BIG AMISTAD BASS TO HIGHLIGHT FIRST EVENT OF 2007 WBT SEASON

What’s at stake: $88,940 in cash and merchandise to the top 25 pros and valuable points towards qualifying for the Women’s Bassmaster Tour championship and winning the Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year title. The top 25 co-anglers compete for $47,040 in cash and merchandise.

The Pros Said It

“The water temperature is warming up and I have even found some water that is in the 60-degree range. I actually hope the water temperature stays where it is currently because if it keeps rising, the fish will transition and I don’t know if I have the right pattern to win the tournament if that happens.” - Dianna Clark, Bumpus Mills, Tenn., 2006 Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year.

“I think the trick is to fish very slowly and be patient. There are plenty of good-sized bass to be caught and I think you can catch them with a number of different lures. I have caught fish on spinnerbaits, swimbaits and soft plastics and it almost seems that you can catch fish on anything out here.” – Rose Ellis, Birmingham, Ala., who finished in 10th place in a Women's Bassmaster Tour event on Lake Dardanelle in August of 2006.

“I have had to rethink my strategy because of the fog that could delay launch tomorrow. I don’t think I will get to my first spot as early as I anticipated and that has caused me to plan a little differently for the first day of competition. While I haven’t found many of the big fish that the other contenders are talking about, I know I can catch a solid limit.” – Darla Bardelli, Glendale, Ariz.

“I have caught a number of big bass including a nine-pounder and I think I have a pattern that could lead to a nice finish here. I just need to stay consistent and fish with heavy lines and big baits to be successful.” – Tanya Kreuzer, Mesa, Ariz..

The Strategy

Clark: Clark said that she has heard of a number of contenders catching lunkers including one that was almost 13 pounds. She indicated that a number of lures will be in play on the vast reservoir as “anything is working out there.” The 2006 Toyota WBT Angler of the Year estimates that the winning angler could catch as much as 100 pounds over the three-day tournament- a weight that would easily shatter the heaviest weight in the WBT’s short history.

Ellis: Ellis felt that finesse-type fishing would lead to a successful finish at the first event of the season. She said she had located a number of productive spots and could catch a number of keeper-sized bass at each location. She estimated that the winning weight would be around 60 pounds for three days.

Bardelli: Bardelli has been keying in on inside points and has yet to develop a main lake bite. With the water temperature moving up, Bardelli has seen staging fish and even a few bedding fish. She will use her experience on Arizona fisheries and the patience she has developed in her homestate to her advantage at this tournament.

Kreuzer: Kreuzer feels that 23 to 28 pounds a day could lead her to victory. Her prespawn pattern is producing good-sized bass in practice and she feels that as long as she eliminates some tournament nerves, she should be able to post a high finish.

Local sponsors: The Del Rio Chamber of Commerce

Women’s Bassmaster Tour sponsors: Include Mercury Marine, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Advance Auto Parts and Plano.