Nice thing about those contest you just never knew..... everytime you went you had a chance....long shot but still a chance. Still there were other fish carrying money tags also even a hundred bucks would be a nice unexpected bonus.
 
I remember they had Trout tagged many moons ago with money winners too scattered throughout the state. One of the gasoline companies sponsored that ....I believe Amoco Red Ball back then....not sure? Imagine that .....a gasoline company actually giving money gifts away back then.....they can't afford that today!!!!....lol       
 
 
Yea I never heard much about those Cabalas contest especially that big winner !

My dad and I went up for one of those Crappiethons in the late 80s.  I remember it vividly.  We didn't know where to fish and didn't catch much of anything.  Then the wind picked up and almost sunk our Basstracker.  Only time I was ever really concerned on the water... the main body of Pymie can put on a real show with the right wind.  

Johnson owned Crappiethon until 1996, then Crappie USA was formed specifically to buy the crappiethon. They still run a version of it. It's now a tour of  events and those who qualify go to the Super Bowl of Crappie
 
 

I’ve won a jacket and many $25 fish in the crappiethon back then. Just could never win the big prizes as they wouldn’t post the winning numbers of the tags, in the books. They could tell you anything when it came to cashing those tags in.

outasync
Tangle free tom!

I've heard many a story about this guy 😀

chauncy
I’ve won a jacket and many $25 fish in the crappiethon back then. Just could never win the big prizes as they wouldn’t post the winning numbers of the tags, in the books. They could tell you anything when it came to cashing those tags in.

Isn't that some BS not posting the tag numbers ahead so you knew what your prize was....never knew that Ken.
 
They need to tag some Walleye or a mix of fish and give away some nice prizes again. Spice things up on that lake fishing. Forget the one day tournaments too many regulations and what if's with weather. Locals sponsors need to get together and promote a good summer contest for all fishing Pymy.....can't hurt in my book!

Really?  I remember catching a tagged crappie and a tagged perch the same day   The perch had been tagged by the fish commission, and even though it didn't involve money, it was kind of neat cause they were able to look up what day and year the perch was tagged, the size at tagging, and where it was released back into the lake.
On the other hand, the crappie was tagged for the Crappiethon and when I showed it to Lou at the Linesville boat house (weren't called marinas then, lol) he was able to look it up in a paper like journal.  He verified the tag number, took the tag and showed me that it was a $25 winner and gave me the cash

Don't mean to highjack the thread, but for those of you that like contests (not directly related to fishing,) Robinson's is running a "2018 In spite of the Detour Bobber Hunt," where she is hiding numbered bobbers all over the area north of the causeway trying to help drum up business up that way. Some decent (not great big) prizes involved from what I understand. Might be fun to search with kids.
 
You might win a pie, some fishing tackle, or an ice cream cone who knows. :)
 
Roy

CAPTAIN HOOK
 One of the gasoline companies sponsored that ....I believe Amoco Red Ball back then....not sure? Imagine that .....a gasoline company actually giving money gifts away back then.....they can't afford that today!!!!....lol       
 
 
I believe it was ARCO that had sponsored some of the fish tagging events around the state back in the 60's or 70's.  When ever it was held I can remember finding loose tags laying on the bottom mud when Lake Somerset was lowered about 10 years after the event.  I believe I still have a found tag that I stuck on a wooden perch I carved and painted many years ago

Another flashback, anyone ever fish the Lake Erie International fishing derby back in the late 80's/early 90's? 
My dad and uncle would both take vacations that week, we'd rent a cabin on the lakefront not far from Barcelona, NY and would fish for 9 days straight (if weather permitted).  Dad and I and our crew on our boat and my uncle, cousin and his crew on his boat. 
 
We'd pay to keep the boat docked at night in the harbor and take turns sleeping on it while others were back at the cabin.  
 
Fun times......sure miss those days.  Really miss the homemade elderberry cobbler the one guys would bring every year....best....darn....breakfast.....ever......