LEWISVILLE, Texas - Pam Martin-Wells, one of the most experienced and highly decorated women bass anglers, dominated the Lewisville Lake super six on Day 3 of the Women’s Bassmaster Tour preview event, catching the day’s only limit and weighing in 11 pounds, 1 ounce. With the win, the 42-year-old takes home $15,000, the largest cash prize she has ever earned in her angling career.
Martin-Wells caught 31 pounds, 11 ounces during the three-day tournament and moved from sixth place to the top of the field, besting Day 2 leader Pamela Pope (28-11) by 3 pounds. The calm weather, said Martin-Wells, was a perfect way to end a tournament ravaged earlier by gusting winds.
“The wind the first two days really hurt me,” said the Bainbridge, Ga., resident. “Thank God that it didn’t blow nearly as hard today; it was just perfect today.”
Martin-Wells caught the only limit of the day while flipping a Wave Worm Tiki Tube with a 3/16-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight on Hickory Creek.
“This is just indescribable,” an ecstatic Wells said, admiring her trophy. “This is a dream come true and I just don’t know what to say about it. I am speechless.”
Meanwhile, Pope, of Robinson, Texas, took home $4,500 for her second-place performance. She fell from first place after a rough Day 3 when the fish simply stopped biting for her. “It was a really tough day,” she said. “All in all, I am pretty pleased with my performance although I fell short of the top prize.”
Rounding out the top six boaters were Lisa Sternard of Clarksville, Tenn., with 26-15; Brenda Davis of Sand Springs, Okla., with 26-11; Kathi Hurst of Ripley, Miss., with 24-9; and Angie Douthit of Clewiston, Fla., with 22-15.
Non-boater tournament leader Sharon Ruston (11-3), of Kimberling City, Mo., outlasted the rest of the field despite only catching one bass on the final day. Her cushion was big enough after two days to hold off Carrie Bronson of Polk City, Fla., (9-3), a fishing guide at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Following Rushton and Bronson were Arkansas’ Lesa Brown (8-8), Texan Billie Jaynes (7-4), Alabama’s Jo Bucki (7-2) and Texan Donna Prado (6-7).
Location and Field Women’s Bassmaster Tour preview event Lewisville Lake Lewisville, Texas Oct. 20-22, 2005
Launch 7:15 a.m. Sneaky Pete’s Restaurant and Banquet Facility #2 Eagle Point Marina Lewisville, Texas 75075
Weigh-in 3 p.m. Sneaky Pete’s Restaurant and Banquet Facility #2 Eagle Point Marina Lewisville, Texas 75075
Day Three Purolator Big Bass Boater: Pam Martin-Wells, Bainbridge, Georgia, 3-15 Non-Boater: Carrie Bronson, Polk City, Fla., 2-1
Local sponsors: The city of Lewisville, the Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce, Sneaky Pete’s Restaurant and Banquet Facility and the Courtyard by Marriott.
2006 Women’s Bassmaster Tour
March 16-18 Toledo Bend Reservoir Huxley, Texas April 20-22 Neeley Henry Lake Gadsden, Ala. May 18-20 Lewisville Lake Dallas, Texas July 27-29 Lake Norman Huntersville, N.C. Aug. 24-26 Lake Dardanelle Russellville, Ark.
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.
Advertising