The top-four women anglers of the Lake Area Lady Anglers bass club refer to their club as the LALA club. The only thing LALA about them, when it comes to bass fishing, is their nickname. They held the lead going into the final day of competition, in the Women's Bass Fishing Association's Affiliated Club Championship, and they refused to relinquish it. They were the defending Champions and they get another year of bragging rights as well as a $2,600 paycheck for their club.
The ACC, a week-long Championship event for the Affiliated Club Federation of the WBFA Tour, concluded with today's final competition day on beautiful Table Rock Lake. Made up of women from both Texas and Louisiana, the LALA girls started the day with a lead of just under three pounds, and they captured the ACC Championship title by increasing that lead to almost four pounds of total weight. The winning team-total was 41.73 pounds of bass. The catches consisted of largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass.
Sue Crochet, from Lake Charles, LA earned her second consecutive berth in the Classic World Championship by weighing the heaviest catch on the winning team. She is a double-qualifier for the Classic, so a berth will be passed to the second-heaviest catch on the LALA team. Sandy Jeane, hailing from Hull, TX will be awarded that berth.
The Gateway Bass'N Gals, from the St.Louis, MO area jumped from fourth place, overtaking the Buckeye Gems Bass Club and the Indiana Bass'N Gals, to finish second with 38.13 pounds. Cheryl Lalumandier, from harvester, MO had the heaviest catch on the second place team, winning her a slot in the Classic World Championship. Cheryl is also a double qualifier, so the berth will be filled by teammate Bonnie Katke, the second-heaviest catch on the team. Bonnie hails from Hazlewood, MO.
Rounding out the field of teams are: Third place Indiana Bass'N Gals, fourth place Ohio Buckeye Gems Bass Club, Fifth place Lake Dardanelle Lady Anglers, sixth place Table Rock lady Anglers, and seventh place Dallas Bass'N Gals.
Harper Valley Resort in Kimberling City played host to this year's event. Harper Valley owner, Nancy Ellis, said, "we were so happy to have this group of anglers in our area and at Harper Valley Resort." Each and every angler at the event stated that the fishery, the housing and the hospitality was first class and would love to return for future events. "This is a wonderful family vacation destination", ACC director, Joan Craig stated. "We hope to be invited back to this community and Table Rock Lake soon", said Craig.
A Championship Banquet, to honor the winning team and present awards, will be held at the Kimberling Inn Friday evening, provided by John Redford, owner of Thousand Hills Golf Resort. "The WBFA Tour wishes to thank Mr. John Redford and Harper Valley Resort for their wonderful hospitality and for hosting this event", said Willie Cook, Tournament director. "Our sponsors and our hosts make it possible for women to have a tournament trail, where they can fish among their peers", Cook stated.
National sponsors of the WBFA Tour include: Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Mercury Marine, Triton Boats, Alex Langer's Flying Lure, FisherGirl, Minn Kota, DEKA Batteries, Stay'N Charge Charging Systems, Hog Rustler Lures, Kick'N Bass Scents and Eidolon Bait Company.