Shaffer's 14-pound, 8-ounce bag of spotted bass pushed her ahead of Kim Stapp of Ringgold, Ga., who weighed in 12-10 to put her in second place on the leaderboard.
"If it had not been for my partner, I would not have changed baits as quickly as I did,"Shaffer said, speaking about her co-angler. "I kept seeing baitfish under me, and she started throwing a crankbait, and then she caught one. I said, 'That's it.' My gut had been telling me to throw a crankbait, but I was fighting it.
"Then I tied one on, started catching fish, and had a great day."
Stapp was just ounces ahead of Gina Jones of Alexandria, Ala., who had 12-8 in her first WBT entry.
The field squeezed up even more tightly from there. Sharing fourth place with 12-4 were Penny Berryman of Hot Springs, Ark.; Cheryl LaLumandier of St. Charles, Mo.; and defending champion Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga.; who won in 2008 on Neely Henry by an almost 9-pound margin.
The six led the pro field vying for a first-place prize of $1,000 cash and a Skeeter/Yamaha boat rig valued at $55,000.
The start of the fourth WBT season was delayed as tournament officials held anglers back for about an hour Thursday morning until lightning, gusty winds and pelting rain subsided at about 7:30 a.m. CT.
And then the day really got tough.
Many of the pros' challenges stemmed from Neely Henry's dropping water levels and fast current. Alabama Power had drawn down the lake in anticipation of the incoming upstream feeds from heavy rains. Already at winter pool, Neely Henry suddenly was a different fishery from what the anglers saw during practice.
Shaffer, who is looking for her first BASS win, said she didn't let the water level throw her. She stuck to the area she'd planned to fish at the southern end of Neely Henry; her only adjustment was the bait.
Stapp also credited her successful day to confidence in her strategy. "I had a game plan and stuck to it," she said. "I caught nine keepers, so I was culling. The one kicker fish of about 4-8, a largemouth, bumped me up."
Foresight to develop a deep-water pattern didn't hurt either.
"I had some shallow stuff I couldn't get to because of the water level, but I also had some deep enough that the water fluctuation didn't make a difference," she said.
Kim Bain-Moore of Alabaster, Ala., fishing her first BASS event since she made history last month as the first woman to compete in a Bassmaster Classic, settled into 14th place after the first day with 9-11.
"I was really looking forward to Neely Henry," she said. "The Classic was a tremendous experience, but I'm certainly glad to be back with all my buddies on the WBT."
In the co-angler division, Donna Newberry of Van Buren, Ark., brought in 12-2 to take the lead in the contest for $500 cash and a Triton/Mercury rig valued at $25,000. Behind her were Nancy Stumpe of Palatka, Fla., with 10-14 and Lesli Lively of Grapeland, Texas, with 9-9.
Pros and co-anglers are fishing for points as well as for prizes. After the regular season's four tournaments, the top 20 pros and top 20 co-anglers in the standings will advance to the Oct. 16-18 WBT Championship on the Red River out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. - the same venue as the 2009 Bassmaster Classic.
From the championship, one pro will emerge as the 2009 Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year and become just the second woman to qualify for a Bassmaster Classic. She'll earn a berth in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala.
The WBT season opener continues Friday and wraps up Saturday The pros will launch their boats at 6:30 a.m. both days at Coosa Landing, 200 Lake St. Gadsden. Weigh-ins will begin at 2:45 p.m. at Academy Sports + Outdoors, 200 Albert Rains Blvd., Gadsden.
All events at WBT tournaments are free and open to the public.
2
009 WBT #1 - Gadsden, AL 3/26-3/28 Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL. (BOATER) Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Emily Shaffer Mount Juliet, TN 5 14-08 305 Day 1: 5 14-08 2. Kim Stapp Ringgold, GA 5 12-10 295 Day 1: 5 12-10 3. Gina Jones Alexandria, AL 5 12-08 290 Day 1: 5 12-08 4. Penny Berryman Hot Springs, AR 5 12-04 285 Day 1: 5 12-04 4. Cheryl LaLumandier Saint Charles, MO 5 12-04 285 Day 1: 5 12-04 4. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, GA 5 12-04 285 Day 1: 5 12-04 7. Laura Gober Pendergrass, GA 5 12-03 272 Day 1: 5 12-03 8. Juanita Robinson Highlands, TX 5 11-00 268 Day 1: 5 11-00 9. Lisa Johnson Centre, AL 5 10-11 264 Day 1: 5 10-11 10. Kris McClendon Spicewood, TX 4 10-06 260 Day 1: 4 10-06 11. Heather Broom Sylva, NC 5 10-02 257 Day 1: 5 10-02 11. Robinette Fox Hot Springs, AR 5 10-02 257 Day 1: 5 10-02 13. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 5 09-11 251 Day 1: 5 09-11 14. Kim Bain-Moore Alabaster, AL 5 09-11 248 Day 1: 5 09-11 15. Pam Bolton Jonesboro, AR 5 09-10 245 Day 1: 5 09-10 15. Mary Croft Bedford, VA 5 09-10 245 Day 1: 5 09-10 15. Melinda Mize Ben Lomond, AR 5 09-10 245 Day 1: 5 09-10 18. Tami Kashiwabara Shelby JAPAN 5 09-08 239 Day 1: 5 09-08 19. Cheryl Bowden Plano, TX 5 08-12 237 Day 1: 5 08-12 20. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, OK 5 08-11 235 Day 1: 5 08-11 21. Sandi Karnes Livingston, TX 5 08-10 233 Day 1: 5 08-10 22. Judy Wong Many, LA 5 08-06 231 Day 1: 5 08-06 23. Robin Babb Livingston, TX 5 08-05 229 Day 1: 5 08-05 24. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, TN 5 08-02 227 Day 1: 5 08-02 25. Kat Ealey Moody, AL 5 07-15 225 Day 1: 5 07-15 26. Linda Sands Cullman, AL 5 07-14 223 Day 1: 5 07-14 27. Karen Elkins Oxford, AL 5 07-06 221 Day 1: 5 07-06 28. Tammy Richardson Amity, AR 5 07-04 219 Day 1: 5 07-04 29. Rhonda Pope Waco, GA 4 07-03 217 Day 1: 4 07-03 30. Kelley Shepherd Congress, AZ 5 07-01 215 Day 1: 5 07-01 31. Paula Alexander Lincolnton, GA 5 07-00 213 Day 1: 5 07-00 32. Debbie Kemp Emory, TX 4 06-15 211 Day 1: 4 06-15 33. Mary DiVincenti Clinton, LA 5 06-14 209 Day 1: 5 06-14 33. Cindy Hill Smyrna, TN 5 06-14 209 Day 1: 5 06-14 35. Kathy Womack Trussville, AL 3 06-11 205 Day 1: 3 06-11 36. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, TX 5 06-06 203 Day 1: 5 06-06 37. Karen Savik Minneapolis, MN 3 06-05 201 Day 1: 3 06-05 38. Barbara Wetzel Southside, AL 4 06-03 199 Day 1: 4 06-03 39. Susan Gregory Kiln, MS 5 06-02 197 Day 1: 5 06-02 39. Debra Petrowski Arlington, TX 5 06-02 197 Day 1: 5 06-02 41. Janet DAWN Parker Little Elm, TX 1 06-01 193 Day 1: 1 06-01 42. Lynda Gessner Foristell, MO 5 05-12 191 Day 1: 5 05-12 43. Bridget Allen Philadelphia, PA 4 05-06 189 Day 1: 4 05-06 44. Kimberlee Striker Cullman, AL 4 05-03 187 Day 1: 4 05-03 45. Kali Weatherford Athens, TX 3 05-03 185 Day 1: 3 05-03 46. Christiana Bradley Bealeton, VA 4 05-01 183 Day 1: 4 05-01 46. BJ Carson Inola, OK 4 05-01 183 Day 1: 4 05-01 48. Jennifer Nevans Dayton, TN 5 04-15 179 Day 1: 5 04-15 49. Betty Stahl Guntersville, AL 4 04-14 177 Day 1: 4 04-14 50. Jan Heavener Sherwood, AR 4 04-10 175 Day 1: 4 04-10 51. Judy VanCanneyt Lexington, AL 3 04-07 173 Day 1: 3 04-07 52. Kathi Hurst Ripley, MS 3 04-06 171 Day 1: 3 04-06 53. Kathy DiMartino Guntersville, AL 3 04-04 169 Day 1: 3 04-04 54. Keri Schieber Cumming, GA 3 04-02 167 Day 1: 3 04-02 55. Diane Phillips Tyler, TX 3 04-00 165 Day 1: 3 04-00 56. Debra Hengst San Antonio, TX 3 03-15 163 Day 1: 3 03-15 57. Ann Swinks Lilburn, GA 1 03-12 161 Day 1: 1 03-12 58. Helen Gordon Flower Mound, TX 2 03-11 159 Day 1: 2 03-11 59. Pat White Pleasanton, TX 2 03-04 157 Day 1: 2 03-04 60. Meta Burrell Fort Worth, TX 2 02-13 155 Day 1: 2 02-13 61. Teri Neal Cumming, GA 2 02-11 153 Day 1: 2 02-11 62. Robbie Hartline Foristell, MO 2 02-09 151 Day 1: 2 02-09 63. Christena Baugh Benton, AR 2 02-08 149 Day 1: 2 02-08 64. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, TN 2 02-05 147 Day 1: 2 02-05 65. Laura Heflin Topeka, KS 2 02-04 145 Day 1: 2 02-04 66. Cindy Van Horn Athens, TX 2 02-02 143 Day 1: 2 02-02 67. Sherri Dodson Ashville, AL 1 01-15 141 Day 1: 1 01-15 68. Mary Hencken Belmont, NC 1 01-14 139 Day 1: 1 01-14 69. Lila Bass Austin, TX 1 01-12 137 Day 1: 1 01-12 70. Marsha Gipson Bigelow, AR 1 01-08 135 Day 1: 1 01-08 71. Kim Hicks Tallapoosa, GA 1 01-07 133 Day 1: 1 01-07 72. Terri Elkins Red Oak, TX 1 01-06 131 Day 1: 1 01-06 73. Kathy Freehling Interlachen, FL 1 01-03 129 Day 1: 1 01-03 74. Secret York Benton, KY 1 01-00 127 Day 1: 1 01-00 75. Jo Dee DEE Lake Helena, AL 1 00-15 125 Day 1: 1 00-15 76. Michelle Armstrong Denver, NC 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Lisa Craig Chandler, TX 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Danalee Lofton Little Rock, AR 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Lori Masters Nashville, TN 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Patsy McDaniel Gordo, AL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Linda Redford Blue Eye, MO 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 76. Sharon Teague Greenville, SC 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 36 276 477-14 ---------------------------------- 36 276 477-14 2009 WBT #1 - Gadsden, AL 3/26-3/28 Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden AL. (NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Donna Newberry Van Buren, AR 5 12-02 305 Day 1: 5 12-02 2. Nancy Stumpe Palatka, FL 5 10-14 295 Day 1: 5 10-14 3. Lesli Lively Grapeland, TX 5 09-09 290 Day 1: 5 09-09 4. Kelly Wells Grovetown, GA 5 09-04 285 Day 1: 5 09-04 5. Cheryl Buelow Pollock, LA 5 09-00 280 Day 1: 5 09-00 6. Bunny Hicks Rossville, GA 4 08-13 276 Day 1: 4 08-13 7. Trish Levitt Albuquerque, NM 5 08-05 272 Day 1: 5 08-05 7. Colleen McKay Worcester, MA 5 08-05 272 Day 1: 5 08-05 9. Linda Berry Madison, NC 3 08-04 264 Day 1: 3 08-04 10. Stacy Zhelesnik Hoboken, NJ 5 08-01 260 Day 1: 5 08-01 11. Miriam Donohoo San Mateo, FL 4 08-00 257 Day 1: 4 08-00 12. Susan Dameron Chattanooga, TN 5 07-15 254 Day 1: 5 07-15 13. Sabrina Thompson Humble, TX 5 07-13 251 Day 1: 5 07-13 14. Laura Bean Oxford, AL 3 07-13 248 Day 1: 3 07-13 15. Vicki Hester Rainbow City, AL 5 07-10 245 Day 1: 5 07-10 16. Martha Goodfellow Simpsonville, SC 5 07-05 243 Day 1: 5 07-05 17. Debbie Pegoli Loveland, OH 5 07-03 241 Day 1: 5 07-03 18. Kim Mendoza Garland, TX 5 07-00 239 Day 1: 5 07-00 19. Torrye Vineyard Yantis, TX 5 06-15 237 Day 1: 5 06-15 20. Linda Higginbotham Palm Coast, FL 5 06-12 235 Day 1: 5 06-12 21. Lori Steele Tulsa, OK 3 06-12 233 Day 1: 3 06-12 22. Bertha Cavakis Amity, AR 4 06-11 231 Day 1: 4 06-11 23. Kim Petrowski Arlington, TX 4 06-09 229 Day 1: 4 06-09 24. Susan Wild St Petersburg, FL 5 06-06 227 Day 1: 5 06-06 25. Gail Wood Russellville, AR 5 06-02 225 Day 1: 5 06-02 26. Terri Bittner McKinleyville, CA 5 06-01 223 Day 1: 5 06-01 27. Vicki Henderson Ashdown, AR 3 05-09 221 Day 1: 3 05-09 28. Jada Tidmore Union Grove, AL 3 05-08 219 Day 1: 3 05-08 29. Teri Cindric Hermitage, TN 2 05-06 217 Day 1: 2 05-06 30. Katie Hogan Bon Aqua, TN 5 05-02 215 Day 1: 5 05-02 31. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, WA 4 05-02 213 Day 1: 4 05-02 32. Patti James Dayton, TX 5 05-01 211 Day 1: 5 05-01 33. Jennifer Blackwood Lincolnton, GA 4 04-12 209 Day 1: 4 04-12 34. Sherry Melton Monterey, TN 4 04-09 207 Day 1: 4 04-09 35. LaShea Raynor Lexington, SC 3 04-08 205 Day 1: 3 04-08 36. Linda Owens Brandon, MS 2 04-04 203 Day 1: 2 04-04 37. Linda Rinker Palm Coast, FL 3 04-03 201 Day 1: 3 04-03 38. Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, TX 2 04-03 199 Day 1: 2 04-03 39. Elizabeth Sanders Brandon, MS 3 04-01 197 Day 1: 3 04-01 40. Nancy Dugas Huntsville, AL 3 03-15 195 Day 1: 3 03-15 41. Renee Gumbrecht Oakhurst, NJ 2 03-14 193 Day 1: 2 03-14 42. Petra Ramsey El Paso, TX 1 03-14 191 Day 1: 1 03-14 43. Denese Freeman Lawton, OK 3 03-09 189 Day 1: 3 03-09 43. Donna Rutledge Orland Park, IL 3 03-09 189 Day 1: 3 03-09 45. Cynthia Tayloe Lufkin, TX 1 03-09 185 Day 1: 1 03-09 46. Linda Walker Beebe, AR 2 03-07 183 Day 1: 2 03-07 47. Jennifer Rice Grant, AL 3 03-02 181 Day 1: 3 03-02 48. Debra Cook Gardendale, AL 2 03-02 179 Day 1: 2 03-02 48. Lisa Diehl Pittsburg, PA 2 03-02 179 Day 1: 2 03-02 48. Charlotte Frazier Dallas, TX 2 03-02 179 Day 1: 2 03-02 51. Brandi Frasier Madisonville, KY 2 03-01 173 Day 1: 2 03-01 52. Kim Martin Clayton, IN 3 03-00 171 Day 1: 3 03-00 53. Leslie Anderson Saint Louis, MO 3 02-15 169 Day 1: 3 02-15 54. Virginia Buckner Scottsboro, AL 2 02-12 167 Day 1: 2 02-12 55. Melissa Bond Albuquerque, NM 2 02-11 165 Day 1: 2 02-11 56. Barbara Gaskins Suffolk, VA 2 02-10 163 Day 1: 2 02-10 57. Kala Wright Spiro, OK 2 02-09 161 Day 1: 2 02-09 58. Jill Matheis Jasper, IN 2 02-05 159 Day 1: 2 02-05 59. Katie Ellis Gulfport, MS 1 02-05 157 Day 1: 1 02-05 60. Nancy Oliver Arnaudville, LA 1 02-04 155 Day 1: 1 02-04 61. Jane Brunner Byhalia, MS 1 01-12 153 Day 1: 1 01-12 62. Juanita Blasingame Kingston, TN 1 01-08 151 Day 1: 1 01-08 63. Diane Smith Fayetteville, GA 1 01-06 149 Day 1: 1 01-06 64. Barbara Ferge Somerville, TN 1 01-05 147 Day 1: 1 01-05 65. Monica Altman Angier, NC 1 01-04 145 Day 1: 1 01-04 66. Marilyn Biszmaier Louisville, KY 1 01-02 143 Day 1: 1 01-02 66. Michele Gunderman Gastonia, NC 1 01-02 143 Day 1: 1 01-02 66. Lisa Skelley Jackson, TN 1 01-02 143 Day 1: 1 01-02 69. Lesley Childers Anderson, SC 1 01-00 137 Day 1: 1 01-00 69. Patty Houston Prattville, AL 1 01-00 137 Day 1: 1 01-00 71. Neva Brown Lufkin, TX 1 00-15 133 Day 1: 1 00-15 71. Sugar Walker Titus, AL 1 00-15 133 Day 1: 1 00-15 73. Kat Arnold Shreveport, LA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Pam Chism Cabot, AR 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Mona Crawford Welaka, FL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Sarah Davis Livingston, LA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Dawn Dudek Posen, IL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Cassie Hall Alabaster, AL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Sharon Lawson Red Bank, TN 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Christine Martin Commerce City, CO 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Leanne Snowden Suttons Bay, MI 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 73. Kimberly White Glen Carbon, IL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 21 219 347-00 ---------------------------------- 21 219 347-00