CLARK KEEPS THE LEAD ON DAY 2 OF THE WOMEN’S BASSMASTER TOUR

With a 3-Pound Lead, Clark is Ready to Pounce on Final Day

LEWISVILLE, Texas – Dianna Clark continued her productive pattern on Lewisville Lake on Friday to maintain the lead in the second tournament of the Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats season.

The Bumpus Mills, Tenn., angler weighed in a five-fish limit of 11 pounds, 6 ounces, bringing her two-day total to 23-12, and putting her more than 3 pounds ahead of the closest challenger with one day of fishing left in the competition.

Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., who was in second place after Day 1, remained in striking distance of Clark by catching a limit and bringing her total weight to 20-4. Patti Campbell of Waxahachie, Texas, who is fishing as a professional for the first time, was in third with 15-15.

Just as on Day 1, anglers fished in sweltering conditions, with temperatures in the 90s and stale winds that were considerably stronger on Friday and switched direction.

“The wind changed everything,” said Clark. “The south wind kicked up and the soft bite I was getting on some bigger fish the first day was harder to get. I was finesse fishing a lot (Friday). I knew I’d get my fish but I didn’t know if I’d get my limit.”

Clark said she fished with a Thundershad crankbait as well as a Gene Larue finesse jig and craw.

Glasgow got what she wished for with the continued winds, but it wasn’t enough for her to overtake Clark. “I think the wind helps the bite I’ve been getting,” she said. “I’ve gotten some really good bites and lost about a 6-pounder at the boat (Friday). I think that may have given me a few gray hairs.

“I’ve got the potential to get a big bite and catch up quick, so I’m going to keep up the pattern I’ve got going and see what happens,” said Glasgow, who declined to discuss the specifics of her tactics. “I’m going to beat some new water.”

Campbell, in third, was dealing not only with the elements and the fish but also the emotions of potentially winning in her first pro appearance. “I’m just trying to stay as calm as I can, but my voice is quivering,” she said. “I was on no sleep the first day and probably will be again,” said Campbell, who fished a Carolina rig and a Brush Hog.

Clark said she looked forward to being on the lake with only five other pro competitors as they go for a final-day win.

“This is a small lake and having 200 women out there is a lot,” she said. “(Saturday) is going to open up a few more areas for me. Some of the preferred areas always had four or five boats on them the first two days.”

Rounding out the top six were Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., 15-11; Jan Hudson of Harrison, Ark., 14-9; and Cindy Hill of Smyrna, Tenn., 14-8. Hill vaulted from 15th after the first day to sixth with a haul of 8-11 on Friday. And Martin-Wells, in fourth, won the women’s tour preview event on Lewisville in October 2005.

Debbie Pegoli of Ohio led the co-angler division with 10-8, followed by Kim Stapp of Georgia with 6-15 and Jacqueline Helton of Arkansas with 6-10.

The final day weigh-in will be held at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth along with the Day 3 weigh-in for the Bassmaster Memorial event being held on Eagle Mountain Lake and Benbrook Lake.

First prize is a Triton Boat and Mercury Marine package valued at $50,000 in the pro class and $25,000 in the co-angler division. In addition to the prize money, anglers are also chasing points toward qualifying for the Women’s Bassmaster Tour Championship, a tournament that will be held in conjunction with the 2007 CITGO Bassmaster Classic, and the Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year title.

On Saturday, the women weigh in at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth in conjunction with Day 3 of the Bassmaster Memorial, being held on Eagle Mountain Lake and Benbrook Lake.

First prize is a Triton Boat and Mercury Marine package valued at $50,000 in the pro class and a boat valued at $25,000 in the co-angler division. In addition to the prize money, anglers are also chasing points toward qualifying for the Women’s Bassmaster Tour championship, a tournament that will be held in conjunction with the 2007 CITGO Bassmaster Classic, and the Toyota Women’s Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year title.

Sponsors of the Women’s Bassmaster Tour include Mercury Marine, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Advance Auto Parts and Plano.

Local sponsors for the event are the City of Lewisville, Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce, Sneaky Pete’s Restaurant and Banquet Facility and the Baymont Inn and Suites.

BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.

BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry’s widest array of services and support to its nearly 550,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com.