"Oh my goodness. I don't believe it!" - Retiree Joan Leamy, after being told she landed the $50,000 grand prize-winning crappie at Lake Eufaula's CrappieFest 2001 in eastern Oklahoma, sponsored by Kiamichi Country. The CrappieFest is a tagged-fish event where anglers who have purchased a $5 entry ticket may return tagged fish for a variety of prizes.

Multiple Prizes Hook Anglers

"Anglers told us they wanted more prizes, not just one big one, so we changed the contest. We are pleased with the results, because even after the $50,000 grand prize fish was caught, people kept fishing all that weekend. When word gets out that we had so many winners this year, I'm sure we will have even more anglers at the next festival."

- Diana Needham, events coordinator for the National Trout Festival in Kalkaska, Michigan