CRAPPIEFEST gives updates
CRAPPIEFEST is continuing to grow its plans for its 12th year.
The event will be held Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29 at the Caney Point Recreation Area outside Yantis. Entry is free.
Even though the event is two months away, Event Coordinator, Marketing, and Customer Support officer Cassandra Gann said that vendor booths are almost completely sold out. The event, which is a dual fishing tournament and festival, has 150+ vendors, $100,000 in cash and prizes, 150 sponsors and partners, and an expected turnout of over 10,000.
“Everything’s looking really good,” said Gann.
CRAPPIEFEST 2026 will bring in Cody Cannon of Whiskey Myers for a live concert on Saturday, March 28. Tickets are $31 on the CRAPPIEFEST website.
The festival will feature other family-friendly entertainment, including balloon creations, Gellyball, pony rides, a mechanical bull, mini golf, free face painting, and more. CRAPPIEFEST is also providing a free fish fry for the community on Friday, March 27 from 4-7 p.m.
CRAPPIEFEST is also a fishing expo, designed to connect the public with professional anglers and industry leaders who can demonstrate products and answer questions. Organizers will raffle off prizes at the event, including many local guide trips worth $500 or more each.
Youth fish for free on Saturday at CRAPPIEFEST; Gann says any kids who want to come fish Saturday should first make a short appearance at 5:30 on Friday night, where they will each receive a free rod, reel, bait package, and T-shirt. The free products will be given away by several people, including Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame member “Mr. Crappie” (Wally Marshall) and Bobby Garland.
According to Gann, the event features two separate tournaments. Both tournaments are individual events, and cost $100 each to enter. Saturday’s tournament will have one final weigh-in at the end of the fishing day, and will pay up to 50 places as well as many different weight-based prizes. Saturday will also feature crowd giveaways and a drawing of “golden tickets,” worth $500 cash to the six winners drawn.
Sunday features an hourly tournament from 7-1. Gann says they’ll pay up to 10th place hourly plus end-of-day bonuses.
Other prizes include absolute last place, most experienced in years angler, most miles traveled to enter, exact weight, etc.
“With CRAPPIEFEST being ‘one lucky fish,’ it’s truly anyone’s game,” she said. “We want people to come participate and not be… intimidated by the pros.”
