National Crappie League Heads to Lake Cumberland for 2025 National Championship
Anglers will travel across from the country for the highly anticipated National Crappie League Championship tournament which features guaranteed payouts of 100% or more, along with a Big Fish payout split of 70/30. Semi-Pro teams will compete against Semi-Pro qualifiers, while Amateur teams will face off against fellow Amateur Division qualifiers.
Last time that the Somerset-Pulaski County CVB hosted a crappie fishing tournament, good weights were being turned in. On the pro- division side, the winning team had a weigh-in of 13.44lbs, with 2.57 lbs. being the Big Fish winner while on the amateur side saw a similar weight of 12.62. We are excited to see what weights win the tournament this year!
Pre-Tournament Banquet and Meeting
The official angler registration, banquet, and mandatory pre-tournament meeting will take place on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the South Hall of the Center for Rural Development, located at 2292 South Highway 27, Somerset, KY.
- Angler Sign-In: 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM
- Doors Open for Dinner: 5:00 PM
- Dinner Begins: 6:00 PM
- Mandatory Meeting and Awards Ceremony: Immediately following dinner
All competing anglers are required to attend.
Tournament Schedule and Location
Tournament launch, livewell checks, and weigh-ins will be held at Pulaski County Park, located at 120 Park Street No. 3 in Nancy.
Friday, March 21, 2026 – Tournament Day 1
- Livewell Checks Begin: 5:00 AM
- Fishing Hours: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Weigh-In Deadline: 4:00 PM
Saturday, March 22, 2026 – Tournament Day 2
- Livewell Checks Begin: 5:00 AM
- Fishing Hours: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Weigh-In Deadline: 4:30 PM
- Awards Ceremony to follow immediately after weigh-in
Tournament rules include a five-fish weigh-in limit per team, with no more than seven fish allowed in the livewell at any time.
Free Kids Fishing Rodeo
In conjunction with the championship, a free Kids Fishing Rodeo will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Pulaski County Park.
- Registration: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- Fishing Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
- Eligibility: Children 12 and under (must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)
Participants should bring their own fishing pole and bait. Prizes will be awarded.
Hosted by Somerset-Pulaski County CVB
The event is hosted by the Somerset-Pulaski County Convention and Visitors Bureau, with support from local sponsors including Comfort Inn & Suites, Home2 Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Village Resort, Durbin’s Bait and Tackle, Autoland LLC, B&K Bait and Tackle, Cumberland Security Bank, Wilson and Roy Construction, Lookout Marine, and Papa John’s.
Somerset-Pulaski County CVB welcomes all National Crappie League anglers and their guests to the area and hope they take the opportunity to enjoy the local attractions. For more information on the area visit their website, www.lctourism.com or call 800-642-6287.
Lodging for National Crappie League can be found at www.lctourism.com/stay.
