The tradition began modestly. One March day Bob Leming and Bill O’Neal were sitting in the pub, discussing the Crappie fish and its various, over romantic names. They developed a composite name: The American Speckled Hickory Bass: Quite a lofty title for a bream. They decided to go out crappie fishing the day after St. Patrick’s Day. They posted an invitation in the pub. On the 18th the weather was horrible, but a considerable number of participants had reported, eager to go fishing. Some ambitious college girls had even packed a cooler for the trek. But the weather said, “No Way”, so we threw a drink tray on the stage and had a casting contest instead. Who could land the most shots in the tray? Bob Leming emerged from the throng victorious, our first King Crappie.
The following year Brian Hill brought in a toilet to use as a target, the finishing touch needed if the contest was to be taken seriously as a crappie one. Over the years there were many winners and more protests of “foul” play. The attached footage is from the next to last contest, when Roseanne emerged victorious.
Tags: Crappie Contest
