Profiles of the 24 women who competed in the first Woman's Bassmaster Tour Classic
Angler #1, Dianna Clark
Bumpus Mills, Tennessee
Lady Bass Angler was unable to contact this contender
Co-angler #1, Bonnie Ward
Women’s Bassmaster Tour anglers that have a spouse or travel companion are always quick to thank them for their support. For Bonnie Ward it is no different when she speaks about her husband Doug. Bonnie is a very quiet and frankly shy person. Her demeanor seems an unlikely one to find in a tough competitive sport. She finds her strength in the support of Doug and the rest of her family. It is a love story really. I have observed them some over the years and notice how Doug is content to travel with Bonnie across the nation pursuing her ‘hobby’. His years of support and love are reaping rewards or rather awards in the Women’s Bassmaster Tour. Bonnie won the tournament at Neely Henry and earned the co-angler of the year award.
So, how did an angler from the state of Washington make the decision to enter the Women’s Bassmaster Tour? “My husband, Doug, was the major influence. I would have waited one more year, but when this tour was announced he felt it would be a mistake not to fish the inaugural season.” Bonnie Ward says, “He was right!”
Bonnie started out trout fishing at about eight years old. She has been fishing for bass about fourteen years, she says “quitting for one reason or another but always coming back to it because I absolutely love this sport”. She has been tournament fishing about nine years but this is the first tournament trail she has been able to fish the entire year and devote time to.
When she decided to fish the trail it was with the thought that they would drive to all the tournaments. Keep in mind Bonnie is from Snohomish, Washington. For the premier event at Lewisville in the fall of 2005 she says, “We geared up with the intent of driving to all of the tournaments. About halfway there, I knew that was not going to happen. I was heartbroken, but had to be realistic. Maybe someday”.
To wish her luck, her sister Bobbie or Doug, will hide cards of support in her tackle box. She says, “It means a lot to me and I can’t tell you how many times I have discovered and opened the card and words of encouragement are just what I need at that very moment. My Mom has made me a couple of fishing shirts so ‘she can be with me in the boat’, that kind of encouragement feels great”.
Finishing in first place on the co angler side was not easy, highlights include: 1st Place at Neely Henry Lake, Tied for 2nd Place at Bull Shoals Lake. Bonnie explains what contributed to her success. “My go to bait this year has definitely been Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits 4” Senko. I caught the majority of my fish this year on the Senko and the Kreature. The inaugural tournament on Lake Neely Henry was most responsible for helping me qualify for the championship. I drew out on day one with Donna Newberry, with whom I had fished before, so I knew we would have a good day. I had gotten on to the Senko during practice and told her so she took me to some water that she had that fit what I had learned pre-fishing. We both caught fish. I was tied for second at the end of day one. I had never been in that position before so I was very, very nervous. The second day I drew out with Sherrie Brubaker who was great at keeping me calm and believing in myself. Day three I drew out with Tammy Richardson. We had both been fishing the very same kind of water but we were fishing it a bit differently. We made the decision to run through her first stretch one more time and things started changing. She had one more similar area she had found in practice. We stopped there on the way back to some water in which I had confidence and that’s where everything changed. We both started throwing Senko’s and the fish were responsive. It was fun and a dream come true. I caught all but two of my fish over the three days on a Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits 4” Green Pumpkin & Watermelon Laminate 4” Senko, 10 pound Sugoi Fluorocarbon line spooled on a Shimano Sustain Reel, which was mounted on a G. Loomis BCR852 Senko rod. I would cast the Senko against a rock wall or riprap bank and let it fall slowly.”
She also gives credit to her friends when asked if another competitor contributed to her success. “Absolutely! I was invited by Carolyn Poole, Jan Heavener, Marsha Gipson, and Judy Wong to pre-fish or practice with them. It makes a huge difference to get out there on the water and try to figure out what is going on, even as a non-boater. I am well aware boaters are not obligated to afford us this opportunity. I am extremely grateful to each of these ladies for the opportunity, the friendship, and the education. I had the good fortune to draw out with some great ladies this season and I learned something new from everyone with whom I was fortunate enough to fish. I drew out with Shelly Perry and Katrina DeHaven at the Bull Shoals tournament. I could not have had greater draws as both partners were determined that I would catch a fish to insure I stay in the top 12. I can’t begin to tell you how flattered and appreciative I was. I will never forget what all these ladies have done for me.”
Bonnie admits winning the first tournament gave her the boost she needed to start season. “It gave me a reason to believe in myself. My husband, friends, and family have always believed in me.” As I mention earlier, Bonnie is quite shy. She would like to take this opportunity to thank those who mean so much to her. “Public speaking is not my strong suit so I want to take this opportunity to thank Mercury Marine and Triton Boats for sponsoring the WBT; Kathy Magers for working so hard to put this all together; BASS and ESPN for making a series just for us ladies; and the phenomenal staff who have worked with us all season long; and all those who were so supportive and showed up in the mornings to see the top six anglers and co-anglers off and were there for every weigh-in to cheer their fellow competitors on. What class! We all made some great memories. I want to thank my Mom and Dad, Pat & Bob Johnson, for buying me my first rod, reel, and jar of eggs not knowing from where this desire to fish was coming or why, yet never questioning, just supporting one more desire in a long list and continuing that support my whole life; Jan and Charles Heavener who keep my tackle for me and simplify the flying process immensely; my sister, Bobbie Bugbee, who thinks my love for fishing is the greatest and practiced and pre-fished with me at Lake Dardanelle; and my ever-supportive husband, Doug, who makes all this possible for me, sends me out with last minute words of encouragement and a kiss, and can’t wait to hear about my day on the water when I get back to shore, and always keeps me laughing!”
Well, Bonnie has many memorable moments to look back on. She says, “I would have not even dared dream so big for myself. This has been a thrill and an honor. Memorable moments would include the inaugural win, seeing my husband for the first time when he made his way back stage after that win, Lurch telling me I was the Co-Angler of the Year, and being made to feel so special by so many of the ladies”.
The male anglers Bonnie admires most are Rick Clunn and one of my personal favorites, Hank Parker. She says, “Rick Clunn because he is always thinking. I think his ability to reason and his knowledge of bass is incredible. I also admire Hank Parker for his fishing abilities and the way he has drawn people to this sport.
There are several female anglers she respects. “I admire Chris Houston. I think she is not only a great angler but also a great ambassador to the sport of bass fishing. I admire is Sugar Ferris, founder of Bass’n Gal, I can’t imagine the obstacles she must have come up against starting and promoting a ladies circuit. I don’t know that any of us would have had the opportunity we had this past year had it not been for Kathy Magers and I know she was a great angler and another great ambassador of this sport for many years. Of course, there are many great ladies to be admired, and many reasons to admire them in the WBT.”
Typical of how considerate she is of others, she has a last thank you. “Thanks to my husband, Doug; my sister, Bobbie and her husband, Guy; my Mom and Dad, Pat and Bob Johnson. That is my immediate family and support system. Our good friend, Bob Cone, he keeps everything going on the home front while Doug and I are at these tournaments. Jordon and the rest of the staff at Three Rivers Marine in Woodinville who take extra special care of me, special orders and all. They are all a great support team and I couldn’t do it without each and every one of them.”
Angler #2, Tammy Richardson
Tammy Richardson who has fished as long as she can remember says, “I love to fish. I love competition and when I heard about the Women’s Bassmaster Tour, I knew I wanted to be part of it.”
Tammy became more than a participant; she rocked the stage with her bags of fish and down to the wire finishes. What a competitor she is. Having honed her skills on Lake Degray in Arkansas, and competing in WBFA, Anglers Choice, and Trader Bills Team Tour for the past sixteen years fishing she was ready for the WBT.
Her highlights included winning the Inaugural event on Neely Henry in Alabama, then winning the coveted ESPY award, winning the tournament at Bulls Shoals Lake and finishing in second place in the Angler of the Year Standings.
Tammy worked hard, often practicing seven to ten days prior to the official practice days. Her primary technique was flipping. What tournament does Tammy consider most responsible for helping her qualify for the championship? “Neely Henry, I was flipping a green pumpkin, and black with red flake, tube. I had ¼ oz Tru Tungsten weight, and 15 lb. Big game Trilene line. This worked the first two days. Due to rain and the weather being much muddier, the tube was not working as well on the final day. I switched to a 4” green pumpkin senko, fishing weightless. I was pitching to the main river bank. She gives credit to her co-angler on Neely Henry for helping her on the last day. “My co-angler, Bonnie Ward, was fishing the green pumpkin senko; she is the person who put me onto this bait.”
To prepare for the upcoming championship she is doing her homework, which includes studying the lake and making sure all of her equipment is ready. “I focus on being prepared, fishing hard, and doing the best I can do. Win or loose I have to know I did those three things or I can’t be satisfied with my performance.”
Tammy enjoys camping and spending time with her family. She says to unwind, “nothing is more relaxing and peaceful than watching a sunrise or sunset on the water. It’s like the world is at its calmest at that moment”.
Tammy does not have a lucky charm, but does have a tee shirt that says JESUS that she likes to wear on tournament days. Tammy is a member of the Women’s Fellowship of Christian Anglers (FOCAS),
Although she does not have an individual male angler she admires she says, “I have watched some of these guys fish for a long time. I am a huge fan of several of them. I am up on Saturday mornings watching Bassmasters, and if I am gone I record it. No one is more excited to see these guys at the events than me”.
Asked if she had a female angler she admired she says this question was the most difficult to answer. “It’s all the women that have fished for years competitively and represented women and the love for the sport. It is too hard to pick just one. I am currently fishing against Judy Wong, Penny Berryman, and Lucy Mize. These ladies are great examples of lady anglers, I admire each of them and I am proud to have made their acquaintance.”
Tammy says she has enjoyed getting to know several of the ladies that fish the WBT. “When I speak to ladies about joining us and fishing the WBT, I tell them what a great group we have. I have never met so many people who are part of a competition and yet so eager and willing to help others. The majority of the women try very hard to make our new members feel welcome.”
Was there anything different or special that went on during the tournament season? Yes, the ESPYS. Being nominated for that award was an honor, but to win it made me realize how much support there is for women’s fishing. Thanks to every one who voted.
Tammy and her husband, Bobby Richardson, live at Amity Arkansas. She has three sons, Christopher Richardson age 18, Dustin Holmes age 13, Austin Holmes age 11. She is an LPN, licensed x-ray tech, and phlebotomist. She attended Henderson State University, Qupaw Nursing School.
Her thanks go to her family, “I’m so blessed to have their support. Thanks to BASS and ESPN for the tour, also gives her thanks to a special lady who has brought so many positive things to women’s fishing, Kathy Magers. Thanks to Deb Wilkinson, Bruce Mathis, and all the BASS staff for a great job with the WBT this year.”
Tammy Richardson is sponsored by Triton Boats, Right Bite Baits, Berkley and G-Loomis.
Co-Angler #2, Mary Croft
Her daughter, Taylor Croft, is the most important person in Mary Croft’s life. She expresses how much her daughter’s love and support means to her. It is also evident how important her family is to her. Mary says it was her family that influenced her to compete in the Women’s Bassmaster Tour. It is her family that encourages and supports her in her endeavors, as she says, “her all the way”.
Mary’s home body of water is Smith Mountain Lake. She lives at Bedford Virginia and works for Advance Auto as a Switcher/Driver. She also enjoys collecting baseball cards, shooting her bow and likes to unwind by going to the lake.
Although she has been fishing about thirty years she has been tournament fishing for sixteen years. This is the first tournament trail she has completed. Mary fished one other BASS event, a CITGO Bassmaster, on her home lake as a co-angler and finished in eighth place.
Like most of the WBT anglers, Mary considers fishing this year in the WBT and qualifying to the very first championship as the highlight of her tournament experience.
Kevin Van Dam is the male angler Mary admires most. She says, “I just like to watch him fish and I admire what he has accomplished”. Since this is the first all female trail that Mary has fished she is just becoming acquainted with the women anglers. Mary says, “I did not know many female anglers until this year, but I will have to say I admire the ladies who have been around and have done things for the women through the years like Penny Berryman and Pam Martin Wells”.
Mary says, “I want to say thank you to everybody that has made this tour possible and to all the great anglers I was fortunate to fish with. I would like say a special thanks to Judy Antle and Cindy Van Horn for encouraging me and Sheri Glasgow for getting me on the water in Lewisville when I needed to prefish.”
A Texas rigged Zoom trick worm was her ‘go to’ bait this during the season. She says she primarily used a Texas rigged soft plastic and a jig. Mary says she feels it was the Neely Henry tournament that she feels contributed to her success. “I finished fifth overall and it gave me the confidence that I could do this and the drive to do well in the other tournaments.” During that tournament she finesse fished a watermelon candy baby brushhog in shallow water.
During the 2006 tour Mary’s sponsors were: FishHer, digginupbones.com, ebassfish.com and Pathway Logistics.
Angler #3, Lucy Mize
Look up the word “professional” in the dictionary and you get examples like: conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession, exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace. Also, participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs, having a particular profession as a permanent career.
Describe Lucy Mize and the word you would most often use would be “professional”. Lucy is a true professional angler. She has learned the techniques and has the skill to compete at the highest level of tournament angling. She comes from the old school of competition with high ethical standards, where the rules are black and white and firmly adhered to. Courteous, conscientious, and determined, all describe her commitment to her professional angling career. Witness Lucy for a brief time and realize she is all business in the boat.
Lucy is on a mission. Her goal is to be the best female angler, make it to the Bassmasters Classic and promote women’s fishing. She has been one of the top anglers for many years. This petite southern gal from Ben Lomond Arkansas has earned the respect of men and women alike. What amazes me is how she has quietly gone about her business, fishing with the women for many years and then competing in the prestigious BASS tours, many times as the only female.
A tournament angler for twenty-one years, some of her angling career highlights include: Three (3) Bass’ n Gal National Champion, three (3) Bass’n Gal Angler of the Year and the highest placing female on the BASS Circuit. Lucy says, “I love to compete, I have been fishing Bassmasters for eight years and have been waiting on a really professional women's circuit.
In 2006 Lucy competed not only on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour but also the Bassmaster Northern Tour. Often she would leave one tournament and head straight to the next one. She was able to prefish each of the lakes zero to only a few days prior to the tournaments, yet she managed to be consistent and finish third in Angler of the Year standings.
To qualify for the WBT Championship she said her ‘go to’ bait and technique was, “flipping a creature bait”. If she had to define a tournament that she feels most responsible for helping her qualify she says it was the tournament on Dardanelle Lake in Arkansas. “I was throwing a Berkley Frenzy popper early in the grass and pads in 2-6 ft murky water using Stren 14-lb Dura Tuff line; and then going to 10-25 ft depth for throwing a Carolina Rig using Stren 14-lb main line with a 12-lb leader.”
No lucky charms for Lucy, she has a deep faith in God and her family is her inspiration. She also gives a big thanks to her family for “always being there for me – no matter what”. Lucy’s husband, Jimmy, fishes the BASS Elite Tour. She has a son and daughter, Matt and Melinda. Her home body of water is Millwood Lake, Arkansas. It is not hard to imagine the feelings she has endured this year as she tried to concentrate on competition and the whereabouts of her daughter. “My daughter, Melinda, who also fishes the tour, is in the Army National Guard. She was deployed to Kuwait. On a weeks leave, shortly before she left, she was married to Michael Hooper who is also in the Army. Needless to say my mind was not always on my fishing.”
The male angler she admires is “Rick Clunn, because he has always treated me as an equal. Realizing it's not a man or woman's thing, but that we are all just trying to fish”. Female angler, is, “Chris Houston, because she is a true professional, she never sweated the small stuff, she didn't get caught up in the ‘dock talk’, she came, did her job, and that was that”.
So what else does a woman whose life seems to revolve around fishing do? She has a second career as a Tax Preparer. Her hobby is ‘junkin’ and when she can, she enjoys camping. To unwind or relax she likes to curl up on the love seat and watch Law & Order.
How confident does she feel about the Championship on Lake Mitchell? “I think we all would love to win. But, I hope that I can be the one to pull it off.” Years ago she was given the nickname of “Lucky Lucy’. It has never been about luck, it has been about being a professional.
Lucy says, “I would like to thank BASS for giving women the opportunity to participate in bass fishing at this higher level and to thank my sponsors, through the years, for having faith in me”.
Lucy Mize’s sponsors are: Triton, Mercury, Lowrance, Motor Guide, Berkley/Gulp, Stren, Quantum and Gemini.
Co-angler #3, Keri Schieber
“A family with a passion for fishing”, that is how Keri Schieber describes her legacy. Teri’s grandfather, Charles Burke, was founder and owner of Burke Fishing Lures in Traverse City, Michigan. Mr. Burke was a chemist and designed his own baits by carving molds for crickets, worms and other insects and formulated his own plastics.
It was her brother, Chuck, that taught Keri and her twin sister, Teri Neal, how to fish. She says, “We would dig up some worms and ride our bikes up the road to a small lake in the woods. We would catch perch, bass and sunfish. We continued fishing until we were in our mid teens.”
It was Teri that introduced her to tournament fishing. She says, “Teri was living in Arizona at the time. I remember flying out there to visit her in 1989. I arrived on a Friday afternoon. She picked me up at the airport, we went to her house, she hooked up her boat and we drove up to Roosevelt Lake for her club tournament. I only caught one fish that weekend, but I really enjoyed it. I laugh now when I think about how I didn’t know how to lip my fish and my boater had to do it for me. She made a big deal out of it and claimed I snagged the only fish I caught. I think that made me determined to learn how to catch and handle fish.”
Later that year Teri sent her a tackle box loaded with her favorite baits. “I joined the Georgia Peaches Bass Club; they were called the Lunker Lovers back then. I’m still a member and fish with them every chance I get.”
What are her angling highlights? “I think in 1999, when I won the Georgia Peaches Bass Club championship, was the first highlight in my angling career. I was in second place going into the final event. The tournament was close to home on a lake a lot of people refer to as ‘the dead sea’. The morning of the tournament, my tow vehicle wouldn’t start (failed fuel pump). My husband called his friend, Al, and asked if I could borrow his boat and truck. Al agreed and I got to the lake late, after making a wrong turn down a dead end road. I ended up with over 11 pounds of fish that day and won the championship by just over one pound. Another highlight was when I won again in 2005. I had taken three years absence from the club. I went back as a non-boater and won the championship at the same lake as in 1999, with over 12 pounds. My greatest highlight, of course, is finishing in 3rd place for the WBT season as a co-angler.”
Keri says, “A memorable moment for me was being the first WBT member to set foot on the official Elite series stage, which was at the Neely Henry weigh-in in Guntersville. After I weighed in, I walked back stage and there was Mike Iconelli, Alton Jones, KVD and a bunch of the other guys waiting to weigh their fish. Mike smiled and said ‘hi’ to me. Thanks Mike, you made my day. Also, Teri and I got our picture with KVD and he autographed my WBT visor, which lies next to my trophy I won that day. Now that was exciting!”
The male angler Keri admires is Kevin Van Dam, “I met Kevin at the BP event on Lake Lanier in December of 1991. He had just won the event and I went to talk to him. I told him I grew up in Traverse City, Michigan and we talked about some of his favorite lakes being in the Traverse City area. Since then, I have watched him over the years and have always been impressed with his perseverance and professional attitude.”
She finds it hard to pick just one professional female angler, “This is a tough one to answer. There are several that I admire. I fished with Diana Clark the first day on Neely Henry. She was very professional and had a great attitude. Even though she didn’t do well that day she never gave up and it earned her the Angler of the Year for 2006”.
Like many anglers Keri does admit to a lucky charm. “Well, my lucky charms are probably silly, but I have faith in them. One is a buckeye that I carried in my tackle bag all season. The other is an old, beat-up pink culling ring that my husband, Joe, put in by tackle bag that we call Pinkie. My inspiration is my grandma Burke. She was very special and taught me so many things that have helped me be who I am today. I think of her a lot when I am out there fishing.”
When the Women’s Bassmaster Tour was announced, Keri and her sister, Teri, decided they would wait and fish as pros in 2007 and fish one event in 2006, she as a pro, and me as a co-angler since I didn’t have a boat yet. Then Teri received an email from Kathy Magers asking if we were going to fish the first event on Neely Henry. It took a lot of convincing before I decided to do it, but am I glad I did. I finished in 6th place as a co-angler. After my finish on Neely Henry I had to commit for the rest of the season.
At Neely Henry Keri says, “I didn’t get a chance to practice, but my sister Teri did. She told me to fish a Zoom green pumpkin ultra vibe speed craw along the grass. I fished it with a 1/32 oz. weighted Texas rigged spinning rod. I used 10 pound Berkley Big Game. I think the slow decent of the bait is what got the fish to bite. I fished with Denise Sesco on the second day of Neely Henry, where I weighed in my limit and qualified for the final six”.
To prepare for the upcoming championship, Keri has been studying maps, pulling together as much information as she can. “I’ve also started back on my weight training and yoga so I can be both physically and mentally prepared.” In addition to fishing she enjoys gardening, camping, cooking and interior decorating.
Keri lives in Cumming, GA, is a Technical Writer for a marketing distributor of industrial automation products. Her husband is Joe. “He also has a passion for fishing and we are continually sharing new fishing ideas with each other. I introduced him to tournament fishing and he taught me how to catch spotted bass. It’s wonderful to have his companionship and support. I have three grown children, Eric, Sarah and Ryan. Eric is a driver instructor at Road Atlanta. He also built and races a Spec Miata in SCCA competition. This past year he qualified for the National Runoffs, where he finished 5th out of more than 50 competitors. Sarah is continuing her education at Georgia State with a major in Criminal Justice and will graduate in December 2007. Ryan is a hard-core programmer and Eric’s partner in the Miata race car. I am very proud of them.” Her home body of water is Lake Lanier.
As she prepares for the Championship and looks to the future Keri says, “Everything was special about the whole season, starting with the great BASS staff that showed us so much enthusiasm and support. We all owe them a huge thank you. And I met so many wonderful women anglers that I can’t wait to see again during the 2007 season. I must admit, a day doesn’t go by that I don’t think about WBT and how it has added a new dimension to my life. Thank you BASS and ESPN.
Foremost, I want to thank my sister, Teri. I wouldn’t be fishing if it weren’t for her. She is my best friend and a great fishing partner. And my husband, Joe, who has taught me so much about fishing and is a wonderful husband and bass caddy. I want to say that I hope during the next few years I will have the opportunity to get to know all of the women fishing WBT and we can become lifelong friends. And I encourage all lady anglers that have not experienced a WBT event, to try just one, but be careful, it’s highly contagious and you’ll want to come back for more”.
About her sponsors, Keri says, “I have one of the best sponsors you could ask for. If it weren’t for AutomatonDirect, the company I work for, I would not have been able to finish all of the events in 2006. They sponsored me with time off and helped with expenses for the last three events. And to top things off, they are sponsoring me again for 2007. Thank you AutomationDirect! Also, I would like to thank Zoom Bait Company, who supplied me with the baits that helped me catch my fish. I’m looking forward to catching more with their baits in the upcoming season. And Hammond’s Fishing and Boat Storage, my local tackle shop, where they are always helping me pick out all that tackle I think I need”.
Angler #4, Tammie Muse
For Tammie Muse it was the Lake Norman tournament that she feels helped her qualify for the Women’s Bassmaster Championship. “Lake Norman was a great fishery for me. I really didn't have a very good practice. During my practice I ran from one end of the lake to other and still didn't have a clue what the fish where doing there. I had to stop at a marina and buy gas one day and when I looked down from the dock all I could see where large black bass cruising the shore line in that area. So, I decided if the bass where cruising the shore line right there then that is probably what they where doing on the rest of the lake. The bass were actually targeting bream beds next to the shore line. Although, I found them mostly on the secondary points cruising close to the bream beds. So, I just took out my go to bait I used at home on the Arkansas River. The little big man spinner bait 1/4oz. Tennessee shad and my little big man buzz bait 1/4oz. white and black. I used 10lb P-Line on Castaway rods with Shimano reels. If I did not hit a rock on the bank I would not get a bite. As soon as I would hit the bank and make that noise from my bait hitting a rock then it would help trigger the bite I needed.
Tammie grew up fishing and one of her fondest memories is when she went fishing with her grandmother. “My family loved the outdoors and my grandmother recently passed away at 102 years old. I remember she used to take me fishing at the age of 2 years old and we would stay out there for days until she had a stringer of fish”.
She has been tournament fishing since 1995. She had several family and friends influencing her to enter the Women’s Bassmaster Tour. Tammie says, “My team fishing partner, Robert Louthian and my boys pushed me to go pro and many of my friends like Scott Rook, Stan Jacks and Cecil Walker. Tammy has two married sons and two grandchildren that give her great joy. Her best friend, Robert D. Louthian Jr, is also her business and fishing partner. She says her best fans including her family seem to be his son and daughter. Tammie is from North Little Rock Arkansas and considers the Arkansas River her home body of water. She carries a lucky charm from her five year old granddaughter, Jeana, saying, “She gave me a blue plastic frog that I keep in my boat”.
It would seem fishing the WBT would be a full schedule but Tammy not only excelled in it she fished other tournament trails as well. Competing in Mr. Bass of Arkansas Pro Am, Vince Millers Team, Vince Millers Couples, BFL, ESPN Outdoor Series, H&W Marine, Fish-n-Stuff. Tammy says, “I have been tournament fishing since 1995 in Team events and pro-am tournaments. I fish every weekend someplace and on every Tuesday night (two different trails) all year long every year!
Tammie says she considers Guido Hibdon as one of her favorite male anglers. “I fished with him in a FLW tournament and he showed me the definition of what a true professional angler was all about that day on the water.” Female anglers she admires, “Judy Wong and Penny Berryman, they are both some of the greatest professional female anglers out there today. They both are very kind people and share the knowledge they have of fishing with all us.”
What fishing technique or primary lure does she feel was the most important in helping her qualify for the championship? “Spinnerbait and buzzbaits.”
Tammie says she feels she will have to it 110% to win the WBT Championship. “I am already a winner just by going to the WBT Championship. I know I am competing with some awesome professional female anglers I will have to give it a 110% to the very end.
In addition to fishing she enjoys hunting, NASCAR, restoring old cars, oil painting, and embroidery work. To ‘unwind’ she says she likes “late night swims in our pool, petting my dog and cats and talking about fishing”.
As you can imagine she has had several angling career highlights which include, winning a fully rigged Skeeter boat during a sponsored BASS N WALLEYE BOAT MAGAZINE tournament on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas in 1999, a Top 10 finish in her very first FLW tournament of the season in 2001 at Lake Okeechobee and this year when she won a fully rigged Triton boat in the H & W Marine Tuesday night championship on September 23 & 24 2006 at Lake Dardanelle with a two day total of 33.71. Memorable moments include, “winning the boats with my team partner and a milestone for me was going pro and most memorable right now was making my first WBT Top 6 - two times with a third place finish and a six place finish. I think the Championship will become my most memorable moment”.
Tammie is a Pro Angler, CEO of Rob's Transmissions and owner of Eye Sew 4 U, a custom embroidery shop. She attended college studying Business & Marketing and Office Management & Accounting.
When asked about the Women’s Bassmaster Tour she says, “lady's this is wonderful opportunity for all of us to be winners”.
Tammie would like to thank Robert Louthian Jr; he is my business partner, and fishing partner and most of all my best friend.
Tammie Muse’s sponsors are: Robs Transmissions & Enterprises, Best Car Wash, Mizmo Bait Co, Norman Lures, Arkie Jigs, Conway Fence, Goss Camper Shells, and Snap on
Co-angler #4, Kim Stapp
“I don’t think you can be successful in the WBT without being versatile, especially as a co-angler. If you only finesse fish and your boater is power fishing with the trolling motor on high it’s going to be a tough day on the lake. As a co-angler you have to be able to adapt to your boaters style of fishing,” words of advice from co-angler Championship qualifier, Kim Stapp.
Part of her strategy was using a shaky head jig that she made herself. Kim says she “usually fished on 12 or 14 pound Berkley Vanish Transition Gold Line with a twin tail grub in smoke or white”. On how she used it she says, “I can jig it, swim it, I like fishing in along rip rap and rocky points bouncing it down the rocks”. In addition to the shaky head jig she also likes fishing jerk baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Carolina rigs.
As a little girl Kim’s grandfather would take her fishing. “He taught my how to tie knots and bait a hook. I can remember fishing all day, and on the way home stopping to get a big watermelon. I really miss him he would have loved watching the WBT.” That nurturing form her grandfather has led to a life long love of fishing. “I probably fish 65 -80 days a year maybe more. I have never really kept count. I try to make it to the lake most weekends the weather permits.
Kim started tournament fishing with the Georgia Peaches Bass Club. Although she has only been tournament fishing for about two years she has learned well. “The WBT was my first experience in a major bass tournament. I hope to move over to the boater side next year. I just feel I need one more year experience before I make the move. I am stilling learning how to dissect a lake, find fish and eliminate water.” Her decision to fish the WBT came about when several of the ladies in her bass club were discussing the WBT and some decided to enter. Along with the bass club she is also a member of ABA.
Kim says she admires Pro angler Penny Berryman, “I saw her a few years ago at the Bass Pro Shop in Atlanta. The seminar she did was very interesting and informative”.
As a co-angler qualifier for the WBT Championship she gives credit to her versatility and the help of others. “I would have to say that each angler I fished with had something to do with me getting to the classic. But I think that Laura Gober was the one person that made the most contribution. Even though I never got to fish with her in a tournament, Laura and I pre-fished together most of last year. We would study the maps before each tournament and share the research we had done the lake. I learned a lot about preparing for a tournament with her last year. You can do a lot of research on a lake but nothing can substitute being on the water.”
To prepare for the Championship and the 2007 season Kim has been replacing and adding some new equipment. She says, “I’ve been experimenting with the drop shot. I’m getting things like reservations and travel plans out of the way, earlier this year. I am gathering more information of the lakes this year”.
“I think last year did a lot for my confidence, especially since I’ve only been tournament fishing a couple of years and somehow managed to make it to the classic. But as a co-angler sometimes it just comes down to the luck of the draw. I think it will be a lot different this coming year with better lakes at better times of the year. I think there will be fewer anglers coming in without fish and the points will be more spread out. I’m not sure my preparation will be a lot different this year. However, I feel like I will be more organized. Last year at some of the tournament I brought things I didn’t need and some I left things at home I needed. I am sure some things will change from last year but I will have a better ideal of what to expect this year”.
Kim is not new to competition though. Her other outdoor hobby involves competition. “I love to play golf. The 10 years, prior to this past year, I have had a standing tee time every Saturday and Sunday with three of the most competitive women on a golf course. That is the one thing I have missed since I started fishing the WBT and other tournaments.”
She also enjoys ‘road trips’ with her husband, Mike, in his older model Corvette. They belong to the Mountain City Corvette Club. “We enjoy taking road trips and mystery cruises with them.” They also relax by playing cards, poker, backgammon, gin and rook.
To unwind Kim likes to take her dog, Shelby, on the lake with her. “It is sometimes nice, just to be on the water with out the pressure of a tournament. Shelby, she’ll eat anything, loves it when I snag some of the bait fish; she can make those things disappear before they hit the floor of the boat. It is relaxing to explore new places on the lake or sometimes just take a long ride up river on a sunny afternoon.”
She says her angling career highlight was finishing second in Texas and being on the stage at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth Texas. “I think a memorable moment for me was the weigh-in at Guntersville, last year. That was the first major event weigh-in I had ever been to. It was fun see those Elite anglers that you usually only see on ESPN.”
To promote fishing she is involved in a toy drive, take a veteran fishing, and makes personal appearances.
Does she have a lucky charm? “My little gold hoop earrings, I just feel like something is missing without them.”
Kim is from Ringgold, Georgia. “Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee is closest to me and is what I would consider my home lake. But I love fishing Weiss Lake in Alabama.” Kim and her husband own Stapp Auto Parts and Stapp Automotive Repair. “I manage the Auto Parts Store and Mike manages the Auto Repair Business. I have one son, Jason, who works with us and goes to college.” She attended Northwestern Technical College.
Kim says, “I would like to reiterate what Diana Clark said after winning in Arkansas. I would like to thank Bass, ESPN and the WBT for letting us live our dreams. I would like to thank my husband who drove me across the southeast United States last year. He toted my tackle in and out of trucks, motels and boats. He dropped several of us in the water each morning and pulled us out every afternoon. (For which he was given the title of Best Boat Caddie.) He found all the good restaurants and directions to the tackle stores while I was on the water. And he was also in charge of photography”.
Kim’s sponsors are: Berkley Pure Fishing, Auto Value Auto Parts, and BAJH.
Angler #5, Sheri Glasgow
“For anyone spending days thinking about going fishing, it’s just that many day’s your missing one of the most incredible experiences of your life. Don’t over think!” Words of advice from Sheri Glasgow, don’t think about fishing – just do it. And Sheri does it very well; she is undisputedly one of the top female anglers in the nation.
Sheri has a career in bass fishing that many might envy. Numerous awards earned in previous all female tournament trails, Bass ‘n Gal and Women’s Bass Fishing Association (WBFA), as well as blazing a new trail the first year of the Women’s Bassmaster Tour. Her accomplishments go back as far as 1992 when she entered her first Bass ‘n Gal trail, earning the coveted “Rookie of the Year” title. Sheri worked hard and continued to earn three National Champion titles, two Angler of the Year titles, and worth mentioning is the two runner-up angler of the year titles she missed by only one point and five points. Finishing in fifth place in Angler of the Year on the Women’s Bassmaster Tour earned her a berth in the Championship on Lake Mitchell.
Sheri resides in Muskogee, Oklahoma and her home lake is the Arkansas River running through Muskogee. Sheri has been tournament bass fishing for about sixteen years.
Many of us remember another notable Oklahoma angler, Chris Houston. Sheri says, “I have always had a huge respect for Chris Houston and the attention she brought to women’s angling during her career. Chris was a very consistent angler, and was inducted into the Fishing Hall of Fame. She was a role model for me when I started not only for her fishing skills, but her character, sportsmanship, and humility”.
In a year of firsts, the first WBT tournament trail, first WBT angler of the year race and Top 12 Championship, Sheri had experienced another first, “I had the opportunity to run my first wrapped Ranger, with Biosonix on one side and Rat-L-Trap on the other. Several people thought I kept showing up in different boats”.
Sheri’s fishing strength is pitching. When asked what fishing technique she used most often during this year or her ‘go to’ bait, the answer was simple, “Well let’s see, there was pitching, pitching, and on occasion I would pitch. I’ll pitch most any thing, plastics, spinnerbaits, sometimes crankbaits, including Rat-L-Traps. Yes, I do also cast, sometimes. The year for the most part was really varied with baits”.
At Neely Henry Alabama Sheri sat in second place going into the final day. Then at Lewisville Texas, she duplicated with another second place going into the final day. This was quite an accomplishment, an angler making the top six a second time in a row. It was Lake Norman, North Carolina that raised eyebrows and words of acclaim when she finished in second place the third time in a row going into the final day. How did she do that? Sheri says, “I pitched plastics at Neely Henry, spinnerbaits at Lewisville, and plastics, jigs, and Rat-L-Traps at Norman, all on a Quantum Energy 6’6” Medium Heavy rod using a bait caster”. It was these three finishes that propelled her to qualify for the championship.
For Sheri fishing in the WBT is self motivated and as far as inspiration she says, “God has always been my inspiration, which carries me through good and bad times. As for luck, I call it blessed”.
Asked what she was doing to prepare for the upcoming championship at Lake Mitchell she says, “Pre-scouting and praying a lot!” How much time will she spend before the lake goes off limits and what’s her strategy, “Probably about three days, it’s a small lake. My first trip over, I left Oklahoma in an ice and snow storm, only to miss a tornado by two and a half hours in a small town in Alabama. If the ice and snow had not slowed me down, I may have ended up in Kansas with Toto.”
No stranger to fishing Alabama lakes she says, “I have always felt comfortable fishing the Coosa River system.” It is that comfort level that is giving her the confidence going into the Championship to feel good about winning.
Sheri has a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Arts from Northeastern State University at Tahlequah, Oklahoma and works as a Custom Cabinet Designer and Sales Representative. Sheri’s mom is Mary Psomas Taylor and she has three older brothers, Gary, Clay and Pete Psomas.
Growing up with three older brothers probably brought out the tomboy in her. She also likes to go deer hunting with a bow as well as a gun. When she is relaxing you might find her carrying spinning gear as she walks along a creek bed, or riding around Oklahoma on her Harley. Yes, a Harley! To be specific, a Harley named Red. “About a year ago I bought a Harley Davison Dyna Low-Rider, which has been almost as much fun as catching a 10 pounder”.
Along Sheri’s journey in life she has won so many awards and has a stockpile of great memories. So what is her personal highlight? “Having my family at my first Angler of The Year Banquet, with my mother at the head table with me. I know dad, John Psomas, was sending down smiles.”
Sheri sends her thanks to, “All my sponsors, and everyone that has offered their time to help me at tournaments, BASS and ESPN for allowing the ladies to do what we have always dreamed about. Also, the ladies on the tour, who have a passion for fishing, having shared wonderful experiences and friendships, without you this would not happen at all. Mostly God for his mercy, grace, blessing, and giving us the waters to float and the fish to catch.”
Sheri Glasgow’s sponsors are: Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Biosonix, Rat-L-Trap, Quantum, Lowrance Electronics and Motor Guide
Co-angler #5, Heather Sullivan
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” This quote from Lao Tzu could have been written with Heather Sullivan in mind. Heather was living in Sitka, Alaska when she read in the Bassmaster magazine about an upcoming tournament trail for women only. Encouraged by her best friend, Greg Baldwin, to enter the Women’s Bassmaster Tour on Lake Neely Henry in Alabama, she made a decision that would open up a new world of opportunity and friends.
In her first tournament she finished in second place. That place finish, would cause Heather to make a decision. It was too far to travel from Alaska for the rest of the tournaments but the thrill of the competition was luring her. Heather returned to Alaska staying long enough to make arrangements to move back to the ‘lower forty-eight’ and compete in the final three tournaments. Even though she missed one tournament she was able to qualify for the Championship in one of the coveted co-angler spots, finishing in fifth place overall.
Heather did not get to fish either of the tournaments held on Lake Lewisville in Texas, during the premier event she was Barramunda fishing in Australia and the second time she was making preparation to move to be able to compete in the final three tournaments.
“Consistently weighing in fish is what got me in the top 12. I didn't catch huge fish while tournament fishing this year, but I weighed in fish at every tournament, and that's what put me in the top.” Her primary baits were finesse worms and spinnerbaits. She stayed with those baits throughout the competition saying “Fishing from the back of the boat, I cast a lot of spinnerbaits and worms. I caught some nice keepers that kept me in the running. My biggest fish was caught on a white Bumble Bee spinnerbait at Neely Henry. It was a lure I got out of my dad's office and they don't even make them anymore. I was sad to see the bass destroyed my antique lure, but didn't care after realizing he was responsible for placing me in the top 6 at Neely Henry. I consistently caught fish in the tournaments on a Texas rigged watermelon candy or watermelon red Zoom finesse worm. Usually I used 12 lb. Seaguar fluorocarbon.”
She grew up fishing, camping and waterskiing on Lake Mitchell. Heather says she has been fishing as long as she can remember. “My dad started my sister and I early, bass and bream fishing with a Snoopy pole. We had some private ponds around our house and we used to fish after school. We've also had several father - daughter fishing trips through the years that included the Gulf Coast, Grand Isles, and Louisiana and river systems of Alabama”.
There is calmness about Heather; I suppose it comes from her career. She graduated from Auburn University and UAB School of Nursing. In Alaska she was a flight nurse for a medevac company. “I flew to remote villages of Alaska and transported sick individuals to a higher level of care. Since southeast Alaska is a big cruise ship route, I also flew a ton of people from the cruise ships to Seattle, Washington.” In order to make the move to Alabama she took a "travel assignment" and is working in the ER at Baptist South hospital in Montgomery, Alabama.
I spent a few days pre-fishing with Heather and developed great respect for her. Heather carried a very small tackle pack, crammed tight with old standards in competition baits. I was not surprised when she said she used an antique lure garnered from her dad’s collection. Her years of fishing with her dad taught her well to stay with the old standards. She carried a sufficient supply of what she might need, many old tried and true colors, no new gimmicks or colors. It served her well. Just like I imagine an emergency nurse or doctor’s bag might be like – just the basics but enough variety to take care of the situation and do the job.
At Bull Shoals some of us were concerned when Heather decided to pitch a tent and camp near the launch. Her petite and soft exterior fooled us as to how self sufficient she is. It rained and turned cold, offers were extended for a warm dry room, yet she would not budge from her cozy tent. We wondered how she could make it. “I have a German short hair pointer and we do a lot of pheasant hunting out west. Also, living in Alaska, we hunt and fish for subsistence, chickens cost $8 -12. In Alaska I deer hunt, hang and process my own meat.” She would be okay in the tent.
Other outdoor activities she enjoys, “I am an equestrian at heart. I grew up training and showing horses. Now that I am in Alabama again, I ride on a regular basis. I also love to snow ski. The best job I ever had was working as a nurse at a ski resort in Winter Park, Colorado where I got to ski everyday.”
You only have to meet Heather’s parents briefly to realize how their encouragement and love created such an independent, reliable, and nurturing person. Robert and Debbie Sullivan raised two daughters, teaching them to live life to the fullest, give back to others and enjoy this beautiful outdoors. While Robert taught them outdoor skills like hunting and fishing, Debbie taught them horseback riding and femininity, together they raised unique individuals. Heather says her parents have been her biggest supporters. “As with everything my sister and I have done, they have always encouraged us and been there for us as much as possible.” That was evident at every weigh-in this year, in the audience there was Robert and Debbie cheering on another of their daughters dreams.
“My inspirational or lucky charm is a handmade necklace from Greg. It is an abalone shell from our island in Alaska, hand beaded to a leather choker from his first Buck (deer) as a child. Wherever I am in the world, it brings me good luck fishing. I also have a good luck sun visor. I bought it at the first tourney at Neely Henry in Alabama. I was 2nd in this tournament and got to go to the weigh in stage and meet some of the top men anglers behind stage. I got a few of them to sign my hat and I wear it for every tournament. My hat blew off the first day of fishing in Dardanelle and I wasn't able to retrieve it. Crazy enough, on the final weigh in day; the oldest competitor in the WBT (Denise Sesco) saw my visor and picked it up. She said she recognized Kevin Van Dam's signature and knew it must be important to someone!”
Heather has a tough work schedule and a career that probably requires some way to relax or unwind. “With a cold Coors Light sitting on my back porch swing listening to Country Music.” Simple, like her tackle pack, just the basics.
Heather grew up on Lake Mitchell and currently lives nearby so she has been able to get in several days of pre-fishing. “I work six days on and eight days off, so I get in some good quality lake time.” She is doing her homework by studying locations, patterns and changing condition. “I am going to do well in this tournament. Just this whole year has been too crazy, ironic. Making the decision to leave my home in Alaska and come to Alabama to fish this tourney series has been a great decision. I have met some great gals with the same interest as me and I have done well fishing. It's just all too ironic that I told my mom if I won the first tournament I would move back to Alabama. After placing second in that tournament, finishing fifth overall, then qualifing for the championship on my home lake, and all my hard work and perserverance, I have some confidence about winning this tournament.” Heather has certainly put in the extra hours and has the determination.
A full life is how you might view Heather. So what does she consider her highlight or memorable moment? I would guess, all of them, every day, every minute. Heather says, “Taking control of my destiny and not "settling" for the norm. There is too much fun to be had and life is too short. This year and fishing this tournament series has been such a positive and wonderful experience. When I heard this was going to happen I thought how cool it would be to become a part of history for women and what a great opportunity it would be to meet other women that enjoyed the same things as me.”
When asked if there were any female anglers she admired I was humbled by her response. “I have to say how fortunate I was to meet, in my opinion, two of the greatest women fishing the WBT, Conny Jenkins and Sunny Carpenter. I met them both at my first tournament in Alabama. I flew in from Alaska, this was my first tournament ever and I didn't know anyone or what to expect. They took me under their wing and have been super helpful and supportive.”
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be” certainly does describe her. We might also consider, “Nothing is worth more than this day”.
Heather extends thanks to her dad, Robert Sullivan, and Larry Robertson, Ed Young, and Bob Hill.
Heather Sullivan’s current sponsors are: G. Loomis, Matzuo and Smith Action Optics.
Angler #6, Emily Shaffer
Emily Shaffer had never been on Lake Mitchell before qualifying for the Women’s Bassmaster Tour Championship. To prepare for the upcoming competition  Emily will be spend her practice time learning the lake. She knows she needs to learn as much about the uniqueness of the lake as she can to give her an edge in locating fish when she returns for the Championship.
Asked if she thinks she can win the event, “It is important you have confidence in yourself that you are going to win every tournament you enter”. Emily holds several awards in the world of women’s competitive angling and has the skills to be the winner of the first WBT Championship.
Highlights of her career include: 1995 Bass n’ Gal Classic Champion (Lake Athens,TX), 1997 Bassn’Gal 1st Pro – Am Champion (Lake Tenkiller,OK), 2000 WBFA Invitational Winner (Lake Pickwick,AL), 2002 WBFA Angler-of-the-Year, 2005 WBFA Invitational Winner (Lake Eufaula, AL).
Another highlight came this year when she made the top six at the Bull Shoals tournament. “When I went to Bull Shoals I was hoping to make the Championship. Making the top 6 was a bonus!” Emily stayed consistent all year, stayed focused and now has the opportunity to make history in the world of fishing.
Echoing what others have said about the tough conditions each of the women faced at the tournaments this year, Emily says, “The last three tournaments have been the most challenging of my career. At Lake Norman I started figuring them out with a jig. At Dardanelle Lake they were also on a jig and I started fishing for them deeper than at Norman. At Bull Shoals I finally figured them to be in shallow water early and after the sun came out they went DEEP. On Friday I know I caught a smallmouth in 52 feet of water. I was using 10 lb. fluorocarbon, a ¾ oz. Strike King prototype hopping jig, on a 6’6” 787 All Star rod and a President Pflueger reel”. The jig proved to be her go to bait throughout the season.
Professional angler, is not just descriptive of the tournament entry, it is a way of life for Emily. She exudes professionalism when preparing for an event. To be able to stay in contention for the Championship she would arrive at the lakes several days in advance and be on the water, four to six days in advance of the official practice days.
Emily says, “My inspiration is my family. My brother passed away in 1995, my Dad in 1999, and my Mom in 2005. My lucky charm is my husband, Larry, if it wasn’t for his patience I would not be where I am today He has had a hard time teaching me but I think he now realizes it has been worth it”!
Coming from a close family Emily says, “I’ve was blessed growing up that my family spent time with me in the outdoors. My first fishing trip I remember was with my Mom and brother. My Dad had to work so Mom took us to a small lake not far from our house. My brother was four years older than me. I was catching fish and he wasn’t so he threw his rod and reel in the water. After Mom scolded him he had to wade in the water and retrieve his rod and reel. As I got older I figured out what was wrong with him! How many times in my career have I wanted to throw my rod and reel in”!
Emily and Larry live at Mt. Juliet, Tennessee and considers her home lake Percy Priest. She has been tournament fishing for over eighteen years. In addition to fishing the WBT she also competes in some FLW tournaments. Other hobbies she enjoys are dove hunting and playing pool. To unwind she climbs in the hot tub, saying, “It is so relaxing on your muscles after a long day of fishing. I also enjoy my down time reading Bassmaster Magazine and Bass Times”.
Anglers she admires include Rick Clunn and Chris Houston. On Rick she says, “I think he is part fish! I respect him for his abilities. His bass skills and his mind are awesome”. About Chris, “I really miss her fishing with us. She is a great angler and Jimmy really needs to listen to her on how to catch fish”.
The angler garnering her greatest respect is Kathy Majors. Like most of the women fishing the WBT, Emily recognizes Kathy’s efforts on the ground floor working with BASS to finally establish an all female field of professional anglers. “I respect her for going to bat for us.”
In addition to recognizing Kathy’s labor of love on the behalf on women, she also thanks Deb Wilkinson, the WBT Tournament Director, saying, “She definitely has a full plate”. Emily knows how long the road has been to get an organization with the clout and presence like BASS to make the commitment to women, for that she offers, “Thank you to everyone that is helping us to make the sport grew for the women”.
“Every tournament is exciting because it is so neat to look out and see all the women with the same passion for the sport that I have. We are so blessed that ESPN and Bassmasters have seen the gold mine waiting to happen that I have seen! I know there are more women out there like me and I feel we are able to reach them NOW.
Emily Shaffer’s sponsors include: Evinrude Motors, Stratos Boats, Strike King Lure Company, All Star Graphite Rods, Lowrance Electronics, Pflueger Reels, and Deka Batteries
Co-angler #6, Lila Bass
L ila Bass went to the Bassmasters Classic held in Pittsburgh in 2005 when they were unveiling the Women’s Bassmaster Tour. She met Lucy and Melinda Mize, Robin Babb, Susan Wild and Maggie Robledo. Their enthusiasm for the upcoming WBT prompted her to sign up the very next day.
Competing as a co-angler Lila drew Kim Striker and Pam Pope in the preview event at Lewisville Texas. It was a great beginning for what was to come. Lila says, “Kim was a blast, and helped me understand where my weaknesses were, and therefore what to practice on like skipping baits, pitching & flipping. Pam helped me read water, and both taught me to have confidence in myself”.
When you ask Lila what tournament she felt most responsible for helping her qualify for the championship she says all of then. Lila not only entered the tournaments to do well on the co-angler side, she also wanted to learn from the Pros she was partnered with. At each tournament she honed her skills in every aspect of professional angling. At every tournament Lila turned mistakes and missed opportunities into lessons.
In Alabama on Lake Neely Henry she was paired with Arizona Pro Tanya Kreuzer on Day One. Lila says, “Tanya started the day very ill. She struggled to pull herself up, seized the day, and fished her game plan. Many of her choices would have been mine, which buoyed my confidence. And she put me on fish; I weighed my first fish on the first day of the first tourney! Second day, Marilyn Biszmaier shared so very much with me about how to manage myself and my time during tournaments. I lost a good fish right at the boat, due to tight drag, and a stale knot. After my tantrum, she helped me to realize I’d lost nothing, but had gained experience, and confirmed the fish were there”.
It was at Lewisville Lake in Texas that Lila drew fellow Texan Deb Petrowski. “Deb nurtured my fish finding confidence. Although we were mostly cranking that day, she entertained my desire to cast a green pumpkin Kickercraw to bridge pilings, which landed my second trip to the stage. Second day, Angie Douthit and I went on quite a tour while hunting fish in that hot, windy weather. As I cranked away, she went right into fish with my favorite plastics. That taught me to stick by my guns”.
When I saw Lila at the Fellowship of Christian Anglers Society (FOCAS) meeting before the partner pairing at Lake Norman in North Carolina she was tired. She had laid her head back on the seat before the meeting to catch just a few more minutes of rest and try to rid herself of the headache she was nursing. “Fishing with Cindy Caperton was a full day course in boat handling, reading water, bait selection, and presentation. Also taught me how important it is to get some practice in before the tournament. I came in cold, directly from work, and way too tired to focus. Also didn’t do my homework on the lake. Lessons well learned, as I missed opportunities that were hard to find on that lake. Second day, Tony Stoner and I had a lot of fun, during a very frustrating day. I hooked a good Kentu |