Tennessee’s Emily Schaffer Scores Early Lead, Ushers In 2009 Season of the Women’s Bassmaster Tour
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GADSDEN, Ala. — The simple act of switching to a crankbait is all it took for Emily Shaffer of Mount Juliet, Tenn., to take the Day One lead by almost 2 pounds Thursday in the season opener of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Women’s Bassmaster Tour on Neely Henry Lake.
Shaffer’s 14-pound, 8-ounce bag of spotted bass pushed her ahead of Kim Stapp of Ringgold, Ga., who weighed in 12-10 to put her in second place on the leaderboard.
“If it had not been for my partner, I would not have changed baits as quickly as I did,” Shaffer said, speaking about her co-angler. “I kept seeing baitfish under me, and she started throwing a crankbait, and then she caught one. I said, ‘That’s it.’ My gut had been telling me to throw a crankbait, but I was fighting it.
“Then I tied one on, started catching fish, and had a great day."
Stapp was just ounces ahead of Gina Jones of Alexandria, Ala., who had 12-8 in her first WBT entry.
The field squeezed up even more tightly from there. Sharing fourth place with 12-4 were Penny Berryman of Hot Springs, Ark.; Cheryl LaLumandier of St. Charles, Mo.; and defending champion Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga.; who won in 2008 on Neely Henry by an almost 9-pound margin.
The six led the pro field vying for a first-place prize of $1,000 cash and a Skeeter/Yamaha boat rig valued at $55,000.
To find out whether the early leaders hold on, fishing fans can go to Bassmaster.com for live, streaming video and real-time leaderboards of the Friday and Saturday weigh-ins. Also at Bassmaster.com are daily standings and photo galleries.
The start of the fourth WBT season was delayed as tournament officials held anglers back for about an hour Thursday morning until lightning, gusty winds and pelting rain subsided at about 7:30 a.m. CT.
And then the day really got tough.
Many of the pros’ challenges stemmed from Neely Henry’s dropping water levels and fast current. Alabama Power had drawn down the lake in anticipation of the incoming upstream feeds from heavy rains. Already at winter pool, Neely Henry suddenly was a different fishery from what the anglers saw during practice.
Shaffer, who is looking for her first BASS win, said she didn’t let the water level throw her. She stuck to the area she’d planned to fish at the southern end of Neely Henry; her only adjustment was the bait.
Stapp also credited her successful day to confidence in her strategy. “I had a game plan and stuck to it,” she said. “I caught nine keepers, so I was culling. The one kicker fish of about 4-8, a largemouth, bumped me up.”
Foresight to develop a deep-water pattern didn’t hurt either.
“I had some shallow stuff I couldn’t get to because of the water level, but I also had some deep enough that the water fluctuation didn’t make a difference,” she said.
Kim Bain-Moore of Alabaster, Ala., fishing her first BASS event since she made history last month as the first woman to compete in a Bassmaster Classic, settled into 14th place after the first day with 9-11.
“I was really looking forward to Neely Henry," she said. "The Classic was a tremendous experience, but I’m certainly glad to be back with all my buddies on the WBT.”
In the co-angler division, Donna Newberry of Van Buren, Ark., brought in 12-2 to take the lead in the contest for $500 cash and a Triton/Mercury rig valued at $25,000. Behind her were Nancy Stumpe of Palatka, Fla., with 10-14 and Lesli Lively of Grapeland, Texas, with 9-9.
Pros and co-anglers are fishing for points as well as for prizes. After the regular season’s four tournaments, the top 20 pros and top 20 co-anglers in the standings will advance to the Oct. 16-18 Academy Sports + Outdoors WBT Championship on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. — the same venue as the 2009 Bassmaster Classic.
From the championship, one pro will emerge as the 2009 Toyota Tundra Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year and become just the second woman to qualify for a Bassmaster Classic. She’ll earn a berth in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala.
The WBT season opener continues Friday and wraps up Saturday The pros will launch their boats at 6:30 a.m. both days at Coosa Landing, 200 Lake St. Gadsden. Weigh-ins will begin at 2:45 p.m. at Academy Sports + Outdoors, 200 Albert Rains Blvd., Gadsden.
All events at WBT tournaments are free and open to the public.
The local sponsor of the March 26-28 event in Alabama is the City of Gadsden Parks & Recreation.
Sponsors of the Women’s Bassmaster Tour: Academy Sports + Outdoors, Toyota Trucks, Berkley, BOOYAH Baits, Mercury, OPTIMA Batteries, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Marine, Ramada, Triton Boats, Legend Boats and LaserLure.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit Bassmaster.com. Visit ESPNMediaZone.com for ESPN's latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video, audio clips and more.
About BASS
For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multimedia platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive Web properties in ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband sports network, Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content – from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage – to passionate audiences.
The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Women’s Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Classic, the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS sanctions more than 20,000 events annually.
BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
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Media Contact: Doug Grassian, (407) 566-2216 or doug.grassian@espn.com
2009 WBT #1 - Gadsden, AL 3/26-3/28
Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Emily Shaffer Mount Juliet, TN 5 14-08 305
Day 1: 5 14-08
2. Kim Stapp Ringgold, GA 5 12-10 295
Day 1: 5 12-10
3. Gina Jones Alexandria, AL 5 12-08 290
Day 1: 5 12-08
4. Penny Berryman Hot Springs, AR 5 12-04 285
Day 1: 5 12-04
4. Cheryl LaLumandier Saint Charles, MO 5 12-04 285
Day 1: 5 12-04
4. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, GA 5 12-04 285
Day 1: 5 12-04
7. Laura Gober Pendergrass, GA 5 12-03 272
Day 1: 5 12-03
8. Juanita Robinson Highlands, TX 5 11-00 268
Day 1: 5 11-00
9. Lisa Johnson Centre, AL 5 10-11 264
Day 1: 5 10-11
10. Kris McClendon Spicewood, TX 4 10-06 260
Day 1: 4 10-06
11. Heather Broom Sylva, NC 5 10-02 257
Day 1: 5 10-02
11. Robinette Fox Hot Springs, AR 5 10-02 257
Day 1: 5 10-02
13. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 5 09-11 251
Day 1: 5 09-11
14. Kim Bain-Moore Alabaster, AL 5 09-11 248
Day 1: 5 09-11
15. Pam Bolton Jonesboro, AR 5 09-10 245
Day 1: 5 09-10
15. Mary Croft Bedford, VA 5 09-10 245
Day 1: 5 09-10
15. Melinda Mize Ben Lomond, AR 5 09-10 245
Day 1: 5 09-10
18. Tami Kashiwabara Shelby JAPAN 5 09-08 239
Day 1: 5 09-08
19. Cheryl Bowden Plano, TX 5 08-12 237
Day 1: 5 08-12
20. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, OK 5 08-11 235
Day 1: 5 08-11
21. Sandi Karnes Livingston, TX 5 08-10 233
Day 1: 5 08-10
22. Judy Wong Many, LA 5 08-06 231
Day 1: 5 08-06
23. Robin Babb Livingston, TX 5 08-05 229
Day 1: 5 08-05
24. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, TN 5 08-02 227
Day 1: 5 08-02
25. Kat Ealey Moody, AL 5 07-15 225
Day 1: 5 07-15
26. Linda Sands Cullman, AL 5 07-14 223
Day 1: 5 07-14
27. Karen Elkins Oxford, AL 5 07-06 221
Day 1: 5 07-06
28. Tammy Richardson Amity, AR 5 07-04 219
Day 1: 5 07-04
29. Rhonda Pope Waco, GA 4 07-03 217
Day 1: 4 07-03
30. Kelley Shepherd Congress, AZ 5 07-01 215
Day 1: 5 07-01
31. Paula Alexander Lincolnton, GA 5 07-00 213
Day 1: 5 07-00
32. Debbie Kemp Emory, TX 4 06-15 211
Day 1: 4 06-15
33. Mary DiVincenti Clinton, LA 5 06-14 209
Day 1: 5 06-14
33. Cindy Hill Smyrna, TN 5 06-14 209
Day 1: 5 06-14
35. Kathy Womack Trussville, AL 3 06-11 205
Day 1: 3 06-11
36. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, TX 5 06-06 203
Day 1: 5 06-06
37. Karen Savik Minneapolis, MN 3 06-05 201
Day 1: 3 06-05
38. Barbara Wetzel Southside, AL 4 06-03 199
Day 1: 4 06-03
39. Susan Gregory Kiln, MS 5 06-02 197
Day 1: 5 06-02
39. Debra Petrowski Arlington, TX 5 06-02 197
Day 1: 5 06-02
41. Janet DAWN Parker Little Elm, TX 1 06-01 193
Day 1: 1 06-01
42. Lynda Gessner Foristell, MO 5 05-12 191
Day 1: 5 05-12
43. Bridget Allen Philadelphia, PA 4 05-06 189
Day 1: 4 05-06
44. Kimberlee Striker Cullman, AL 4 05-03 187
Day 1: 4 05-03
45. Kali Weatherford Athens, TX 3 05-03 185
Day 1: 3 05-03
46. Christiana Bradley Bealeton, VA 4 05-01 183
Day 1: 4 05-01
46. BJ Carson Inola, OK 4 05-01 183
Day 1: 4 05-01
48. Jennifer Nevans Dayton, TN 5 04-15 179
Day 1: 5 04-15
49. Betty Stahl Guntersville, AL 4 04-14 177
Day 1: 4 04-14
50. Jan Heavener Sherwood, AR 4 04-10 175
Day 1: 4 04-10
51. Judy VanCanneyt Lexington, AL 3 04-07 173
Day 1: 3 04-07
52. Kathi Hurst Ripley, MS 3 04-06 171
Day 1: 3 04-06
53. Kathy DiMartino Guntersville, AL 3 04-04 169
Day 1: 3 04-04
54. Keri Schieber Cumming, GA 3 04-02 167
Day 1: 3 04-02
55. Diane Phillips Tyler, TX 3 04-00 165
Day 1: 3 04-00
56. Debra Hengst San Antonio, TX 3 03-15 163
Day 1: 3 03-15
57. Ann Swinks Lilburn, GA 1 03-12 161
Day 1: 1 03-12
58. Helen Gordon Flower Mound, TX 2 03-11 159
Day 1: 2 03-11
59. Pat White Pleasanton, TX 2 03-04 157
Day 1: 2 03-04
60. Meta Burrell Fort Worth, TX 2 02-13 155
Day 1: 2 02-13
61. Teri Neal Cumming, GA 2 02-11 153
Day 1: 2 02-11
62. Robbie Hartline Foristell, MO 2 02-09 151
Day 1: 2 02-09
63. Christena Baugh Benton, AR 2 02-08 149
Day 1: 2 02-08
64. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, TN 2 02-05 147
Day 1: 2 02-05
65. Laura Heflin Topeka, KS 2 02-04 145
Day 1: 2 02-04
66. Cindy Van Horn Athens, TX 2 02-02 143
Day 1: 2 02-02
67. Sherri Dodson Ashville, AL 1 01-15 141
Day 1: 1 01-15
68. Mary Hencken Belmont, NC 1 01-14 139
Day 1: 1 01-14
69. Lila Bass Austin, TX 1 01-12 137
Day 1: 1 01-12
70. Marsha Gipson Bigelow, AR 1 01-08 135
Day 1: 1 01-08
71. Kim Hicks Tallapoosa, GA 1 01-07 133
Day 1: 1 01-07
72. Terri Elkins Red Oak, TX 1 01-06 131
Day 1: 1 01-06
73. Kathy Freehling Interlachen, FL 1 01-03 129
Day 1: 1 01-03
74. Secret York Benton, KY 1 01-00 127
Day 1: 1 01-00
75. Jo Dee DEE Lake Helena, AL 1 00-15 125
Day 1: 1 00-15
76. Michelle Armstrong Denver, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Lisa Craig Chandler, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Danalee Lofton Little Rock, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Lori Masters Nashville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Patsy McDaniel Gordo, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Linda Redford Blue Eye, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
76. Sharon Teague Greenville, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 36 276 477-14
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36 276 477-14
2009 WBT #1 - Gadsden, AL 3/26-3/28
Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Donna Newberry Van Buren, AR 5 12-02 305
Day 1: 5 12-02
2. Nancy Stumpe Palatka, FL 5 10-14 295
Day 1: 5 10-14
3. Lesli Lively Grapeland, TX 5 09-09 290
Day 1: 5 09-09
4. Kelly Wells Grovetown, GA 5 09-04 285
Day 1: 5 09-04
5. Cheryl Buelow Pollock, LA 5 09-00 280
Day 1: 5 09-00
6. Bunny Hicks Rossville, GA 4 08-13 276
Day 1: 4 08-13
7. Trish Levitt Albuquerque, NM 5 08-05 272
Day 1: 5 08-05
7. Colleen McKay Worcester, MA 5 08-05 272
Day 1: 5 08-05
9. Linda Berry Madison, NC 3 08-04 264
Day 1: 3 08-04
10. Stacy Zhelesnik Hoboken, NJ 5 08-01 260
Day 1: 5 08-01
11. Miriam Donohoo San Mateo, FL 4 08-00 257
Day 1: 4 08-00
12. Susan Dameron Chattanooga, TN 5 07-15 254
Day 1: 5 07-15
13. Sabrina Thompson Humble, TX 5 07-13 251
Day 1: 5 07-13
14. Laura Bean Oxford, AL 3 07-13 248
Day 1: 3 07-13
15. Vicki Hester Rainbow City, AL 5 07-10 245
Day 1: 5 07-10
16. Martha Goodfellow Simpsonville, SC 5 07-05 243
Day 1: 5 07-05
17. Debbie Pegoli Loveland, OH 5 07-03 241
Day 1: 5 07-03
18. Kim Mendoza Garland, TX 5 07-00 239
Day 1: 5 07-00
19. Torrye Vineyard Yantis, TX 5 06-15 237
Day 1: 5 06-15
20. Linda Higginbotham Palm Coast, FL 5 06-12 235
Day 1: 5 06-12
21. Lori Steele Tulsa, OK 3 06-12 233
Day 1: 3 06-12
22. Bertha Cavakis Amity, AR 4 06-11 231
Day 1: 4 06-11
23. Kim Petrowski Arlington, TX 4 06-09 229
Day 1: 4 06-09
24. Susan Wild St Petersburg, FL 5 06-06 227
Day 1: 5 06-06
25. Gail Wood Russellville, AR 5 06-02 225
Day 1: 5 06-02
26. Terri Bittner McKinleyville, CA 5 06-01 223
Day 1: 5 06-01
27. Vicki Henderson Ashdown, AR 3 05-09 221
Day 1: 3 05-09
28. Jada Tidmore Union Grove, AL 3 05-08 219
Day 1: 3 05-08
29. Teri Cindric Hermitage, TN 2 05-06 217
Day 1: 2 05-06
30. Katie Hogan Bon Aqua, TN 5 05-02 215
Day 1: 5 05-02
31. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, WA 4 05-02 213
Day 1: 4 05-02
32. Patti James Dayton, TX 5 05-01 211
Day 1: 5 05-01
33. Jennifer Blackwood Lincolnton, GA 4 04-12 209
Day 1: 4 04-12
34. Sherry Melton Monterey, TN 4 04-09 207
Day 1: 4 04-09
35. LaShea Raynor Lexington, SC 3 04-08 205
Day 1: 3 04-08
36. Linda Owens Brandon, MS 2 04-04 203
Day 1: 2 04-04
37. Linda Rinker Palm Coast, FL 3 04-03 201
Day 1: 3 04-03
38. Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, TX 2 04-03 199
Day 1: 2 04-03
39. Elizabeth Sanders Brandon, MS 3 04-01 197
Day 1: 3 04-01
40. Nancy Dugas Huntsville, AL 3 03-15 195
Day 1: 3 03-15
41. Renee Gumbrecht Oakhurst, NJ 2 03-14 193
Day 1: 2 03-14
42. Petra Ramsey El Paso, TX 1 03-14 191
Day 1: 1 03-14
43. Denese Freeman Lawton, OK 3 03-09 189
Day 1: 3 03-09
43. Donna Rutledge Orland Park, IL 3 03-09 189
Day 1: 3 03-09
45. Cynthia Tayloe Lufkin, TX 1 03-09 185
Day 1: 1 03-09
46. Linda Walker Beebe, AR 2 03-07 183
Day 1: 2 03-07
47. Jennifer Rice Grant, AL 3 03-02 181
Day 1: 3 03-02
48. Debra Cook Gardendale, AL 2 03-02 179
Day 1: 2 03-02
48. Lisa Diehl Pittsburg, PA 2 03-02 179
Day 1: 2 03-02
48. Charlotte Frazier Dallas, TX 2 03-02 179
Day 1: 2 03-02
51. Brandi Frasier Madisonville, KY 2 03-01 173
Day 1: 2 03-01
52. Kim Martin Clayton, IN 3 03-00 171
Day 1: 3 03-00
53. Leslie Anderson Saint Louis, MO 3 02-15 169
Day 1: 3 02-15
54. Virginia Buckner Scottsboro, AL 2 02-12 167
Day 1: 2 02-12
55. Melissa Bond Albuquerque, NM 2 02-11 165
Day 1: 2 02-11
56. Barbara Gaskins Suffolk, VA 2 02-10 163
Day 1: 2 02-10
57. Kala Wright Spiro, OK 2 02-09 161
Day 1: 2 02-09
58. Jill Matheis Jasper, IN 2 02-05 159
Day 1: 2 02-05
59. Katie Ellis Gulfport, MS 1 02-05 157
Day 1: 1 02-05
60. Nancy Oliver Arnaudville, LA 1 02-04 155
Day 1: 1 02-04
61. Jane Brunner Byhalia, MS 1 01-12 153
Day 1: 1 01-12
62. Juanita Blasingame Kingston, TN 1 01-08 151
Day 1: 1 01-08
63. Diane Smith Fayetteville, GA 1 01-06 149
Day 1: 1 01-06
64. Barbara Ferge Somerville, TN 1 01-05 147
Day 1: 1 01-05
65. Monica Altman Angier, NC 1 01-04 145
Day 1: 1 01-04
66. Marilyn Biszmaier Louisville, KY 1 01-02 143
Day 1: 1 01-02
66. Michele Gunderman Gastonia, NC 1 01-02 143
Day 1: 1 01-02
66. Lisa Skelley Jackson, TN 1 01-02 143
Day 1: 1 01-02
69. Lesley Childers Anderson, SC 1 01-00 137
Day 1: 1 01-00
69. Patty Houston Prattville, AL 1 01-00 137
Day 1: 1 01-00
71. Neva Brown Lufkin, TX 1 00-15 133
Day 1: 1 00-15
71. Sugar Walker Titus, AL 1 00-15 133
Day 1: 1 00-15
73. Kat Arnold Shreveport, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
73. Pam Chism Cabot, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
73. Mona Crawford Welaka, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
73. Sarah Davis Livingston, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
73. Dawn Dudek Posen, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
73. Cassie Hall Alabaster, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
73. Sharon Lawson Red Bank, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
73. Christine Martin Commerce City, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
73. Leanne Snowden Suttons Bay, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
73. Kimberly White Glen Carbon, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 21 219 347-00
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21 219 347-00
