EVANS, Ga. - It had been eight long years without one career victory for professional angler Cindy Hill. After collecting the right bites Saturday, Hill, of Smyrna, Tenn., posted a three-day total of 24 pounds, 12 ounces, which was enough to hold off Kim Bain of Alabaster, Ala., by just 2 ounces as Hill ended her career-long drought at the final regular-season bass fishing tournament of the 2008 Women's Bassmaster Tour on Clarks Hill Lake.
Beginning the tournament in 17th after the first day, Hill steadily moved up the standings through the three-day competition, climbing to fourth Friday and eventually scoring a victory that earned her a Triton/Mercury boat package valued at $50,000, and $1,000 cash. She executed the same pattern throughout the tournament, flipping a crawbait to stained water up the Savannah River.
"I knew the fish would be there," Hill said. "The pattern suited my strengths perfectly and I always fish to my strengths. I've struggled for eight years trying to win one of these. I really thought I was going to be second again."
While Bain narrowly missed out on her second WBT victory of the season, the 28-year-old retained her lead in the Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year standings. A first-year competitor on the WBT, Bain was drawn to the circuit mostly because of BASS'announcement that the WBT Angler of the Year would receive a qualifying berth into the 2009 Bassmaster Classic set for Feb. 20-22 on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. In her rookie season, she has certainly showed the chops to compete in bass fishing's premier event.
Bain and the other anglers who finished in the top 20 in the AOY standings will move on to the season-ending WBT Championship, set for Oct. 23-25 on Arkansas' Lake Hamilton. Complete standings will be available on www.Bassmaster.com. After the Championship, the points will be finalized, with the winner earning the coveted Classic berth and a fully-rigged Toyota truck.
On the strength of her victory, Hill clinched a spot in the top 20 of the AOY standings. One of the keys to her victory, she said, was the confidence she had in her primary pattern. While Hill had a decent first day on Clarks Hill, she trailed the leaders by a significant margin and could have changed plans. Ultimately, she made the right move, reversing the bad luck that had plagued her for eight years.
In addition to her primary pattern, Hill changed it up with a top-water lure in the morning. Her first time on Clarks Hill Lake, Hill played it cautious each day, leaving enough time to traverse the spacious Clarks Hill and check in on time.
"I would fish another eight years just to have this feeling again," she said Hill. "I had no idea that I would even have a shot at this. This is so sweet."
Bain collected her third consecutive limit Saturday, posting a three-day total of 24 pounds, 10 ounces. The native Australian missed three fish Saturday, and she felt that those misses likely cost her the victory.
On the final day, Bain fished a wacky worm around deep structure, abandoning her primary pattern from the first two days, which was working a spinnerbait around stretches of bank. Like the majority of the field, this was Bain's first visit to Clarks Hill.
"I can put my head on my pillow tonight and know that I gave it 100 percent," she said. "I'm satisfied with how things turned out. I'm excited to get back out there again and fish in my first WBT Championship."
Rounding out the top five were Angie Douthit of Clewiston, Fla., in third with 22 pounds, 7 ounces; Lisa Sternard of Clarksville, Tenn., in fourth with 22-1 and Kim Stapp of Ringgold, Ga., fifth with 20-10.
Local favorite Laura Gober of Pendergrass, Ga., finished sixth with 20-9, while Juanita Robinson of Texas, finished seventh with 18-15. Robinson, who was in second place in the AOY standings coming into this tournament, poses the biggest threat to Bain at the WBT Championship.
In the co-angler division, Gail Wood of Russellville, Ark., paced the field with a three-day total of 13 pounds, 7 ounces. With the victory, Wood's first on the WBT, she earned a Triton/Mercury boat package valued at $32,000. Finishing behind Wood were Bertha Cavakis of Amity, Ark., with 9-7, and Colleen McKay of Worcester, Mass., with 9-1.
2008 Womens Bassmaster Tour Stop 4 9/18-9/20 Clarks Hill Lake, Evans GA. (BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Cindy Hill Smyrna, TN 14 24-12 305 $51,000.00 Day 1: 4 05-03 Day 2: 5 09-06 Day 3: 5 10-03 2. Kim Bain Alabaster, AL 15 24-10 300 $5,500.00 Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 09-10 Day 3: 5 07-03 3. Angie Douthit Clewiston, FL 11 22-07 290 $4,500.00 Day 1: 4 08-12 Day 2: 3 06-09 Day 3: 4 07-02 4. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, TN 15 22-01 285 $4,000.00 Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 5 07-08 Day 3: 5 09-00 5. Kim Stapp Ringgold, GA 8 20-10 280 $3,500.00 Day 1: 3 09-03 Day 2: 3 07-01 Day 3: 2 04-06 6. Laura Gober Pendergrass, GA 9 20-09 276 $3,000.00 Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 4 09-12 Day 3: 3 07-09 7. Juanita Robinson Highlands, TX 9 18-15 272 $2,500.00 Day 1: 4 07-04 Day 2: 2 05-02 Day 3: 3 06-09 8. Keri Schieber Cumming, GA 12 17-06 266 $1,875.00 Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 4 05-01 Day 3: 5 05-12 8. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, GA 11 17-06 266 $1,875.00 Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 5 07-05 Day 3: 4 07-02 10. Judy Wong Many, LA 13 17-05 260 $1,500.00 Day 1: 4 05-12 Day 2: 4 04-06 Day 3: 5 07-03 11. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, TN 9 16-15 257 $1,350.00 Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 3 06-15 Day 3: 2 03-05 12. Lisa Johnson Centre, AL 11 14-15 254 $1,100.00 Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 3 04-06 Day 3: 3 03-13 13. Lynda Gessner Foristell, MO 8 14-08 256 $1,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 3 02-14 Day 3: 0 00-00 14. Susan Gregory Kiln, MS 6 13-15 248 $975.00 Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 2 04-05 Day 3: 1 01-01 15. Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, TX 11 13-04 245 $950.00 Day 1: 5 05-15 Day 2: 3 03-05 Day 3: 3 04-00 16. Paula Alexander Lincolnton, GA 9 13-03 243 $925.00 Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 4 04-08 Day 3: 1 01-09 17. Tammy Richardson Glenwood, AR 9 12-14 241 $900.00 Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 1 01-01 Day 3: 3 04-03 18. Mary Croft Bedford, VA 8 12-09 239 $875.00 Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 5 06-10 Day 3: 1 01-12 19. Helen Gordon Flower Mound, TX 9 11-01 237 $850.00 Day 1: 5 05-15 Day 2: 2 02-12 Day 3: 2 02-06 20. Lori Masters Nashville, TN 8 10-12 235 $825.00 Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 5 06-11 Day 3: 0 00-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 8 151 229-12 2 8 138 218-11 3 5 57 94-02 ---------------------------------- 21 346 542-09 Co-Angler Standings Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Gail Wood Russellville, AR 6 09-01 305 Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 04-02 2. Lesley Childers Anderson, SC 3 08-08 300 Day 1: 2 07-03 Day 2: 1 01-05 3. Barbara Gaskins Suffolk, VA 6 08-04 290 Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 1 01-14 4. Kelleen Wells Grovetown, GA 5 07-09 285 Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 2 03-05 5. Lisa Diehl Pittsburgh, PA 4 06-11 280 Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 1 02-03 6. Colleen McKay Worcester, MA 6 06-08 276 Day 1: 4 04-02 Day 2: 2 02-06 7. Vicki Hester Rainbow City, AL 6 06-07 272 Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 5 04-09 8. Monica Altman Angier, NC 5 06-02 268 Day 1: 4 04-04 Day 2: 1 01-14 9. Robertina Filburn Vine Grove, KY 5 05-13 264 Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 4 04-09 10. Kim McGuffey Weatherford, TX 4 04-14 260 Day 1: 3 02-15 Day 2: 1 01-15 11. Nancy Stumpe Palatka, FL 3 04-12 257 Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 1 02-08 12. Susan Dameron Chattanooga, TN 4 04-08 254 Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 3 03-11 13. Linda Walker Beebe, AR 2 03-15 251 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-15 14. Bertha Cavakis Amity, AR 3 03-13 248 Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 15. Barbara Ferge Somerville, TN 3 03-12 245 Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 2 02-07 16. Brandi Frasier Madisonville, KY 2 03-09 243 Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 1 01-09 17. Donna Newberry Van Buren, AR 3 03-06 241 Day 1: 2 02-07 Day 2: 1 00-15 18. Stacy Zhelesnik Hoboken, NJ 2 03-05 239 Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 19. Melissa Bond Albuquerque, NM 3 03-04 237 Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 1 01-07 20. Miriam Donohoo San Mateo, FL 2 03-03 235 Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 21. Cheryl Buelow Pollock, LA 2 03-02 233 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-02 22. Michele Gunderman Gastonia, NC 2 02-14 230 Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 22. Jennifer Helgren Waukegum, IL 2 02-14 230 Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 1 02-00 24. Terri Bittner Mckinleyville, CA 2 02-12 227 Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 1 01-02 25. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, WA 1 02-10 225 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-10 26. Kim Guy Loudon, TN 2 02-08 223 Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 1 01-03 27. Elizabeth Sanders Brandon, MS 2 02-07 220 Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 1 01-02 27. Kim Petrowski Arlington, TX 1 02-07 220 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-07 29. Brenda Bates La Porte, TX 2 02-05 217 Day 1: 1 00-12 Day 2: 1 01-09 30. Debra Cook Gardendale, AL 2 02-03 214 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-03 30. Sherry Melton Monterey, TN 2 02-03 214 Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 32. Linda Owens Brandon, MS 1 02-02 211 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-02 33. Vicki Henderson Ashdown, AR 2 02-01 209 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-01 34. Sharon Rushton Kimberling City, MO 2 02-00 207 Day 1: 2 02-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 35. Linda Thomas Pryor, OK 1 01-15 205 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-15 36. Petra Ramsey El Paso, TX 1 01-14 203 Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 37. Kim Martin Clayton, IN 1 01-12 201 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-12 38. Tracy Doty Roanoke, TX 2 01-10 197 Day 1: 2 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 38. Kathy Freehling Interlachen, FL 1 01-10 197 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-10 38. Denese Freeman Lawton, OK 1 01-10 197 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-10 41. Katie Ellis Gulfport, MS 1 01-07 193 Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 42. Ashley Brinkley Madisonville, KY 1 01-05 189 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-05 42. Leanne Snowden Suttons Bay, MI 1 01-05 189 Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 42. Sharon Withers Jasper, TX 1 01-05 189 Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 45. Billie Jaynes Deer Park, TX 1 01-04 185 Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 46. Jennifer Blackwood Lincolnton, GA 1 01-02 182 Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 46. Brenda Reeves Arlington, TX 1 01-02 182 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-02 48. Tracy Bailey Ennis, TX 1 01-01 179 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-01 49. Renee Gumbrecht Oakhurst, NJ 1 01-00 174 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-00 49. Dianne Kegley Norphlet, AR 1 01-00 174 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-00 49. Lesli Lively Grapeland, TX 1 01-00 174 Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 49. Diane Smith Fayetteville, GA 1 01-00 174 Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 53. Susan Wild Denver, CO 1 00-15 169 Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 54. Nancy Dugas Huntsville, AL 1 00-14 167 Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Dawn Dudek Posen, IL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Charlotte Frazier Dallas, TX 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Linda Higginbotham Palm Coast, FL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Ann Hood Statesboro, GA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Kris Hunter Seguin, TX 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Marilu Ives Hot Springs, AR 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Sharon Lawson Red Bank, TN 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Trish Levitt Albuquerque, NM 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Mary Lipka Wentzville, MO 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Janet Mckercher Wapakoneta, OH 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Beverly Nelson Harrison, MI 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Judy Pate Benton, LA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Debbie Pegoli Loveland, OH 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. LaShea Raynor Lexington, SC 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Donna Rutledge Orland Park, IL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Brenda Scarborough Dover, TN 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Violette Sesco Citrus Springs, FL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Sabrina Thompson Houston, TX 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Jada Tidmore Union Grove, AL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 55. Kala Wright Spiro, OK 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 1 68 89-05 2 1 55 78-10 ---------------------------------- 2 123 167-15