Louisiana pro angler, Judy Wong is now the 2008 Women’s Bassmaster Tour - presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors 2008 world champion. The majority of her catch came from the Oconee Nuclear Station hot water discharge on Lake Keowee, SC. Wong fished there all three days for a total winning weight of 26-10 – beating her nearest competitor, Pam Martin Wells by a mere 6 ounces.

Wong said she chose the hot water outlet due to the cold weather this time of year. “Like everyone, I hoped to get my limit early each day then try to find a kicker largemouth bass” she said” but that never happened.

Despite bringing a five fish limit to the scales weighing 7-9 for a total weight of 26-4, defending 2007 champion, Pam Martin Wells, of Bainbridge, GA finished second – by a mere 6 ounces. Martin-Wells needed sun to catch the larger fish. “It didn’t come out soon enough,” she said.

“I predicted a 40 pound weight to win this event,” said Wong, “so it surprised me when it only took 26 (pounds.)

Wong’s winning lures included a Gary Yamamoto Senko in watermelon red or silver metal-flake rigged wacky style, a spinner bait, Fluke, and her largest fish on a Senko rigged on a ¾-ounce football jig. “I used lures I felt these fish would hit,” she said. “I think the reason I was able to catch the fish was bait choice. There were other anglers fishing near me who left without catching anything, she noticed.

First place prize in the Women’s Bassmaster Tour paid Wong a fully rigged Triton boat and $10,000 in cash, for a total prize package of $60,000. ‘The title means more than the winnings,” admitted Wong. “We women are passionate about this sport and give it our all at every event, so winning this championship means a lot to us when we do win” she said.

Friday’s leader and 2006 Toyota Angler of the Year, Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills, TN failed to adjust quickly enough to changing weather conditions that went from cold, rain and wind to a sunny bluebird day. She finished in 3^rd with 23-15

Karol Whitehurst of Winnsboro, Texas became the co-angler champion with a three-day total of 15-8. She won a fully rigged Triton and cash for a total prize value of $34,500.

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.

2008 2007 Womens Bassmaster Tour Championship BO 02/21-02/23 Lake Keowee, Seneca S.C.

(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Judy Wong Many, La. 15 26-10 0 $60,000.00

Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 7-08 Day 3: 5 6-05

2. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 15 26-04 0 $37,000.00

Day 1: 5 7-01 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 5 7-09

3. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 12 23-15 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 5 9-08 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 2 3-01

4. Audrey McQueen Eagar, Ariz. 11 21-00 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 4 7-04 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 2 3-02

5. Tammy Richardson Glenwood, Ark. 11 20-09 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 5 9-06 Day 2: 5 9-10 Day 3: 1 1-09

6. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 10 19-07 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 3 4-14 Day 2: 5 9-08 Day 3: 2 5-01

7. Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 9 17-07 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 2 5-02 Day 2: 5 9-08 Day 3: 2 2-13

8. Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 10 16-00 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 3 3-02 Day 3: 5 8-09

9. Marcia Rubin Chagrin Falls, Ohio 9 12-06 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 3 4-00 Day 2: 5 7-06 Day 3: 1 1-00

10. Secret York Benton, Ky. 3 9-00 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 1 5-08 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 3-08

11. Penny Berryman Hot Springs, Ark. 4 8-10 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 1 4-08 Day 2: 1 1-15 Day 3: 2 2-03

12. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 5 7-13 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 2 3-15 Day 2: 1 2-02 Day 3: 2 1-12

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Totals

Day #Limits #Fish Weight

1 4 38 78-04

2 8 45 84-05

3 3 31 46-08

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15 114 209-01

2008 2007 Womens Bassmaster Tour Championship NB 02/21-02/23 Lake Keowee, Seneca S.C.

(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, Texas 10 15-08 0 $34,500.00

Day 1: 3 5-00 Day 2: 5 7-11 Day 3: 2 2-13

2. Barbara Gaskins Suffolk, Va. 7 11-08 0 $27,500.00

Day 1: 5 9-13 Day 2: 1 0-14 Day 3: 1 0-13

3. Kim Stapp Ringgold, Ga. 7 11-02 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 3 4-08 Day 3: 3 4-06

4. Laura Elkins Amarillo, Texas 7 10-07 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 2 4-02 Day 2: 5 6-05 Day 3: 0 0-00

5. Dianne Kegley Norphlet, Ark. 6 7-11 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 4 4-13 Day 2: 1 1-00 Day 3: 1 1-14

6. Kala Wright Spiro, Okla. 6 7-06 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 5-10 Day 3: 2 1-12

7. Cheryl Buelow Pollock, La. 4 6-10 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 2 3-05 Day 2: 1 1-10 Day 3: 1 1-11

8. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, Wash. 4 6-06 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 2 2-05 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 4-01

9. Debbie Pegoli Loveland, Ohio 3 4-15 0 $1,250.00

Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 1 1-08 Day 3: 1 1-12

10. Colleen McKay Worcester, Mass. 3 3-11 0 $1,250.00

Day 1: 1 1-04 Day 2: 1 1-04 Day 3: 1 1-03

11. Jan Hudson Harrison, Ark. 2 3-04 0 $1,250.00

Day 1: 1 1-14 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-06

12. Angie Everitt Livingston, Texas 1 1-09 0 $1,250.00

Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00

———————————————————————–

———————————————————————–

Totals

Day #Limits #Fish Weight

1 1 23 38-00

2 1 22 30-06

3 1 15 21-11

———————————-

3 60 90-01

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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.

Like thoroughbreds racehorses restrained by a starting gate, contenders in the 2007 Women’s Bassmaster Tour (WBT) Championship energized a room full of outdoor writers Thursday night at the “Meet the Media” reception hosted by Academy Sports and Outdoors. Top press and media names rotated around the room with television cameras, tape records and note pads interviewing anxious anglers.

Mustang pro, Pam Martin Wells of Georgia, who qualified in 2nd place, ‘said she’s confident that she has done everything she could possibly do to prepare for this Super Bowl of bass fishing. “It’s just wait and see, now. I have my game plan, I’m prepared, and I know what I will be doing. All I can do now is wait until take off then make adjustments depending on wind, weather, etc.”

Martin-Wells is presently considered the leading all-time money winner in women’s pro fishing for her impressive achievements and wins on prior women’s tours Bass’n Gal and Women’s Bass Fishing Associations. She defended her reputation by not only winning the first ever WBT “preview event” but grabbed the gold by winning the first ever Championship, also. The 2008 WBT Angler of the Year earns a berth in the Bassmaster Classic.

Weather promises to be a huge factor with Day 1’s high temperature forecasted to be a frigid high of 45 degrees, winds ENE at 10-15 and a fifty per-cent chance of rain. Cold, windy weather typically slows the bite.

“I’m ready,” said “Diana Clark,” another top Mustang contender who qualified in 8th place for this year’s 2007 championship (held in 2008.) “I’ve done everything I know to do,” said Clark. Asked about the weather factor, she said. “I have a good game plan but when the weather gets bad, being able to adjust is key to winning.”

Both Martin-Wells and Clark shared almost identical, which were actually shared by all contenders the night before competition begins.

The WBT championship kicks off with 7:00 AM daily launches at South Cove State Park, Seneca, SC. Day one weigh-in begins at 2:15 at South Cove State Park Thursday with Friday and Saturday weigh-ins being held on the Bassmaster Classic stage at the BI-LO Center in Greenville.

WBT Pros and their co-anglers will be vying for a total tournament purse of $220,000 with the winner taking home a $50,000Triton / Mercury boat. The 2008 WBT kicks off at Lake Lewisville, TX with competition dates of April 10-12. Click here to get more information on the Bassmaster Classic, WBT and / or joining BASS.

Visit us for daily postings right here on the Mustang Survival Blog provided by women’s pro angler, Kathy Magers of TX – our roving reporter at the Bassmaster classic and Women’s World Championship.

Our next BASS Profile is of JoDee Lake, a member of Team Fishergirl and on the Women’s BassMaster Tour. I got to meet her at ICAST in 2007 and was really impressed with her energy and passion for her sport. She entered her first tournament a few years ago and almost won Big Fish with a 5.5 pound Largemouth. From there she was hooked on competitive fishing!

In our second BASS Profile I am really happy to introduce you to Dianna Clark. Dianna from Bumpus Mills, TN has a very impressive record on the Women’s BassMaster Tour. She is a member of Team FisherGirl which we sponsor and in 2006 she was the inaugural Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year. In 2007 Dianna finished the season in 8th place in a very competitive field and has qualified for the 2008 WBT Championships.

At launch it was beautiful the sun was coming out the waters were quite calm and it all fell apart after that.

We made a run about 20 minutes to and area that we had caught some 4&5 lb largies and thought we could finish a respectable finish with 20+ bags but old mother nature had things already in place like this cold front moving in as we were pulling up. The winds changed the sky darkened and the temperatures drop very quickly. We held on to our plan for the largies until the trolling motor had had enough of fighting 3ft swells. We didn’t pull in any bass at this spot but i did manage my personal best Northern Pike that probably would have weighed 15+ and you wouldn’t believe if i told you. Dropshot leech on 8lbs fireline. Who would have guessed that one, we thought we had the smallie of the tournament on the line. There were some 7+ smallies pulled off this area in past years so our hearts were pumping until she finally showed her toothy grin. I can’t put into words the disappointment all we wanted to do was get her back in the lake to make some other bass angler think they’ve got the Simcoe record on their line.

We realized plan A was not working and went to plan B another point were we had some smaller smallies in practice so off we went. The winds were really howling at this time of the morning and it only continued the rest of the day saving the best for last. We did the best we could without a trolling motor and fished our hearts out. We managed two smallies off this point but that was it and the winds were really making there presents so we decided not to risk getting stuck out here and made a slow drive back. We were lucky enough to ride a few 6ft waves to make the ride back a little more smooth.

At one point we high fived each other for narrowly stuffing ourselves into one of those beasts. Although we were plenty ready with our survival suits on to take one of those for the team. We made it back safe and sound, dry and warm and even managed a smile or two.

It was not the 25lbs+ fishing day i had hoped for but i had a great day with Dianna and it’s another story in the book of life.

Patience, perseverance and determination….those were the three words I kept telling myself during this last tournament of 2007 on the Red River. I was determined to find a “secret” spot some friends had told me about…well not that secret, there are no secret spots…but a place not many people venture into. I didn’t know where it was on the maps and had no clue what it looked like but I knew I had to run a heck of a long way to get there. The first day of practice my goal was to find it. I almost turned around thinking I had passed it or just wouldn’t find it when suddenly there it was. Idling back into this oxbow I had to run over fallen trees and sandbars, winding my way back into a place that looked like a swamp. At one point a fallen tree caught my trolling motor and slapped back across my boat throwing spiders…fairly large spiders….all across the deck and into the seats. Well, anyone that knows me can imagine what happened next. I shut down the engine, jumped up and danced a girlie jig across the boat, stepping on the scattering critters only to see the biggest one dart under the passenger seat. I certainly wasn’t going to let him have the boat so I continued on….glancing over every few seconds to see if he was coming out to get me. Then I saw an alligator sunning on the bank…I would rather invite him in the boat than the monster arachnid. Anyway, I never saw the spider again and continued on. This was the promise land…possibly….and nothing would keep me from it. I drove around checking it out, caught a few keepers and went on my way back out on the main river to find a plan B and C. On the last day of practice I ventured back to the “secret” spot and saw the water had dropped. I didn’t have much water to work with already so I admit it did freak me out a bit. I was very uncomfortable with the situation but I didn’t care…I knew this was where I needed to go and stuck to the plan. The night before the first day of the tournament I told my co-angler that we were going to run a long way and that I apologize up front if we cant get in there due to the falling water…..but this was the plan.

Each day I caught a limit (5 fish), but they came slowly and I worked all day for all five. I’m not a very patient person so this was hard work, patience was crucial. As the water dropped each day I had to stop looking at my sonar while running the main river. Oh, and did I mention it was a long run…40 minutes or so at 73 mph makes you feel like your skin is peeling off your face…well one good thing…I do have a few less wrinkles. No matter how hard it was getting up to this spot it was my goal to get there. My co-angler’s asked “weren’t you scared to come back here”? Scared no (well maybe of the spiders), a bit uncomfortable, yes but I was much too determined to let it get to me. Anyway, I ended up finishing…..wait for it…FIFTH overall….and that’s not even the kicker….I won big fish on the final day weighing in a 3-15 lb bass. Check out the final standings.

I want to thank EVERYONE who has supported me over this past year. It truly means a lot to me. THANK YOU!

Tonight our good friend and professional Women’s Bassmaster Tour angler Pam Martin-Wells is going to be inducted into the Legends Of The Outdoors National Hall Of Fame. Nominations for this prestigious award are made by outdoors writers and previously inducted members and recognize people who have had an impact and made contributions to the outdoors community.

This award recognizes Pam’s many accomplishments including being the all time leading money winner for women’s professional fishing, angler of the year for 1994, 1995, 2005, winner of both the inaugural Women’s BASS Tour preview event and WBT Championships.

Congratulations Pam from all your friends here at Mustang on living your dreams winning this award!