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WBT Championship: Lake Mitchell, AL

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Day 1: Martin-Wells Leads First Ever WBT Championship

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CLANTON, Ala. – A day full of sunshine and bluebird skies foiled the best-laid plans for the majority of the field in the inaugural Women’s Bassmaster Tour Championship on Lake Mitchell, but one angler proved to be the exception.

Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., weighed in a five-fish limit of Coosa River spotted bass of 12 pounds, 6 ounces, for an opening-round advantage of almost three pounds over Tammie Muse of North Little Rock, Ark. The winner of the event will receive $10,000 in cash plus a fully rigged Triton boat with Mercury outboard valued at $50,000.

“I was kind of surprised that all I caught were spotted bass,” Martin-Wells said. “I thought I would have a mixed-species limit. I didn’t stay in any one place too long, but I was fortunate in that I caught fish just about everywhere I went.”

Martin-Wells expects the fishing conditions to change if the current weather pattern of sunshine holds throughout the three-day tournament.

“I think it’s going to take about 35 pounds to win if the fishing stays like it was today,” said Martin-Wells, who was the winner of the WBT preview event. “If the largemouths bite, everything will be different.”

Muse, who is battling a case of pneumonia, said she felt the bout may have helped her to a weight of 9-8.

“My doctor wanted to put me in the hospital, but I told him I couldn’t do that,” Muse said. “I wasn’t about to miss this tournament. We’re making history here. I just don’t have my complete energy back. But that turned out to be a good thing, because the fish wanted it slow.”

Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills , Tenn., the reigning Toyota WBT Angler of the Year, was in third place with 8-15 after what she considered a difficult day on the water, which started with a fog delay of a little more than an hour.

“The fish I had been catching in practice just shut down,” said Clark. “I just wish the weather hadn’t made such a drastic change from what I call ‘junky’ weather to a bluebird sky.”

Rounding out the top five were Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., with 8-1 and Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas, with 8-0. Robinson is riding a wave of momentum from winning the season-opening event of the 2007 Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats. That event was on Lake Amistad two weeks ago.

On the co-angler side, Angie Everett of Livingston, Texas, leads with 4-15, followed by Sharon Rushton of Kimberling City, Mo., at 4-12.

Friday’s weigh-in will be at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in the ESPN Classic Expo presented by Under Armour at 3 p.m. The women will weigh in Saturday on the Bassmaster Classic stage at 3:15 p.m., just before the Bassmaster Classic contenders begin to weigh-in their catches.
 

Standings

1. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 12-6

2. Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark. 9-8

3. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills , Tenn. 8-15

4. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 8-1

5. Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 8-0

6. Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 7-13

7. Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 7-5

8. Linda Sands Cullman, Ala. 6-10

9. Robin Babb Livingston, Texas 2-10

10. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, Tenn. 1-8

11. Emily Shaffer Mount Juliet, Tenn. 1-5

12. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 1-0

 

Day 2: Martin-Wells Extends Lead at WBT Championship

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Pam Martin-Wells’ hands were shaking as she exited the stage at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex with the lead in the inaugural Women’s Bassmaster Tour Championship.

With only Saturday’s final round remaining, Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., holds more than a four-pound lead, but even that significant margin may not allow her to sleep better on the eve of the history-making finale of the first WBT season. The winner of the event will receive a $50,000 Triton/Mercury rig and $10,000 cash.

Martin-Wells weighed in 10 pounds, 9 ounces Friday for a 22-15 total from Lake Mitchell. With weather conditions conducive to spotted bass fishing, the leader knows that fishing conditions could change quickly on the Coosa River impoundment.

“This is an excellent fishery,” Martin-Wells said. “The weather has been holding it back. All of these (11 other) ladies are excellent anglers, so I won’t be comfortable until it’s over. I know that, at any moment, somebody could come in with a 20-pound bag.”

Although she may be anxious, Martin-Wells said she had confidence in the strength of her pattern holding out for one more day.

“I should be able to do what I’ve done,” she said. “I did a lot of running around because I didn’t want to burn any one spot.”

Looming in second place are two anglers at 18 pounds, 7 ounces: Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., and Tammie Muse of North Little Rock, Ark.

Muse, who held second place alone after the opening day, weighed-in 8-15 Friday.

“I did exactly the same thing I did Thursday,” said Muse, who is trying to recover from a bout with pneumonia. “I used one rod all day and culled four keepers, so I’m not going to change anything. I’m fishing real slow in 35 to 40 feet of water, back and forth in a half-mile area.”

Glasgow, who weighed in 10-6 Friday to move into the tie, said a change of strategy helped her move up.

“The only thing I did differently was I stayed with the fish I caught early yesterday,” Glasgow said. “I made the wrong choice yesterday by leaving those fish. I stayed with them today and was able to do some culling.

“I’m not saying I’ll do the same thing Saturday. If I sit on those fish and don’t get the key bites, I might go fish in some areas where I know there are some four-pound largemouths.”

Only one ounce back in fourth is Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., who weighed in 11-1 Friday for an 18-6 two-day total.

“I’m catching all spotted bass and it’s been a morning bite for me,” Richardson said. “After 11 a.m., it gets tough.”

Reigning Toyota WBT Angler of the Year Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills, Tenn., is fifth at 17-15, followed by Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas, at 15-13.

On the co-angler side, Keri Schieber shot from eighth to first, making her the first Women’s Bassmaster Championship co-angler division champion.

Schieber of Cummings, Ga., brought in five fish for 11-7 Friday after having weighed-in only one fish Thursday.

“Yesterday I switched baits a lot to try to find something they would hit,” said Schieber, who fished from pro Cindy Hill’s boat on Friday. “Cindy said she knew where some fish were and she was right. There were fish all over her spot. I was throwing a Texas-rigged Baby Brush Hog on 10-pound test with a 1/4-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight. I was basically finesse fishing with the Brush Hog. The small weight was the key. I gave Cindy one of my weights and she started catching fish, too.”

The 12 WBT pros return to Lake Mitchell Saturday for the final day of competition, which will determine the first Women’s Bassmaster champion. The women will weigh-in at 3:15 p.m., during the pre-show of the Bassmaster Classic at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.



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



1. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 10 22-15 0

Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-09

2. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 10 18-07 0

Day 1: 5 8-01 Day 2: 5 10-06

2. Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark 10 18-07 0

Day 1: 5 9-08 Day 2: 5 8-15

4. Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 9 18-06 0

Day 1: 4 7-05 Day 2: 5 11-01

5. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 9 17-15 0

Day 1: 4 8-15 Day 2: 5 9-00

6. Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 10 15-13 0

Day 1: 5 8-00 Day 2: 5 7-13

7. Linda Sands Cullman, Ala. 10 15-07 0

Day 1: 5 6-10 Day 2: 5 8-13

8. Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 8 14-14 0

Day 1: 4 7-13 Day 2: 4 7-01

9. Emily Shaffer Mt Juliet, Tenn. 5 8-01 0

Day 1: 1 1-05 Day 2: 4 6-12

10. Robin Babb Livingston, Texas 3 6-11 0

Day 1: 2 2-10 Day 2: 1 4-01

11. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, Tenn. 3 5-02 0

Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 2 3-10

12. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 2 1-14 0

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

 

Day 3: Martin-Wells Wins Inaugural WBT Championship

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – There was no catching Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., in the inaugural Women’s Bassmaster Tour Championship as she capped a wire-to-wire victory Saturday with the largest limit of the three-day event.

Anchored by two big largemouth bass, Martin-Wells’ five-fish limit weighed 15 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday on the Bassmaster Classic stage for a tournament total of 38-7, more than seven pounds heavier than the nearest competitor. Martin-Wells takes home a Triton/Mercury rig valued at $50,000 and $10,000 in cash with the win.

Although Martin-Wells headed into Saturday’s finale with a 4 ½-pound lead, she refused to relax even after she had a limit of spotted bass in the livewell by mid-morning.

Instead, she went to her largemouth pattern of flipping grass to ensure none of the other 11 finalists could get close.

“I basically did the same thing all three days,” Martin-Wells said. “The difference was that today after I got a limit of spots, the largemouths decided to bite. I didn’t second guess my game plan. I just did it.

“When I put that first largemouth in the boat that was pushing five pounds I still wasn’t comfortable. These anglers are so good there was no way I was comfortable. When I caught the 4 ½-pounder, I still wasn’t comfortable but I felt pretty good.”

Martin-Wells fished various points with a Carolina rig to catch the Coosa River spotted bass. She used a Wave Worm Lizard, Tiki Stick and Zoom Baby Brush Hog. Martin-Wells flipped the grass with a Tiki Stick, Super Hog and jig with a 1-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight to get through the heavy cover.

When the field was set for the championship, Martin-Wells qualified in the 12th and final spot on the pro side.

“I qualified last, but from that point on I was on a mission to finish first in the championship,” she said. “And it’s hard to describe actually sitting in that boat for the ride around the arena. This is something nobody can take away. I will always be the first to win this championship.

“I’ve been doing this for 21 years, so I’ve seen the good, bad and the ugly. The Women’s Bassmaster Tour is definitely the best. I knew when ESPN and BASS got involved this would give the ladies the recognition we deserve.”

Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., tried to make a run at Martin-Wells, but she knew it would require an exceptional day of fishing. Glasgow managed 12-14 to finish with 31-5.

“A four-pound lead is really hard to make up,” Glasgow said. “But I also knew this lake is capable of producing a 20-pound bag. I caught a lot of nice fish on a Shaky Head, but I just had too much ground to make up.”

Glasgow tipped the Shaky Head with a Zoom finesse worm in green pumpkin with a chartreuse tip.

“If you got it in front of one, it would hit it,” Glasgow said. “I just didn’t catch enough big ones.”

Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas, also made a late run with the second-largest bag of the day at 12-15 for a 28-12 total. Robinson was hoping history would repeat after she came from behind to win the 2007 WBT season-opener on Lake Amistad.

“I knew I couldn’t catch Pam unless she stumbled, but I was going to give her a run for her money. At Amistad, that’s what happened. Seven stumbled and I jumped over all of them. This time, Pam didn’t stumble.”

Weakened from a bout with pneumonia, Tammie Muse of North Little Rock, Ark., still managed to finish fourth at 25-12, while Linda Sands of Cullman, Ala., rounded out the top five with 25-5, which included a final-round catch of 9-14.


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



1. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 15 38-07 0 $60,000.00

Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 5 15-08

2. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 15 31-05 0 $25,000.00

Day 1: 5 8-01 Day 2: 5 10-06 Day 3: 5 12-14

3. Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 15 28-12 0 $15,000.00

Day 1: 5 8-00 Day 2: 5 7-13 Day 3: 5 12-15

4. Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark 14 25-12 0 $12,500.00

Day 1: 5 9-08 Day 2: 5 8-15 Day 3: 4 7-05

5. Linda Sands Cullman, Ala. 15 25-05 0 $10,000.00

Day 1: 5 6-10 Day 2: 5 8-13 Day 3: 5 9-14

6. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 10 21-03 0 $7,500.00

Day 1: 4 8-15 Day 2: 5 9-00 Day 3: 1 3-04

7. Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 11 19-06 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 4 7-13 Day 2: 4 7-01 Day 3: 3 4-08

8. Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 9 18-06 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 4 7-05 Day 2: 5 11-01 Day 3: 0 0-00

9. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 7 13-06 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 1 1-00 Day 2: 1 0-14 Day 3: 5 11-08

10. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, Tenn. 6 11-02 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 2 3-10 Day 3: 3 6-00

11. Emily Shaffer Mt Juliet, Tenn. 6 10-05 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 1 1-05 Day 2: 4 6-12 Day 3: 1 2-04

12. Robin Babb Livingston, Texas 4 9-01 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 2 2-10 Day 2: 1 4-01 Day 3: 1 2-06
 

Articles and images from BASS

Compiled by Brandon Shook