Crappie Masters National Championship Winners: 'Never Hesitate' When Filling Up with Ethanol

The 2018 Crappie Masters Tournament Trail concluded last week with the National Championship at Truman Lake in Clinton, Mo. Two, 21-year-old Missouri natives were the winners of the final tournament, which was held Sept. 26 – 29.

For the second consecutive year, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) sponsored the national fishing tournament, which highlights the use of 10 percent ethanol (E10) in our nation’s waterways. Regular gasoline, which is blended with E10, produces less greenhouse gas emissions, keeps the air, and water cleaner.

The team, Matthew Rogers and Baylor Mead, won the 2018 championship with 21.19 pounds using E10 in their boat.

“We never hesitate when filling up our boat with E10,” Rogers said. “There are many benefits of using ethanol. We want to keep our waterways clean and the fish population healthy.”

“Our boat runs great on E10,” said Mead. “I am very pleased with the performance and mileage we get with our engine when using ethanol-blended fuel. It’s great to join the previous championship winners who’ve also used ethanol when competing in the tournament.”

The 2018 tournament kicked off in January and ran through last week in nine states: Missouri, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Illinois. Each winning team for the past four years at the Crappie Masters National Tournament Trail has powered their boat with clean, renewable ethanol.

“We were pleased to again co-title sponsor this national fishing tournament trail and showcase the numerous benefits of a higher octane, clean-burning fuel,” said RFA Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White. “All recreational boats are compatible with E10. For over 30 years, E10 has helped to provide an extra octane boost to marine engines. As the winning team has shown, E10 is safe to use in marine engines and may even help you win a national championship. We look forward to continuing to educate boaters across the country about this homegrown fuel.”

“As stewards of our environment, boaters and anglers have an interest in maintaining clean waterways and recognize the benefits of using ethanol. As a farmer, I am very aware of the importance of preserving our natural habitats,” said Jay Schutte, NCGA Ethanol Action Team Chair and Missouri farmer. “Just as farmers want to preserve their land for the next generation, participants of the Crappie Masters Tournament Trail want to keep the waterways they fish, clean and safe for future boaters and anglers.”

Congratulations to all participants for a great season, and best of luck to all tournament trail participants in 2019!

For more information and to view the 2019 tentative schedule, click here.