessings of a Sporting Father