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The Full Story
Women's Bassmaster Tour:
Red River, LA
Women's Bassmaster Tour
Event # 5 of 5
Day 1 | Day 2 |
Day 3
Day 1: Lisa
Johnson Leads WBT Event on Red River
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SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. – With a 14-pound bag of five
Red River largemouth bass, Lisa Johnson of Aragon, Ga., pinned down the
first-day lead Thursday in the season finale of the Mercury Marine Women’s
Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats out of Shreveport-Bossier City,
La.
Cindy Hill of Smyrna, Tenn., and Marcia Rubin of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, tied
for second place at 11 pounds, 5 ounces, more than 2 ½ pounds behind
Johnson.
The pros are competing for a $50,000 Triton/Mercury boat rig and crucial
points that count in the Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year
race. The Red River event, which concludes Saturday, is the pros’ final
chance to top off their points for the season.
The points also count toward one of 12 berths in the 2008 Women’s Bassmaster
Tour Championship, Feb. 21-23 on South Carolina’s Lake Keowee. The
championship will be in conjunction with the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, Feb.
22-24 on Lake Hartwell out of Greenville, S.C.
The rapid, day-to-day changes in the river’s fishing conditions stumped many
in the Red River event; only 17 of 81 pros managed limits.
Not so for the leader, a 34-year-old who co-owns a tree service business in
Georgia.
“The river was good to me today — great, in fact,” Johnson said. “No way
could I have expected more weight than I had today.
“I love fishing backwater stumps and grass. It’s not at all what I’m used
to, but the oxbows and backwaters suit my type of fishing. But every day on
the river is different — every day of practice was different, and tomorrow
will probably be different than today.”
Hill and Rubin are gunning to qualify for the WBT Championship.
“I don’t think I can catch angler of the year, but I wanted to come in and
secure my top-12,” said Hill, who is ninth in the AOY standings. “I’m going
to pitch my arm off to stay up there tomorrow.”
Now 16th in the AOY race, Rubin still has hopes of making the championship.
“I had one of the worst pre-fishing times of my life,” said Rubin, who owns
a woodworking machinery repair business. “I don’t know what I did
differently today. I fished the same areas I fished in pre-fish, when the
bites were few and far between.”
In fourth place with 10 pounds, 15 ounces, was one-time WBT winner Juanita
Robinson of Highlands, Texas. Tied for fifth place with 10 pounds, 9 ounces,
was Sammie Denyes of Baker, Fla., and Laura Gober of Pendergrass, Ga.
AOY race leader Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., was in eighth place after
the first day with 10 pounds, 2 ounces, and a five-fish limit.
“Other than getting a ‘lucky’ or bigger bite, I could not have done anything
differently than what I did,” Glasgow said.
Three-time WBT winner Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., who went into the Red
River event second in the AOY standings, finished Thursday in 61st place.
Another angler in contention for the AOY crown, Pam Martin-Wells of
Bainbridge, Ga., who won the inaugural WBT Championship in February, was in
10th place with 8 pounds, 9 ounces.
Last year’s angler of the year and two-time WBT winner Dianna Clark of
Bumpus Mills, Tenn., who is sixth in the 2007 AOY standings, ended the first
day at the Red River event in 52nd place.
Leading the co-angler division with 11 pounds, 5 ounces, was one-time WBT
winner Robertina Filburn of Vine Grove, Ky. She bested Arkansas’ Lesa Brown,
who had 9 pounds, 7 ounces, and Texas’ Brenda Reeves, who had 8 pounds, 7
ounces.
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Robertina Filburn Vine Grove, Ky. 5 11-05 305
Day 1: 5 11-05
2. Lesa Brown Harrison, Ark. 5 9-07 295
Day 1: 5 9-07
3. Brenda Reeves Arlington, Texas 5 8-07 290
Day 1: 5 8-07
4. Cheryl Bowden Plano, Texas 5 8-04 285
Day 1: 5 8-04
5. Kim Petrowski Arlington, Texas 3 7-15 280
Day 1: 3 7-15
6. Kala Wright Spiro, Okla. 5 7-12 276
Day 1: 5 7-12
7. Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, Texas 2 7-02 272 $500.00
Day 1: 2 7-02
8. Susan Wild Washington, D.C. 5 6-12 268
Day 1: 5 6-12
9. Beverly Graham Chandler, Texas 4 6-11 264
Day 1: 4 6-11
10. Jennifer Nevans Dayton, Tenn. 5 6-04 260
Day 1: 5 6-04
11. Shirley Jordan Bentonville, Ark. 4 6-02 257
Day 1: 4 6-02
12. De Lynn Montez Squires, Mo. 4 6-00 254
Day 1: 4 6-00
13. Barbara Gaskins Suffolk, Va. 2 5-11 251
Day 1: 2 5-11
14. Jan Hudson Harrison, Ark. 5 5-10 248
Day 1: 5 5-10
15. Marilu Ives Hot Springs, Ark. 4 4-13 244
Day 1: 4 4-13
15. Diane Smith Fayetteville, Ga. 3 4-13 244
Day 1: 3 4-13
17. Charlotte Frazier Dallas, Texas 2 4-09 241
Day 1: 2 4-09
18. Nancy Oliver Arnaudville, La. 2 3-14 239
Day 1: 2 3-14
19. Dianna Fanning Rogers, Ark. 2 3-13 237
Day 1: 2 3-13
20. Debra Cook Gardendale, Ala. 2 3-11 235
Day 1: 2 3-11
21. Robin Kolton Elgin, Texas 3 3-06 233
Day 1: 3 3-06
22. Dianne Kegley Norphlet, Ark. 1 3-01 231
Day 1: 1 3-01
23. Cheryl Holloway Pollock, La. 2 3-00 229
Day 1: 2 3-00
24. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, Wash. 1 2-15 227
Day 1: 1 2-15
25. Trish Levitt Albuquerque, N.M. 1 2-14 225
Day 1: 1 2-14
26. Angela Mitchell Keswick, Canada 3 2-13 223
Day 1: 3 2-13
27. Susan Dameron Chattanooga, Tenn. 2 2-12 221
Day 1: 2 2-12
28. Glenda Jackson Boulder City, Nev. 2 2-09 217
Day 1: 2 2-09
28. Vickie Jeffries Celina, Ohio 2 2-09 217
Day 1: 2 2-09
28. Debbie Pegoli Loveland, Ohio 2 2-09 217
Day 1: 2 2-09
31. Mary Lipka Wentzville, Mo. 2 2-08 213
Day 1: 2 2-08
32. Julie Garriety Grapevine, Texas 2 2-05 210
Day 1: 2 2-05
32. Sherry Melton Monterey, Tenn. 2 2-05 210
Day 1: 2 2-05
34. Sarah Busby Lake Charles, La. 2 2-04 206
Day 1: 2 2-04
34. Denese Freeman Lawton, Okla. 2 2-04 206
Day 1: 2 2-04
36. Crystal Langston Muscle Schoals, Ala. 1 1-14 203
Day 1: 1 1-14
37. Lora Simison Bech Grove, Ind. 1 1-12 201
Day 1: 1 1-12
38. Elizabeth Sanders Brandon, Miss. 1 1-11 199
Day 1: 1 1-11
39. Linda Berry Madison, N.C. 1 1-10 197
Day 1: 1 1-10
40. Laura Elkins Amarillo, Texas 1 1-09 193
Day 1: 1 1-09
40. Agnes Leblanc Houma, La. 1 1-09 193
Day 1: 1 1-09
40. Colleen McKay Worcester, Mass. 1 1-09 193
Day 1: 1 1-09
43. Brenda Bates La Porte, Texas 1 1-05 188
Day 1: 1 1-05
43. Angie Everitt Livingston, Texas 1 1-05 188
Day 1: 1 1-05
45. Beverly Nelson Harrison, Mich. 1 1-03 185
Day 1: 1 1-03
46. Judy Pate Benton, La. 1 1-02 182
Day 1: 1 1-02
46. Leanne Snowden Suttons Bay, Mich. 1 1-02 182
Day 1: 1 1-02
48. Kim Martin Clayton, Ind. 1 1-00 179
Day 1: 1 1-00
50. Bridget Allen Philadelphia, Pa. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Monica Altman Angier, N.C. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Trish Atkinson Millis, Mass. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Tracy Bailey Ennis, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Linda Bald Poteet, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Janet Barefoot Thaxton, Miss. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Marsha Betz Richardson, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Melissa Bond Albuquerque, N.M. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Brenda J Carson Inola, Okla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Bertha Cavakis Amity, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Tracy Doty Roanoke, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Barbara Ferge Somerville, Tenn. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Robbie Hartline Foristell, Mo. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Vicki Henderson Ashtown, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Lesli Lively Palestine, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Kim McGuffey Weatherford, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Donna Newberry Van Buren, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Linda Owens Brandon, Miss. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Carolyn Poole Defuniak Springs, Fla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Pamela Rodden Mesquite, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Lisa Skelley Jackson, Tenn. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Cathy Smith Pineville, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Kim Stapp Ringgold, Ga. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Kateena Thomas Stone Mountain, Ga. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Linda Thomas Pryor, Okla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Jada Tidmore Union Grove, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Kim Tucker Red Bay, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Esther Turner Crossville, Tenn. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
50. Sharon Withers Sam Rayburn, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
Day 2: Laura Gober Charges Into First on Red
River
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SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. - Climbing from fifth place,
Laura Gober of Pendergrass, Ga., captured the second-day lead at the season
finale of the Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton
Boats event on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
Gober’s two-day weight of 23 pounds, 11 ounces, put her ahead of Debra
Petrowski of Arlington, Texas, by less than 2 pounds. Petrowski’s two-day
total of 21 pounds, 15 ounces, pushed her up from seventh into second place.
Eighty-one pros are competing on the Red River for a $50,000 Triton/Mercury
boat rig and all-important points in the Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour
Angler of the Year race. The tournament, which finishes up Saturday, is the
pros’ final chance to earn points to improve their AOY standings.
AOY points leader Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., moved up Friday from
eighth place to sixth, putting her in position to finish the season with the
AOY crown in hand. Glasgow’s 20-pound, 9-ounce, weight on Friday — about 3
pounds out of first — also gives her a shot at her second WBT victory.
The points race also determines which anglers qualify for the 2008 Women’s
Bassmaster Tour Championship, Feb. 21-23 on Lake Keowee in conjunction with
the 2008 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell out of Greenville, S.C., Feb.
22-24. Only the top 12 pros and top 12 co-anglers will win a WBT
championship berth.
Finishing Friday in third place was Sammie Denyes of Baker, Fla., with 21
pounds, 12 ounces. Fourth was one-time WBT winner Juanita Robinson of
Highlands, Texas, with 21 pounds, 6 ounces. After bringing just three fish
to the scales, first-day leader Lisa Johnson of Center, Ala., fell to fifth
place with 20 pounds, 15 ounces.
Friday’s leader said she’s working an area no other contenders have
discovered. “I just hope it holds up tomorrow,” said Gober, who works in the
banking industry. “But I have about four holes, one I feel I can get a limit
out of Saturday. There are still some bigger fish in there.”
Petrowski, a mail carrier, is posting her best performance so far in a WBT
event.
“I have a lot of confidence going into the third day because I still haven’t
gone to my main spot,” she said. “Today I took the keepers out of my second
spot so Saturday, I can go for the win.”
Co-angler Karol Whitehurst of Winnsboro, Texas led her division Friday with
19 pounds, 2 ounces, well in front of Cheryl Bowden of Plano, Texas, who had
13 pounds, 15 ounces. In third was Linda Thomas of Pryor, Okla., who trailed
Bowden by just 6 ounces. In fourth place with 12 pounds, 11 ounces, was
first-day leader Robertina Filburn of Tennessee, and fifth was Lesa Brown of
Arkansas with 12 pounds, 6 ounces.
Co-anglers are competing for $1,000 cash and a Triton/Mercury boat rig
valued at $25,000.
The field was cut to the top 25 pros and top 25 co-anglers for Saturday’s
competition. Launch will be at 6:50 a.m. CT and weigh-in at 3 p.m. CT at Red
River South Marina in Bossier City. Live, streaming video will be available
on www.ESPNOutdoors.com, along with a real-time leaderboard of the weigh-ins
beginning at 3 p.m. CT.
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Laura Gober Pendergrass, GA 10 23-11 305
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 13-02
2. Debra Petrowski Arlington, TX 10 21-15 295
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 11-08
3. Sammie Denyes Baker, FL 10 21-12 290
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-03
4. Juanita Robinson Highlands, TX 10 21-06 285
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 10-07
5. Lisa Johnson Center, AL 8 20-15 285
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 3 06-15
6. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, OK 10 20-09 276
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 10-07
7. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, GA 10 17-07 272
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-14
8. Jo Dee Lake Bessemer, AL 10 16-11 268
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 08-07
9. Diane Phillips Tyler, TX 9 15-13 264
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 4 07-12
10. Sarah Augustine New Iberia, LA 9 15-11 260
Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 5 10-05
11. Kay Pennington Pineville, LA 10 14-15 257
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 06-07
12. Marcia Rubin Chagrin Falls, OH 8 14-10252.5
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 3 03-05
12. Penny Berryman Hot Springs, AR 5 14-10252.5
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 2 06-11
14. Teri Neal Cumming, GA 6 13-12 248
Day 1: 2 06-02 Day 2: 4 07-10
15. Kathi Hurst Ripley, MS 7 12-14 245
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 5 08-05
16. Cindy Hill Smyrna, TN 5 12-07 243 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 11-05 Day 2: 1 01-02
17. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, TN 7 12-04 241
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 3 03-15
18. Lynda Gessner Foristell, MO 5 12-02 239
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 4 09-04
19. Melinda Mize-Hooper Ben Lomond, AR 8 11-13 237
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 3 03-10
20. Christiana Bradley Bealeton, VA 7 11-09 235
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 4 06-08
21. Marsha Gipson Bigelow, AR 7 11-04 233
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 2 02-02
22. Rhonda Usery Cabot, AR 7 10-15 231
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 2 03-14
23. Secret York Benton, KY 6 10-10 229
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 2 02-09
24. Christena Baugh Benton, AR 6 10-07 227
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 04-15
25. Mary Hencken Belmont, NC 5 10-03 225
Day 1: 4 07-08 Day 2: 1 02-11
26. Kathy Magers Waxahachie, TX 6 10-02 222
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 4 06-12
26. Jan Heavener Sherwood, AR 3 10-02 222 $1,000.00
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 2 07-05
28. Becky McKinney Ocala, FL 4 09-12 219
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 1 04-03
29. Susan Gregory Long Beach, MS 6 09-04 216
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 1 01-05
29. Angie Douthit Clewiston, FL 4 09-04 216
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 08-02
31. Judy Wong Many, LA 6 09-02 213
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 04-00
32. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 7 09-01 210
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 2 02-06
32. Kris McClendon Spicewood, TX 5 09-01 210
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 09-01
34. Deanie Tate Arkadelphia, AR 6 08-11 206
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 4 05-08
34. Emily Shaffer Mt Juliet, TN 5 08-11 206
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 4 06-01
36. Michelle Armstrong Denver, NC 4 08-01 203
Day 1: 2 06-00 Day 2: 2 02-01
37. Kathy Womack Trussville, AL 3 07-15 201
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 2 05-14
38. Audrey McQueen Eagar, CO 5 07-11 199
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
39. Pam Ridgle Brownsboro, TX 5 07-10 196
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 2 02-03
39. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, TN 5 07-10 196
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 3 05-04
41. Debra Hengst San Antonio, TX 4 07-07 193
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 05-13
42. Rhonda Pope Waco, GA 4 07-02 191
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 2 03-12
43. Kristy Darby Mt Ida, AR 4 07-01 189
Day 1: 1 03-04 Day 2: 3 03-13
44. Betty Stahl Guntersville, AL 4 07-00 187
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 2 03-01
45. Cheryl Spencer Tulsa, OK 5 06-08 185
Day 1: 4 05-04 Day 2: 1 01-04
46. Helen Gordon Flower Mound, TX 5 06-04 182
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 2 02-00
46. Robin Babb Livingston, TX 3 06-04 182
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 2 03-07
48. Laurie Cork Benton, LA 3 05-15 179
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 1 01-07
49. Lisa Craig Tyler, TX 5 05-14 177
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 05-14
50. Robinette Fox Hot Springs, AR 4 05-13 175
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 2 03-02
51. Karla Bullard Del Rio, TX 5 05-11 173
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 2 02-02
52. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, TX 4 05-10 171
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 2 02-08
53. Madeline Smith Hot Springs Village, AR 4 05-03 168
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 05-03
53. Jamie Patrick Flowery Branch, GA 4 05-03 168
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 1 00-15
55. Tammie Muse North Little Rock, AR 4 04-14 165
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 2 02-08
56. Mary DiVincenti Clinton, LA 3 04-09 162
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 2 02-14
56. Keri Schieber Cumming, GA 3 04-09 162
Day 1: 2 02-00 Day 2: 1 02-09
58. Tammy Richardson Amity, AR 2 04-08 159
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 1 03-01
59. Tommie Domingue Livingston, TX 3 04-06 157
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 1 01-09
60. Cheryl LaLumandier Harvester, MO 3 04-05 155
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
61. Linda Redford Blue Eye, MO 2 03-15 153
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 02-03
62. Jen Carroll Celina, TX 2 03-14 151
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 1 02-05
63. Lori Masters Nashville, TN 2 03-10 149
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-10
64. Linda Sands Cullman, AL 3 03-05 147
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
65. Kelley Shepherd Cortez, CO 3 03-02 144
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 2 01-14
65. Debbie Blanchard Lake Havasu City, AZ 2 03-02 144
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 1 02-01
67. Joan Davis West Lafayette, IN 1 02-15 141
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
68. Sandi Karnes Livingston, TX 1 02-13 139
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-13
69. Lila Bass Austin, TX 2 02-02 137
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-02
70. Kali Weatherford Athens, TX 2 01-13 135
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
71. Kandie Candelaria Canyon Lake, TX 1 01-07 133
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-07
72. Sandra Vise Princeton, LA 1 01-04 131
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
73. Billie Jaynes Deerpark, TX 1 01-02 129
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-02
74. Robin McFarlane San Antonio, TX 1 00-15 127
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Darla Bardelli Glendale, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Sue Parrish Indianapolis, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Laura Heflin Topeka, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Karen Elkins Oxford, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Pat White Pleasanton, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Kathy Riley Terry, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Kathryn Ealey Moody, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Teresa Poole Osage Beach, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
Day 3: Gober Achieves First Win at WBT Event in
Louisiana
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SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La - When her primary Red River spot
produced zero bass for her Saturday, Laura Gober of Pendergrass, Ga., went
to Plan B for the limit of five bass that sewed up a win for her at the
Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats event out
of Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
With a total weight of 34 pounds, 9 ounces, Gober capped off the five-event
WBT season by keeping in front of first-day leader Lisa Johnson of Center,
Ala., who finished second with 30 pounds, 2 ounces. Third place was taken by
one-time WBT winner Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., whose 28-00 put her
squarely in place to claim the 2007 Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of
the Year crown. In fourth was the reigning WBT Championship winner Pam
Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., who had 27-12. In fifth place was Jo Dee
Lake of Bessemer, Ala., who had 27-00.
Gober’s prize was a $50,000 Triton/Mercury boat rig.
“Last year at Dardanelle I was in the top six, but bombed there this year,
so it’s great to come here and finish off the year with a win,” said Gober,
who led the event on the second day.
The key to her win was “private water,” spots she didn’t have to share with
any other contender.
“I live on Lake Lanier (Georgia), which is deep and clear. When I got here
Friday and saw the river, I said, ‘No way,’ not here. I thought I might as
well turn around and go home because I’m not used to anything like what I
saw on the Red River.
“Then I decided to search for clear water, and found some, but couldn’t get
a bite. But I knew bass were in the river, so I went looking for places
nobody else was.”
Gober found small, shallow oxbows in 2 feet or less of water. When the spot
that produced her limit on Friday didn’t help her out Saturday, she moved to
her backup spot, a series of small holes near the Red River’s Jimmy Davis
Bridge she’d located earlier.
There she threw a Zoom Baby Brush Hog in junebug and camo colors, plus a
Netbait Baby Paca Craw in sapphire and black/blue flake rigged with a
3/16-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight and a blood-red Peter T Force Bead.
The first-day leader, Johnson adapted quickly to the river.
“I’ve never been here before,” said Johnson, co-owner of a tree service
business in Alabama. “I had to learn how to work in a river that changes so
much — up, then dropping, then up again. It was different each day.”
Her primary lure was a black Zoom Trick Worm rigged with a 1/8-ounce weight
and dressed with Rejuvenate, a fish attractant.
In the co-angler division, Karol Whitehurst of Winnsboro, Texas, won taking
home $1,000 cash and a Triton/Mercury boat rig valued at $25,000. Her
30-pound, 1-ounce total bested Dianne Kegley or Norphlet, Ark., who finished
second with 16 pounds, 9 ounces.
“I’m turning pro next year,” said Whitehurst, 50, an X-ray technician whose
Saturday victory was her second this year as a WBT co-angler.
“I didn’t use any techniques here that I used to win at Lake Guntersville
(Alabama),” added Whitehurst. “The river was totally different, and I had to
adjust each day according to the river conditions and to each pro’s spots
and styles.”
Her primary lure was a Texas-rigged Zoom Baby Brush Hog in a green-pumpkin
and blue flake finish. Her largest fish of the tournament, a 5-1, came on a
custom-made, 1-ounce football jig.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers were Cheryl Bowden of Plano, Texas,
with 15-12; Robertina Filburn of Vine Grove, Ky., with 15-01; and Donna
Newberry of Van Buren, Ark., with 14-06.
The Lake Keowee championship out of Greenville, S.C., Feb. 21-23, 2008, is
the event that’s up next for the Women’s Bassmaster Tour.
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Laura Gober Pendergrass, GA 15 34-09 310 $50,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 10-14
2. Lisa Johnson Aragon, GA 13 30-02 300 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 3 06-15 Day 3: 5 09-03
3. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, OK 14 28-00 290 $3,680.00
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 4 07-07
4. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, GA 15 27-12 285 $2,180.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-14 Day 3: 5 10-05
5. Jo Dee Lake Bessemer, AL 15 27-00 280 $2,930.00
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 08-07 Day 3: 5 10-05
6. Sammie Denyes Baker, FL 12 23-14 276 $1,700.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 2 02-02
7. Penny Berryman Hot Springs, AR 10 23-10 272 $1,600.00
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 2 06-11 Day 3: 5 09-00
8. Debra Petrowski Arlington, TX 12 23-08 268 $1,550.00
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 2 01-09
9. Melinda Mize-Hooper Ben Lomond, AR 13 23-00 264 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 3 03-10 Day 3: 5 11-03
10. Christiana Bradley Bealeton, VA 12 22-09 260 $1,450.00
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 4 06-08 Day 3: 5 11-00
11. Juanita Robinson Highlands, TX 11 22-05 257 $1,400.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 1 00-15
12. Teri Neal Cumming, GA 11 22-02 254 $1,350.00
Day 1: 2 06-02 Day 2: 4 07-10 Day 3: 5 08-06
13. Kathi Hurst Ripley, MS 12 21-02 251 $1,300.00
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 5 08-05 Day 3: 5 08-04
14. Marcia Rubin Chagrin Falls, OH 11 20-02 248 $1,200.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 3 03-05 Day 3: 3 05-08
15. Kay Pennington Pineville, LA 13 18-14 245 $1,150.00
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 06-07 Day 3: 3 03-15
16. Secret York Benton, KY 10 16-15 242 $1,075.00
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 2 02-09 Day 3: 4 06-05
16. Diane Phillips Tyler, TX 10 16-15 242 $1,075.00
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 4 07-12 Day 3: 1 01-02
18. Rhonda Usery Cabot, AR 12 16-12 238 $975.00
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 2 03-14 Day 3: 5 05-13
18. Lynda Gessner Foristell, MO 7 16-12 238 $975.00
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 4 09-04 Day 3: 2 04-10
20. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, TN 10 16-10 235 $900.00
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 3 03-15 Day 3: 3 04-06
21. Cindy Hill Smyrna, TN 7 16-01 233 $1,850.00
Day 1: 4 11-05 Day 2: 1 01-02 Day 3: 2 03-10
22. Sarah Augustine New Iberia, LA 9 15-11 231 $800.00
Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 0 00-00
23. Mary Hencken Belmont, NC 8 13-04 229 $750.00
Day 1: 4 07-08 Day 2: 1 02-11 Day 3: 3 03-01
24. Marsha Gipson Bigelow, AR 8 13-00 227 $700.00
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 2 02-02 Day 3: 1 01-12
25. Christena Baugh Benton, AR 7 12-00 225 $650.00
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 04-15 Day 3: 1 01-09
Articles and images from BASS
Compiled by Brandon Shook
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