TCO Win Goes to Hunter Jones and Justin Shepard
by Ron Presley,
Photos courtesy of Twisted Cat Outdoors by Tom Stolze
Big Fish honors claimed by the winning team with a 72.43-pound beast!
Twisted Cat Outdoors (TCO) catfish tournament trail visited New Madrid, MO on the Mississippi River for their latest competition. The October 05, 2024 event was part of the New Madrid Fall Festival and always attracts a good crowd. Not only did the spectators have the weigh-in with plenty of trophy catfish to view, activities for the kids, various vendors including food, and more in the downtown area.
The trail was returning to the popular destination just about a year after David Shipman and Phil King claimed the top spot in 2023 with a total weight of 137.63 pounds. Weights like that are not uncommon in New Madrid so angler anticipation for the early October event was high.
The tournament attracted 37 teams representing 87 anglers who would compete for the heaviest bag of 3 catfish. Fishing began at 7:00 am and ended at 3:00 pm. Anglers were required to be back at the dock by 4:30 or be disqualified.
The weigh-in was in downtown New Madrid in front of a large enthusiastic crowd. When all the weights were recorded the top weight and Big Fish honors went to the same team with a bag of three impressive cats that weighed more than 140 pounds and a Big Fish at more than 72 pounds!
First Place and Big Fish 
The top spot at New Madrid went to Hunter Jones and Dustin Shepard. They teamed up to bring a 3-fish limit to the scales that weighed a whopping 141.80 pounds. Their bag of cats included the Big Fish of the tournament at 72.43 pounds.
The team earned the $4,400 first-place check and added the $500 Castaway Customs MWSC Big Fish award to boost their total earnings to $4,940. They also received two pairs of Purpose Built Optics as a bonus for winning first place!
A win at New Madrid has been on Jones’s mind for many years. The win came just about a month after Jones joined the 100-pound club at the Alton Catfish Classic where he weighed in a 100.03-pound blue cat, his new personal best. He and Shepard traveled to New Madrid knowing they would be fishing in some tough conditions since the river was still high after torrential rainfall pelted the area.
“Our river rose 14 feet last week,” acknowledged Jones. “It has been falling about 2 feet per day so we knew fishing would be really tough.”
Still, they approached the tournament with their normal strategy of patience and taking what the river would give. They began upriver in an area where they thought they could anchor fish even with the high but falling water.
“We decided to go to an area upriver,” confirmed Jones. “I knew a few places where we could sit still on spot lock. We planned to let the fish come to us.”
Most of their fish came from water that ranged from 35 to 45 feet deep. They stuck with their strategy to be patient, create a scent trail, and let the fish find their bait. They reported that the bigger fish seemed to want small baits so they offered them small baits and it worked.
“I think tournaments are all about decisions,” offered Jones. “Sometimes you make the right ones and other times you don’t. Our techniques are not different from anyone else, but a lot of my big fish do come while anchored. I think some guys have to be moving. Setting still is a very tough thing to do in a tournament, but we made the right decision.”
“It was a tough bite with the river falling,” added Shepard. “Setting still is hard to do but we got lucky and got the bites we needed and it worked out for us.”
“I have been trying to win that tournament for years,” concluded Jones. “I finally got it! It is one of my favorite tournaments of the year. The city really supports it and there is always a great crowd cheering you on at weigh-in. Thanks Twisted Cat Outdoors and New Madrid Chamber of Commerce for another great event!”
Second Place 
The runner-up spot at New Madrid went to Charles LaPlant and Mike Davis. They teamed up to bring 122.55 pounds to the scales and earn the 2nd Place for $2,220.
“One of our favorite tournaments each year,” said Mike Davis following the tournament. “Thanks, Alex Nagy for all you do!”
Third Place 
Third place went to Nooner Hall, Les Thompson, and Trenton Thompson with a total weight of 116.00 pounds. The three generations of Thompsons earned a check for $1,480.
Fourth Place 
Tom Petrowski and Damian Clark nailed down their place with a total weight of 107.95 pounds to earn the fourth-place check of $777.
Clark and Petrowski were fresh off a win at the King Kat tournament in Louisiana where they teamed up with Jeremiah Keen to win the 2-day, 4-fish event with a total weight of 219.31 pounds.
Fifth Place 
The 5th spot went to Aaron Jarrell and Dennis Casey with a total weight of 98.15 pounds. The team earned a check for $704.
Note: To view more Tom Stolze photos and more winners from the event visit the Twisted Cat Outdoors Facebook page.
Final Thoughts
The New Madrid tournament is always a favorite of the anglers. It takes place during their Fall Festival adding a variety of entertainment for the anglers and their families. In addition to the tournament, festivities included a car/motorcycle show, live music, food, crafts, the Miss New Madrid Fall Festival Pageant, and more.
“We had another fantastic event in New Madrid, Missouri,” noted Tournament Director Alex Nagy. “We had 37 teams competing. It was great to see such strong participation. With over 100% payout and the $500 Castaway Customs Big Fish bounty, we paid out $11,600!”
“We had four teams who weighed in more than 100 pounds,” continued Nagy. “And the Big Fish of the tournament came in at an impressive 72 pounds! This is one of the areas known for Big Fish, and it definitely lived up to its reputation.”
“We truly love having our tournament during New Madrid’s Fall Festival,” Nagy declared. “The energy from the crowd and the support from the town make it an experience like no other. The number of spectators who come out for the weigh-in is always impressive and we’re proud to be a part of such a vibrant community event.”
“Congratulations to Hunter Jones and Dustin Shepherd for pulling off an amazing win,” concluded Nagy. “We enjoyed the tournament and hope to be back next year. Thanks to everyone who participated and all those who came to support!”
The next TCO event will be held in Savannah, Tennessee on October 12th, 2024 at the Catfish Derby and Riverfest. Known as the Catfish Capital of the World, the National Catfish Derby has been a cherished tradition on the Tennessee River for more than 80 years. TCO is stepping up to help keep this legacy alive.
For more information on Twisted Cat Outdoors visit their website or follow them on Facebook. You can also tune in to TCO on Monday nights for a live show at 7:00 pm on Facebook and YouTube. Nagy discusses tournament action and features Twisted Cat Outdoors anglers and industry leaders.
