Rambos fish Florida Crappiemasters tourney, head to Indiana for Boat, Sports & Travel Show

At the 2012 Bass Pro Shops Crappiemaster Florida State Championship, I had a time to chat with Phil and Eva Rambo from Bloomington, IN. Phil and Eva were the 2008 Crappiemaster Sportsmen of the Year.

Phil is a former school administrator at Ellettsville and Eva is a retired teacher. The two now team to travel the country fishing major crappie tournaments, representing a number of sponsors, including Quick Fillets, a company specializing fish cleaning equipment.

Phil and Eva were featured during an evening session at the Florida championship when they provided a fish cleaning demonstration to a seminar audience.

A few years back when Phil decided he wanted to hit the crappie tournament trail, Eva announced, “Your not leaving me at home.” And, the couple have been fishing as a team ever since.

The couple is known as one of the most helpful to others fishing the trail, especially to new anglers.

Phil and Eva Rambo fish the Harris Chain of Lakes

As soon as the Florida tourney was over, the couple headed their motorhome and boat back home to Indiana where they planned to again be exhibitors at the Indianapolis Boat, Sport and Travel Show starting Feb/ 17 and running through Feb. 26. They plan to have three booths at the show, which is one of the top outdoor sports shows in the country.

OTHER CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES -- As usual the tournament was well run by the Crappiemaster folks under the leadership of Paul Alpers, president. 

However, the economy seems to be impacting the tournament trails, not just Crappiemasters. In particular, the price of gasoline is discouraging travel by some teams, or at least make them selective on the number or tourneys they enter and the locations they fish.

Also spent time with my friend T.J. Stallings, marketing guru for TTI - Blakemore fishing group, who plays a key role in supporting anglers at the tournament.

T.J. says despite the weak economy his company is continuing to develop new products for most all types of fishing.

He also passed along a couple of crappie items I’m anxious to try as soon as the weather warms a bit and the wind settles. One was a package of Crappie Thunder  “electric chicken” color jig bodies by Mr. Crappie, and a Road Runner Marabou jig. Both look like excellent lures, now the old man has to catch the crappie.