Over 60 lady professional bass anglers will challenge the bass on Neely Henry Lake, Alabama on April 10-11 at the Women's Bass Fishing Association Beauty and the Bass championship qualifying bass tournament. The event is one of 6 tournaments that culminate in the World Classic Championship to identify the top Lady Bass Angler in the World.
The Beauty and the Bass champion will carry home a fully rigged Triton TR18 bass boat loaded with a Mercury 150hp EFI outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, 3 Hummingbird depth finders, and DEKA marine batteries. The total tournament prize package is worth over $51,000.00.
The ladies will arrive at tournament headquarters, the Gadsden/Attalla Economy Lodge on Sunday April 6. They will use Monday through Wednesday to familiarize themselves with the 11.235 acres of fishing water. Locally known as the Upper River Lake and the Lower River Lake, the ladies will have over 74 miles of water between Logan Martin Lake and Weiss Lake to establish a fishing pattern. Many will be using plastics to locate early bedding bass on the Coosa River System lake. Others will be using jerk baits and spinner baits looking for pre-spawn largemouth and spotted bass.
There will be both professional and amateur categories. The professional anglers will handle all boat duties. The amateurs will ride in the back of the boat and fish for cash prizes in their own category. Any lady who is interested in becoming part of the tournament and the WBFA is invited to attend functions and even enter the tournament.
Wednesday evening, April 9, the WBFA will conduct tournament registration and a Fraternity of Christian Anglers Society (FOCAS) meeting at the Gadsden Convention Hall. Thursday morning, April 10, the tournament will begin with launch at safe-daylight from the Gadsden City Dock and Marina.
A tradition with the WBFA is a Salute to Veterans on the docks just prior to launch. Prayer and music including the Star Spangled Banner and fireworks will launch the ladies into 2 days of intense competition.
Weigh-ins will be held at the Gadsden City Boat Docks on Thursday and Friday beginning at 3:00pm. Emcee George Braswell, Yamamoto Bait Company, will insure the crowd knows the current status of each angler and what it will take to capture the leading spot on the leaderboard. It is definitely a family spectator event. It is not common for Yamamoto baits, hats, and even rod and reel combos to be tossed to the kids in the crowd.
Immediately following the final weigh-in, the records will be double-checked and the winner announced. She will receive not only the keys to the Triton bass boat, but the title of Tournament Champ.
The WBFA is the only ladies professional bass fishing tour. Sponsors include Triton Boats, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Hummingbird, DEKA Marine Batteries, Eidolon Bait Company and FlowMaster.