Going into the final day of competition, Shelly Perry, Hurricane, West Virginia held down the first place on the leaderboard over 3 pounds ahead of Brubaker. Perry had boat problems on the first day and did not get a full day's of fishing. But, she felt she had established a good pre-spawn pattern. She was swimming a junebug color paddle-tail Gambler plastic worm with a 1/4 ounce weight in lily pad stems around the hydrella. On the final day, she was only able to boat 2 bass. She said, "They had moved. The bass just were not there like the day before."
Brubaker made her move from third place in the last two hours of fishing time. She explained, "Early this morning, there was a topwater bite, but it only lasted for about 5 minutes. I stayed in the shallow water working it with everything I had. Around noon, I noticed in the clear water bass moving in the 10 foot depth. I dug out a Carolina rig, hooked on a Gene Larew watermelon plastic worm, and moved to the outside of the weedline. That's where I caught the other three bass. I left them biting to make the weigh-in time."
Local favorite, Pam Martin-Wells, Bainbridge, Georgia, bought a lot of excitement to the stage when she carried her one bass, a 5.33-pounder to the stage. Her big fish moved her to first place and captured the Big Bass prize. Perry then stepped on stage with her two fish and recaptured the first place spot. Brubaker walked on stage with her 4 fish needing just less than 6 pounds to capture the tournament. When the scales settled, the 7.74 pound total announced her as the tournament champion.
In the Amateur Division, Linda Chelette, Tallahassee, Florida, was able to hold down her first place spot and took the division with 4.83 pounds to add to her total of 10.22 pounds. Bonnie Ward, Snohomish, Washington, stepped into second place with 6.33 pounds including the division lunker of 4.71 pounds.
Brubaker explained her win by saying, "Shelly, Pam, and Jan are all excellent anglers. Knowing I had to top them to win put a lot of pressure on me that built my determination. I can promise you, that definitely made me work harder."
The WBFA Tour has ladies from all states and all ages as members and anglers. During the Spring Fling Tournament, hosted by Wingate's Lunker Lodge, the youngest angler was Bailey Wells, Bainbridge, Georgia, age 11. The most senior was Denise Sesco, Hernando, Florida, age 74.
The professional bass fishing tour holds 6 qualifying, invitational bass tournament per year at top bass fishing lakes such as Toledo Bend, Grand Lake of the Cherokees, Pickwick, Seminole, and Eufaula. At each tournament, the ladies earn points that will qualify them to fish the Championship Classic.
WBFA sponsors include, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Dekka Marine Batteries, Flowmaster, Hummingbird Electronics, Minn Kota, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, and Edilon Bait Company, maker of the Buzzin Lizzie.
LEADER BOARD
Professional Division 1. Sherrie Brubaker Warner, OK 19.08 2. Shelly Perry Hurricane, WV 17.18 3. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, GA 15.24 4. Jan Heavner Sherman, AR 12.76 5. Emily Shaffer Mt. Juliet, TN 12.61 Big Bass Pam Martin-Wells 5.33 Amateur Division 1. Linda Chelette Tallahassee, FL 10.22 2. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, WA 6.13 3. Donna Martin Shelby, AL 5.71 4. Margaret West Leesburg, LA 4.46 4. Charlene Harris Grandridge, FL 4.46 Big Bass Bonnie Ward 4.71