<*dv_0*>Catch of the Month
	<*dv_4*>--- Berkley Pro Finder --- Ken Cook Keith Kavajecz Gary Klein Larry Nixon Gary Parsons Phil Rambo Jay Yelas	""

Plenty of guys talk about quitting their jobs and fishing fulltime, but crappie pro, Phil Rambo actually did it! After retiring from a 34-year career as a middle school principal , he seriously began fishing crappie tournaments. Along with his wife, Eva (and some help from Gulp!), he has been fishing across the country since the spring of 1998, qualifying for the Crappie USA Classics in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.

<*dv_6*>Some of their best finishes include 7th in a regional tournament at Lake Shelbyville, IL, in 2000, winning the tournament on Salamonie Lake, IN, in 2001, and finishing 6th in a Regional tournament on their home lake, Lake Monroe, in 2001. They have qualified for 3 to 4 regional tournaments each year since 1999 and have qualified for the Crappie USA Classics from 2000 to the present. Last year new crappie tournament circuits became active and they qualified for the Classics for the Crappie Anglers Sportsman Tour (C.A.S.T.) and the North American Crappie Association (N.A.C.A.).

<*dv_2*>Other highlights include:

• Sportsman of the year in 2001 in the Crappie USA circuit
• President of Lake Monroe Anglers
• Organizer of the 2003 and 2004 Crappie Rodeo
• Radio host with a nationwide TV segment beginning this July

	Phil's Tips
		<*dv_5*>The most important thing in crappie fishing is to keep your mind open to trying many different things. For instance, I started using tip tube jigs with Gulp! Extruded Maggots and it really made a difference in the number of crappie I caught. Fishing shallow flats for crappie is one of my favorite strategies. With the boat set up for trolling, I move slowly over the flat with four to eight poles in the front in a spider-like arrangement. I also use a variety of poles, so I can experiment with many different Gulp! baits. Changing bait colors, and maybe even switching in live bait now and then, gives me a better idea of what the fish prefer. <*dv_3*>Nighttime fishing is a super experience if done properly. One should reasonably know where a good crappie area is located. I try to get to "my fishin' hole" before dark. Once anchored, you can chum the hole. I often use a handful of Berkley Crappie Nibbles, but here, again, I have great success by experimenting with scent and flavor using a range of Gulp! baits.