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The Full Story
Women's Bassmaster Tour:
Lake Dardanelle, AR
WBT Event # 4 of 5
Day 1 | Day 2 |
Day 3
Day 1: Dianna Clark Leads on Dardanelle
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 RUSSELLVILLE,
Ark. — Dianna Clark was on her way Thursday to a repeat performance in the
Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats.
Winner of the WBT event on Texas’ Lewisville Lake in May, the Bumpus Mills,
Tenn., angler was at the top of the Day 1 leaderboard at the Lake Dardanelle
event, the fourth stop of the circuit’s inaugural season.
Clark brought 14 pounds, 5 ounces of bass to the scales. Her Day 1 weight
put a comfortable 2 pounds, 2 ounces between her and Kelley Shepherd of
Cortez, Colo., who was in second place with 12-3.
Clark was the only angler to weigh-in a limit of five fish.
In third was Lucy Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark., with 10-8. Fourth was Rose Ellis
of Birmingham, Ala., whose three fish included the day’s largest bass, a
5-13 largemouth, worth a $1,000 bonus. Fifth was Emily Shaffer of Mount
Juliet, Tenn., with 9-11.
Clark said she began her day with the goal of catching just one keeper, a
feat she knew might prove to be tough, judging from the countless hours of
her practice on Lake Dardanelle earlier this week.
“Then, once I started catching keeper fish, I knew I could go for a win,”
said Clark, 42, who has fished competitively full-time since retiring from
the U.S. Army, where she repaired Apache helicopters. She’s also a Persian
Gulf War veteran.
Clark said she would be thrilled to take the Dardanelle trophy on Saturday
and claim her second BASS win, but she is fixed on a bigger prize: one of 12
coveted pro berths into the Women’s Bassmaster Tour Championship on Lake
Mitchell in Alabama, Feb. 22-25, 2007.
“Getting to the championship — that’s what I’m shooting for. Winning it —
wow, I’d love to win it,” she said.
With a hold on fifth place in the championship-qualifying points race, Clark
already has a straight shot at claiming a spot in the first WBT
championship. A win on Dardanelle would likely clinch an entry for her in
the Lake Mitchell competition.
WBT contenders accumulate points based on their finishes at each event. Only
the top 12 pros and 12 co-anglers in the Women’s Bassmaster Tour Toyota
Angler of the Year points standings at the season’s end in September will be
invited to fish the February championship. After Dardanelle, there’s just
one more chance to move up in the points race: the Bull Shoals Lake
tournament in Theodosia, Mo., Sept. 14-16.
The pros also are amassing points with an eye on becoming the first WBT
Toyota Angler of the Year. The points leader at the end of the season gets
the title and a 2007 Toyota Tundra.
Besides valuable points, the Lake Dardanelle WBT winner gets a Triton boat
rig with Mercury outboard valued at $50,000. The event pays a total of about
$85,000 to the top 25 finishers in the pro division.
In the co-angler division, Robertina Filburn of Vine Grove, Ky., took the
lead with a three-fish limit that weighed 6-12. She was the only contender
who filled the co-angler limit of three fish.
About a pound away from Filburn was Laura Elkins of Amarillo, Texas, who
secured second place with one fish weighing 5-13. The lunker earned her a
$500 bonus for having the largest bass of the day.
In third with 5-9 was Sharon Rushton of Kimberling City, Mo., who was the
winning co-angler in the WBT preview event on Lewisville Lake in October
2005 and who is third in the co-angler points standings.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers were Bobbie Barfield of Bainbridge,
Ga., with 5-4; and Elizabeth Sanders of Brandon, Miss., with 4-15.
Besides trying for the first-place co-angler prize of a Triton/Mercury
package valued at $24,000, co-anglers are fishing this week to rack up
points toward securing one of 12 WBT Championship co-angler berths.
After Friday’s competition, the field is cut to the top six anglers and
co-anglers. Weights of the first two days carry over to Saturday and women
anglers will weigh-in at 3:15 p.m. CT at the Statehouse Convention Center,
site of the Day 3 weigh-in of the Bassmaster Legends presented by Goodyear.
The Legends is a four-day Bassmaster Major being held on the Arkansas River.
It concludes Sunday.
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 5 14-05 305
Day 1: 5 14-05
2. Kelley Shepherd Cortez, Colo. 4 12-03 295
Day 1: 4 12-03
3. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 4 10-08 290
Day 1: 4 10-08
4. Rose Ellis Birmingham, Ala. 3 10-03 285 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 10-03
5. Emily Shaffer Mt Juliet, Tenn. 4 9-11 280
Day 1: 4 9-11
6. Linda Walker Beebe, Ark. 4 8-06 274
Day 1: 4 8-06
6. Paula Alexander Lincolnton, Ga. 3 8-06 274
Day 1: 3 8-06
8. Kimberlee Striker Cullman, Ala. 3 7-08 268
Day 1: 3 7-08
9. Angie Douthit Clewiston, Fla. 3 6-07 264
Day 1: 3 6-07
10. Laura Gober Pendergrass, Ga. 3 6-02 260
Day 1: 3 6-02
11. Robin Babb Livingston, Texas 4 6-00 257
Day 1: 4 6-00
12. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 2 5-12 254
Day 1: 2 5-12
13. Deanie Tate Arkadelphia, Ark. 3 5-10 251
Day 1: 3 5-10
14. Jan Hudson Harrison, Ark. 3 5-07 246
Day 1: 3 5-07
14. Cheryl Lalumandier Harvester, Mo. 2 5-07 246
Day 1: 2 5-07
16. Debra Hengst San Antonio, Texas 2 5-06 243
Day 1: 2 5-06
17. Linda Sands Cullman, Ala. 2 5-02 240
Day 1: 2 5-02
17. Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark 1 5-02 240
Day 1: 1 5-02
19. Tommie Domingue Livingston, Texas 2 4-14 237
Day 1: 2 4-14
20. Jonell Whitstine Many, La. 2 4-09 235
Day 1: 2 4-09
21. Mary Hencken Belmont, N.C. 2 3-15 233
Day 1: 2 3-15
22. Wanda Malmsbury Galena, Mo. 2 3-14 231
Day 1: 2 3-14
23. Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 2 3-11 229
Day 1: 2 3-11
24. Sandra Sherred Pittsburgh, Pa. 1 3-09 227
Day 1: 1 3-09
25. Conny Jenkins Knob Noster, Mo. 2 3-01 224
Day 1: 2 3-01
25. Michelle Armstrong Denver, N.C. 1 3-01 224
Day 1: 1 3-01
27. Susan Hand Muscle Shoals, Ala. 1 2-15 221
Day 1: 1 2-15
28. Sue Parrish Indianapolis, Ind. 1 2-11 219
Day 1: 1 2-11
29. Cindy van horn Fort Worth, Texas 2 2-10 217
Day 1: 2 2-10
30. Debra Petrowski Arlington, Texas 1 2-09 215
Day 1: 1 2-09
31. Christiana Bradley Bealeton, Va. 1 2-07 211
Day 1: 1 2-07
31. Kris Mcclendon Spicewood, Texas 1 2-07 211
Day 1: 1 2-07
31. Judy Wong Many, La. 1 2-07 211
Day 1: 1 2-07
34. Christie Thomas Reform, Ala. 2 2-06 207
Day 1: 2 2-06
35. Janet Parker Little Elm, Texas 1 2-04 205
Day 1: 1 2-04
36. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, Tenn. 1 2-03 203
Day 1: 1 2-03
37. Cindy Caperton Madison, Tenn. 1 2-01 197
Day 1: 1 2-01
37. Joan Craig London, Ark. 1 2-01 197
Day 1: 1 2-01
37. Brenda Davis Sand Springs, Okla. 1 2-01 197
Day 1: 1 2-01
37. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 1 2-01 197
Day 1: 1 2-01
37. Rhonda Pope Waco, Ga. 1 2-01 197
Day 1: 1 2-01
42. Kandie Candelaria Canyon Lake, Texas 1 2-00 191
Day 1: 1 2-00
43. Penny Berryman Hot Springs, Ark. 1 1-14 189
Day 1: 1 1-14
44. Helen Gordon Flower Mound, Texas 1 1-13 187
Day 1: 1 1-13
45. Lisa Johnson Aragon, Ga. 1 1-12 185
Day 1: 1 1-12
46. Julie Jacobson Janesville, Wisc. 1 1-11 183
Day 1: 1 1-11
47. Robinette Fox Hot Springs, Ark. 1 1-08 181
Day 1: 1 1-08
48. Pat White Pleasanton, Texas 1 1-00 179
Day 1: 1 1-00
49. Linda Owens Brandon, Miss. 1 0-14 177
Day 1: 1 0-14
50. Donna Newberry Van Buren, Ark. 1 0-10 175
Day 1: 1 0-10
51. Sarah Augustine Lake Charles, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Darla Bardelli Glendale, Ariz. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Jen Carroll Celina, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Lisa Craig Tyler, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Sue Crochet Lake Charles, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Kristy Darby Mt Ida, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Joan Davis West Lafayette, Ind. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Angela Dechau Pontiac, Mo. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Katrina Dehaven Phoenix, Ariz. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Marsha Gipson Bigelow, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Susan Gregory Long Beach, Miss. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Jan Heavener Sherwood, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Louise Howard Eufaula, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Kathi Hurst Ripley, Miss. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Tami Kashiwabara Nagano-Shi, Japan 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Tanya Kreuzer Mesa, Ariz. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Crystal Langston Leighton, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Rae Lee Livingston, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Tina Lefler N Tazewell, Va. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Danalee Lofton Little Rock, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Lori Masters Nashville, Tenn. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Elizabeth Meisell Lancaster, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Laura Moore Vidor, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Teri Neal Cumming, Ga. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Shelley Perry Hurricane, W.Va. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Arah Phillips Tyler, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Carolyn Poole Defuniak Springs, Fla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Linda Redford Blue Eye, Mo. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Melanie Rockey White, Ga. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Marcia Rubin Chagrin Falls, Ohio 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Kellie Skelton Aztec, N.M. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Cheryl Spencer Tulsa, Okla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Betty Stahl Guntersville, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Jennifer Stelly Sulphur, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Toni Stoner Ball Ground, Ga. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Rhonda Usery Cabot, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Ann Wells Danville, Ill. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Karen Welty Shelbyville, Ind. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Kathy Womack Moody, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. Secret York Benton, Ky. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
51. bonnie johnson Weatherford, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
95. Mary Divincenti Clinton, La. 0 -3-00 0
Day 1: 0 -3-00
Day 2: Clark Dominates Day 2 on Dardanelle
Back to top
RUSSELLVILLE,
Ark. — Thanks to two last-minute bass, Dianna Clark ran off with the lead
Friday at the Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton
Boats on Lake Dardanelle.
The Bumpus Mills, Tenn., angler built a two-day total of 23 pounds, 13
ounces, putting her more than 9 pounds in front of Kelley Shepherd of
Cortez, Colo., who took second place with a two-day total of 14-11.
Clark, winner of the WBT event on Texas’ Lewisville Lake in May, and the
first-day leader at Dardanelle, brought three fish to the scales — two short
of a daily limit — but one was a 5-14 largemouth that pumped her total and
earned her the day’s big bass bonus of $1,000.
Shepherd, who held onto her second-place position from Thursday, brought in
only one fish Friday, but it was good enough in a tournament that’s seen
slim catches and many zeroes.
Lake Dardanelle has not given up its bass easily this week. Not one pro
angler brought in a five-fish limit on Friday. On Thursday, Clark was the
only pro who toted a full weigh-in bag to the scales.
Clark, 42, was destined to bring in only one fish – she caught it at 9 a.m.
– until the wind picked up late in the day and she finally had two bites on
her jig. “I needed wind to bring baitfish into the grass,” said Clark, “and
finally a wind kicked up at 2 p.m. I got the two fish, then I had to go.”
Her official check-in time was 3 p.m., and she had a long run to make.
So, what will Clark do on Saturday? “I can’t change anything — would you?”
she asked, adding that she is hoping for wind and recreational traffic to
stir up baitfish, and an overnight rain to push bass into her spots.
The field was cut to the top six for Saturday, the final day of the
three-day event on Dardanelle, a 35,000-acre Arkansas River impoundment.
Weights of the first two days carry over to Saturday.
Besides Clark and Shepherd, making the cut were Lucy Mize of Ben Lomond,
Ark., with 13-9; Kimberlee Striker of Cullman, Ala., with 11-8; Laura Gober
of Pendergrass, Ga., with 11-5; and Paula Alexander of Lincolnton, Ga., with
10-14.
Lake Dardanelle has tested the skills and patience of WBT contenders all
week. For some, the bite was on but the fish didn’t measure up: Legal size
is 15 inches for largemouth and 12 inches for smallmouth. Almost half of the
95-pro field on the first day were not able to boat even one keeper. Friday,
about a quarter of the field checked in with empty livewells. And anglers
fishing the Bassmaster Legends presented by Goodyear on the Arkansas River
out of Little Rock faced similar conditions. Anglers there brought only two
limits in on Thursday and five on Friday.
Women anglers are competing for points as well as the first-place pro prize
of a Triton boat rig with Mercury outboard valued at $50,000. Only the top
12 pros and co-anglers in the points standings are invited to the Women’s
Bassmaster Tour Championship on Lake Mitchell in Alabama, Feb. 22-25, 2007.
Points also determine the winner of the Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour
Angler of the Year.
After Dardanelle, the women anglers have one more shot at moving up in the
points standings: the Bull Shoals Lake WBT in Theodosia, Mo., Sept. 14-16.
On the co-angler side of this week’s event, the top of the leaderboard
remained fairly steady Friday. Robertina Filburn of Vine Grove, Ky., held on
to her first-day lead with a two-day total of 11-8. Behind her was Laura
Elkins of Amarillo, Texas, with 9-2; Elkins also held the No. 2 spot on
Thursday.
The others co-anglers who made the cut to fish Saturday were Elizabeth
Sanders of Brandon, Miss., with 8-0; Sharon Rushton of Kimberling City, Mo.,
with 6-9; Colleen Mckay of Worchester, Mass., with 5-15; and Cathy Smith of
Pineville, La., with 5-12. The winning co-angler receives a Triton/Mercury
package valued at $24,000 and $1,000 cash.
The women anglers will weigh-in at 3 p.m. CT at the Statehouse Convention
Center in Little Rock, site of the Day 3 weigh-in of the Bassmaster Legends.
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 8 23-13 310 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 3 9-08
2. Kelley Shepherd Cortez, Colo. 5 14-11 295
Day 1: 4 12-03 Day 2: 1 2-08
3. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 5 13-09 290
Day 1: 4 10-08 Day 2: 1 3-01
4. Kimberlee Striker Cullman, Ala. 4 11-08 285
Day 1: 3 7-08 Day 2: 1 4-00
5. Laura Gober Pendergrass, Ga. 5 11-05 280
Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 2 5-03
6. Paula Alexander Lincolnton, Ga. 4 10-14 276
Day 1: 3 8-06 Day 2: 1 2-08
7. Cindy van horn Fort Worth, Texas 5 10-10 272 $1,600.00
Day 1: 2 2-10 Day 2: 3 8-00
8. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 4 10-07 268 $1,550.00
Day 1: 2 5-12 Day 2: 2 4-11
9. Deanie Tate Arkadelphia, Ark. 5 10-05 264 $1,500.00
Day 1: 3 5-10 Day 2: 2 4-11
10. Rose Ellis Birmingham, Ala. 3 10-03 260 $2,450.00
Day 1: 3 10-03 Day 2: 0 0-00
11. Emily Shaffer Mt Juliet, Tenn. 4 9-11 257 $1,400.00
Day 1: 4 9-11 Day 2: 0 0-00
12. Tommie Domingue Livingston, Texas 5 9-10 254 $1,350.00
Day 1: 2 4-14 Day 2: 3 4-12
13. Christiana Bradley Bealeton, Va. 4 9-04 251 $1,300.00
Day 1: 1 2-07 Day 2: 3 6-13
14. Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 3 8-14 248 $1,200.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 8-14
15. Cheryl Lalumandier Harvester, Mo. 3 8-13 245 $1,150.00
Day 1: 2 5-07 Day 2: 1 3-06
16. Susan Hand Muscle Shoals, Ala. 3 8-11 243 $1,100.00
Day 1: 1 2-15 Day 2: 2 5-12
17. Angie Douthit Clewiston, Fla. 4 8-08 241 $1,050.00
Day 1: 3 6-07 Day 2: 1 2-01
18. Linda Walker Beebe, Ark. 4 8-06 239 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 8-06 Day 2: 0 0-00
19. Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 4 8-04 237 $950.00
Day 1: 2 3-11 Day 2: 2 4-09
20. Robin Babb Livingston, Texas 7 7-12 235 $900.00
Day 1: 4 6-00 Day 2: 3 1-12
21. Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark 2 7-00 233 $850.00
Day 1: 1 5-02 Day 2: 1 1-14
22. Tami Kashiwabara Nagano-Shi, Japan 3 6-15 231 $800.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 6-15
23. Jonell Whitstine Many, La. 3 6-11 229 $750.00
Day 1: 2 4-09 Day 2: 1 2-02
24. Judy Wong Many, La. 3 6-08 227 $700.00
Day 1: 1 2-07 Day 2: 2 4-01
25. Penny Berryman Hot Springs, Ark. 3 6-07 225 $650.00
Day 1: 1 1-14 Day 2: 2 4-09
26. Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 2 5-11 223
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 5-11
27. Jan Hudson Harrison, Ark. 3 5-07 221
Day 1: 3 5-07 Day 2: 0 0-00
28. Betty Stahl Guntersville, Ala. 3 5-06 216
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-06
28. Danalee Lofton Little Rock, Ark. 2 5-06 216
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 5-06
28. Debra Hengst San Antonio, Texas 2 5-06 216
Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 0 0-00
28. Kandie Candelaria Canyon Lake, Texas 2 5-06 216
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 1 3-06
32. Linda Sands Cullman, Ala. 2 5-02 211
Day 1: 2 5-02 Day 2: 0 0-00
33. Kristy Darby Mt Ida, Ark. 2 4-15 209
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 4-15
34. Brenda Davis Sand Springs, Okla. 2 4-09 207
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 1 2-08
35. Shelley Perry Hurricane, W.Va. 2 4-08 204
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 4-08
35. Joan Craig London, Ark. 2 4-08 204
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 1 2-07
37. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 2 4-06 201
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 1 2-05
38. Janet Parker Little Elm, Texas 2 4-05 199
Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 1 2-01
39. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, Tenn. 2 4-02 197
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 1 1-15
40. Cindy Caperton Madison, Tenn. 2 4-01 195
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 1 2-00
41. Debra Petrowski Arlington, Texas 2 4-00 193
Day 1: 1 2-09 Day 2: 1 1-07
42. Mary Hencken Belmont, N.C. 2 3-15 190
Day 1: 2 3-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
42. Pat White Pleasanton, Texas 2 3-15 190
Day 1: 1 1-00 Day 2: 1 2-15
44. Wanda Malmsbury Galena, Mo. 2 3-14 187
Day 1: 2 3-14 Day 2: 0 0-00
45. Sandra Sherred Pittsburgh, Pa. 1 3-09 185
Day 1: 1 3-09 Day 2: 0 0-00
46. Linda Redford Blue Eye, Mo. 1 3-08 183
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 3-08
47. Robinette Fox Hot Springs, Ark. 2 3-06 181
Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 1 1-14
48. Conny Jenkins Knob Noster, Mo. 2 3-01 179
Day 1: 2 3-01 Day 2: 0 0-00
49. Sue Parrish Indianapolis, Ind. 1 2-11 177
Day 1: 1 2-11 Day 2: 0 0-00
50. Elizabeth Meisell Lancaster, Texas 1 2-10 175
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-10
51. Susan Gregory Long Beach, Miss. 1 2-09 172
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-09
51. Marcia Rubin Chagrin Falls, Ohio 1 2-09 172
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-09
53. Kris Mcclendon Spicewood, Texas 1 2-07 169
Day 1: 1 2-07 Day 2: 0 0-00
54. Christie Thomas Reform, Ala. 2 2-06 167
Day 1: 2 2-06 Day 2: 0 0-00
55. Melanie Rockey White, Ga. 1 2-05 165
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-05
56. Rhonda Usery Cabot, Ark. 1 2-03 163
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-03
57. Michelle Armstrong Denver, N.C. 1 2-01 159
Day 1: 1 3-01 Day 2: 0 -1-00
57. Teri Neal Cumming, Ga. 1 2-01 159
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-01
57. Rhonda Pope Waco, Ga. 1 2-01 159
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 0 0-00
60. Jan Heavener Sherwood, Ark. 1 2-00 155
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-00
61. Lori Masters Nashville, Tenn. 1 1-15 152
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 1-15
61. Kathy Womack Moody, Ala. 1 1-15 152
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 1-15
63. Helen Gordon Flower Mound, Texas 1 1-13 149
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 0 0-00
64. Laura Moore Vidor, Texas 1 1-12 146
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 1-12
64. Lisa Johnson Aragon, Ga. 1 1-12 146
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 0 0-00
66. Julie Jacobson Janesville, Wisc. 1 1-11 143
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 0 0-00
67. Toni Stoner Ball Ground, Ga. 1 0-15 141
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 0-15
68. Linda Owens Brandon, Miss. 1 0-14 139
Day 1: 1 0-14 Day 2: 0 0-00
69. Sarah Augustine Lake Charles, La. 1 0-13 136
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 0-13
69. Louise Howard Eufaula, Ala. 1 0-13 136
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 0-13
71. Donna Newberry Van Buren, Ark. 1 0-10 133
Day 1: 1 0-10 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Ann Wells Danville, Ill. 2 0-00 109
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 0-00
72. Darla Bardelli Glendale, Ariz. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Jen Carroll Celina, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Lisa Craig Tyler, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Sue Crochet Lake Charles, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Joan Davis West Lafayette, Ind. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Angela Dechau Pontiac, Mo. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Katrina Dehaven Phoenix, Ariz. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Marsha Gipson Bigelow, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Kathi Hurst Ripley, Miss. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Tanya Kreuzer Mesa, Ariz. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Crystal Langston Leighton, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Rae Lee Livingston, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Tina Lefler N Tazewell, Va. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Arah Phillips Tyler, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Carolyn Poole Defuniak Springs, Fla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Kellie Skelton Aztec, N.M. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Cheryl Spencer Tulsa, Okla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Jennifer Stelly Sulphur, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Karen Welty Shelbyville, Ind. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. Secret York Benton, Ky. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
72. bonnie johnson Weatherford, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
95. Mary Divincenti Clinton, La. 1 0--11 85
Day 1: 0 -3-00 Day 2: 1 2-05
Day 3: Dianna Clark Clinches Second WBT Title
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LITTLE
ROCK, Ark. — Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills, Tenn., made angling history
Saturday when she became the first competitor to win two events in the 2006
Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats season.
She won her second WBT trophy for her wire-to-wire performance at the Lake
Dardanelle event, the tour’s fourth stop. Clark’s first victory was in May
on Texas’ Lewisville Lake, the circuit’s second event. For each win, she
earned a Triton boat rig with Mercury outboard valued at $50,000.
“I wanted to make history, and now I’ve done it,” said an elated Clark, a
Persian Gulf War veteran who decided to devote more energy to competitive
fishing when she retired in 1996 from the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant. “On
top of winning two, I led on all three days. I’m proud of that.”
Clark took Dardanelle by a wide margin. Her three-day total of 29 pounds, 9
ounces put her 10 pounds in front of Lucy Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark., whose
tournament total of 19-9 secured second place, her best BASS career finish.
The Dardanelle win propelled Clark from fifth to first place in the WBT
points standings. She now has a direct line to become the first Toyota
Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year, an honor that includes winning a
2007 Toyota Tundra.
The Angler of the Year title for Clark isn’t a done deal. After Dardanelle,
four fellow competitors were within 100 points of Clark: Arkansas’ Tammy
Richardson, former points leader Sheri Glasgow of Oklahoma, Pam Martin-Wells
of Georgia, and Mize.
The title will be determined after the final event of the 2006 WBT season,
Bull Shoals Lake in Theodosia, Mo., Sept. 14-16. Points are earned at each
event and accumulate throughout the season.
Clark moved closer to the AOY title this week by cracking the code of
Dardanelle’s very tough August fishing conditions. She ended the first day
with 14-5, then caught 9-8 on Day 2 to secure the lead by more than 9
pounds.
With such a fat cushion, the 42-year-old could have relaxed Saturday. But
she wasn’t going to gamble, so returned to her productive grassy hot spots
in Dardanelle’s Shoal Bay. There, she put three largemouth bass in her
livewell, adding 5-12 to her 23-13 already on the board.
She said her go-to bait all three days was a prototype jig made by B&M Baits
of Alabama. The jig — made with a black head and a green-black-chartreuse
skirt — was tipped with a blue-sapphire Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail, a wide, 3
1/4-inch soft plastic.
“I don’t know exactly what it was about the bait that made it work, but my
co-anglers started getting bites after I gave them one,” she said. “I threw
it — pitched or flipped it — then let it sit and that’s how all my bites
came. I never got a moving bite. But you had to watch the line, there
weren’t any taps or bumps you could feel.”
The six-woman field on Saturday was the result of the cut from the full
field of 95 pros after Friday’s competition. Besides Clark and Mize, the
anglers who competed Saturday were Kelley Shepherd of Cortez, Colo.,
Kimberlee Striker of Cullman, Ala.; Laura Gober of Pendergrass, Ga.; and
Paula Alexander of Lincolnton, Ga.
Alexander ended in third with 16-8. Shepherd was fourth with 15-14. Striker
was fifth with 13-0. Gober finished sixth with 11-5.
On the co-angler side, the winner of a Triton/Mercury package valued at
$24,000 plus $1,000 in cash was Robertina Filburn of Vine Grove, Ky. Her
winning weight was 11-8. Like Clark, Filburn won wire-to-wire.
She wasn’t able to bring in a fish on Saturday, and thought she didn’t have
a chance to win.
“My heart sunk. After leading two days, I thought I was not going to win a
boat after all,” said the 61-year-old retired high-school music teacher.
“When we were backstage, there stood one of my co-anglers with two fat bass.
But she told me, ‘I don’t have you beat.’ I was not convinced at all.”
Colleen Mckay of Worchester, Mass., was the fellow competitor with the two
bass, but her 11-5 total was 3 ounces short of catching Filburn.
Elizabeth Sanders of Brandon, Miss., finished third with 11-3. Laura Elkins
of Amarillo, Texas, was fourth with 9-2. Cathy Smith of Pineville, La.,
ended her week in fifth with 7-9.
Sharon Rushton of Kimberling City, Mo., took sixth with 6-9. Rushton was the
co-angler winner of the WBT preview event in October 2005.
Presenting the winners’ awards Saturday at Little Rock’s Statehouse
Convention Center was Susan Hutchinson, wife of Arkansas gubernatorial
candidate Asa Hutchinson, a former Congressman.
In the final tournament of the five-event 2006 WBT season, the women anglers
will compete on Bull Shoals Lake in Theodosia, Mo., Sept. 14-16.
After Bull Shoals, the field for the first WBT Championship will be set. The
12 pro and 12 co-angler slots for the event on Lake Mitchell in Alabama,
Feb. 22-25, 2007, will be offered to the anglers who come out on top in
their division’s points race.
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 11 29-09 315 $51,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 3 9-08 Day 3: 3 5-12
2. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 7 19-09 295 $6,200.00
Day 1: 4 10-08 Day 2: 1 3-01 Day 3: 2 6-00
3. Paula Alexander Lincolnton, Ga. 7 16-08 290 $3,680.00
Day 1: 3 8-06 Day 2: 1 2-08 Day 3: 3 5-10
4. Kelley Shepherd Cortez, Colo. 6 15-14 285 $2,180.00
Day 1: 4 12-03 Day 2: 1 2-08 Day 3: 1 1-03
5. Kimberlee Striker Cullman, Ala. 5 13-00 280 $1,930.00
Day 1: 3 7-08 Day 2: 1 4-00 Day 3: 1 1-08
6. Laura Gober Pendergrass, Ga. 5 11-05 276 $1,700.00
Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 2 5-03 Day 3: 0 0-00
Articles and images from BASS
Compiled by Brandon Shook
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