Instructors are selected from a national pool of crappie experts and assigned to locations where familiar with the waters. Among them are professional anglers, guides and fishing television/radio show personalities. Generally, the instruction lineup changes every year per location.
Crappie expert Brady Coyle knows electronics and is a certified scuba diver, so he’s literally observed the species from every imaginable angle throughout all seasons. The native Oklahoman uses his collective knowledge from time spent above and below the surface to figure out where and how to catch crappie wherever he goes. Of course, he does have his favorites – Oologah, Skiatook, Keystone and Dripping Springs. He also has the inside scoop on overlooked crappie hideouts that you need to hear.
Doug Sikora of Noblesville, IN, is as good a boat crappie angler as there is in the country … his trophy collection of top tournament finishes across multiple state lines is proof. However, Doug is also passionate about ice fishing for the species. His favorite approach for that technique is to travel light and walk as far as needed to get to the best spots and then drill lots of holes. But even before the holes, there is a method to his madness and a full set of keys to how he goes about his preparations to ensure success. Whether from the boat or on foot, Doug can do it all, and he’s one of the best crappie fishing communicators in the business as to what works to catch crappie and why. That’s why his nickname to those who know him best is “The Crappie Professor.”
Gary has fished the crappie-rich waters of northeastern Oklahoma for more than 30 years, thanks to a move to work for Zebco that brought him to the area in 1991. Although his job has changed a few times since, the lifelong angler's passion for fishing has never wavered throughout a long career in the outdoor industry. Whether in a boat, on the dock or fishing from the bank, you'll always find Gary tossing a jig for the species.
Gary lives on Ft. Gibson Lake, Okla., and for that reason spends the majority of his crappie fishing on that body of water. But don’t be surprised if you find him on the Navigation Channel, Hudson, Tenkiller or Grand because he does like to move around and sample the crappie fishing elsewhere too. He spends most of his time fishing with one rod and jig, but he’s also become proficient at dock shooting in recent years. Downsizing to tiny jigs and fishing deep is another of his specialties for success. He’s also highly experienced with electronics and stays up to date with the technology.
The only thing Eureka, MO, angler Jim Dant likes as much as catching crappie, is teaching other anglers what he knows on how to catch the species. Although he lives near St. Louis, his passion for crappie fishing has given him several “home” lakes and therefore a treasure chest of fish-catching knowledge for a variety of conditions and waters everywhere. He has frequent experience on several of the country’s top crappie places, including Lake of the Ozarks, Lake of Egypt, Carlyle Lake and Reelfoot. Once a national touring crappie pro, Dant is now more about going fishing for fun and introducing others to the activity. He fishes year-round for the species, but especially likes the winter timeframe. He loves “reading” the water and adjusting techniques to the conditions at hand. Creek channels, stump beds and lily pads really get him excited.
By passion and trade, Jim Neal knows a lot about electronics for fishing … he had years of experience in boat and sonar sales while working for Bass Pro Shops. His handyman abilities and inquisitive mind have come together over time to give him a rather unique perspective around sonar knowledge, installation and troubleshooting. Lucky for us, he’s also an avid crappie angler. Jim is always quick to share everything he’s learned about crappie fishing and electronics from his own experiences on and off the water.
Living and guiding full time for years on Oklahoma’s famed crappie lake, Lake Eufaula, Huckabee is one of the country’s most noted authorities on the species. His knowledge comes from spending countless days on the water throughout all seasons of the year. He’s fished many of the finest crappie waters in the country, and now also guides on Oklahoma’s Ft. Gibson Lake and Arkansas’ Lake Millwood. He’s an expert at finding and catching crappies regardless of the conditions. He’s featured frequently in national magazines, online articles, and fishing TV shows. He's also a featured speaker on crappie fishing at sport shows across the country.
Tom Hankins lives in Mooresville, IN, and considers his home waters to be Monroe Lake, Lake Cataract and Lake Lemon. His experience goes well beyond just those places though, thanks in part to years of traveling the pro crappie tournament trails where he has amassed wins all along the way. He developed a passion for fishing at an early age when his family lived in Illinois and traveled every year to Minnesota for two weeks of fishing and where crappie dominated their catches. No longer a tournament angler, he spends most of his water time now learning more about the species through use of forward-facing sonar, often fishing-slow from a kayak, and then sharing the knowledge with others who have a common interest in the sport and crappie. He says one thing he’s learned for sure, “crappie are everywhere!”
