Despite blustery winter weather provided by a cold front today, twelve pros and twelve co-anglers hit South Carolina’s Lake Keowee on a mission: To become the 2007 WBT women’s world champion. With a high of 45, blustery winds out of the ENE at 10-15 and a 50% chance of rain, they fished one cast after another looking for a five fish limit.
Judy Wong of Many, LA leads the event on this first competition day with 12 pounds, 13 ounces – all spotted bass. While there is a small population of large mouth, common tournament theory is to catch a fast, easy limit of the spotted bass first, then change to big bass lures and try for an elusive largemouth to upgrade their catch. This is exactly what Wong did – using a variety of lures and culling three times during the day.
A mere three pounds behind Wong, is Mustang Gear pro Dianna Clark from Bumpus Mills, TN with 9 pounds 8 ounces. Clark caught all spotted bass during an early day bite – but her final fish was caught just five minutes before having to come to weigh in.
The 12 pros are competing for a total purse of $220,000 – with a $50,OOO Triton /Mercury package and $10,000 cash. The top co-angler wins a $25,000 Triton / Mercury boat package with cash bonus.
Greenwood, AR pro Tammy Richardson is in third, with 9-06, saying she didn’t have the bites today that she had in practice. In fourth place is Audrey McQueen of Eagar, Colo.who explained that all her fish came on an early morning bite.
Defending WBT champion,. Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, GA holds fifth place with 7-1.Martin-Wells, the women’s all time leading money winner, says the fish just weren’t biting like they had been during practice. However, she intends to stick with her game plan saying “it’s too later to change now.”
Ironically, Muskogee, OK’s Sheri Glasgow - current Angler of the Year,(aka the most consistent angler of all) is in last place today. for 12th Glasgow explains her misfortune was due to Murphy’s Law. Two bass got off, one broke the line and Glasgow broke a rod.
Barbara Gaskins of Suffolk, Va., leads the co-anglers after Day 1 with a five-fish limit weighing 9-13. Karol Whitehurst of Winnsboro, Texas, is second with 5-0 and Dianne Kegley of Norphlet, Ark., is third with 4-13.
Friday, Day Two of competition promises to deliver even colder, wetter weather than today.
Sponsors for the Women’s Bassmaster Tour include Academy Sports & Outdoors, Toyota Tundra, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance, Mercury, Skeeter, Yamaha, OPTIMA Batteries, Triton Boats, Legend Boats and Mustang Survival.
Visit the WBT web page for all the standings.
